Man who was allowed fly from Dublin Airport to London without passport denied from boarding return flight due to Aer Lingus gaffe

A couple were left stranded in the UK after Aer Lingus refused to accept an ID that they had given the all-clear to on the flight over.

Zoe McGrath and her boyfriend Ben had enjoyed a lovely trip in London after flying out from Dublin Airport last week.

Before going, Ben, who didn't have a passport, had checked online to see if he was OK to use a different ID.

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He had been told a Garda Age card and college ID was fine and the pair flew out from Dublin last Thursday.

Things were going fine and dandy until they had to fly home, and upon arrival at Gatwick for the return trip they were told the guidelines had changed.

Speaking to Liveline, Zoe said nothing had changed on Aer Lingus's site about the "new rule" and not a single issue was made when they left Ireland.

She said: "We were just about to get on the plane and the woman at the desk who was checking our boarding passes looked at Ben's form of ID and said 'oh wait we have to check this'.

"Whoever she rang told her literally that day [there was a new rule].

"He had his Garda Age Card which is a government-issue ID. He had his bus pass, and a student card.

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"They were all valid going out, and it says they're still valid on the Aer Lingus website, but as soon as we got there they rang and said they weren't valid the day we were flying home."

They pair were then told to go to the embassy for an emergency passport, forcing them to stay and book accommodation for an extra night.

While on the bus the next morning, Ben got a message from Aer Lingus saying a mistake had been made.

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In a statement read out on air the popular airline admitted the fault saying they had followed instruction from the Irish Immigration Authority.

They said: "Aer Lingus regrets to confirm that a guest was wrongly denied boarding on a flight from London Gatwick to Dublin.

"The incorrect denial of boarding was implemented following consultation with Irish Immigration Authorities."

They also said they'd pay for the pair's expenses.