Travel insurance, Easyjet and the Missed departure

Takmon

lchris21 wrote: »

7:55am....and no, I don't check Google maps every time I make a journey..... Another one down to me?..... unforeseen traffic congestion??? Tractor in a country lane? Overly hesitant other motorists, learner drivers stalling at junctions, temporary road works lights stuck on red, buses pulling out / stopping at bust stops, That phenomenon on motorway where you grind to a halt sit there for 10 minutes, with nothing 5 miles up the road....nothing, the list is endless...!!!......like I've tried to explain to the claims handling company how can I quantify a cumulative effect of congestion when trying to negotiate dozens of roads both minor and major.......impossible

7:55am sounds a reasonable time to leave for a 2 hour journey and i would have left at a similar time if i were in your position.

I don't check Google Maps for every journey but i do check it when i need to catch a flight or a ship/ferry at a certain time. The traffic data is very accurate because it uses the position of all android phones and other devices using google maps to track traffic movement. So is very good at diverting you before you hit unexpected congestion.
I'm not saying you should have used it but it's a good idea too, even if you just check before you leave to see if you need to change the route you planned to go.

Kentish_Dave

Takmon, they were at the airport in time but EasyJet did not allow them to check-in, making them wait.

elsien

adindas wrote: »

How to get free certificate of posting from the post ?
Are they willing to provide this without extra cost ?

Yes. Hand over letter and say "can I have proof of posting please."
That's it.

MEM62

andrew957 wrote: »

What was the expected arrival time of the OP vs the OP's actual arrival time at the airport that you've drawn this conclusion from?

As you can see as clearly as I can, in the original post those times are not detailed and therefore it should also be apparent that this would not have been the basis for my assumption. The OP joined the check-in queue 15 minutes before the flight closed. That is the basis for my assumption.

lchris21 wrote: »

Flight was departing at 12:50. Guidelines on Easyjet recommend the standard 2-hrs before departure, but clearly states the check-in does not close until 40-minutes before departure (12:10pm). I allowed approx 3hrs for the 89 mile journey, a journey I have made dozens of times in well under 2hrs or less. I arrived at the queue at 11:55am so had 15-minutes to the 40min cut-off get to the automated check in station. The queue of approx 12 people was being managed by an Easyjet representative. I made it clearly known to the person, that my closing time was approaching and as I was checking oversize luggage (a 32kg bike box) and I would need to immediately to proceed to the manned check-in desks as I'd done it on several occasions. They make you queue for the automated station, realize your bag is oversize then direct you to the manned desks.....This was refused/ignored, and the deadline expired by a few minutes by the time Id reached a machine. I was directed to the customer services desk who refused to help and just wanted to sell me an alternative flight even though every Easyjet flight I have ever been on they are loading the hold luggage as you board!!....there was plenty of time to facilitate this as it is a small airport Bristol, not a multi-terminal mega airport like Heathrow etc......
My alternative flight, coincidentally with Easyjet some 4hrs later required me to check in my oversize baggage.......yep you've guessed, straight at the manned check in desk, and I eventually watched my bag trundle out on baggage handlers trailer as I walked up the steps to the plane.. !!!

maybe I'll get nowhere..........but not without a fight

It is always an ache missing a flight. Sometimes you can push timings and get away with it and on other occasions you miss your flight.

This issue in your case is that you had a perfect storm of delayed arrival at the airport, a check-in that wasn't straightforward/routine and Customer service personnel that were not properly aware of the required check-in procedure. If you take any one of those out of the equation you would have flown. That gives you a problem with proving liability. The airline is likely to take the same view I did when I read your initial post. And with a 15-minute window to complete check-in I have some, although not too much, sympathy for their position. It is not much of a window to get checked in and only achievable if everything ran like clockwork. And budget carriers are not always known for their efficiency from a passenger viewpoint. Had you had more time at the airport it would not have been an issue.

I can understand the desire to fight your case and I wish you luck with it.