Ryanair has apologized after a staff member told a passenger that “Scotland is not a country.” An Edinburgh family flying with Polish passports but with full Scottish residency were attempting to travel from Lisbon to Edinburgh when Ryanair staff took issue with their testing paperwork. A Ryanair staff member argued that Scotland is not a country and claimed the family was not following the correct COVID rules.
Ryanair sorry after staff argues Scotland is not a country
Edinburgh resident Piotr Dziedzic and his family were preparing to board a flight home from Lisbon on January 10th when Ryanair staff held them up over issues with their testing paperwork. As the family held Polish passports, Ryanair staff claimed that the UK’s COVID rules did not apply to them, despite their full Scottish residency status.
Ryanair requested that Dziedzic’s 13-year-old daughter Amelia take a COVID test at the airport before the family could board the flight. Under Scotland’s entry rules at the time, children under 18 were exempt from needing a COVID test to enter.
Ryanair said in a statement,
“Having addressed this matter with our Lisbon Airport handling agents, it has been verified that this passenger was incorrectly refused boarding due to the handling agents’ misinterpretation of the travel requirements, believing that a pre-departure COVID-19 test was required for Mr Dziedzic’s daughter to board this flight. We sincerely apologize to these passengers.”
After the youngest daughter took a COVID test, the family was held up again. Dziedzic’s eldest daughter Karolina was asked by Ryanair staff who the Queen of the UK was and was then told that Scotland is not a country.
Mr Dziedzic told The Southern Reporter,
“My older daughter tried to present the above information which clearly states children under 18 in Scotland do not have to do a test before arrival but only a day two test, which we had proof of booking. After receiving this information, [the staff member] came back with printed rules for England (which are, of course, different to Scotland) and tried to argue that Scotland is not a country and we should follow English rules.”
The family missed their flight
As Dziedzic’s youngest daughter was made to take a COVID test at the airport, the family ended up missing their flight. They booked the next available flight to Birmingham at a cost of £550.96 ($737.55) and had to travel an additional 560 miles upon arrival to reach Edinburgh.
Dziedzic wrote to the airline accusing it of “complete racism and lack of professional behavior.” After initially stating the issue was due to the family’s Polish passports, Ryanair staff then requested that the family follow English COVID guidelines and not Scottish.
Dziedzic added,
“Suddenly, the initial problem that we are Polish wasn’t the cause of concern, but rather that we were following Scottish guidelines as opposed to English. Pointless excuse after excuse, as if looking to create a problem out of nothing.”
Still awaiting compensation
After apologizing for the incident, Ryanair claimed that “our Lisbon Airport handling agents have agreed in this case to compensate Mr Dziedzic.”
In an interview with The Southern Reporter on Wednesday, Mr Dziedzic stated that Ryanair’s apology was news to him as he had yet to hear back from the airline. Dziedzic also said that “it will be interesting to see what sort of compensation we receive.” Ryanair stated that it has been in touch with Mr Dziedzic.
Ryanair added,
“A member of our Customer Service Department has been in contact with Mr Dziedzic to assist him with his compensation claim.”
Did you witness this incident at Lisbon Airport? Feel free to leave a comment.
