EasyJet may be my favorite budget carrier in Europe, but its provision for delayed passengers is…lacking.
I ran into long and annoying EasyJet delay last Saturday from Rome to Basel. My flight was scheduled to depart at 8:20 AM but ended up going mechanical. A new plane was flown in from Geneva via Basel, leading to an extended delay. In fact, it was six hours later by the time we departed.
Delays were initially rolling, but at 10 AM the flight suddenly was delayed till 2 PM. Passengers were not advised that they were eligible for meals or phone calls under EU261/2004, but many knew and lined up at the EasyJet customer service desk.
Gift cards, like the one pictured below, were offered.
It cracked me up when the agent said:
Here is your 9EUR gift card for breakfast and lunch. Enjoy!
9EUR for breakfast AND lunch? Unless you just wanted coffee and a croissant, that was not even enough for breakfast, let alone two meals.
I ended up not using mine at all and having a very nice lunch and siesta in the Plaza Premium Lounge, which I will review in a separate post.
CONCLUSION
I’ll apply for EU261/2004 credit and should be eligible for 200EUR, but I’m expecting an initial denial or counter-offer. In any case, I thought the 9EUR for two meals at an international airport was curious at best and insulting at worst.
What would you spend your 9EUR on for breakfast and lunch?
Nothing beats air India.
Was booked first class EWR BOM through Aeroplan about 2 years ago when they released awards to star alliance partners. Was delayed 15 hours due to maintenance so another plane had to be flown in from India and all they offered was $15 for food. No hotel bc they said it was booked though Aeroplan. Obv Aeroplan laughed and said they only ticketed the flight. After some back and forth not even a single mile or $ was given as compensation for 15 hours of my life wasted.
I don’t know. I guess it’s an espresso and cornetto — Italian breakfast — and then a panini and a coke or bottle of sparkling water. But, yeah, a bit insulting!
Why do they bother? If it were a greater amount perhaps fewer passengers would file for the EU261 but at €9, passengers are neither satisfied nor the EU who will require them to honor the claim anyway.
Exactly, why even bother? It’s almost comical if it weren’t so insulting.