Brits stuck in holiday hell as return flights cancelled three times in CrowdStrike chaos

Nicole Raby, 26, is still trying to return from Italy with her mother after being hit by three flight cancellations since the computer outage – and has hit out at a “scandalous” lack of help from airlines

Nicole Raby (left) with her mother Lisete Raby (right) and sister Tracy Raby((Nicole Raby)

A family say their dream holiday was “ruined” after their return flights were cancelled three times due to the CrowdStrike computer crash.

Nicole Raby was on a four-day getaway to picturesque Lake Como in Italy with her mother Lisete Raby, 53, and sister Tracy Raby when her scheduled Ryanair flight back from Milan to Manchester on Friday became one of thousands cancelled due to the global technology outage.

Tracy managed to get home on one of the few remaining flights back to the UK – but after shelling out almost £1,000 for extra flights and hotels, Nicole and her mum are still trying to get home on Sunday after facing two more cancellations over the weekend.

The 26-year-old told the Mirror her family were now desperate to return home after being let down by Ryanair, ITA and easyJet – and criticised the airlines for their “outrageous” lack of support.

The family had a dream holiday at Lake Como((Nicole Raby)

But Nicole has spoken of her travel “nightmare” after being hit with three cancellations amid the chaos of the computer outage((Nicole Raby)

When her Ryanair flight was cancelled on Friday night, she says she was given “no information” about what her family could do or whether she could afford a hotel. Nicole and her mother then decided to buy a flight the following day with easyJet and booked a hotel in Milan, with no guarantee that it would be covered by her travel insurance or the airline due to the “extraordinary circumstances” of the cancellations.

But she said her experience with easyJet on Saturday was the “worst” of the whole ordeal, as they waited seven hours at Milan airport only to be told that flight was also cancelled. They were then told the next available flights were on Tuesday as all the others were fully booked.

Describing the frantic scene at the gate as people were told they would not be boarding the flight – despite the plane being visible on the runway outside – Nicole told the Mirror: “As you can imagine it was chaos – there was an old couple shouting, everyone was trying to ask questions but there was no information. They were not trying to help us at the airport and told us to wait for email updates. Overall there was very little support – it was really stressful.”

The family enjoyed their holiday but say the stress of returning home and lack of help from airlines ‘ruined’ them((Nicole Raby)

They then attempted to fly home from Milan to Naples with ITA Airways, but were informed hours before take-off that this flight had also been cancelled. Fearing further disappointment, they have now booked a return flight on Sunday afternoon on an indirect route, meaning they will both have to change planes in Copenhagen before reaching the UK. As well as the stress of being stuck away from home with several plans to return abandoned, Nicole’s mother is caring for an elderly family member, adding to their need to get home as soon as possible. “It’s horrible, and it’s so stressful,” she added. “For everyday life too, we want to get home now.”