Flightmare

NO silver lining . . . Steve and Kay Shepherd battling for their money back

 FIREFIGHTER Steve Shepherd’s plans to fan the flames of love on a romantic anniversary celebration were dashed when he was parted from his wife on their flight.

Steve and his wife Kay, had booked an exotic, 14-night all-inclusive break in Goa for their 25th wedding anniversary.

They paid an extra £450 for a pair of premier seats to sit next to each other to share a bottle of champagne and strawberries and cream on the 10-hour flight from Manchester.

However, when they checked in, the couple were told they would be sitting behind each other in centre aisle seats.

And since their break 18 months ago, Mr Shepherd (49), has been wrangling with the tour operator Thomson to have the money he paid for the seats returned.

The couple from Armdale Rise, Waterhead, paid £2,108 for their silver wedding treat and Mr Shepherd, a firefighter for 26 years, said: “I am determined to retrieve my money.

“Initially, I’d booked the seats so Kay and I could share a bottle of champagne and have some quality time together on the long flight.

“But the fizz went out of things when we were told we could not sit together — despite it was our silver wedding anniversary.

“The seat numbers we had been allocated meant I was sitting in the centre row directly behind Kay — not alongside her.

“We had also been promised a comfort pack, a nine-inch wide touch screen, movies and DVDs. And the “sparkling cocktail” turned out to be fresh orange juice,” he added.

“We were both really upset and complained to the cabin crew. There were two empty seats at the front of the aircraft which they said we could not use because they were for the crew.

“In fact, some passengers from economy sat in them on the outward journey,” he said.

Kay (46), a mother of two, who owns a hairdressing salon on Uppermill High Street, said: “It felt really daft sitting apart — particularly when we’d gone to so much trouble to pay extra for the seats.

“And it was the same on our return journey.

“I can’t believe that the issue has dragged on for so long,” she said.

And the couple’s problems were compounded when they arrived at Whispering Palms, their destination hotel in Goa.

After a frustrating eight-hour wait sitting on suitcases, their hotel room was dank, with a with torn shower curtain and broken toilet seat.

Exhausted, they paid for a upgrade, but thieves broke into their bedroom on the first night and stole more than £200 in cash.

Mr Shepherd added: “We still managed to enjoy our break — despite the problems. But the seating and disappointing in-flight service is completely out of order.”

A spokesman for Thomson said: “We are sorry that Mr and Mrs Shepherd were not happy. The travel agent at the Thomas Cook shop should have informed them that there was an additional charge for booking their seats together as this is an extra add-on and would not have been included with the premium service charge.

“The entertainment package and meals/drinks package they expected to receive was not available until summer 2007 which was after they travelled. We apologise that this was not made clear.”