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EasyJet aren't playing fair | FairPlane UK / 04.09.2017
It would seem reasonable to think that the EasyJet are pretty good at running an airline…that’s their ‘thing’ after all.
With this in mind, it seems strange that they should have responded to one of their passengers claims for flight compensation, by telling them that; “As your flight delay was caused by operational reasons, this is an extraordinary circumstance, so unfortunately you are not eligible for compensation under EU 261.”
To clarify, EU 261 is the European Union regulation that lays out the circumstances in which airlines must pay compensation for disrupted flights. ‘Extraordinary circumstances’ are defined as reasons for delays and cancellations that are beyond the control of the airline and as such mean that the airline is exempt for paying compensation in those circumstances.
The fact that EasyJet believes “Operational reasons” is an adequate explanation for denying the claim for compensation suggests either an ignorance of the EU rules on compensation or perhaps they’re just willing to try any excuse in an effort to avoid paying up.
Denied flight delay compensation
This is just one of many spurious reasons for refusing claims for compensation that we hear about.
EasyJet are developing quite the reputation when it comes to bogus explanations for delays and cancellations. In the past two weeks alone we’re aware of at least two cases where, after being challenged on the reason for not paying flight compensation, they promptly changed their minds and accepted the fault was theirs.
So what’s happening at EasyJet HQ that’s leading to these frankly implausible excuses for delays and cancellations?
Earlier in the year, a Which? survey discovered that EasyJet are the UKs least punctual airline. Almost 1600 flights have been cancelled since January and around a third of all flights arrived late to their destinations.
The general perception of EasyJet has always been what you might call ‘cheap and cheerful’. They didn’t always get things right, but you would probably get a sincere apology…and at the end of the day you weren’t that upset as the cost of the flight was so cheap anyway.
However, something seems to have changed, especially when it comes to claims for compensation. Explanations for the delays often make little or no sense and it’s been widely reported that the reasons passengers are given for the delay at the airport are then often contradicted in later communications.
Is this a sign of disorganisation at EasyJet or all part of a strategy that’s designed to confuse claimants and avoid paying compensation wherever possible?
