Ryanair 'tells pensioner to go on holiday without sick wife'

PA

A pensioner has complained after Ryanair reportedly told him to go on holiday "with someone else" after his wife had a heart attack and was too sick to travel.

Roger Johnston, 74, and his wife Marie, 73, had seats booked with Ryanair from East Midlands Airport to Dinard, France.

But, before the flight date, Marie had a heart attack that required surgery and left her unable to travel for three months.

The retired architect says that when he called Ryanair to get a refund, a member of staff told him to chage the name on his wife's ticket and go with "someone else".

According to the Telegraph, he said: "I was absolutely appalled that they would even insinuate that I should abandon my wife at a time when she needs me the most. It's morally insulting.

"I would never consider leaving my wife in such a situation. We've been married for 40 years and she needs me to help look after her.

"To make matters worse Ryanair say they can only accept her doctor's note by fax.

"That is just obstructive and designed to put people off. They do everything else online or by email and they should accept a doctor's note by email too."

He added: "I asked the woman at Ryanair 'Would you go off on holiday when your husband had suffered a heart attack and had been told he cannot travel?'

"There was a deafening silence before she told me to send a fax over with a doctor's note."

Ryanair said in a statement to the Telegraph: "We confirmed to Mr Johnston that a full refund would be issued on receipt of a medical letter from his wife's doctor.

"The passenger called back to advise of a delay in obtaining the required letter, as the doctor was going on holiday, and it was confirmed to him that a refund would be issued even if the required medical letter was received after the date of flight.

"Ryanair made all of the passenger's options clear to him and at all times clearly advised him that a refund would be issued.

"Ryanair wishes Mrs Johnston a speedy recovery and hopes to welcome the couple onto another Ryanair flight in the near future."

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