A family that spent two nights sleeping on an airport floor has criticised easyJet for offering them what they deem to be inadequate compensation. Lowri Gallagher, 30, from Ferndale in Rhondda Cynon Taf, along with her partner Shane Stevenson and their two young children, had their holiday end in turmoil when their easyJet flight home from Mallorca was cancelled. This left them stranded at the airport without alternative flights available and forced them to make their own arrangements to return home to Leeds, hundreds of miles away from their destination.
The family arrived at the airport on the evening of Wednesday, August 14, only to discover their flight had been cancelled. Despite attempts to seek assistance from airport staff and waiting for a replacement flight the next day, they faced further cancellations and delays. With no support from easyJet representatives at the airport, the family had to incur additional expenses for food, drinks, and accommodation, including exorbitant prices at the airport.
After a challenging journey involving multiple flight cancellations and delays, the family eventually made their own arrangements to return to Leeds, incurring additional costs close to £1,000. Despite assurances from easyJet of reimbursement and a goodwill gesture, the family did not receive any compensation until Wales Online intervened six weeks later. The airline offered them a £240 easyJet voucher as a gesture of goodwill, which Lowri described as insubstantial and inadequate.
Lowri expressed her frustration, stating that the compensation offered by easyJet did not reflect the distress and inconvenience they experienced during their ordeal. She highlighted the lack of assistance from the airline throughout the situation and criticized the value of the voucher given the extent of their troubles. The family believes that the compensation offered falls far short of the expenses and inconvenience they faced.
An easyJet spokesperson acknowledged the family’s grievances and pledged to contact them to offer a cash gesture of goodwill rather than a voucher. The family’s experience serves as a reminder of the challenges travellers may face when dealing with flight disruptions and the importance of adequate support and compensation from airlines in such circumstances.