Ryanair kicked us off plane to Spain because we hadn't paid for seats

A couple have told how they felt held to ransom by Ryanair after they were kicked off a flight to their dream holiday because they hadn't paid extra to book their own seats - saying: 'when you book a flight, you assume you will get a seat.'

Scott McCormick, 33, and Helena Borthwick, 32, had already paid the low cost carrier £384.55 for the return flights from Birmingham to Mallorca in Spain - their first trip abroad in two-and-a-half years.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline following the disappointment, the young couple said they were 'shocked' to discover buying a ticket didn't guarantee them a place on the plane.

Helena said: 'The first thing they said to us is 'you're not both getting on this plane'.

'I had no idea this could happen once we'd booked the tickets. When you pay for a flight you assume you will get a seat. I have never heard of someone getting kicked off a flight because they hadn't reserved a seat.