A row has broken out after Ryanair prevented a British army private (19) from boarding one of its planes because the airline did not accept his military ID card as valid identification.
The row caused by the airline's refused to allow Pte Alex Phillips on board a flight from Glasgow to Stanstead two weeks' ago now involves three British government ministers.
Pte Phillips, who is due to serve in the Gulf, spent a 24-hour home leave with his parents before returning to his regiment in Colchester for final preparations for being shipped out.
But when his mother phoned Ryanair to check before driving her son to the airport, she was told the Armed Forces ID would not be accepted.
When she explained that her son's passport was held by his regiment, 3 Para, and that her son was faced with being absent without leave, she was told by the Ryanair representative to "get driving" the Daily Telegraphreports.
Mrs Phillips contacted the Scottish Secretary, Ms Helen Liddell, who in turn enlisted the help of British Defence Secretary Mr Geoff Hoon and Transport Secretary, Mr Alistair Darling.
"Instead of spending a day with my son before he goes abroad, I spent it on the phone trying to get him back to base," Mrs Phillips told the newspaper. "Ryanair said they did not care and when I said we might have to drive him to Essex, they told me to 'get driving'.
"The Paras will be among the first in if we go to war and this kind of heartless attitude must be terrible for the morale of those who book with Ryanair," Mrs Phillips said.
She also spoke to Ryanair chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary, who agreed to refund the cost of Pte Phillips's ticket but refused to change his company's policy.
Mrs Phillips last night called for the military to boycott Ryanair unless they recognise the security-cleared passes, but the company is unrepentant.
Ms Kathryn Munro, Ryanair's sales manager in Scotland, said: "Let them boycott us if they want to but they will have to pay higher fares. A member of the military travelling is the same as anyone else.
"They book the ticket and tick the box. They are no different from any Joe Punter travelling on Ryanair".