Airport Bus Error Leaves Family 150 Miles From Home
A family flying home from Alicante to Bournemouth missed their Ryanair service after an airport assistance bus took them to the wrong aircraft. Daniel Laws, who was travelling with his family, said he warned staff when they reached a TUI plane. By the time they were taken back to the terminal, their flight had departed. They were later rebooked to London Stansted, around 150 miles from Bournemouth.
How the Alicante Airport Error Unfolded
- Airline: Ryanair
- Original route: Alicante–Bournemouth
- Travel date: 31 July 2026
- Assistance provider: Alyzia
- Airport error: Family taken to a TUI aircraft
- Replacement flight: Alicante–London Stansted later that day
- Rebooking cost: Free
- Final journey: Train from Stansted to Bournemouth
- Claim requested: Refunds and reimbursement of additional expenses
After returning to the terminal, the family said they spent about two hours sitting on the floor near the Ryanair help desk before being offered the Stansted flight. Once at Stansted, they asked for help reaching Bournemouth but were told to organise the journey themselves. Having had nothing to eat since breakfast, they eventually travelled home by train and are now seeking reimbursement for the extra costs.
Anyone using airport assistance should still check the flight number and destination before boarding a transfer bus, while responsibility for correct handling remains with the service provider. Boarding passes, receipts and written records can support a complaint when an error causes extra travel or meals. The family is seeking reimbursement for its flights and additional expenses, but Ryanair has not publicly confirmed which costs it will cover.
Ryanair said special assistance at Alicante is provided by the airport and funded by the airline. It blamed assistance company Alyzia for failing to bring the family to the correct aircraft and said it was working with Alicante Airport to prevent a repeat. Although the replacement flight reached the UK that day, Stansted left the family around 150 miles from Bournemouth and was facing a lengthy journey home.
