Passport lost by check-in staff forced the Raine family to cancel £5,500 getaway to the States after 13 months of saving up for the dream trip
A family of six's dream holiday to Florida turned into a nightmare when airline staff lost a passport moments after they checked in.
Alan Raine's £5,500 trip collapsed after United Airlines employees mislaid his son Ashley's travel document at Manchester Airport - only for staff to find it on the arrivals baggage carousel 24 hours later.
The mishap meant the family's holiday to America was dashed after saving up for 13 months to afford it.
The Raine family were offered a later flight, but without a passport the holiday had to be abandoned.
And that meant more money lost on car hire and theme park tickets in the US and parking and petrol charges back home after the drive from their home in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
Alan, a plasterer, blasted United Airlines for not offering a refund and instead promising an undisclosed "good gesture".
The 54-year-old civil engineer said: "We knew we had handed over all the passports and the first bag was checked in.
"Then she told us one of the passports was missing. Even the security guard said he had seen them all.
"We were offered flights later that day but we couldn't get another passport in that time. We were devastated.
"United Airlines have told us they are investigating but we haven’t heard anything. They just don’t seem interested."
Alan was heading to Florida with his wife and factory worker Yvette, 49, son Ashley, 28, and grandson Ryan-Ellis, eight.
His wife's parents Malcolm, 75, and Vyonne, 73, were also planning to join them on holiday.
A spokesperson for United Airlines said: "We are sorry to hear about the disruption to the Raine’s family travel plans following the loss of a passport at Manchester Airport.
"United will contact the customer to offer a gesture of goodwill."
