Wedding party of 45 people from Yorkshire left stranded at Manchester Airport after their flight to Jamaica was cancelled

A wedding party of 45 people have been left stranded at Manchester Airport after their Thomas Cook flight to Jamaica was cancelled.
Thomas Cook cc Simon HulmeThomas Cook cc Simon Hulme
Thomas Cook cc Simon Hulme

Distraught couple Lindsay Coupe, 37, and Lee Bramhall, 42, were set to fly out this morning (Monday) ahead of the ceremony on Saturday (September 28).

However, the trip of a lifetime now hangs in the balance after Thomas Cook "ceased trading with immediate effect" in the early hours.

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The company, which has roots going back to 1841, went bust after last-ditch talks to raise fresh funding failed.

The awful news, that planes had been grounded and holidays cancelled, came through just hours before the party were due to take off.

Lindsay and Lee, a couple of 20 years who have children aged nine and two, are this afternoon stuck in the airport surrounded by shell-shocked friends and family.

As well as missing out on the wedding of a lifetime, the couple will lose out on tens of thousands of pounds if the trip falls through.

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Lindsay, from Sheffield, South Yorks, said: "I am absolutely gutted.

"You spend all that time planning and looking forward to your wedding day.

"I just can’t believe this has happened.

"I had a really big cry earlier because it all got too much.

"I know that won't help the situation so I've got myself together and just praying we get some good news."

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She added: "Some people with young children have already had to go home.

"People can't be expected to just wait without having an idea what's happening."

Lindsay, who works in dentistry, and Lee, who runs a construction firm, made a desperate attempt to get on to a last minute flight this morning.

However, despite being willing to pay an extra £1,000 each and travel for an extra 18 hours, they were unable to get things organised in time.

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The entire travelling party are now waiting to hear news from Hays Travel, which their trip to Montego Bay is booked through.

They hope the travel agent will be able to find new flights, but considering how large their party is and how many people are in a similar position it may not be possible.

Lindsay has slammed Hays Travel, claiming she was assured throughout last week their trip would be unaffected by Thomas Cook's financial woes.

She said: "We've been on the phone with them all week and they say 'don't worry it'll be fine'.

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"We're furious with the service they've provided, the communication has been shocking."

She added: "We have no idea whatsoever what's happening now.

"We're just sat here waiting for a phone call.

"I still have hope that we will get to Jamaica and have the wedding but the more time passes the more unlikely it seems.

"I don't even want to think about though because it would be so awful.

"Such an incredible amount of time, money and effort has been put into this."

Hays Travel have been contacted for comment.