Travellers are facing severe disruption as airlines grapple with staffing issues. EasyJet, one such airline, has cancelled at least 222 flights since Friday.
The disruption is due to covid, with record UK case numbers wreaking havoc across multiple injuries. Self-isolation is no longer a legal requirement, but many employers are asking their staff to remain at home if they have symptoms or test positive.
An easyJet spokesperson said: “As a result of the current high rates of covid infections across Europe, like all businesses EasyJet is experiencing higher than usual levels of employee sickness. We have taken action to mitigate this through the rostering of additional standby crew this weekend, however, with the current levels of sickness we have also decided to make some cancellations in advance which were focused on consolidating flights where we have multiple frequencies so customers have more options to rebook their travel, often on the same day.
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They added: "We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to customers on affected flights. We have made 62 pre-emptive cancellations for flights to and from the UK for [Monday, April 4], which represents a small proportion of tomorrow’s total flying programme which was planned to be more than 1,645 flights. We cancelled the majority of these [on Saturday, April 2].”
But what should you do if your flight gets cancelled? Read on to find out everything you need to know in that exact scenario.
How do I know if my easyJet flight has been cancelled?
If you haven't already been contacted, you can check using easyJet's flight tracker on its website or in its mobile app.
My easyJet flight has been cancelled. What should I do?
Assuming you booked directly through easyJet, you can manage your booking through the airline's website. You have three options:
- Switch to another flight (on the same route) for free. If you want to switch to another route, you'll need to speak to customer services.
- Claim a voucher for the full value of your booking. This can be used on any easyJet flight but must be used within 12 months.
- Request a full refund. These are usually processed within seven days, and will be paid back to the account you originally booked from.
If you booked through a travel agent or tour operator, you should still be able to manage your flight through easyJet's website. You can also speak to the agent in question and they should be able to help.
What if I have to stay overnight?
If a cancellation means you have to stay overnight until the next flight, you can request a hotel room through easyJet's website once you're booked onto the new flight. You can also talk to the ground crew at your airport or call customer services.
If easyJet is unable to book you a room, it may ask you to find your own accommodation, in which case it will reimburse you, as long as you stay in a three-star hotel or equivalent. This includes Travelodge, Holiday Inn, Premier Inn, and similar.
If this happens to you, remember to keep all your receipts so you can get your money back.
What if there are no alternative flights within 24 hours?
If there are no flights that get you to your final destination within 24 hours of the original ETA, you may opt to take alternative methods of transport, such as another airline, a train, or car hire. easyJet says it will reimburse "reasonable transport costs" in this scenario, but again, remember to keep all your receipts.
