Easyjet compensation claim: what can expect?

zeospeed

Hi,

Just a bit of advice. Our flight with Easyjet (Rome to London) was cancelled last Sunday due to the fog in Gatwick. We had to get back to work on the Monday early, and Easyjet could not provide an alternate flight until Wednesday (for 2 passengers). They did provide temporary overnight accommodation.

I was advised by the counter clerk that I can claim all expenses (refund of old flight, cost of new flight, any additional expenses). I have provided receipts for the following:

1. new flight rebooked with Ryan Air
2. taxi from temporary accommodation to airport the next day.
3. taxi from London Stansted to my home (I was initially due to go to Gatwick and take the train).
(4. the full refund of the return flight).

How much of this can I expect to get back? I hope to get my counter-argument ready as I suspect they are going to take ages to get back to me.

Thanks

richardw

Did easyJet agree to you being re-routed on Ryanair?

glentoran99

zeospeed wrote: »

Hi,

Just a bit of advice. Our flight with Easyjet (Rome to London) was cancelled last Sunday due to the fog in Gatwick. We had to get back to work on the Monday early, and Easyjet could not provide an alternate flight until Wednesday (for 2 passengers). They did provide temporary overnight accommodation.

I was advised by the counter clerk that I can claim all expenses (refund of old flight, cost of new flight, any additional expenses). I have provided receipts for the following:

1. new flight rebooked with Ryan Air
2. taxi from temporary accommodation to airport the next day.
3. taxi from London Stansted to my home (I was initially due to go to Gatwick and take the train).
(4. the full refund of the return flight).

How much of this can I expect to get back? I hope to get my counter-argument ready as I suspect they are going to take ages to get back to me.

Thanks

Im not sure you can claim a refund of the old flight and the cost of the new flight, that would mean you haven't paid for anything, also don't think they will pay your taxis to and from the airports.


Travel insurance is your best bet, given it was fog cancelled your flight and they provided accommodation and a new flight id be surprised if they pay anything

Caz3121

zeospeed wrote: »

I was advised by the counter clerk that I can claim all expenses (refund of old flight, cost of new flight, any additional expenses)

It would be unusual to receive reimbursement of the new flight and refund of the original flight as that would mean you have travelled for free
The challenge you will have is that had you stayed with the Easyjet flight they would have been responsible for the hotel and expenses between Sunday and the alternative flight on Wednesday with no argument
The norm during the Ash Cloud was, once you chose to arrange your alternative travel elsewhere you would remove the airline from their liability and you would receive a refund for your unused flight but that would be it

zeospeed

Thanks guys. The minimum I am expecting is the cost difference between my new flight and old flight. I spoke to the adviser who stated that the compensation from my receipts exceeded the amount they can authorise so they are passing it to the finance department. The adviser stated that as there were two of us and they were not able to provide a flight for 3 days that I was entitled to compensation. How much that is I'm not sure. And I don't know if they were just paying lip service.

I did take out travel insurance, going to contact them tomorrow.

My argument is that I had to pay extra as Easy Jet couldn't get me back until 72 hours after when they were supposed to.

glentoran99

zeospeed wrote: »

My argument is that I had to pay extra as Easy Jet couldn't get me back until 72 hours after when they were supposed to.

as this post says

richardw wrote: »

Did easyJet agree to you being re-routed on Ryanair?

did easyjet agree the switch? Did you even ask and did you cancel the original flight or just not turn up?

zeospeed

No I turned up, checked in went all the way to the gate. Then I queued up to reschedule the flight at the Easy Jet desk. I only cancelled the flight after I came back to London as I didn't want to take any chances re: accommodation etc whilst in Rome (I figured with an open return I would always be Easy Jet's responsibility). I was advised that as there was no flight available within 24 hours I could get compensation.

glentoran99

zeospeed wrote: »

No I turned up, checked in went all the way to the gate. Then I queued up to reschedule the flight at the Easy Jet desk. I only cancelled the flight after I came back to London as I didn't want to take any chances re: accommodation etc whilst in Rome (I figured with an open return I would always be Easy Jet's responsibility). I was advised that as there was no flight available within 24 hours I could get compensation.

that could be your stumbling block, as far as Easy jet are concerned they fulfilled their obligations Re: accommodation and flight you didn't tell them you were changing flight, hopefully you get sorted though

zeospeed

Thanks. At the very least the surely would have to refund the ticket is that correct? (i.e. I paid£300 2 tickets with reserved seating, which I did not end up using).

And also, should I inform my travel insurance at the same time? When I spoke to them last Sunday briefly they said that it was Easy jet's prerogative to sort out compensation.

Caz3121

you should certainly get a refund of the unused ticket
I would be careful using the word "compensation" as weather delays mean "compensation is not due" What you are asking for is reimbursement of expenses
Had Easyjet rebooked you to Stansted the travel to get you back to Gatwick would also have been covered but I would expect them to decline, as this was your choice to book an alternative flight to a different airport (all be it for good reason)
Interestingly, if you had told them on Sunday that you were not taking the rescheduled flight with them and were going to make your own arrangements, they would likely not have covered the accommodation either. (certainly that was the situation during the ash cloud)
Taxi back to the airport would be fine if it was to get you onto the rescheduled flight Easyjet put you on, but the journey was actually to get you to your Ryanair flight so not Easyjet responsibility.
Reimbursement from Easyjet of the unused tickets should be simple
Anything else from Easyjet I think should be treated as a bonus with travel insurance to pick up what Easyjet don't cover (so if new tickets were £400 and you get refund of £300 from Easyjet, you would be looking to claim the £100 from insurance)
Good luck and hope you do get costs covered one way or the other

richardw

It is worth noting what Article 8 of EU Reg EC 261/2004 actually says and if you had clearly asked easyJet to re-route on your preferred Ryanair flight and they refused, then you would have a claim.

Art 8 doesn't say 're-routing by booked air carrier only'.