A Southwest airlines passenger boarded a plane only to receive an email telling him that his trip had been cancelled . Bob Woudstra paid $ 616 ( around £410 ) for a round trip from Grand Rapids to Fort Myers , in Florida . On the day of his flight , the Michigan businessman was dropped off at the airport , made it through security and successfully boarded the plane . A Michigan man was told his flight was cancelled two hours after take off as the airline had no record of him . But two hours into his flight , Mr Woudstra received an e-mail from the U.S carrier , notifying him of its no show policy . The airline told him that he was n't on the plane , so they cancelled his flight Mr Woudstra said , explaining that he had to buy a new return ticket for $ 456 ( around £304 ) . He told MailOnline Travel : ' I think Southwest needs to prove to me I was n't on the plane , cause I have plenty of witnesses that dropped me off in Grand Rapids and picked me up at Ft . Myers . ' After returning home , he called the airline to demand a refund , but was told he 'd need to prove that he was onboard that flight . Southwest airlines say there could have been an error at the gate , which caused the misunderstanding . ' I ca n't believe that with security supposing to be so tight that I could fly on a plane and Southwest does n't even know I was on their plane . 'Southwest does n't acknowledge that I was on the plane , they are just giving me , per Southwest `` the benefit of the doubt '' . 'So that tells me they think I am lying , and Gary the guy I was traveling with must not have been there either , even though his ticket shows up . 'For all the harassment that this has caused Southwest needs to step up . ' I think Southwest needs to prove to me I was n't on the plane , because I have plenty of witnesses that dropped me off in Grand Rapids and picked me up at Fort Myers . ' Southwest Airlines is investigating the incident . A spokesperson said : 'Although we still have n't determined exactly where an error occurred , we will make an exception to the no show policy and refund the price of the second ticket . ' They went on to say that they are often contacted by passengers who have missed their flight and want a refund , but on this case the error may have been at the gate . Mr Woudstra is hoping for a full refund on both the tickets he bought .
Businessman Bob Woudstra , from Michigan , bought a ticket for over £400 . two hours into his round trip flight to Florida , carrier cancelled his flight . Airline says an error at the gate may have caused the misunderstanding .