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Simon Calder, who is also recognized as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been a travel journalist for The Independent since 1994. Each week, he shares his thoughts in a column about a significant topic in the travel industry and its implications for readers.
James wrote, “I can only hope that including your name in my complaint will give it more credibility. I also hope that easyJet will take appropriate action in regards to my situation.”
I receive numerous messages from readers who believe they have been mistreated by different sectors within the travel field. I try my best to offer guidance and assistance. One such example is James, who is planning a ski trip with his three children over Easter break. As I showed earlier this week, flights during school holidays can be quite costly.
For instance, the cost of an easyJet flight from Geneva to Liverpool on Saturday, April 6th in the afternoon is £228. Additional baggage fees may apply.
James discovered a more affordable option through the travel website Kiwi, which would save him £90 per person at the current prices. This deal requires flying from Geneva to Nice on easyJet and then transferring to a Nice-Liverpool flight with the same airline.
The Czech Republic-based company, Kiwi, asserts that it can discover “inexpensive flights that other websites may not display”. It guarantees potential travelers that their self-transfer plans include routes that are not included by the airlines, allowing them to reach their desired destination.
However, its hidden strength should come with a strong disclaimer: you may not achieve your desired outcome without investing additional funds.
The largest low-cost airline in Britain operates on a point-to-point basis. When you make a reservation for an easyJet flight, the company’s only goal is to transport you (and your luggage) from one destination to another. easyJet is not responsible for any disruptions to your future travel plans caused by a minor delay. This sets them apart from traditional “network” airlines.
In the event of a delayed first flight causing a missed connecting trip with British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa, the airline must provide a complimentary solution for the rest of the journey. This includes covering expenses for meals, lodging, and potentially offering cash compensation if the delay is more than three hours upon arrival at your final destination. Additionally, any checked baggage will typically be transferred automatically at the connecting airport and will only be visible upon arrival at your final destination.
On the other hand, purchasing a self-transfer itinerary should not be taken lightly. At each stop of your trip, you will need to retrieve your checked baggage and check it in again. In the event that your first flight is significantly delayed, causing you to miss your second flight, there is no recourse. However, for an additional fee of £27 per person, Kiwi offers a “guarantee” to assist in finding alternative flights in case of any mishaps.
In James’s situation, easyJet changed the departure time of the initial flight from Geneva to Nice, pushing it back by 55 minutes. This leaves a window of only 70 minutes for disembarking, retrieving luggage, exiting the terminal, walking to the bag drop for the next flight, passing through security, boarding the next plane, and taking off.
It might be just about doable – but a half-hour delay from Geneva to Nice, which would be nothing surprising with so much pressure on the skies, would scupper any chance of making the only plane of the day from Nice to Liverpool.
James stated that Kiwi informed him his choices were restricted – either pay for another set of flights or ask for a refund. He has decided to request a refund so he can use the money towards the new flights. However, easyJet has informed him that he is not entitled to any refund, even for the portion of the flights with a change of less than an hour. James has lost a significant amount of money and before he files a complaint, he would like to know if there is any advice you can offer.
Regrettably, I can only suggest that James refrains from wasting time by complaining to easyJet; small adjustments to flight departure times occur frequently.
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It is inevitable that we will continue to spend money on a losing cause, with no promising results in sight. The most reasonable option would be to purchase tickets for the early morning flight from Geneva to Nice, which currently cost £39 per seat. However, this would mean a long wait for the next flight to Liverpool. Alternatively, we may have to completely abandon the first plan and book tickets for the 9:30am flight from Geneva to Liverpool, which are priced at £173 per seat.
I believe James will steer clear of the deceptively named “self-transfer itinerary” in the future, and I appreciate him for bringing attention to the dangers of booking “budget flights that are not visible on other websites.”
Source: independent.co.uk
