Scots taxi driver gives passengers free 405-mile journey after flights cancelled
A taxi driver from Falkirk has been branded a hero after driving from Glasgow to London so his passengers could make their holiday after British Airways cancelled their flight because of stormy weather.
Elite Central Travel were only supposed to be taking the holidaymakers to Glasgow Airport on Saturday night, but that all changed when they arrived to discover British Airways had cancelled their flight to Heathrow.
After an hour or so of the company trying to book them on another plane, they was none available which meant they'd lose their Caribbean Cruise.
Then the driver decided to go that extra mile and drive the 405-mile journey, battling treacherous conditions, to London Heathrow for free.
John Murphy, 47, owner of Elite Central Travel, told the Record: "I was bringing customers back from Edinburgh and I got a phone call from a passenger I was supposed to be taking to Glasgow at 3am in a major panic to say that their flight had been cancelled.
"The poor woman was in floods of tears because they had to get to Heathrow for 8am that morning. I started looking for other flights for them and trains, every option available, but there was nothing,
"There was a flight from Manchester to where they were flying to, but they couldn't get on that.
"So it was a case of going home for a shower to freshen up after dropping my Edinburgh customers off and hitting the road to London at 1am.
"I went and picked them up and off we went.
"The wind, rain and snow was pretty poor, conditions were treacherous driving down, the car was getting blow all over the road.
"The rain was like waves battering the car. The customers kept asking if I was ok, but my main focus was just to get them to where they needed to be and when they needed to be there.
"I must admit though, there was one point I thought what have I done here.
"The customers were awesome though, and very grateful. I didn't take a penny off them."
John ended up with some company on the drive back to Falkirk, after picking up two stranded Rangers fan along the way.
He added: "I checked into my hotel and fell asleep right away, and woke up a wee while later. I had a message on my phone from a guy who ended up being stranded at Heathrow with his daughter after being in Germany to see the Rangers game.
"He spotted my post on Facebook about driving down with a group of passengers.
"I messaged him back right away and told him to meet me at my hotel, I'd take him and his daughter back home with me. Again, I didn't take any money off him.
"I was in London anyway and having to come back to Falkirk.
Social media users have prised the driver and taxi firm.
One said: "What an absolute trooper. Not many firms would do this."
Another wrote: "Not all heroes wear capes, some drive taxis. Well done to everyone."
A third commented: "I have used this taxi firm for years and they are just amazing. Never any hassle and always go above and beyond."
