A Blackburn man who took his elderly father on a trip to Paris has been left angered by EasyJet and Manchester Airport staff after being charged extra fees and having difficulty proceeding through security.
Mohammed Sheikh and his father had planned the trip to Paris to visit family but came across issues once arriving at the airport.
Having booked special assistance with the airport, he says he was treated poorly by airport staff who did not support his father.
Mohammed said: “When we got through security there was a bunch of teenagers working there and they were laughing and joking.
“When my dad went through the scanner, they weren’t supporting them.
“I was trying to intervene, and one of them tried to be clever, but I told him that he can’t manage, and then they backed off a bit.”
Since the incident, Manchester Airport has apologised to Mohammed and his father and has taken disciplinary action against the workers involved.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson: “We have looked into the incident in question and it does not reflect the level of compassion and service we expect.
"As such, we have taken appropriate action regarding the staff involved and reached out to the passenger affected to apologise.
“We know that travelling through an airport can be daunting if you have disabilities and particularly if your mobility is reduced.
"That is why we continue to introduce measures to make the experience better for all people requiring support including recruiting more staff and investing in new equipment and innovative solutions to improve passenger independence.
“This is reflected in our accessibility rating from the Civil Aviation Authority.
"As the UK's global gateway in the North, it is really important that we serve all our customers well and ensure aviation continues to be accessible for everyone.
"Inclusivity is a top priority for Manchester Airport and as our transformation programme progresses, we will continue to invest in and improve our Special Assistance service.”
After landing in Paris and spending time with family, Mohammed and his father were left with more issues with EasyJet on the return leg.
Despite the pair both being able to fly with their bags on the outward flight, EasyJet officials then told them their luggage would be too big for the return flight, resulting in a £60 charge.
READ MORE: I went to Rhodes looking for love at the world's greatest hotel
READ MORE: Dream holiday turns nightmare after family 'forced off' EasyJet flight
Mohammed added: “When we got on the plane and while we were boarding, there were people with bigger suitcases that they were allowing on.
“We have come to visit Paris to visit family, and I booked the right assistance and the bags, it is not like I filled a new bag up.
“The issue is that EasyJet was happy to take Manchester to Paris, but wasn’t the way to come back.
“I won’t be flying with them again. Next time, I will just drive.”
The airline company has said that Mohammed did not at any point request a large cabin bag nor was one offered for free.
An EasyJet spokesperson said: "Assistance is provided by the airport so when Mr Sheikh contacted us we advised the airport of their requirements and also arranged for them to sit together at no extra charge.
"We understand that the assistance was provided by the airport as planned but we are sorry Mr Sheikh and his father were dissatisfied with their experience.
"All customers can bring a small under-seat bag into the cabin for free and the option to book a large cabin bag for an additional fee, that is stored in the overhead locker onboard.
"We provide information on these options throughout the booking journey on our website and app. While Mr Sheikh was correctly charged as he hadn’t booked a large cabin bag, we have contacted him to hear more about his experience."
Share