*Another* reason NEVER to fly with EasyJet

Danyúl_II

Now I know what you're thinking: "Why would I need another reason not to fly with that joke of an airline?" - but let me assure you, there are plenty of people who still fail to see this airline in the light it deserves.

The story: My girlfriend and I live in Munich, Germany, and we, like many others with little money, often use EasyJet to fly back home to see our families etc. For Christmas we had booked a return journey from Munich to Manchester for 23rd Dec - 3rd Jan.

Our previous EasyJet experience back in August wasn't too bad, but prior to this we were made to wait nearly 90 minutes (after the plane was supposed to be in the air!) in Munich airport before being told there was a delay. When they finally sent us to the coach to be driven to the plane, we then had circled the plane three times, before waiting in the stinking heat while the passengers from the inbound flight disembarked the plane, the luggage was unloaded, the plane was refuelled, cleaned, reloaded with luggage and they gave us the thumbs up to board it. That was bad enough.

Anyhoo, our 23rd Dec flight was OK - no big problems other than again waiting for passengers to leave the flight while we waited 30 mins on the bus, but we expected that.

3rd Jan we got to the airport 90 mins before the flight. We waited about half an hour to check our two suitcases in and collect our boarding cards, then went through security etc. When we got through we noticed our plane had a two hour delay, oh well, it happens to the best of us. 6pm comes and goes - we ought to be on the plane now, yet we were still sat at the gate. 30 mins later and finally they tell us to form two orderly queues. 15 mins after the queues had been formed they started boarding us, well, sending us through the gate.

However, we never did make it to the plane. Instead we were kept waiting on a stairwell, for 45 minutes. Nobody knew why we were not allowed on the plane - I thought it must have been getting cleaned and prepared etc, but couldn't fathom why it was taking so long. Anyway, as I said, 45 mins later and there was a shout from the top of the stairwell, telling us all to come back to the departure lounge. For me standing 45 mins on the stairwell is quite doable, but there were lots of young children, elderly people etc - quite disgraceful to keep them standing there without informing them about what was happening.

So we go back into the lounge, where we were handed a temporary boarding card (I think that's what the miserably EasyJet girl was mumbling, anyway) and told that we'd find out the problem in 15 mins. Eventually they told us the flight had been cancelled - at about 8pm - a good 5 hours after we had arrived at the airport. Their reason? "This is due to staff hours" - ha! That's it. When pushed the fella said due to the delay the pilot would have worked too many hours, which I can understand. But did they not work that our way earlier when they knew there was a delay? Hm...

So we go back to where we checked in, to the EasyJet desk (by the way in the meantime we had booked tickets for the day after with Lufthansa, a lot more expensive - but we had been told EasyJet would refund that if we decided to go with a diff carrier - even though the miserable rude mumbling girl claimed she had no idea if they would or wouldn't do that) where we got in yet another queue, only for them to hand us a piece of paper with an email address on it.

We were told if we email them and give proof of purchasing alternative tickets the cost would be refunded. But what about the fuel for driving three times to the airport in two days? Hardly..

I emailed them that evening with everything, and still haven't received a proper reply from them apart from their standard "we have recieved your email" one.. So I called them today, waiting 10 minutes in a queue at 10p per minute, when the girl - nice as she was - claimed she couldn't find my proof of alternative ticket purchase so wouldn't / couldn't refund the tickets until I had emailed back!

So I emailed right back, and she assures me the money will be returned today. No word as to whether they will refund the fuel costs, which I requested - I assume they will give as little as they have to.

Utter scumbag company, and we will never be flying with them again. You may have to pay a bit more to fly with an airline like Lufthansa, but it is definitely worth it for the free on-board food, drinks, newspapers and all-round superb treatment by their staff.

Never fly with EasyJet!

HXDave

curious here, as firstly you quote:

So we go back to where we checked in, to the EasyJet desk (by the way in the meantime we had booked tickets for the day after with Lufthansa, a lot more expensive

and then you quote:

You may have to pay a bit more to fly with an airline like Lufthansa,

so in one breath you mention you pay a lot more to fly with an alternative airline, and then another breath you claim it's only a little bit more. Could you make your mind up please.

Aside from that, if you want to make use of a multi million pound method of transportation but yet pay peanuts to use it, then dont complain when things (occassionally) go wrong. You know this situation could have easily happened to a Lufthansa flight too (in fact, it probably does!).

HXDave

Danyúl_II

HXDave wrote: »

so in one breath you mention you pay a lot more to fly with an alternative airline, and then another breath you claim it's only a little bit more. Could you make your mind up please.

Aside from that, if you want to make use of a multi million pound method of transportation but yet pay peanuts to use it, then dont complain when things (occassionally) go wrong. You know this situation could have easily happened to a Lufthansa flight too (in fact, it probably does!).

HXDave

Ah, don't be curious.

Sometimes (in our case, at least) the Lufthansa option is merely a fiver or so dearer, yet on other occasions the difference has been a lot more.

It all depends how long before the flight you book the ticket, as you know. As you'll understand, I would assume, booking a flight for the day after because you've been let down by EasyJet, it always going to be a lot more expensive than what you paid when you booked your EasyJet flight two months in advance....

And in any case, Lufthansa is generally more expensive than EasyJet.

And it's actually more than 'occasionally' when things have gone wrong with EasyJet. Not one flight (from five) has left on time or within about 30 minutes of the time of departure, and it is completely unacceptable to be locked on a coach in the middle of summer in 35 degree heat while the EasyJet staff clean the plane and have the luggage from the previous flight unloaded.

As of yet, from two Lufthansa flights, both have left within 10 minutes of departure time, and we have experienced absolutely zero similar difficulties like we have with EasyJet.

lucylucky

"Now I know what you're thinking: "Why would I need another reason to fly with that joke of an airline?" "

You lost me after that because it was not what I was thinking.

dmg24

Dany!l_II wrote: »

Now I know what you're thinking: "Why would I need another reason to fly with that joke of an airline?" - but let me assure you, there are plenty of people who still fail to see this airline in the light it deserves.

I can't be bothered to read the rest of your ramble, but just to confirm I was not thinking that.

Edit: Great minds!

Danyúl_II

lucylucky wrote: »

"Now I know what you're thinking: "Why would I need another reason to fly with that joke of an airline?" "

You lost me after that because it was not what I was thinking.

dmg24 wrote: »

I can't be bothered to read the rest of your ramble, but just to confirm I was not thinking that.

Edit: Great minds!

Oh yeh - I missed out a "not" !
Glad to see you won't be throwing any money their way, then(!) :beer:

dmg24

Dany!l_II wrote: »

Glad to see you won't be throwing any money their way, then(!) :beer:

You seem to have misread!

Danyúl_II

oops!

Anyway - I do understand lots of people don't mind the endless queues, the flights never departing on time, the rude staff - because the fares are generally cheaper.

Worst airline ever, even worse than RyanAir whose flights (we've probably used them about five times) always leave on time.

HXDave

Worst airline ever, even worse than RyanAir whose flights (we've probably used them about five times) always leave on time.

In which fantasy world is that then?

HXDave

MsBubu

Stop complaining!

Didn't you see on the telly that thousands of people were lying around airports for days, week even to make their transatlantic flight??? This is the only option for us going back to Canada and USA, yet you have the choice to take a train and/or ferry...

I was happy I was not one of those people, but still, all my flights had delays... This is what you have to expect in winter, even all year round...

If you know not to take EasyJet, why do you use it then?

lucinad

i have flown with easyjet for a lot of years ( well them and jet2) and yes i have had a few delays but as said i assume these things happen with loads of airline and we have always been treated well by them we were given a free transfer for any date when our flight was cancelled (it was a much more expensive flight that we transfered to) and when we were delayed we were given food and drink vouchers while we waited.

i am sure had you joined the queue for the help desk they would have offered you a free flight transfer which i suppose doesnt help if you are on a tight time scheme but i usually am ok for changing dates.

i have just booked my flight with ryan air for the first time and loads of people are saying i am crazy, but the way i see it is, i am getting a cheap flight so i will expect a few problem and if everything goes smoothly then excellent. half the fun of holidays is at the airport (well maybe not half! lol)