Dan Bowes had no known allergies when he boarded his outbound flight to Turkey. But he suddenly experienced a “severe” allergic reaction – and it meant he was prevented from boarding the aircraft at the end of his holiday
A holiday-maker has claimed he was left stranded after he was refused boarding on his return flight because of an allergic reaction.
Dan Bowes had no known allergies when boarding the outbound flight to Dalaman, Turkey. But he says he suddenly experienced a “severe” allergic reaction, with his throat swelling, breathing difficulties and itchy, puffy eyes. The cabin crew were “fantastic” and acted swiftly to get the 32-year-old the care he needed. But, on the way home, he claims he was “refused” boarding by the same airline, Jet2, over a missing piece of paperwork.
“I instantly panicked,” the business owner, from Consett, County Durham, told NeedToKnow . “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.
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“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 claims the paperwork, a medical information form (MEDIF), was refused since the doctor had missed his name on the second page and wrote ‘N/A’ in medical history. As a result, Dan was escorted out of Dalaman Airport on 17 July 2025 and his luggage was removed. 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 friend Clair Maskery, 33, were left having to fork out £400 for emergency accommodation, food, and transport back to Marmaris. Thankfully, the next day, they were allowed home on the last Jet2 flight that night after resending a new MEDIF form through.
But Dan said it was the conflicting information from the airline that turned his enjoyable holiday into a “nightmare”. He explained: “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.”
Dan filed a formal complaint and later obtained their internal records. He claims there were multiple errors, including different medications administered and false information, such as him “refusing” to fill in a MEDIF.
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He also alleges that the airline hasn’t yet provided a full list of onboard meals and ingredients – despite repeated requests -since his doctors need this information to determine his allergy, which could be life-threatening.
Dan added: “I did everything Jet2’s own rep and doctor advised. I followed every instruction I was given, double-checked twice and was told everything was fine.
“Their failure to communicate properly and process information correctly led to me being stranded abroad, financially out of pocket and mentally exhausted.
“This isn’t about me refusing paperwork, it’s about a company failing in its duty of care, giving contradictory information and abandoning paying customers in a foreign country.”
A spokesperson 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.”