Departure time 6 hours later EU 261/2004

steve1500

Our Easy Jet flight in April now departing at 1200 as against the original 0600, which is now problematic

I've searched 261 high & low and can't find anything, other than delay

Anyone know if this is covered anywhere? No issues if is classed as a delay, they can get their cheque book out

MeteredOut

Schedule changes do not count as a delays under EU261.

What do EasyJet's T&Cs say? Carriers typically have clauses that if the schedule flight times changes by > x hours, you can cancel and get a full refund or be moved an alternate flight with them.

Check this: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-changes/

It's over 18 months old, but says Easyjet calls 5+ hours change a significant change and should allow for a full refund or change to an alternate flight.

Chances of compensation as pretty much zero.

eskbanker

The UK/EU 261/2004 regulations are really aimed at delays and cancellations at or around the time of travel, rather than rescheduling long beforehand.

EasyJet's policy is reportedly a change of five hours to trigger refund rights, although I'm not sure exactly where this is documented (it's mentioned in the MSE article about flight changes), but aren't they advising you of your options in the notification of the reschedule?

steve1500

refund or the new flight time, which is no good

Was hoping there would be something in 261 similar to cancellation

eskbanker

steve1500 said:

refund or the new flight time, which is no good

Was hoping there would be something in 261 similar to cancellation

Even a cancellation under 261 wouldn't qualify for compensation if notified over 14 days ahead.

jimi_man

I’m afraid that this far out, you’re not entitled to anything. 

steve1500

I know about the 14 day rule, which is specific to cancelations.

Was hoping that there maybe something similar to re-routing, which if necessary, can be another Airline.

MeteredOut

steve1500 said:

I know about the 14 day rule, which is specific to cancelations.

Was hoping that there maybe something similar to re-routing, which if necessary, can be another Airline.

No chance Easyjet will re-route you on another airline.

Over 14 days out, accept, cancel for full refund or alternate flight with same airline are your options, unfortunately.

mdann52

MeteredOut said:

steve1500 said:

I know about the 14 day rule, which is specific to cancelations.

Was hoping that there maybe something similar to re-routing, which if necessary, can be another Airline.

No chance Easyjet will re-route you on another airline.

Over 14 days out, accept, cancel for full refund or alternate flight with same airline are your options, unfortunately.

Erm, no. 

The flight is legally considered cancelled as the scheduled departure time has been changed more than 4 hours. This means that have to offer rerouting at the earliest available opportunity.

The CAA guidelines are very clear that this involves rebooking on other airlines if the times offered do not work for passengers. The regulations are silent on the question of who operates the replacement flights.

The "14 days" are only significant for the question of compensation. The rest of the rights are unaffected

eskbanker

mdann52 said:

The flight is legally considered cancelled as the scheduled departure time has been changed more than 4 hours.

I wasn't aware that advance rescheduling of a flight (as opposed to significant delay from the most recently published schedule) is deemed equivalent to cancellation - do you have any citations for this?

jimi_man

mdann52 said:

MeteredOut said:

steve1500 said:

I know about the 14 day rule, which is specific to cancelations.

Was hoping that there maybe something similar to re-routing, which if necessary, can be another Airline.

No chance Easyjet will re-route you on another airline.

Over 14 days out, accept, cancel for full refund or alternate flight with same airline are your options, unfortunately.

Erm, no. 

The flight is legally considered cancelled as the scheduled departure time has been changed more than 4 hours. This means that have to offer rerouting at the earliest available opportunity.

The CAA guidelines are very clear that this involves rebooking on other airlines if the times offered do not work for passengers. The regulations are silent on the question of who operates the replacement flights.

The "14 days" are only significant for the question of compensation. The rest of the rights are unaffected

This isn't correct. Over 14 days notice it's considered a schedule change and in EasyJet's T's and C's (which are key in this situation) it states that over five hours change is a significant change. That triggers the refund/reschedule requirement which the OP knows about. It does not mean that it's 'legally cancelled'. If the flight number changes then it may well be a different story, but the OP hasn't stated this.