Easyjet manipulating flight departures

MjosR

My recent flight to Malaga was called and passengers queued at the gate. An announcement was made that there was a technical fault with the plane and that everyone should return to the departure lounge. Eventually the flight was called again some hours later.

However, soon after takeoff the pilot apologised to passengers advising that the plane intended for our flight had been re-deployed for use on a flight that had been delayed due to an unrelated problem earlier in the day.

The reality was that our plane had no fault, and there was no reason to delay us. Easyjet probably avoided compensating another plane load of passengers by stealing our plane, and (they say) delivering us 2 hours and 58 minutes late, just within the 3 hours.

I have approached Easyjet for compensation, which they have declined. This seems to be a manipulative abuse of the compensation rules, delaying "innocent" passengers in order that others do not earn compensation.

Is this commonplace and accepted in the industry?

Vauban

MjosR wrote: »

My recent flight to Malaga was called and passengers queued at the gate. An announcement was made that there was a technical fault with the plane and that everyone should return to the departure lounge. Eventually the flight was called again some hours later.

However, soon after takeoff the pilot apologised to passengers advising that the plane intended for our flight had been re-deployed for use on a flight that had been delayed due to an unrelated problem earlier in the day.

The reality was that our plane had no fault, and there was no reason to delay us. Easyjet probably avoided compensating another plane load of passengers by stealing our plane, and (they say) delivering us 2 hours and 58 minutes late, just within the 3 hours.

I have approached Easyjet for compensation, which they have declined. This seems to be a manipulative abuse of the compensation rules, delaying "innocent" passengers in order that others do not earn compensation.

Is this commonplace and accepted in the industry?

I don't think anyone can fault them for that, to be honest. At least they are obeying the law ...

111KAB

Have you checked that it was 2 minutes short of 180? I do however agree with Vauban insofar as they are within the EU Regulation.

MjosR

111KAB wrote: »

Have you checked that it was 2 minutes short of 180? I do however agree with Vauban insofar as they are within the EU Regulation.

I haven't checked, where do I get this information please?

Still seems unreasonable to delay 150 people on this basis, and to initially lie about the reason!

111KAB

MjosR wrote: »

I haven't checked, where do I get this information please?

Still seems unreasonable to delay 150 people on this basis, and to initially lie about the reason!

Start off with page one of any airline thread and go onto flightstats ~ you will need to register (free)

MjosR

111KAB wrote: »

Start off with page one of any airline thread and go onto flightstats ~ you will need to register (free)

The flight shows as departing 3 hours and 15 minutes late, but magically landed 179mins late!

Caz3121

MjosR wrote: »

The flight shows as departing 3 hours and 15 minutes late, but magically landed 179mins late!

that is not uncommon. Airlines will tend to be scheduled to fly at a fuel efficient (rather than fastest) speed. When they are running behind schedule they can often make up time by putting their foot down

I had a flight a couple of weeks ago that departed 58 minutes late (2 and a half hour flight) it arrived 30 minutes late so actually knocked 20% off the scheduled flying time

pelirocco

Tbh i thought all airlines did the same thing . We were once delayed 26 hrs on a Virgin flight , they said the plane had been hit by a pelican .I have my doubts as we were flying on the busiest day of the year and it was at the same time that Las Vegas had experienced bad snow fall and no planes had been able to fly out ( or in ) there for a couple of days .........so wondered if ''our'' plane had been diverted to help the back log

They did award us a few thousand airmiles , which i never got round to claiming

friendofbillw2

MjosR wrote: »

This seems to be a manipulative abuse of the compensation rules, delaying "innocent" passengers in order that others do not earn compensation.

Or ensuring that a larger number of passengers suffer a little inconvenience, rather than some being 'all right jack' and others suffering a horrendous delay.

I WANT my airlines shuffling resources to meet operational hiccups. And clearly the regulators do too.

"Innocent" passengers? We're ALL innocent, matey...