Ryanair has caused significant confusion at the airport with a last-minute notice that left passengers scrambling. The low-cost airline announced a change that required travelers to get to a different airport just before their flight. On social media, many questioned how passengers could possibly arrive at the new gate in time.
The situation began when Prestwick Airport in Scotland shared an unexpected update on X about Ryanair flight FR655. This flight was supposed to leave Prestwick for Málaga, Spain, at 7 a.m. However, due to bad weather, the flight was now scheduled to depart from Glasgow Airport instead. The two airports are around 31 miles (50 kilometers) apart, which could mean nearly an hour of extra travel time for those already at Prestwick.
The announcement came just one to two hours before the flight’s scheduled departure. Many people who read the tweet were surprised and worried about how travelers could make the unexpected trip to Glasgow Airport. Some users commented, questioning how passengers could leave Prestwick, arrange transportation to Glasgow, and then check in and go through security all in time for a 7 a.m. flight.
While the tweet raised concerns, it is not clear if passengers received earlier notifications through other channels. Some individuals stated online that they had booked the flight and claimed they learned about the airport switch around 2 a.m., five hours before the scheduled departure. One traveler mentioned that even after the change, there was a significant delay of about seven hours due to the crew not being available when they arrived.
Passengers reported that the flight, which usually takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes, was often on time, with about 90% of flights arriving as scheduled. However, the average delay for this route is around 67 minutes. For those affected, one flight tracking website noted that passengers might be eligible for compensation up to €600 or $700 if their flight was delayed or canceled.
How do you think airlines should handle last-minute changes like this?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Gabija Saveiskyte