EasyJet passenger slams £21 compo offer and demands proof of bird strike

Daily Record

4 days ago

Melvyn Chazen's flight home from Turkey was delayed when birds are said to have struck the plane's engine.
A traveller abandoned in Turkey after his easyJet flight was postponed for "almost 20 hours" has turned down the measly £21 compensation offered by the carrier.
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Melvyn Chazen, from Wavertree, has demanded the budget airline provide "proof" that a bird strike caused the postponement of flight EZY3408 from Bodrum back to the UK.
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The 83 year old was scheduled to depart Bodrum at 10.40pm on July 2 when birds allegedly collided with the aircraft, resulting in a five-hour postponement.
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That initial setback escalated into an overnight stay, with easyJet arranging lodging until the next day.
EasyJet has previously expressed regret for the flight postponement and stated it rearranged the service to operate the following day due to a bird strike requiring an engineering assessment.
Liverpool Echo reports that, in accordance with easyJet policies, a bird strike is deemed beyond the airline's control, meaning passengers are not offered reimbursement for their flight costs.
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Nevertheless, Melvyn insisted he requires evidence this occurred, otherwise he believes he deserves a full refund.
He also alleged the poor communication from the carrier left him "upset" and claimed he was denied food and refreshments with "nowhere to sit down" for hours.
EasyJet stated Melvyn is now getting direct assistance from the travel agent through whom he arranged his holiday and the airline "sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay". Melvyn explained: "I went to Turkey for a week on holiday, which was fine. The day we were coming home we were picked up from the hotel by the transfer coach and told that the flight had been delayed for five hours. Instead of departing a 10.40pm it was leaving at 3.30am."
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However, after travellers reached the airport and "waited an hour" to clear security and customs, passengers discovered the flight had been postponed until the next evening.
Melvyn revealed: "They put us up in a hotel but we had to go all the way back through customs and back into Turkey.
"It took six hours to get back to a hotel in Turkey, all the while there was no refreshments available, no water, no food offered. We were waiting in long queues with nowhere to sit down and not one member of easyJet staff was there to communicate or check on the customers."
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The carrier claimed it maintained contact with passengers through text messages, email and Flight Tracker updates, whilst stating the airport assisted travellers with hotel bookings and meal provisions.
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Nevertheless, Melvyn revealed he couldn't access his emails or get online, and expected an easyJet representative to be present for direct customer communication.
On July 3, Melvyn was transported back to the airport by transfer bus, where he finally caught an easyJet service to Liverpool.
It was then he discovered the bird strike that had caused the original flight's postponement, with no compensation offered to passengers despite the "20 hour delay". After returning to Britain, Melvyn revealed that easyJet had offered him £21 in compensation to cover his out-of-pocket expenses for food and beverages during the hold-up.
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He explained that he was required to submit receipts for his expenditure and is now demanding easyJet furnish evidence of the alleged bird strike.
Mr Chazen declared: "I have refused to accept the compensation. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for proof that birds flew into the engine.
"They asked me for proof of my £21 so I want them to equally prove their case. I paid £446.01 for the holiday. I feel like I'm entitled to ask for proof, to prove that is the reason why they won't pay out."
A spokesperson for easyJet holidays responded: "Mr Chazen is now receiving direct support from the travel agent with whom he originally booked his holiday, to assist with guidance and resolution of his expense claim. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay and appreciate his patience as the matter is brought to a close."