The return leg: Holidaymaker forgets false limb in mad dash to airport

IF YOU think the phoniest feature of a return flight home from holiday is the orangina tan, it probably is.

That is because the false teeth — and occasionally the false legs — of our fellow travellers have failed to make it on board.

Instead of smiles to heighten the glow of bronzed skin, you could find yourself dazzled by what looks like a row of unpopped popcorn kernels, courtesy of the passenger who left his fake choppers soaking in his bedside glass.

According to Budget Travel, we Irish are prone to leaving our falsies behind in the mad dash to the airport for the return flight home.

In the top 10 list of items that do not make it to the suitcase, false teeth weigh in at number four. Topping the lost table are house and car keys, guaranteed to make your arrival home as welcoming as our weather. Driving licences and mobile phones rank at numbers two and three.

Shoes are next up, and one shoe at that, rendering its dancing partner completely useless. For reasons unknown, Jimmy Choo creations are particularly vulnerable to the vagaries of bad packing. Prada bags also fall by the wayside, making up the bulk of luxury items left behind.

Diamond engagement rings and Gucci watches frequently fall foul of efforts to fill our suitcases, making a mockery of the promise that diamonds are forever.

Forgotten reading glasses add to the inconvenience and cameras and camcorders holding favourite holiday memories are frequently left under beds or in drawers. Coats complete the list of possessions Irish holidaymakers typically forget to pack. One customer legged it at such a rate that he left one of his limbs behind.

Head of marketing at Budget Travel Clem Walshe said: “No doubt we have all forgotten something at one stage or another when packing for home after a relaxing holiday in the sun, however some items found in our properties are not your usual items — one member of our staff found a prosthetic leg left in a wardrobe in Spain.

“Unfortunately, because of the sheer volume of passengers, we cannot take responsibility for items left behind but we do assist people as best we can in recovering their valuables,” he said.

A set of handcuffs also made it the list of once-off items that failed to make it home. Budget is still waiting for the owner to come forward with his/her hands up.