Chaos at Stansted sees thousands of suitcases abandoned at the baggage claim following a weekend of travel hell
THOUSANDS of suitcases have been abandoned at Stansted Aiport's baggage claim following a weekend of travel hell.
Thunderstorms coupled with strikes in several European countries led to scores of flights being cancelled on Friday night and Saturday, as "knock-on" disruption continued to be felt today.
More than 20 flights have have been grounded so far - as mounds of luggage waited to be collected by their frustrated owners.
Dozens of cancellations yesterday left more than 15,000 travellers on Ryanair stranded, with the budget airline telling holidaymakers to leave the Essex airport and use the website to rebook flights.
A large handwritten notice in the luggage area read: "For Ryanair cancelled flights. Please collect your baggage from Reclaim 4. Please re-book your flights online or on Ryanair App."
Despite passengers venting on social media, a spokesperson for the budget airline said their UK operation was "running well today".
Planes are worst affected at Stansted, but departures to Dublin from Birmingham, Luton and Newcastle have also been grounded.
Holidaymakers on other airlines have also suffered delays, with several hundred British Airways passengers arriving from Alicante, Ibiza and Malaga an average of 18 hours late on Saturday.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "There is a very small number of delays and cancellations as a knock-on effect from the extreme weather disruptions (Fri) and the disruptions arising from ATC staff shortages in the UK, France and Germany."
Frustrated Ryanair passengers took to Twitter to complain, with user m.g.p wrote: "spent 12 hours overnight waiting for customer service.
";No food, no drinks, people sleeping on the floors - still no explanation of what is happening.
"30 flights cancelled 2 people in customer service!!"
Frustrated passenger Luke wrote: "Can you respond to me please? Flight now 6 hours delayed. Other people have been emailed vouchers for food and drink.
"I have only received an email about the delay. I need assistance. Live chat has a 79 minute wait".
Wild weather has wreaked travel havoc on the UK after weeks of almost uninterrupted dry sun.
Passengers have experienced lengthy delays on ferries and Eurotunnel trains as well after storms brought an abrupt end to the heatwave in the UK and Europe.
Under EU passenger rules, Ryanair has to offer you a refund, an alternative flight or a flight with a rival airline providing there are seats available.
But the budget airline claims it could refuse compensation in the case of strikes and extraordinary weather.
A statement said: "Ryanair fully complies with all EU261 legislation, however as these flight cancellations were caused by extraordinary circumstances, no compensation is due.
"Under EU261 legislation, no compensation is payable when the union is acting unreasonably and totally beyond the airline’s control."
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