A group of 34 senior pupils from Belmont Academy, Ayr, whose “trip of a lifetime” visit to the United States was abandoned after they missed a connecting flight through no fault of their own have received a reassurance that steps are already under way to re-book them on an identical trip.

A delay to a Glasgow Airport to London Heathrow flight caused the 5th and 6th year pupils - and five accompanying adults - to miss a Virgin flight to Los Angeles, where they were due to begin a nine day holiday.

Mr Mike McCabe, Director of Education, Culture and Lifelong Learning said: “Obviously this has been a great disappointment to all who have been involved in preparing for the trip, pupils and school staff alike. Most had been looking forward to the holiday, and saving up for it, for almost two years since it was first planned.

“I have been told that when it became apparent that the party had missed the particular flight on which they had been booked, every effort was made to try to find an alternative flight, but to no avail.

“As soon as it was relayed back to the school that the trip was off, the Head Teacher and staff immediately started contacting parents to make them aware of the situation , and a working group got together to take the first steps towards arranging a re-booking of the trip at a future date.”

Said Head Teacher, Mr Alan Moir: “The question of why the Glasgow to London flight was delayed is really a matter for the airline to explain. The time schedule provided by the tour company was correctly followed, however the length of delay to the London-bound flight meant the group were too late for the next flight.

“The tour company is well-known and is fully accredited and has been used previously by the school, and working in conjunction with the company my staff have already set the ball rolling to try to find a suitable time for a new holiday trip to be booked. We are looking at the possibility of arrangements being made for this in June after the end of the SQA exams, and prior to the school Prom.”

And Mr Moir added: “It will be made quite clear to parents and pupils that appropriate refunds will be obtained as a result of the cancelled trip to ensure the cost of the replacement holiday is fully met.”

Universal Studios, Disney World, Las Vegas, Colorado and the Grand Canyon are just some of the highlights of the £34,000 holiday trip the Belmont party should have been enjoying.

The pupils returned to Belmont Academy on Thursday afternoon to be reunited with parents and friends.

March 2005