Easyjet cancellations and refunds

picklepranks

laslomas said:

I have flights booked for a family of 10 for half term week at the end of May at a cost of £3,200. They are not cancelled yet, but as EasyJet announced their planes are grounded for 2 months, seems inevitable. It took a year to plan and get everybody together for this holiday so not easy to re-organise within the time-frame of the current schedule, the best thing for us would be to move our flights to the same time next year. EasyJet's only option for us as "flights are operating as normal" is to move the flights to another date within the current schedule. There is the option to move them again once the next schedule is released. If the flights are cheaper they will not refund any money, but if more expensive I will be charged the difference. 

I could re-book flights for all 10 of us and actually lose half of the money I have already paid. Also, it is possible they will start charging to change flights again, as "change fees will apply for changes made once the fee waiver has ended." so more out of pocket.
 
I have read on the website that once the flight is cancelled they could offer me a flight voucher. But the voucher is only valid for 6 months. Absolutely of no use to us.

I would happily leave my money with EasyJet and accept a 'placeholder' for the same flights next year, at the same cost. I think this would be a great idea and help others in my position. It would also help the company as they would still have my money. 
But how do I get in touch with EasyJet? My messages have remained unanswered, as have their phones.

Does anyone else think a 'placeholder' would help their situation? 

Anyone can change their flights to a different date but they're only accepting bookings up until Feb next year; not sure many airlines would allow you to book more than a year in advance anyway, if you're hoping to move the flights to the same time next year. 
The vouchers are only for people whose flights are cancelled by the airline so that doesn't apply to you at this stage, although I agree a voucher with a longer lifespan would be helpful in the event of a cancellation

jamsplat

I've managed to get through this afternoon on the 124th attempt     eta: on the 0330 365 5000 number (and you only need your booking reference number). Lots of non-starts with the engaged tone, and there's a 100 second pre-recorded message that tells you they're really, really busy then cuts you off. Be careful though I think as the recording that will put you through to a human actually starts with the same first few words as the one that eventually hangs up on you, so resist the temptation to instantly hang up! They told me 3-5 working days for a refund so we'll see what happens. 

Only to add that the man I spoke to sounded thoroughly worn out, please remember they're just people like us on the end of the line and don't vent at them, it's really not their fault. 

simon_r

We have flights booked on 23rd and 30th May.  Presumably these are captured by EZ's two month grounding of fleet.
However we have not been notified of cancellation, and the flights are still open for booking on the website - so we can't even request a refund yet.
Does anyone know how far out flights are being officially cancelled? 

bradders1983

simon_r said:

We have flights booked on 23rd and 30th May.  Presumably these are captured by EZ's two month grounding of fleet.
However we have not been notified of cancellation, and the flights are still open for booking on the website - so we can't even request a refund yet.
Does anyone know how far out flights are being officially cancelled? 

Only a few days before by the looks. You are going to have to be patient.

J_B

MrsHiggie said:

I'm curious to know how many others were able to get onto the easyjet website, right after the cancellation email and click on the refund option under manage bookings?  I was able to and its still showing as 'refund processing'.

They cancelled our flights to we logged on and pressed 'refund' - we've not had a refund (yet) but our return flight is not due to travel till 3rd April. We can log into our booking and it says 'refund being processed' ... but ... nothing yet

We paid with Amex so will call them next week (maybe a shorter wait time?) perhaps

nedwalsh

easyJet are only giving vouchers, not refunds. Is this legal?

laslomas

nedwalsh said:

easyJet are only giving vouchers, not refunds. Is this legal?

Where did you see this?  I really hope this is not so as a voucher is no use for me and my family as it needs to be used within 6 months. Our big family holiday took a year to organise and cannot be reorganised again within the 6 months..

Aylesbury_Duck

laslomas said:

nedwalsh said:

easyJet are only giving vouchers, not refunds. Is this legal?

Where did you see this?  I really hope this is not so as a voucher is no use for me and my family as it needs to be used within 6 months. Our big family holiday took a year to organise and cannot be reorganised again within the 6 months..

It's all over the forum and common to lots of companies.

Caz3121

there is evidence in this thread and others that refunds are an option (not Easyjets preferred option and they have removed the ability to request online) the challenge is getting through to them on the phone

pgoncalv

I am havijng the same issue with Easyjet. We had some flights to Edinburgh, booked before the covid measures were put in place. We learnt that the place we were going to was not going to be entertaining any visitors but since insurance does not  cover internal flights, we sat still.
Easyjet suggested rebooking (and effectively that would mean booking in the knoweldge of corona), so we sat still. 
Yesterday eventually Easyjet reported that they cancelled the flights  and that we would be entitled to a refund amongst otehr options. When I logon, I still see some flights the following day but we clearly just want the money back. There  is only an option for vouchers. Has anyone been able to get a normal refund. After all, they cancelled the flights? 
Also, I wonder what the position is regarding being entitled to compensation under european regulations. Are we no longer covered by it. Because from the text that Easyjet puts on their website it looks like we should and I imagine their insurance is meant to cover them.