The family, whose flight to Portugal was canceled at the last minute of the weekend, said they would avoid flying again this year.
Ayne and Aoife Comerford moved from their home in Greystones, Wicklow to Dublin Airport yesterday for a 7 pm flight to Faro, Portugal.
Wayne and Aoife, and their three children, Ailbe (11), Killian (9), and Freya (5), arrived at Terminal 2 at 3 pm and joined Aer Lingus’ bag drop queue.
Aoife said he was “nervous” to travel to the airport given the recent busyness of the airport, but his family was “very excited” on his first vacation in three years.
“We were at the airport at 3 pm for a 7 pm flight, and when we arrived at the bag drop, we appeared saying it was too late for the flight.
“When I called one of the Aer Lingus people, our flight was likely on the list of canceled flights, and in a line of people waiting to ask if the flight was cancelled. When they join, they come and tell me, “she said.
One hour later, Comerfords was notified by text message that the flight was cancelled.
“At that time, there was a crazy panic to see where you were going to classify your flight,” Aoife said.
“There was a huge queue for ticket sales. It’s the full length of Terminal 2, the queue that is supposed to take part in the rebooking. At that stage, with the very upset kids, I We decided not to participate in it. We decided to go home and apply for a refund for the flight ourselves. “
Wayne and Aoife paid € 6,000 for a 10-day package trip, applied for a refund this morning and began looking for another vacation option.
The couple planned to spend their vacation near Albufeira, which Wayne described as his “favorite place,” but Portugal is no longer the “card” of the year.
Instead, while waiting for a refund from travel insurance, the couple said they wanted to travel to France, but only took the ferry.
“When we said we had no holidays, the kids were crazy and we felt we had to do something,” Wayne said.
“Flights aren’t an option. Not after that experience. I’ve heard that it’s still a crazy weekend today, so I’m not confident when I book another flight.
“We’ve been waiting for three years. It means I spent days studying it. The excitement was accumulating for the kids. Summer clothes and everyone’s excitement. It was the hardest part to get and tear it up at the airport, “said Aoife.
“I’m worried that it might happen again. Going to Dublin Airport only canceled the plane. I couldn’t re-stress the children of not being able to get to the airport. During.”
Aoife said: It was once part of the fun of going on vacation, that the excitement began when you arrived at the airport.
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“That stress level is rising. I’m very stressed that it would be very stressful if I queued for the whole experience, especially for 2 hours to go through security with 3 little kids. I was worried. This is another reason we don’t experience it. Also. “
The 7 pm flight to Faro, where Commerford was scheduled to board, was one of several Aer Lingus flights canceled yesterday. The airline states that the Covid has occurred in staff and air traffic control strikes in France, Italy and Spain. The reason why the “buffer” failed.
The flight to Croatia’s Split was canceled yesterday with arrivals from London Heathrow and Amsterdam.
Independent.ie I contacted Aer Lingus and received a statement detailing how Covid’s case affected staffing, along with an Air Traffic Control Strike (ATC) that Ryanair had already expected to affect flights. ..
“Aer Lingus expected that travel demand would recover after Covid’s restrictions were lifted and appropriate buffers were incorporated into the plan to deal with a reasonable level of additional disruption.
“Unfortunately, some flights had to be canceled this weekend due to system pressure from ATC strikes and ongoing issues among airports and third-party suppliers.
“The pressure on this system was exacerbated by the surge in Covid cases on our team over the past few days. In the event of a cancellation, Aer Lingus would be confused by the next available alternative service for passengers. I tried to recontain.
“Aer Lingus wants to apologize to affected customers and shares details regarding their rights and airline obligations under Regulation (EC) 261/2004, which is www.aerlingus.com/. It’s in support / legal. / Regulation. “
Meanwhile, several more flights to and from Dublin Airport have been canceled today, including two flights to Brussels and Amsterdam, including Aer Lingus.