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| Woman picks 'wrong' Birmingham in holiday blunder | |
| (14 days later) | |
| A woman booked a dream holiday to Las Vegas, only to discover when she and her boyfriend arrived at Birmingham Airport she had mistakenly booked to fly from Birmingham Alabama. | |
| Richella Heekin saved for two years for a surprise £1,200 holiday for boyfriend Ben Marlow's 30th birthday last month. | Richella Heekin saved for two years for a surprise £1,200 holiday for boyfriend Ben Marlow's 30th birthday last month. |
| But the excited couple arrived to find the airline's desk closed. | But the excited couple arrived to find the airline's desk closed. |
| Staff confirmed the BHM airport code on their tickets meant Birmingham Alabama, not the UK's second city. | Staff confirmed the BHM airport code on their tickets meant Birmingham Alabama, not the UK's second city. |
| Read live updates from Birmingham, plus more stories | Read live updates from Birmingham, plus more stories |
| The airport code for the British Birmingham is BHX. | The airport code for the British Birmingham is BHX. |
| "Richella's face has just gone red and she's in tears," said Mr Marlow. | "Richella's face has just gone red and she's in tears," said Mr Marlow. |
| "I was like - we're not going to Vegas then. | "I was like - we're not going to Vegas then. |
| "I was more gutted for Richella than myself because it was a surprise." | "I was more gutted for Richella than myself because it was a surprise." |
| Ms Heekin revealed the surprise to her boyfriend at a party in front of family and friends, with those who knew they were due to head to the US giving dollars as a present. | Ms Heekin revealed the surprise to her boyfriend at a party in front of family and friends, with those who knew they were due to head to the US giving dollars as a present. |
| But the couple, from Sutton Coldfield and both carers for children with special needs, were devastated when they turned up to see no flights on the board. | But the couple, from Sutton Coldfield and both carers for children with special needs, were devastated when they turned up to see no flights on the board. |
| The couple thought they were flying from Birmingham - in the West Midlands - to Dallas and on to Las Vegas. | The couple thought they were flying from Birmingham - in the West Midlands - to Dallas and on to Las Vegas. |
| "I looked at the departure board and there's no flights," 26-year-old Ms Heekin said. | "I looked at the departure board and there's no flights," 26-year-old Ms Heekin said. |
| She said the error occurred after she spent time "doing a lot of clicking" on lastminute.com searching for flights, dates, prices and hotels. | She said the error occurred after she spent time "doing a lot of clicking" on lastminute.com searching for flights, dates, prices and hotels. |
| "When I got my confirmation, I was checking my email. I checked the times and the code [BHM] was there," she said. | "When I got my confirmation, I was checking my email. I checked the times and the code [BHM] was there," she said. |
| Ms Heekin said they contacted the website when at the airport, but the company said there was nothing that could be done. | Ms Heekin said they contacted the website when at the airport, but the company said there was nothing that could be done. |
| Frustrated and with time booked off work, the couple used a new credit card to buy two late flights to Amsterdam instead - exchanging the gifted dollars for euros. | Frustrated and with time booked off work, the couple used a new credit card to buy two late flights to Amsterdam instead - exchanging the gifted dollars for euros. |
| Lastminute.com said although it was not its error, the firm tried to find them alternative flights and contacted the airline and hotel for a refund, but one could not be provided. | Lastminute.com said although it was not its error, the firm tried to find them alternative flights and contacted the airline and hotel for a refund, but one could not be provided. |
| Since attracting media attention, the couple have been offered a free five-day holiday to Las Vegas by Virgin Holidays. | Since attracting media attention, the couple have been offered a free five-day holiday to Las Vegas by Virgin Holidays. |