Easyjet Flight Problems

tomtontom

Weyoun wrote: »

Availability of the destination could likewise be affected by factors outwith the airline's control. Holding a licence doesn't necessarily mean that the destination is available.

I'm not saying they should be held accountable for, say a delay of ten seconds, but surely there must be some reasonable limits. Otherwise I could book a flight to Liverpool for tomorrow and they could turn around and tell me the flight has been delayed by fifty years!

There are limits as to what is an acceptable delay, these are set in law. The OP's flight was an hour late, which is well within those limits.

Sapper26

Thanks for all the 'sound' advice. I'm happy to let the first flight go, but the second one is not so easy. I can confirm he was at the airport and booked in well on time (not telling any fibs, honest). The Easyjet desk said they do not make public addresses at this airport and that it was company policy. However a reply on their email said it was always used if there was a change to scheduling, so who is correct! The £65 'rescue fee' as they call it, is offered to passengers to get the next available flight without having to pay the full fare. But why should he have to pay extra when he was there in plenty of time in the first place. The 30 minute boarding rule varies greatly and is not always as it says on the tin. Also the information he received re the flight stats, differ but they confirmed it had left early, but without giving an explanation.


My son has complained to Easyjet and I am only repeating via this forum his experience to date to see if there is anything that can be done.


They don't actually answer the questions asked, (why did it leave early), it's like banging your head off a brick wall, you can only do it for so long before it hurts!

Caz3121

but if the boarding card says the gate closes 30 minutes before the flight and they get everyone that has presented themselves at the gate on time onboard then they can safely leave. It sounds like it was maybe a quiet flight, they got everyone onboard, got to T-20 or T-15 and nobody was still at the gate to board so they closed the gate with everyone onboard who was at the gate when they were meant to be.
There is a difference between being at the airport on time and being at the gate on time. It sounds like he was through security but not at the gate.
If the flight had left 40 minutes early then I would have thought there would have been more than 2 people left behind

peachyprice

Sapper26 wrote: »

I can confirm he was at the airport and booked in well on time (not telling any fibs, honest).

But was he at the boarding gate on time? That is what is important, not whether he was in the airport or checked in.

Easyjet gates close 30mins before departure, no if's not but's, if you're not at the departure gate 30 mins before they will consider you a no-show. That's not to say people won't still be boarding less than 30 mins before, but if it's a quiet flight they won't keep the gate open for stragglers, they'll leave.

So, logically, 30 mins before departure everyone else had boarded, the gate had closed and your son was still in the main terminal building, that's why they left without him, at 10 mins before the scheduled departure time (confirmed departure time on flight stats, not the 40 mins your son told you) he would have been considered a no show.

Sapper26

As far as I know there were only two who missed it. The other person came to the Easyjet desk when my son was there shortly before it also closed. There may have been others. He made his way to the gate to find it already closed and the flight departed, I don't have an issue with his version of events. I have read the responses from Easyjet myself, and they don't actually answer the questions, the main one being, why did it leave early and secondly, why did he have to pay the rescue fee!

rustyboy21

A jet cannot just take off, when the time it is allocated comes around. The airline and Captain have to file for a take off slot, this could be early, could be later than the time due to depart.


A flight from Belfast to Liverpool around 9 pm, will most likely be 1/2 full if that. If the Captain gets a take off slot for 10 mins prior to schedule, he will take it, as most likely the next slot could be 45 mins late, so you are back to the same scenario as missing trains etc.


They do state '' Remember our boarding gates usually close 30 minutes before the schedule departure time of your flights so make sure you arrive at the airport in plenty of time. Certain airport are subjects to different gate closure times. Always consult your flight confirmation email and boarding pass for details'' It doesn't mean get to the gate 30 mins before, it means they will start offloading passengers after that time. Did he do online check in? How do they know he was actually in the airport if that is the case? Ben on a number of Easyjet flights that have had people not turn up, who checked in online, they don't know until they get to the gate if they are there. They do state that if you are denied boarding, you lose your right to any compensation, you will have to buy another ticket. They are being generous in offering the rescue fee. Flight tonight would cost £81 one way, may cost more than that on the day he missed it.


I think he just needs to put it down to experience, get to the airport, get through security and get to the gate at the times they state, any different and it opens you up to a world of hurt.

Caz3121

The question is not whether the flight left early but whether they closed the gate early - if he turned up at the gate 40 minutes before scheduled departure time and had a boarding card that said the gate closes 30 minutes before departure he has a case
If he turned up at the gate 25 minutes before scheduled departure time to find the gate closed he has no case

Sapper26

Ok, I think I get the picture. Some have good experiences, some not so good. Seem to be one or two who must work for Easyjet though judging by the way they would appear to have access to certain data from the disputed flight. But thank you to everyone who gave their 'qualified' opinions on this issue.


I'll get him to catch the ferry next time

whatmichaelsays

Sapper26 wrote: »

Seem to be one or two who must work for Easyjet

OK, hands up - who had post #19 before this cropped up? Come forward and claim your prize.

FWIW, the aircraft departure stats are freely available online - not just to easyjet employees.

tykesi

I'll get him to catch the ferry next time

Tell him to make sure he's there on time for that though