A Co Down couple has been forced to book return flights from Turkey with another airline after easyJet canceled their return.
Brian Redpath and Andrea McMinn of Millisle arrived in Dalaman on May 3 and were due to return home on May 28 after enjoying a vacation and attending a wedding.
However, their plans suddenly changed after easyJet canceled their flight home with little notice and left them in the lurch when they spent four hours trying to talk to someone through the customer service. customer.
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Through the airline’s website they were told to go to the “Manage My Booking” section and book their flights again, but the next available return trip was on June 7th.
Andrea has a physical therapy appointment this week that she has been waiting for for two months after breaking her leg, and Brian hopes to avoid the lack of work, so the couple booked flights home with Jet2 for the June 2.
They told Belfast Live that they felt easyJet would just “wipe their hands” and let them go alone.
“We haven’t heard from easyJet yet, they haven’t contacted us,” Andrea said.
“We received a message asking us to go to the ‘Manage My Booking’ section of the website where they said they would pay for overnight accommodation and book our flight with them again, but the flight closer to home was June 7th.
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“There was no way to tell how to book a night’s accommodation with them.
“I was on the phone for four hours yesterday trying to talk to anyone. I just gave up and booked our flights home with Jet2.”
Meanwhile, the couple has been lucky, as their current accommodation, Paradise Club Villas, has allowed them to stay in a discounted villa until they travel home next week.
Paradise Club Villas where the couple is staying (Image: Brian Redpath)
However, Andrea expressed concern about vulnerable people who may be on the receiving end of a canceled flight message.
She said, “I’m here with a broken leg. I wasn’t healing and the doctor said it was okay to go on vacation, that some vitamin D would be fine. I have appointments at the hospital and the physiotherapist. comes and I can’t get a flight on time.
“They knew I had special assistance and they basically cleaned our hands. I’m sorry for the elderly who don’t have a smartphone, they wouldn’t have any way to order or book anything. EasyJet just has state no help
“If you were out here at the end of your holiday with no money left, you would be absolutely stuck, you would have no money left. You should go and book your easyJet for June 7 if you don’t have money. another option.
“I have limited funds because I am not working at the moment. All this was reserved and paid for before I had my accident, and here I have limited funds. You just have to trust your credit cards and wait until [easyJet] will refund you.
Andrea is missing important appointments at the hospital (Image: Brian Redpath)
“We’re lucky we’re in a place we love. If you were out of a place you hate and that happened, it would be a nightmare.”
The couple said the experience has prevented them from flying with the airline in the future.
“We will never use easyJet again,” added Andrea.
“We’re supposed to go out with them again in August, but we’re canceling our flights. You don’t want to risk that happening again.”
An easyJet spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that Mr Redpath and Mrs McMinn’s flight EZY6786 from Dalaman to Belfast on May 28 was canceled. We offered customers options to re-book or receive a refund. as well as hotel accommodation, along with information on how to arrange it online or through the app.
“However, we fully understand the disruption this will have caused to their plans and we are very sorry. Our team is approaching customers to offer them more assistance and reimburse them for their alternative flights and any other reasonable expenses.”
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