An 83-year-old man who was left stranded in Turkey following a near 20-hour delay to his easyJet flight, has refused to accept the paltry £21 compensation offered by the airline.
Melvyn had been holidaying in Turkey last month and was scheduled to return home on July 2. However, his flight, which was due to depart Bodrum at 10.40pm, was delayed after being struck by a bird. Initially, passengers were informed of a five-hour delay, but this quickly escalated into an overnight stay, with the airline arranging hotel accommodation for its customers.
EasyJet apologised for the delay, attributing it to a necessary engineering inspection following a bird strike on the previous flight. According to easyJet regulations, a bird strike is considered beyond the airlines’ control, hence no refund for the cost of the flight is offered to passengers.
Melvyn is demanding proof that the delay was caused by a bird strike, believing he should be entitled to a refund if this is not provided, the ECHO reports. He also expressed his frustration over the lack of communication from the airline, claiming he was left “upset”, without food or drink, and “nowhere to sit down” for hours.
EasyJet said Melvyn is now receiving direct support from the travel agent who he booked his holiday with and the airline “sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay”.
Melvyn told the ECHO: “I went to Turkey for a week on holiday, which was fine. The day we were coming home we were picked up from the hotel by the transfer coach and told that the flight had been delayed for five hours. Instead of departing a 10.40pm it was leaving at 3.30am.”
It was only after holidaymakers reached the airport and “waited an hour” to clear security and customs that travellers were informed the flight had been pushed back until the next evening.
Melvyn said: “They put us up in a hotel but we had to go all the way back through customs and back into Turkey.
“It took six hours to get back to a hotel in Turkey, all the while there was no refreshments available, no water, no food offered. We were waiting in long queues with nowhere to sit down and not one member of easyJet staff was there to communicate or check on the customers.”
The carrier claimed it kept passengers updated via text, email and on Flight Tracker. It also stated the airport assisted travellers with hotel bookings and meal arrangements.
Melvyn said he couldn’t access emails and struggled to get online, expecting an easyJet representative would have been present to liaise with passengers. On July 3, Melvyn was transported back to the airport by transfer bus, where he finally caught an easyJet flight to Liverpool.
It was then that he discovered the bird strike which had caused the previous flight’s postponement.
He claimed no reimbursement was offered to passengers despite the “20 hour delay”.
After returning to the UK, Melvyn said easyJet offered him £21 in compensation, covering his food and drink expenses during the hold-up.
Mr Chazen said: “I have refused to accept the compensation. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask for proof that birds flew into the engine.
“They asked me for proof of my £21 so I want them to equally prove their case. I paid £446.01 for the holiday. I feel like I’m entitled to ask for proof, to prove that is the reason why they won’t pay out.”
An easyJet holidays spokesperson said: “Mr Chazen is now receiving direct support from the travel agent with whom he originally booked his holiday, to assist with guidance and resolution of his expense claim. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay and appreciate his patience as the matter is brought to a close.”