Schoolgirl kicked off Ryanair plane after crew force family to buy extra seat for VIOLIN
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:42 PM on 30th August 2010
A schoolgirl and her family were kicked off a Ryanair plane after cabin crew refused to let her carry her violin as hand luggage, ordering them to pay for an extra seat instead.
But Francesca Rijks, 12, and her parents missed their flight home from Germany after they had to leave the plane to buy the extra ticket and the departure gate closed before they could make the purchase.
When they boarded the plane at Düsseldorf airport Ryanair staff told the Macclesfield family to put the violin in the hold, or pay £190 for an extra seat.
The family - who had only paid £65 each for their own seats - say the air pressure and low temperature in the hold would have ruined the delicate instrument, and reluctantly agreed to pay the extra air fare.
The Rijks were made to leave the plane and missed their flight home after the departure gate closed before they could buy the extra ticket.
They were forced to buy tickets with another airline to get home.
Father Harmen, 49, a management consultant, said he was told when he bought the tickets that the valuable violin could be taken on board the flight as hand luggage.
He said: 'We got through check-in with no problems but when we got on board they said you have to put it in the hold or get another seat.
Ryanair Jet
'The violin is in a protective case but it is a living, breathing instrument. It would be destroyed if it went on the hold.
'We ended up flying back on easyJet, who let us take the instrument on board without any problems.'
Francesca began studying at The Chetham's School of Music in Manchester music school last year.
Ryanair's website says small musical instruments can be taken on board their flights but customers have to purchase an extra seat if they are larger than standard baggage.
Spokesman Stephen McNamara said: 'As all Ryanair employees are aware of our baggage policies, we are confident that at no time was this passenger advised that they could bring any piece of non-conforming carry-on luggage on to our aircraft.'
The family's plight has been taken up by the Incorporated Society of Musicians, which says its members are increasingly facing 'discriminatory' airline policies.
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:42 PM on 30th August 2010
A schoolgirl and her family were kicked off a Ryanair plane after cabin crew refused to let her carry her violin as hand luggage, ordering them to pay for an extra seat instead.
But Francesca Rijks, 12, and her parents missed their flight home from Germany after they had to leave the plane to buy the extra ticket and the departure gate closed before they could make the purchase.
When they boarded the plane at Düsseldorf airport Ryanair staff told the Macclesfield family to put the violin in the hold, or pay £190 for an extra seat.
The family - who had only paid £65 each for their own seats - say the air pressure and low temperature in the hold would have ruined the delicate instrument, and reluctantly agreed to pay the extra air fare.
The Rijks were made to leave the plane and missed their flight home after the departure gate closed before they could buy the extra ticket.
They were forced to buy tickets with another airline to get home.
Father Harmen, 49, a management consultant, said he was told when he bought the tickets that the valuable violin could be taken on board the flight as hand luggage.
He said: 'We got through check-in with no problems but when we got on board they said you have to put it in the hold or get another seat.
Ryanair Jet
'The violin is in a protective case but it is a living, breathing instrument. It would be destroyed if it went on the hold.
'We ended up flying back on easyJet, who let us take the instrument on board without any problems.'
Francesca began studying at The Chetham's School of Music in Manchester music school last year.
Ryanair's website says small musical instruments can be taken on board their flights but customers have to purchase an extra seat if they are larger than standard baggage.
Spokesman Stephen McNamara said: 'As all Ryanair employees are aware of our baggage policies, we are confident that at no time was this passenger advised that they could bring any piece of non-conforming carry-on luggage on to our aircraft.'
The family's plight has been taken up by the Incorporated Society of Musicians, which says its members are increasingly facing 'discriminatory' airline policies.
