The couple demands that EasyJet cover the costs of the rescheduled flight
An Edinburgh couple whose flight was canceled after their plane was struck by lightning have demanded compensation from EasyJet, Subway reported. Notably, the pair were scheduled to fly back from Krakow to Edinburgh on April 14 for their granddaughter’s birthday. However, their flight was canceled after the plane was struck by lightning during a storm and required repairs.
The stranded couple were told by airline staff that the next available flight would not be until Monday, April 17. James Digance, 75, and his wife, 74, Margaret Digance, were subsequently accommodated by easyJet in a hotel opposite the airport. .
A friendly Pole helped the pair book new flights, but it cost them a whopping £1,318 and meant traveling via Frankfurt, Germany to arrive in Edinburgh on the afternoon of April 15.
Mr. Digance, told Edinburgh Live“My phone was running low on battery and we are both mid 70’s and struggle with technology but luckily a lovely Polish woman Edy who flew to Edinburgh helped us out. EasyJet took us and a number of other passengers to the Garden Hilton but this was not without problems as the hotel staff had to contact easyJet for the vouchers. We had to come back for our granddaughter’s birthday party on the 16th so Edy booked flights for us from Krakow to Frankfurt then Edinburgh from her tablet.”
Meanwhile, EasyJet apologized for the inconvenience caused and said they had made arrangements to return home the following day, but the pair had already made alternative plans.
Mr Digance said he expected “full compensation” from easyJet the following morning, but their request has since been rejected by the company due to the “exceptional circumstances” of the lightning strike. He is now demanding that EasyJet cover the costs of the rescheduled flight.
A spokesman for easyJet holidays said: “We are sorry to hear that Mr and Mrs Digance’s flight home has been canceled due to their aircraft being struck by lightning earlier that day. In such situations our priority is to assist our customers as quickly as possible. booking on an alternative flight and arranging hotel accommodation if necessary.In this case, we have contacted our customers to let them know that we are seeking an alternative flight home, and also to provide details of their accommodation options.
We kept in regular contact that evening, letting them know that we had arranged a flight to Belfast, and at 5am the next morning we confirmed that the customers had booked flights back to Edinburgh via Belfast that day. However, we understand that Mr and Mrs Digance chose to book an alternative flight home instead. While we have no control over such circumstances, we would like to apologize for any inconvenience Mr and Mrs Digance have experienced.”
However, Mr Digance said the only flight-related correspondence he received from easyJet came at 5am. The email said he and his wife were booked on a flight from Krakow to Belfast and then on to Edinburgh, arriving late on Saturday night.
He now plans to contact the Civil Aviation Authority’s Passenger Advice Complaints Team (PACT) to discuss the matter further.
“I am willing to take them all the way until I get what I owe. It wasn’t good enough for them to email us at 5am to say they had found an alternative trip. This is for every passenger affected by the flight cancellation from Krakow to Edinburgh,” he added.
