In the past couple of days easyJet have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights amid staff absences related to covid.
As a result, passengers have been left stranded without knowing where they can stay for the night with some having their flight cancelled just hours before they were due to fly.
The budget airline is so far said to have cancelled 222 flights affecting around 15,000 people with a total of 66 flights pulled from today's (April 4) scheduled alone.
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Now many are trying to find an alternative way home - but many are unaware of what to do should they find themselves in this situation.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: "These cancellations will cause huge frustration for individuals and families who were eagerly awaiting an Easter getaway. This period was always likely to be a popular holiday time and there is a responsibility on airlines to ensure they have the capacity to run all of the flights they schedule.
"Most passengers will just want to get where they need to be, despite this disruption, so airlines must meet their legal obligations and inform passengers of their right to be rerouted with other carriers or claim a refund. Affected passengers will be entitled to at least £220 compensation in these circumstances to cover out of pocket costs, and airlines should provide refreshments and accommodation as required while their customers await their new flight."
So if this does happen, here's everything you need to know...
What should I do if easyJet cancel my flight?
easyJet have said affected customers will be contacted as soon as possible and if cancelled, they will be able to chose from three options.
These include:
- Rebooking themselves on alternative flight(s)
- Receive a voucher
- Receive a full refund
How to keep track of my easyJet flight to see if it is cancelled or delayed
Travellers can keep up-to-date with their flight with easyJet's online Flight Tracker here. The tracker can also be accessed via the mobile app by going to the 'tracker' option on the bottom right hand corner of their screen.
This option will only show you flights two days in advanced - for example, today you can only see flights set to depart from today (April 4) until Wednesday (April 6).
If your flight is further away, easyJet asks passengers to sign in by using their booking reference and last name or their account details. You can simply view your flight and ensure you are checked in before arrival.
easyJet options when your flight is cancelled - explained
If your flight is cancelled, easyJet says there are several options which can be requested quickly via Manage Bookings on their website or via the easyJet App.
These options include:
- Switch to another flight for free
Travellers can search easyJet flights and make changes to their booking via Manage Bookings. When making changes online, passengers can choose from any alternative flights on the same route. If travellers want to change the departure or arrival airport to another one within the same country, easyJet say they will need to contact their customer services team.
- Choose a voucher for the full value of a booking
The voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and these can be requested via Manage Bookings also.
- Request a refund
easyJet passengers state that passengers can get a refund for the full value of their booking back into the account they paid the tickets within seven days. Once an online refund request has been submitted it can be tracked here.
For those who have booked through a tour operator or travel agent, easyJet say they will be able to help you with your travel plans. You can also choose to manage your easyJet flights directly in Manage Bookings. If you need further assistance and your agent is unable to help you, easyJet urge passengers to please contact their Customer Services Team, and to remember to let your tour operator or travel agent know about any changes you make.
- Overnight accommodation
If your flight is cancelled, easyJet can offer you a hotel room for the night if you need one. Where eligible you can request a room after you’ve transferred onto a new flight on their app or in Manage Bookings. If you require a wheelchair accessible room please contact their Customer Services Team.
If you’re at the airport and are unable to log onto the internet, easyJet say their Ground Crew will be able to help you. In times of widespread disruption that’s not always possible so they may ask you to find your own accommodation and if this happens they advise people look for accommodation which is three stars or equivalent such as Premier Inn, IBIS, Holiday Inn, Hotel Formule 1, Travelodge or Motel-One.
If you choose to book more expensive accommodation when equivalent hotels within easyJet's suggested range were available, they may not be able to reimburse the full cost of the accommodation.
Please keep the VAT invoice to claim back your expenses.
Alternative transport to my final destination
If your flight has been cancelled, easyJet will try to get you an easyJet flight to your final destination within 24 hours of your original flight. You can find available flights and transfer on our Flight Tracker or under Manage Bookings.
If there are no easyJet flights available to get you to your destination within 24 hours, you have the option to transfer to another airline, take a train, bus or hire a car. The alternative transport must be under comparable transport conditions to your destination and you will be entitled to claim reasonable transport costs back. easyJet urge travellers to ensure they obtain an itemised receipt.
