Thousands of easyJet customers face travel chaos after the airline cancelled flights from Gatwick this morning – but the good news is that refunds and compensation are available.
Around 180,000 easyJet passengers had their flights cancelled today, meanwhile some flights scheduled for July, August and September are now no longer flying.
The airline has blamed the cancellations on ‘unprecedented’ air-traffic control delays, and has rebooked 95 per cent of affected travellers onto other flights.
However, around 9,000 customers are still in the lurch and have no replacement flights booked.
These are your rights if your easyJet flight is cancelled.
EasyJet has cancelled flights, causing a headache for those flying now and later in summer
Rebooking your easyjet flight
The first step easyJet will take is attempting to rebook your cancelled flight.
Passengers whose flights are cancelled are allowed to rebook with rival airlines if they have spaces on flights that same day, and easyJet has to pay.
Refund or vouchers
If a replacement flight on the day is not possible, or you just do not want it, the next step is to get a refund or a voucher.
Rules from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulator say that refunds should be given as cash.
But airlines including easyJet also give vouchers, which can be used on any easyJet flight within 12 months.
EasyJet customers can rebook flights or get refunds using the airline’s website.
Compensation for cancelled flights
Consumers can be entitled to compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, as well as either a refund of the cost of the flight or a replacement booking.
A Citizens Advice spokesperson said: ‘You can claim up to £520 in compensation if the delay is the airline’s fault – depending on the distance and destination of your flight, and how late it arrived.’
However, that compensation has to be claimed – it will not be paid automatically.
You also need to accept a replacement flight in order to get this compensation.
CAA rules say travellers can claim compensation if they had to wait for two or more hours before being put on a replacement flight and they were given less than two week’s notice of the cancellation.
But what you can claim depends on how long your cancelled flight was and how much notice you were given.
The maximum compensation for short haul flights between 1,500 and 3,500km is £350 for those arriving at least three hours later than the original flight.
For long haul flights of more than 3,500km, £520 is paid out if they arrive at least four hours after the original flight’s scheduled arrival time.
| Trip distance | Replacement flight criteria | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1,500km | Leaving at least one hour before original flight | £110 |
| Less than 1,500km | Arriving up to two hours after original flight | £110 |
| Less than 1,500km | Arriving at least two hours later than original flight | £220 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Leaving at least one hour before original flight | £175 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Arriving up to three hours after original flight | £175 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Arriving at least three hours later than original flight | £350 |
| More than 3,500km | Leaving at least one hour before original flight | £260 |
| More than 3,500km | Arriving up to four hours after original flight | £260 |
| More than 3,500km | Arriving at least four hours later than original flight | £520 |
| Source: CAA rules | ||
If your flight was cancelled more than a week before its scheduled departure date, the compensation tariff is slightly different.
| Trip distance | Replacement flight criteria | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1,500km | Leaving at least two hours before original flight | £110 |
| Less than 1,500km | Arriving up to two hours after original flight | £110 |
| Less than 1,500km | Arriving at least two hours earlier than original flight | £220 |
| Less than 1,500km | Arriving at least two hours later than original flight | £220 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Leaving up to two hours before original flight | £175 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Arriving up to three hours after original flight | £175 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Leaving up to two hours earlier than original flight | £350 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Arriving three to hour hours later than original flight | £350 |
| 1,500km to 3,500km | Arriving at least four hours later than original flight | £350 |
| More than 3,500km | Leaving up to two hours before original flight | £260 |
| More than 3,500km | Arriving up to four hours after original flight | £260 |
| More than 3,500km | Arriving at least four hours later than original flight | £520 |
| Source: CAA rules | ||
Travel insurance and airline cancellations
Travel insurance policies normally include cover for cancelled trips as standard.
However, these deals are unlikely to be much use for easyJet customers with the latest round of cancelled flights.
That is because all customers should get payouts or replacement flights from easyJet, meaning there is no need to make a claim.
EasyJet has been approached for comment.
