A woman has described her nightmare journey after her flight was diverted from Bristol to Gatwick airport after take off with no transport arranged. Kerry Bennett, 42 and from Swansea, had enjoyed a three-night birthday trip to Barcelona with her two daughters before they were due to fly back to Bristol at 9.30pm on Thursday, March 9.
Following a nearly three-hour delay the trio finally boarded their easyJet flight to Bristol Airport at around 12am on Friday, March 10, believing they would face no further issues. However around 30 minutes into their journey Kerry said passengers were told by the pilot that they would instead land at Gatwick Airport. Despite being promised transport into Bristol from the London-based airport Kerry said passengers were told on arrival that they would need to find their own way back with no up-front expenses paid.
The company has said the diversion was required following the closure of Bristol Airport's runway on Thursday as a result of snow. Limited coach availability meant that while some taxis were sourced for passengers others were advised to find their own transport and will be reimbursed.
Read more: Wales' first Karen’s Diner given zero food hygiene rating weeks after opening
Kerry said: "We were flying from Barcelona Airport into Bristol and the flight was delayed from 9.30pm until 12am. We got on the plane and nothing was said to us other than there was a closure at Bristol Airport because of the snow. Around 30 minutes into the journey we were told we would have to fly to Gatwick instead. Our car was stuck in Bristol and lots of people on the plane had family in Bristol waiting to pick them up. We were told there would be transport at Gatwick for us to get back to Bristol. We thought that was inconvenient but [accepted] it."
Kerry said everyone got off at Gatwick where there was "nobody about other than the cleaners". She said despite the major inconvenience no refreshments were offered by the airline. Kerry said: "We were told there were taxis outside but that we had to pay for them. Most people didn't have money to pay for them. Then, around 30 minutes later, a second flight came in and the same thing had happened to them. There were hundreds of us standing around."
According to Kerry some passengers gave in and decided to take taxis to Bristol despite the costly journey being around 150 miles. Others waited it out to see if they could speak to easyJet management at the airport, she said.
"We couldn't find anyone so tried phoning and emailing [the airline]. A couple of hours later the management still had not come down so we went to find them," she said. "Some of us went upstairs to find management. We were then told to make our own way home and that it would not be paid by the airline. At one point we were all talking about going upstairs and doing a silent protest because they couldn't just leave us in Gatwick."
Eventually Kerry said easyJet management gave in and agreed to pay for the passengers' taxis to Bristol. Kerry said she and her daughters were one of the first few groups of people to leave Gatwick at around 4am on Friday. In total the journey cost more than £570, which Kerry said the airline paid in advance.
She said: "I wouldn't have gotten on the plane if I thought this would happen. We would have stayed in Barcelona and tried to arrange a different flight or at least arranged someone to pick us up from somewhere. You expect delays to happen as they are out of your control but nothing like this. We are absolutely shattered – we are lucky we booked the day off [on Friday]."
Kerry said she finally made it back to her home in Gowerton at around 9.30am on Friday – roughly nine hours later than she expected to. A spokesman for easyJet said:“Due to the closure of the runway at Bristol Airport on Thursday morning as a result of snow which caused disruption to airline flying programmes flight EZY6030 from Barcelona to Bristol was required to divert to London Gatwick.
“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew is easyJet’s highest priority and we did all possible to minimise the impact of the weather disruption for our customers. Due to limited coach availability at London Gatwick we sourced taxis for customers where possible and advised those that needed to source their own that they will be reimbursed. Whilst this was outside of our control we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of the weather.”
READ NEXT:
- Police issue update on Cardiff crash
- Boy, 13, hit by gritting lorry remains critically ill as police issue fresh appeal for witnesses
- Teenagers armed with knives threatened family at Barry Island Pleasure Park
- Everything we now know about the Cardiff crash that killed three people as police investigation continues
- Man faces jail for racially abusing footballer on Twitter
