[ad_1]
Sign as much as our free Brexit and past e mail for the most recent headlines on what Brexit is that means for the UK
Sign as much as our Brexit e mail for the most recent perception
Mother and daughter Sheila and Jessica Queenan have been left greater than £800 out of pocket after easyJet utilized the unsuitable passport guidelines – and ruined a birthday journey to the Canary Islands.
On 21 May 2022, they arrived at Gatwick airport for an easyJet flight to Lanzarote, the place Sheila Queenan was planning to rejoice her 68th birthday.
Both ladies had passports that complied with the post-Brexit guidelines for British travellers to the European Union.
But floor staff working for easyJet turned Sheila Queenan away, wrongly insisting her passport was not legitimate.
After Brexit, the UK authorities negotiated for British passport holders to be handled as “third-country citizens”, topic to the EU’s two guidelines on validity:
- Under 10 years outdated on the day of departure to the European Union
- At least three months remaining on the meant date of return
Sheila Queenan’s passport met each circumstances. Jessica Queenan mentioned: “My mother was denied boarding at the gate. I wasn’t going to leave her at the airport and then travel alone on our holiday.
“We were left standing at the gate with no other explanation.
“Once back at home, I contacted easyJet to explain what had happened and request reimbursement and compensation for our ruined trip which was their responsibility because they had incorrectly denied her boarding.”
The airline was absolutely conscious of the right post-Brexit passport guidelines for Europe. Six months earlier, after detailed discussions with the related European Commission officers in Brussels, The Independent had supplied the data to easyJet – along with full analysis notes and contact particulars so the airline may confirm the foundations for itself.
EasyJet lastly began making use of the right guidelines in April 2022. Yet Sheila Queenan was wrongly denied boarding a month later. The airline then doubled down, blaming the passenger for having an out-of-date doc.
A buyer providers agent wrote: “I have validated your passport and can confirm that the passport’s expiry date has been extended and we do not accept extended passports.
It is unclear what the agent meant: Sheila Queenan’s passport was perfectly normal. It was valid for 10 years and five months – as many passports issued before 2018 were.
The agent then added a false condition for British passports: “It must be valid for at least six months after the day you plan to depart.”
Sheila and Jessica went to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to hunt recompense for their losses of £1,322, plus denied boarding compensation of £350 every. Jessica Queenan mentioned: “I do not think this was an unreasonable request for a holiday that never took place.”
When an airline wrongly denies boarding to at least one member of a celebration, it has been commonplace follow that they compensate all of the affected travellers, although this isn’t legally required.
EasyJet made a suggestion of £489 – comprising the £350 compensation plus the airfare for Sheila Queenan however nothing for her daughter – with out admitting legal responsibility.
The adjudicator, AviationADR, was because of rule in December 2022. But the choice took an extra yr. The adjudicator finally dominated that Sheila Queenan was due solely £489, as initially provided by easyJet.
Jessica Queenan mentioned: “I have been so devastated by the whole experience, from being treated like a criminal at the departure gate to all the time spent trying to get this resolved.”
A spokesperson for easyJet mentioned: “Following our offer of compensation for Sheila Queenan, the ADR provider decided that this was the right amount to pay and we will always adhere to their decision.”
[ad_2]
Source hyperlink