easyJet adds ‘conformance’ at Gatwick

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/easyjet-to-turn-away-have-a-go-fliers-who-check-in-with-less-than-30-minutes-to-go-a7055511.html

I can see some problems arising from this, if the queues for the barriers are long and pax are denied boarding.

Could be some interesting court cases.

openfly – 30/05/2016 17:39 BST

But the process is not under the control of the passenger.

easyJet will wish to charge the passenger to re-book, but if the pax can show they checked in a reasonable time (and the IT systems will confirm), how can they be held responsible for factors outside their control?

Whatever happened to the principle of ‘force majeuere’?

They should be re-booked at zero cost, under these circumstances.

I can see actions for ‘unfair contract’ blackening the skies – quite rightly, in my opinion, as a business should not be able to layoff the risk to a passenger, when they cannot influence the outcome.

So, if the pax goes from check in to the security queue and is then held there for 60 mins and is denied boarding at the gates, you find this reasonable?

MrMichael

Whilst I can see what you are saying, I think it is a matter of contract between the airline and the passenger.

If the passenger cannot get to the electronic gates on time, I don’t think that makes Gatwick liable (although I’m not a lawyer, so may be wrong.)

Put it another way, most contracts I’ve dealt with have a ‘force majeure’ clause.

So, iin this case, if the security queues prevented the passenger making the 30 minute limit, they could have a refund or a free re-booking.

Although your point about checking in at home is reasonable, there would be ways for the pax to establish when they joined the queue.

If they turn up too late – without excuse, that is another matter entirely ,but that is not what I’m talking about.

Most people now tend to get the airport at least 60 minutes before departure and currently, I would say there is a 90% chance of entering the security screening area where your boarding pass is scanned within the say 20 minutes.

The problem though as I read, is that Easy are now closing their boarding gates 30 minutes before departure, so on the one hand you are able to enter the security zone, 31 prior to departure, but then you have no chance of reaching the gate in time.

Whilst I don’t use Easyjet (at the moment), I do sometimes check their prices and notice flights can go for as little as £9 up to £300+ on busy days. Why don’t they just add the £15 to every ticket and guarantee refunds and / or changes in line with their insurance policy OR do they rely on people to miss flights to make a profit?? Would pax notice an extra £15 for what amounts to a fully flex ticket or I am missing something..??

MartynSinclair – 30/05/2016 20:05 BST

Your last para raised a very good point.

EasyJet lost a court case last year as it was found their lack of staff numbers contributed to passenger delays. Further, am finding they are increasingly using the RyanAir tactic of not connecting to jetties but leaving a walk short enough not to utilise buses so again elongating the time taken to board.
I was at LGW last week using EasyJet to Bud – although the gate was announced in good time, no indication was provided as to time from departure hall to the gate, maybe as there was still an unpredictable time from gate to aircraft.
Imo EasyJet is trying to save money whilst putting both the inconvenience and risk squarely with its passenger.