A GRANDMOTHER claims she was left out of pocket after being stranded at an airport in Paris.

Denise Kean, 67, was returning from a family holiday to Disneyland with her daughter, Paula, and seven-year-old granddaughter, Scarlett, when she was told they were not booked onto the flight.

Mrs Kean, of Wessex Way, Dorchester , had to wait five hours at the airport and pay £750 to get her family home – despite the fact she had already paid for return tickets.

She said: “Scarlett has diabetes so it was not an ideal situation to be in. I was so upset I was close to tears.”

The grandmother booked the holiday through Thomson and was due to fly with budget airline FlyBe.

She said: “The documents we printed out before we left home had all the details about our return flight, including times and the flight number.

“But when we arrived to check in, it was very strange.

“The lady at the desk kept saying: ‘Don’t worry, don’t worry’, but we did not know what was going on. She went away to speak to a man in the office and then he came out and told us we were not booked onto the flight.

“He said only Scarlett was, and we queried that, because who would let a seven-year-old fly on her own? Then we were told only Paula was booked onto it.”

Mrs Kean’s daughter did not take the flight, as she did not want to leave her mother and young niece.

The family was eventually told they would have to pay £750 to travel on another flight back to Southampton airport.

Mrs Kean said: “We were not given any explanation at all and we are still waiting to find out why we were not booked onto the flight.

“£750 is a lot of money. My daughter is saving up to buy a car so luckily she had some money in the bank to pay for our flights.

“If she hadn’t, I don’t know what would have happened.

“The fact is, we have paid for our return flights twice.”

The family have been in touch with both companies since their return to the UK to find out why they were not booked onto the flight.

Mrs Kean said: “Thomson are saying that it’s not their fault because they are not responsible for the flights and FlyBe are saying it’s not their fault because we booked through a tour operator.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous, and I just can’t see any way of getting the money back.”

She added: “It wasn’t a very nice experience, especially with a young child who has diabetes.

“It really spoilt our holiday.”

A spokesperson for Thomson said: “As this is an issue for FlyBe we do not feel it is appropriate to comment on this matter.”

No one from FlyBe was available for comment.