A Vacation Nightmare in Tenerife Leaves Families Stranded After Ryanair Departs Without Them
A relaxing getaway to the sunny Canary Island of Tenerife turned into a stressful ordeal for one British family when they found themselves unable to board their return flight home. Shona Clarkson shared her frustrating experience on social media after hours of delays at Tenerife South Airport left her group and dozens of others behind. The chaos centered on an unusually long passport control queue that seemed to catch many travelers off guard. What should have been a smooth departure became a scramble for new accommodations and alternative flights.
Shona described arriving at the airport only to spend two and a half hours waiting in the passport control line. Her family had downloaded the airport app to check their gate number early and rushed there as soon as it appeared. By the time they reached the boarding area the Ryanair plane had already left without them. She noted that around seventy other passengers suffered the same fate mostly families traveling with young children and babies even younger than her own one and two year olds. Airport staff reportedly kept the aircraft on the tarmac for another two hours to unload the missing passengers luggage before finally removing the group from the terminal entirely.
The incident highlights ongoing issues at Tenerife South Airport where long queues have become a common complaint among tourists especially those flying with budget carriers like Ryanair. Shona offered a direct warning in her video urging anyone heading home from the southern part of the island with kids to prepare for potential problems. Many viewers responded with their own stories of similar delays some suggesting travelers should arrive four or five hours early to account for the bottlenecks. Others expressed anxiety about upcoming trips realizing the same disruptions could affect their plans.
Travelers caught in the situation had to book last minute accommodations for an extra night and search for new flights. Shona mentioned her family could not find anything sooner than Wednesday leaving them stuck on the island longer than expected. The event echoes previous warnings about congestion at Canary Islands airports where staffing shortages or procedural slowdowns often create headaches during busy periods. Families with small children faced added difficulty managing tired kids and rearranging logistics on short notice.
@shonaraeclarkson What a nightmaređź« fuck you Ryanair #tenerife #tenerifeholiday #ryanair #fyp @Ryanair ♬ original sound – shonaraeclarkson
Budget airlines frequently operate tight schedules that leave little room for such delays which can lead to passengers being left behind while the plane departs to maintain its timetable. In this case the decision to remove luggage and proceed without the group sparked frustration among those affected. Shona emphasized the importance of staying informed through airport apps yet even that precaution proved insufficient against the lengthy security process. Similar accounts continue to surface online indicating the problem may not be isolated to this one flight.
Vacations in popular destinations like Tenerife attract thousands of families each year drawn by the beaches and mild climate. Yet experiences like this serve as a reminder that return journeys can bring unexpected challenges particularly during peak travel times. Passengers recommend building in extra buffer time and keeping flexible plans in case of airport holdups. Ryanair has not issued a specific comment on this incident but the airline often attributes such matters to airport operations rather than its own procedures.
If you have traveled through Tenerife South Airport recently or faced similar delays with Ryanair what advice would you give to other families planning a trip there. Share your thoughts in the comments.
