Reality television star Lydia Bright has shared details of a disastrous start to her New Year holiday, describing a 13-hour travel ordeal that left her family stranded and out of pocket in Tanzania.
A Journey Plagued by Delays and Chaos
The 34-year-old former The Only Way Is Essex cast member took to her Instagram Stories to document the series of misfortunes that befell her family trip. What began as a celebratory flight with her sister Roma and friend Lucy Burgess—complete with collagen face masks and red wine at 35,000 feet—quickly descended into chaos.
Bright explained that their initial flight was delayed, forcing the group to sprint through Doha's Hamad International Airport to make their connecting flight. Despite requests for assistance, no airport buggies were provided, leaving her parents exhausted and her five-year-old daughter, Loretta Rose, struggling to breathe and in need of an asthma pump.
Lost Luggage and Stolen Cash Compound the Crisis
The situation worsened upon arrival in Tanzania. The family discovered their suitcases had been left behind in Doha without any notification, leading to a lengthy and futile wait at the baggage carousel. This delay caused them to miss their pre-arranged hotel transfer.
Stranded with no clothes or toiletries, the group was forced to travel around the island in search of essentials in 28-degree heat, still dressed in their travel tracksuits and trainers. To compound the misery, Bright revealed that her sister Roma had all of her cash stolen during the chaotic journey.
In a desperate plea for help, the single mother directly called out Qatar Airways on social media. "I would never normally post this but I am getting no clear response from @qatarairways when calling and nobody is replying to any DMs," she wrote. "DO BETTER. Easily the worst travel journey we've ever had."
Making the Best of a Bad Situation
Demonstrating resilience, Bright later shared a more light-hearted post featuring her Dior sandals on the beach, joking about the "collab you never knew you needed" between Dior and Louis Vuitton luggage after the airline lost her bags. She also posted a photo of herself in a local football shirt with a cocktail, captioning it: "My current NYE look. I'm sure my stylist would approve."
The holiday disaster comes shortly after Bright reflected on spending another Christmas "just for us two" with her daughter Loretta. She co-parents Loretta with her ex-partner, mechanic Lee Cronin, from whom she split during her pregnancy. Despite not picturing life as a single mother, Bright has described their story as "more magical than I ever expected."
