'Jet2 turned me away at airport in Turkey - I instantly panicked'

A man claims he was left high and dry on his holiday after being 'denied boarding' on his return flight due to an allergic reaction. Dan Bowes, who had no known allergies, boarded his outbound flight to Dalaman, Turkey without a hitch.

However, he soon suffered a "severe" allergic reaction, with symptoms including a swollen throat, breathing difficulties, and itchy, puffy eyes on the plane there. He praised the cabin crew as "fantastic", saying they acted swiftly to provide the 32 year old with the necessary care.

But the journey home turned into a nightmare when he alleges he was refused boarding by the same airline, Jet2. Dan, from Consett, County Durham, was informed that he needed a signed form before he could travel - and Jet2 say it was not completed, meaning he could not fly. He was able to take a later flight once he had sorted this, reports Bristol Live.

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Speaking about his reaction after being denied boarding, Dan said: "I instantly panicked. I made over 18 calls to Jet2's emergency line, following different and conflicting advice each time. I rushed to the local hospital, had the form completed and it was sent to the airline that afternoon.

"At the airport, staff accepted the paperwork, checked me in and took photos of the form. But just five minutes before boarding, I received a call saying the form had been rejected."

Dan alleges that the paperwork, a medical information form (MEDIF), was rejected because the doctor had overlooked his name on the second page and wrote 'N/A' in the medical history section. He was escorted out of Dalaman Airport on 17 July 2025 and his luggage was removed, he said.

He said: "I was dumped outside the airport main entrance at midnight with no help, no hotel and no guidance. I was later told I could've flown with another airline without the form, despite being told all day it was mandatory across all carriers. By that point, though, every flight to the UK had gone."

Dan, and his mate Clair Maskery, 33, were left having to shell out £400 for emergency accommodation, food and transport back to Marmaris. Fortunately, the following day, they were permitted home on the final Jet2 flight that evening after resubmitting a fresh MEDIF form.

Dan said: "After we arrived, a letter was left under my hotel room door asking me to meet a Jet2 rep. She handed me a MEDIF form and said I needed to see the hotel doctor, as well as obtain a Fit to Fly certificate.

"I immediately went to the doctor, though he said I had a throat infection. I was issued the Fit to Fly, though I was told the MEDIF form wasn't required. I returned to the rep, handed her my certificate and she reassured me that would be enough.

"So, naturally, I assumed I was cleared to travel. But when checking out of the hotel, she told me I couldn't fly."

He lodged a formal complaint and subsequently secured their internal records. Dan claims there were numerous mistakes.

A representative for Jet2 said: "Due to Mr Bowes falling ill on his outbound flight, our team followed standard procedure and advised him that he would need a Medical Information Form (MEDIF) to be completed by a doctor for his return flight home.

"As the form was not completed, Mr Bowes was regrettably informed that he would not be able to travel on his inbound flight. The health and safety of our customers will always be our number one priority.

"Following receipt of Mr Bowes' completed form, we are pleased to confirm he was able to travel with us the following day."