Short notice cancellation: Compensation in addition to re-booked flight?

pthompson

Hi,

EasyJet cancelled my flight a couple of hours before scheduled departure -- and rebooked me on a long circuitous replacement the following day.  They also refunded me the £35 difference in fares.   

My question:  Am I also due compensation from them?   They said it was due to "circumstances beyond their control", but didn't elaborate on the reason.

My weekend break in Venice was cut in half, and it was too late to cancel the unused first night of my hotel.

Thanks.

Westin

Was the cancellation from last weekend, or the weekend before?

Poor weather led to lots of ATC restrictions being put in place.

pthompson

Thanks for your response, but it was neither of those weekends.   

Actually my question is more general:   Assuming the cancellation was the airline's fault, is the passenger also due compensation in addition to getting moved to a next-day flight?

steve1500

If the Airlines fault then yes compo

Westin

pthompson said:

Thanks for your response, but it was neither of those weekends.   

Actually my question is more general:   Assuming the cancellation was the airline's fault, is the passenger also due compensation in addition to getting moved to a next-day flight?

Potentially, yes.  Much depends on the reason for the delay/cancellation. If within the airline’s control then generally compensation may be due.  If outside of the airline’s control (“ circumstances beyond their control"?) then probably not.

pthompson

An update: 

Easyjet's paid me 'regulatory compensation' of £220 + £216 for the hotel at Gatwick + £51 for meals + the £35 difference in price between my original flight and the replacement flight they put me on the next day.   

It doesn't quite make up for a lost day in Venice (particularly as it was too late to cancel my first night's hotel there) but it definitely softened the blow. 

Thanks to everyone who replied.   

eskbanker

pthompson said:

They said it was due to "circumstances beyond their control", but didn't elaborate on the reason.

pthompson said:

An update: 

Easyjet's paid me 'regulatory compensation' of £220...

Out of curiosity, how much back and forth was involved that moved the reason from something beyond their control to something they accepted liability for, i.e. did they ever explicitly reject the compensation claim based on alleged 'extraordinary circumstances', etc?

pthompson

There was no back-and-forth at all.    I'd originally claimed for just my expenses (not realising I was due compensation in addition), and they paid that without quibble.    Then a couple of weeks later I submitted a claim for compensation, and they paid that without question too :-)   

I wonder if the phrase "circumstances beyond our control" in their notification of cancellation might always be included to dissuade claims?

eskbanker

Fair enough - I suppose there is actually a bit of a grey area in that some root causes might be beyond the airline's control but not necessarily qualifying as extraordinary circumstances as such!