Thousands of holidaymakers’ plans ruined as easyJet cancels 1,700 flights – your rights explained if your plane is grounded
The news that easyJet has cancelled 1,700 Gatwick flights this summer has left many travellers’ plans in disarray.
Around 180,000 customers are affected by the cancellations, which are hitting flights both into and out of London’s Gatwick airport over the next three months.
It has left many easyJet travellers wondering about their rights if their flight is affected – and whether they’re entitled to compensation.
Here’s what you need to know.
What are my rights?
If your Easyjet flight is cancelled, you have three options:
- Switch to another flight for free, including flights to or from nearby airports within the same country, or indirect flights on the easyJet network
- Choose a voucher for the full value of your booking. The voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and is valid across the Eaasyjet network
- Get a refund for the full value of your booking
You can make your choice after logging into easyJet’s website or app, under ‘Manage Bookings’.
Can I also get compensation?
In some cases, yes, you can – and under EU law this can be up to €600.
If your flight is cancelled – or delayed so that you arrive at least three hours after the scheduled arrival time – you may be entitled to:
- £220 / €250 for flights of 1500 km or less
- £350 / €400 for flights within Europe of more than 1500 km, and all other flights between 1500 and 3500 km
- £520 / €600 for all other flights of 3500km or more
This isn’t paid in ‘extraordinary circumstances’ over which the airline had no control, such as bad weather or natural disasters.
You need to submit a separate claim for compensation online.
The compensation is reduced by 50% if easyJet is able to offer you re-routing on an alternative flight to your final destination that was scheduled to arrive:
- No more than two hours after your original flight arrival time, for flights of 1500 km or less
- No more than three hours after your original flight arrival time for all flights between 1500 and 3500km in Europe
- No more than four hours after your original flight arrival time for any other flights
Can I claim expenses such as hotels?
If your Easyjet flight is cancelled (or delayed by three hours or more – two hours if your flight distance was 1500km or less) you are also entitled to:
- Reasonable meals and refreshments while waiting
- Hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel, where a stay of one or more nights is needed (until the earliest available flight) – provided the cancellation is after you arrive at the airport. You can request a room on Manage Bookings.
- The cost of two phone calls (or fax/email).
You can also submit claims for these additional expenses using easyJet’s online form.
MORE : Boy, 17, left stranded without wheelchair on holiday after easyJet ‘lost it’
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