EasyJet Passenger Takes Compensation Claim to the Press

An EasyJet passenger whose recent flight was scrapped without reason sought compensation from the airline, but was refused. The traveler approached The Guardian’s Anna Tims for assistance and was eventually able to receive not just compensation, but an explanation for the cancellation of her flight.

An EasyJet passenger whose flight was canceled without reason sought compensation from the carrier, but was initially refused, reports The Guardian. However, further investigation by the outlet has uncovered not only the cause of the canceled flight, but recompense for the traveler.

In her letter to the outlet, the passenger, known only as LK, writes that they and seven other friends had flown from Bristol to Marbella two months ago, but that their return flight back to England was scrapped by EasyJet with no explanation.

The passengers were offered seats on a flight that was due to depart Spain for London Luton Airport (LTN) two days after their initial return date. The passengers were told that, not only would they have to make their own way back to Bristol from Luton, but were advised that EasyJet would also not be providing them with accommodation while they waited for their flight from Spain.

“We were initially told at the airport that the cancellation was due to air traffic control strikes, although other flights were departing, and that we could not claim compensation under EC regulations because this was an “extraordinary circumstance”,” the passenger writes.

The party then submitted their claims for compensation and while some of the seven have received this, the passenger who penned the note to the outlet wasn’t initially so lucky. In addition to this, the traveler also explains that, in their correspondence with individual members of the party, the airline offered various reasons for the cancellation.

In her reply, Anna Tims, a consumer affairs journalist with the outlet, writes, “EasyJet rests its case on the fact that on receipt of your claim it informed you that you were eligible for compensation.”

“What, in fact, it did was provide details to help you claim from your travel insurer. You were turned down by the latter because EasyJet blamed crew issues which were excluded from payouts in the insurer’s terms and conditions, whereas technical faults, the reason given to your friend, were covered,” she adds.

Tims further explains, saying, “EasyJet told me this reason was, in fact, given in error and that the delay was due to an absent crew member.”

Tims says that the carrier has now offered the passenger compensation and expenses as well as an apology.

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