Brit teens, 15 and 17, stranded in Florida after airline lets them fly out but CANCELS return ticket ‘because they’re minors’
Air Canada allowed Libby and her pal to fly out to the US two weeks ago - but told them they're too young to travel back
TWO Brit teens were stranded in Florida after an airline told them they were too young to fly alone - despite letting them travel to the US unaccompanied.
Libby Sandford, 15, and a 17-year-old pal flew from the UK to visit Libby's godfather in Miami - but were shocked to find their flights home 11 days later had been cancelled by the airline when they arrived at the airport.
The pair were dropped off at Miami International Airport by godfather Steve Luxton, but were stunned to be told they could not get on a return flight unattended.
After hours of arguing with airport staff, the pair were finally allowed to book onto another flight home - almost 24 hours after they were due to get back and costing them an extra $150.
Libby's furious mum Honey Sandford, 39, has been forced to pay the extra fee for a chaperone to accompany the pair, despite being told a 15-year-old could travel with anyone over 16 when she booked.
She told The Sun Online: "I'm so upset, it's unreal. I've paid over a thousand pounds for her to go on this holiday and now I have to pay her godfather back the $150 he kindly paid at the airport.
"I'm so angry, I've had no explanations from airport staff. And now Steve's missed a day's work as he's staying with them until they leave. It's ridiculous."
Honey checked the teens in at London Gatwick, where they boarded the Air Canada flight to Miami, which stopped in Toronto, with no problems.
However when the pair arrived in Canada, they were stopped by Customs as they headed to their connecting flight.
Libby and her friend were kept in a room for four hours and told they could not travel onwards.
Terrified Libby text her mum, who desperately tried to get hold of airport staff four times with no luck.
She finally received a call to ask if she had a minor travelling at 7pm local time - four hours after they had landed and three hours after they were due to leave.
Honey, from Exeter, said: "I said 'yes, I did'. They asked if she was travelling alone and I said 'no, she's got Dylan Page with her and told them Steve would be picking them up from the airport and they just said 'OK, we'll get her on the next available flight.'"
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To add to the nightmare, the pair were flown to Orlando instead of Miami - which is a three hour drive from where Steve lives.
Thirty-two hours after leaving Gatwick they eventually arrived in Orlando- only to face a bigger disaster as they tried to travel home 11 days later.
Air Canada cancelled the pair's flights after "realising they had travelled to Miami alone" - but did not call or send an email to inform them.
Devastated Honey said: "They had my number and my email address, so why didn't they tell me?"
She added: "I've now got no money left, I've sent her everything for this holiday and need to save enough to pay off both our phone bills and the extra $150.
"I've been calling Toronto, calling Libby and we've been texting each other to try and sort out this whole drama. I'm a single mum and this has just been such a nightmare."
Honey booked the United Airlines flights through discount travel site TravelUp, but the pair flew to Miami with Air Canada as the airline is connected to United Airlines.
When Honey called United Airlines to complain, they told her TravelUp shouldn't have sold her the ticket as anyone 15 or under is not able to travel on a connecting flight.
Honey said: "The woman got stroppy when I called to ask for an explanation.
"She just said 'what's the problem? We didn't have to board her, we could have denied her coming home. That's why you've had to pay $150.
"How can you deny a 15-year-old coming home?";
The furious mum added: "My question is, if you've seen their passports and you knew they were 15 - why were they allowed to get on in the first place?"
Honey says Libby has been left terrified and anxious about flying as a result of the drama.
She said: "When she was in Toronto she was an absolute mess, it took me 10 minutes to calm her down she was so petrified.
"She was in another country and nobody was telling her what was going on."
The concerned mum added: "She was calmer on the way back, but it's completely ruined an amazing experience on holiday with her godfather.
"It's just not fair, she said 'mum it's put me off flying completely, next time you're coming with me'."
The pair are due to finally arrive at London Heathrow, instead of Gatwick, tomorrow morning.
An Air Canada spokesman said: "This was a codeshare booking we are reviewing the situation with our Star Alliance partner United Airlines.
"We regret any inconvenience experienced by these customers and they will be contacted in order to resolve this matter directly."
United Airlines and TravelUp have been contacted for comment.
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