Shropshire family's holiday ruined by 25 hour airport delay

For not only did they see the sights and sounds of the Big Apple, but the Smiths also got a good look at John F Kennedy International Airport – because they were stranded there for 25 hours.

"We planned the holiday so that we flew back at 7.31pm New York time on Saturday, meaning we would land on Sunday morning our time," said Andrew Smith, finally back at the family home in Bishop's Castle.

"In the end we did not get home until Monday afternoon, as we didn't get a flight out of New York until 9pm on Sunday night their time.

"It's been very frustrating. We had a fantastic holiday and it's a shame that it had to end the way it did. The British Airways staff at JFK didn't want to know, they just laughed at us.

"I'm not expecting BA to do much; I'd just like them to say sorry for the inconvenience caused. This is the first time we have ever flown with BA and it could possibly be the last."

Mr Smith, 38, was in America with wife Tracy, and children Chelsea, 17, Robbie, 12, and Hudson, eight, celebrating Tracy's 37th birthday.

The family's ordeal began when their plane sat on the runway for four hours – only to be called back because of bad weather.

It was then announced the pilot had run out of hours – meaning he would have to rest – causing further delays for passengers.

It then took passengers another six hours to get their luggage back. Mr Smith said the family had to sleep in the departure lounge on their suitcases, using coats for bedding.

He said BA staff had been unhelpful and had not offered them hotel accommodation during their time at the airport. But the airline claims it did offer the family a hotel.

"It took us 25 hours to get out of JFK airport," said Mr Smith. "Two of my children had to miss a day of school due to the delays and there is a possibility that we will be fined for doing so," he added.

During the family's long wait at the airport Mr Smith was tweeting about events as they happened. He also came across another traveller trying to return to the UK who was delayed by five hours.

In one tweet Mr Smith asked BA if they thought it was acceptable for a family to be stranded at an airport and made to wait six hours for their luggage to be returned.

BA sent a tweet back, which said: "I understand you're frustrated, it's never acceptable for our passengers to be in this position. Regrettably, all transportation across the East Coast has been affected by a severe winter storm."

But Mr Smith, said he checked local weather reports and claimed it didn't seem bad enough to cancel flights.

A BA spokesman apologised for the family's ordeal and said they had been offered accommodation – a claim denied by Mr Smith.

The BA spokesman added: "

During the delay, we did offer them hotel accommodation for the night, and we will be reimbursing the costs they incurred at the airport.

"We will also be offering a gesture of goodwill, by way of apology."