A YORK family whose dream holiday was ruined when their return flight was delayed by more than 37 hours was shocked to hear they would not receive a penny in compensation - despite another family on the flight receiving £100 each from the same travel group.

Only after the Evening Press contacted Direct Holidays, part of the My Travel Group, on behalf of Barrie Shipley, 55, of York Road, Haxby, did the company agree to pay his family the same amount of compensation as a "gesture of goodwill".

Although pleased with the outcome, Mr Shipley said he was angry that he was initially treated differently and he urged other passengers on the affected plane from Ibiza to Leeds-Bradford Airport in August to press for compensation.

Mr Shipley, who was on holiday with his three young children, was forced to stay overnight at a "doss house" in San Antonio where he witnessed a couple having sex on the opposite balcony.

He said his experience in those 37 hours ruined an otherwise perfect holiday.

On his return he was told by Direct Holidays that the "only form of compensation you are due in respect of this delay would be through your travel insurance".

However a couple from Huntington, York, who enjoyed the same holiday with their two children and returned on the same flight, were offered £100 per full paying passenger direct from the My Travel Group as a "token of our appreciation of your understanding and patience during the disruption to your journey home".

The couple had booked the holiday with Airtours through Going Places, also part of the My Travel Group.

Mr Shipley said: "I was totally shocked when I heard that this couple had been given compensation and I was to receive nothing.

"The only difference between us was where we booked the holiday.

"I imagine other passengers have had the same response and I would encourage them to keep trying for compensation.

"We all had a terrible experience, which ruined a great holiday, and I think that should be recognised, like it was by other companies."

A Direct Holidays spokeswoman said: "As a responsible tour operator it is never our intention to leave any customer dissatisfied, we have a dedicated customer relations department who take any complaints we receive seriously and deal with each on an individual basis."

Updated: 10:52 Friday, October 10, 2003