Jet2 blame 'human error' after disabled pensioners flown to wrong island with similar name

Friends Linda Trestrail, 69, and Wendy Russell, 71, got on the wrong plane as they started their package holiday and only realised the error when the captain welcomed them

Two disabled pensioners say their holiday was ruined after they were put on a flight to Menorca instead of Majorca.

Linda Trestrail, 69, and Wendy Russell, 71, had booked a package trip with Jet2 but got on a plane to the wrong Balearic island, despite their tickets being checked five times. It was only when the captain announced that they were “about to land in Menorca” they realised the mix-up.

Jet2 has apologised for a “human error”, blaming it partly on a third party special assistance provider at Bristol Airport.

Linda, of Plymouth, Devon, said: “You hear of bags going on the wrong flights but not people. You get compensated if you get delayed or lose luggage. But they lost us, not the baggage.”

They were given assistance on wheelchairs at the airport and helped on to the shuttle bus and plane. Linda said she and Wendy showed their tickets to the luggage desk, security, gate desk, a ground crew member on the bus – who even did a head count – as well as a flight attendant.

She said of the flight: “I looked out the window and said to Wendy, ‘what’s that?’ We were going over land – I’ve been to Majorca, you arrive over the sea. Then the captain says we are arriving in Menorca in 10 minutes. All hell broke loose.

“I cried to Wendy, ‘Oh my God! He said Menorca not Majorca!’ I told the flight attendant we were on the wrong plane and she burst out laughing.”

Three seats on the flight were empty, and the pair were in those allocated for their original flight to Majorca.

They hitched a ride on an internal flight to Majorca with other workers, finally arriving 17 hours after they left home. Linda said: “Our feet and legs were like balloons.”

Jet2 has offered a goodwill gesture, which Linda said was a free excursion. Bristol Airport is investigating.