Easyjet cancelled flight Paris - Manchester 13.6.24

Steviek_2

This was a connecting flight for us after flying from Athens. We were advised on the way to the airport the flight was cancelled due to a medical emergency on the incoming flight. There was no help at all at the airport as Easyjet have no desk/rep. There was no other flight available from Paris to Manchester so we had to book Athens - Thessoloniki on Aegean and Thessoloniki to Manchester on Jet 2. Opodo took the money 2xs but that is a whole other story. Easyjet have denied our claim for compensation as they say the flight mcr to paris was delayed due to essential services provided by the airport. I feel like issuing a small claim anyway just to put them to as much trouble as possible. What is anyones opinion? Thank you

eskbanker

If EasyJet cancelled a flight due to extraordinary circumstances beyond its control, then their obligations only extend as far as offering you the choice between a refund or a rebooking, but not compensation.  The rebooking obligation would only cover rerouting from Paris to Manchester, so if you had a more extensive itinerary on multiple airlines/bookings then unfortunately that's at your risk.

A court claim would only be viable if you can demonstrate that they're legally obliged to cover additional costs, so on the face of it you'd just be wasting your money in filing - you might find that your travel insurer may cover this though?

saajan_12

Could you not have travelled Athens - Paris and asked Easyjet to reroute you from Paris - Manchester? Via a combination of email / chat / rep in Paris. The Paris - Manchester route being shorter and possibly more frequented, there may have been a cheaper rerouting you found yourself for that leg, to then reclaim from Easyjet if they wouldn't help. 

You likely have a valid claim for the reasonable cost of rerouting (ie the above, not necessarily your new itinerary from starting from Athens OR a refund of your Easyjet tickets. You wouldn't get compensation if it was indeed an extraordinary cause. 

Steviek_2

Thank you for your replies. The flight Paris - Manchester was from Orly there were no flights scheduled from there for 2 days so it would have been a case of Athens - Orly, taxi to Charles de Gaulle and a flight from there which was more expensive. My point of view is if their excuse for the cancellation is valid how did they know that at 3am when the flight wasnt departing till 3pm? I feel like filing anyway even if i lose the issue fee to put Easyjet to more hassle and expense! On the days leading up to the flight that didnt go ahead they literally bombarded with emails and texts count down to this look at that then the flight doesnt go ahead and there is radio silence when you need help. They are impossible to contact at that point and the people at Athens airport were just like "well if you choose to book with these people you take your chances"  Absolute shower they are

eskbanker

Steviek_2 said:

My point of view is if their excuse for the cancellation is valid how did they know that at 3am when the flight wasnt departing till 3pm?

You hadn't mentioned previously that the cancellation was 12 hours before departure, which does indeed seem suspicious if they're asserting that it was due to a medical emergency on the incoming flight, was there any clarification of exactly which 'incoming flight' they were referring to?

However, when you said "Easyjet have denied our claim for compensation as they say the flight mcr to paris was delayed due to essential services provided by the airport", is that a completely separate issue from the medical emergency?

Westin

Both ORY and CDG did have night time curfew restrictions in place on 13 June.  I am also however confused with the latest update of knowing 12 hrs in advance yet reason for the initial delay due to a medical issue on the inbound flight.

The EasyJet App typically is the go-to for all news on disruption, delays, cancellation and importantly welfare and rebooking options.  Most LCC are ‘self-service’ in these cases rather than having teams of people on hand at airports just in case.

I’m somewhat surprised of your rerouting.  Even if no service from ORY I would have expected more options at CDG rather than you flying back via ATH and SKG.

Steviek_2

I do appreciate your continued help on this! The text we received advising of the flight cancellation was timed at 3am but as we were on a cruise ship without wifi i didnt pick it up until i got off the ship and was in the taxi to the airport. Apologies if i did not make that clear before. The text message said the flight was cancelled due to a medical emergency on the incoming flight. The email response from Easyjet to my claim for cancellation compensation said it was a delay due to essential services provided by the airport. I have been reimbursed the easyjet flight fees so i am only looking at claiming the compensation for cancellation now