Easy Jet hit the wall in Turkey!!!
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OK so I finally managed to get in touch with them and they have told me that they will refund the price of a ticket booked on another airline. This will cost them dearly. My EasyJet return costs just £57 return. My new Turkish Airlines flights cost £219 return. If I had gone with BA it would have cost even more! Apparently they have to refund the cost of an alternative. However they do their best to hide the fact.Mercutio wrote:EasyJet have now contacted me by email and offered me either a full refund or alternatively they offer to "reimburse the cost of... [my] ticket less the amount refunded" - whatever that means. They also say they will continue trying to get permission for the flights as originally scheduled. I think I will wait for a couple of weeks, and if they still haven't got permission, I will ask for my refund then.
First of all is the ambiguous wording in the email. They don't make it clear that they are obliged to refund a ticket booked on another airline even if it's more expensive than the tickets you booked on EasyJet.
Secondly they say that it has to be a low cost airline and not business class or first class. They conveniently fail to mention that economy class on British Airways or Turkish Airlines is perfectly OK - indeed these two airlines are the only non-stop alternatives between London and Istanbul.
Lastly they make it very hard to get in touch with to confim what they actually mean. I called them four times - each time hearing a message that I must wait in a queue of at least 25 minutes to speak to an operator. The office hours are 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Even when I called at 8am on the dot I still had to wait 30 minues on a line costing 10p per minute before I spoke to someone. I'm sure they deliberately make you wait hoping that people will give up.
I understand why of course. This is a disaster for EasyJet. I was kind enough not to book one of the last two remaining seats on BA flights (would have cost £410- which they are obliged to refund in full) and instead got a ticket for £219 on Turkish Airlines. I was merciful because I like EasyJet and I don't want to see them fail.
According to an article published in airporthaber.com web site, Easy Jet flew to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen from Luton this morning. Easy Jet has decided to fly on 1st, 2nd and 3rd of July to SAW and after that they will postpone all flights until August despite it was granted permission to fly 3 days a week (Each Saturday, Sunday and Monday).
Easy Jet wants to fly everyday to SAW from Luton with daytime flights but Turkish civil aviation authority granted only 3 days a week and late night flights.
Even Easy Jet's CEO went to Ankara to see the Turkish Minister of Transport but he was referred to the civil aviation authority. It is understood the British Embassy in Ankara is also involved heavily in talks. It is believed Easy Jet has decided to wait until the beginning of August in order to gain seven day permission.
I wouldn't be personally suprise to see the British Government lobby heavily on behalf of Easy Jet to get what they want. I guess the coin has two faces. If the issues are not resolved it may even effect the future permission requests of Turkish airliners flying to the U.K.
Like we say here in Australia "you scratch my back I will scratch yours"
Easy Jet wants to fly everyday to SAW from Luton with daytime flights but Turkish civil aviation authority granted only 3 days a week and late night flights.
Even Easy Jet's CEO went to Ankara to see the Turkish Minister of Transport but he was referred to the civil aviation authority. It is understood the British Embassy in Ankara is also involved heavily in talks. It is believed Easy Jet has decided to wait until the beginning of August in order to gain seven day permission.
I wouldn't be personally suprise to see the British Government lobby heavily on behalf of Easy Jet to get what they want. I guess the coin has two faces. If the issues are not resolved it may even effect the future permission requests of Turkish airliners flying to the U.K.
Like we say here in Australia "you scratch my back I will scratch yours"
The latest news on easyJet's Luton - Istanbul route is that all flights scheduled until the end of July have been cancelled.
The new route was due to be in operation already but problems with official approval have meant the low-cost airline has stopped selling tickets and has cancelled a slew of flights. A spokeswoman confirmed that flights until July 31 will no longer go ahead.
Although the airline had said that approval from the Turkish Civil Aviation authority was imminent, it is now not expected until mid-July at the earliest.
EasyJet maintains that it is contacting passengers at least two weeks before their flights are cancelled and offering refunds, as is required, but those with tickets for future dates are understandably concerned.
Passengers holding tickets for flights taking off after July 31 will have to wait for further developments as easyJet is not offering them refunds for flights already purchased. Cheapflights.co.uk
The new route was due to be in operation already but problems with official approval have meant the low-cost airline has stopped selling tickets and has cancelled a slew of flights. A spokeswoman confirmed that flights until July 31 will no longer go ahead.
Although the airline had said that approval from the Turkish Civil Aviation authority was imminent, it is now not expected until mid-July at the earliest.
EasyJet maintains that it is contacting passengers at least two weeks before their flights are cancelled and offering refunds, as is required, but those with tickets for future dates are understandably concerned.
Passengers holding tickets for flights taking off after July 31 will have to wait for further developments as easyJet is not offering them refunds for flights already purchased. Cheapflights.co.uk
FLASH....FLASH...
The permission for Easy Jet has been issued only couple of hours ago in Ankara. They will fly everyday and it will be daytime flights.
I guess Easy Jet will now decide when to start again. I have just checked their web site and tickets are still not on sale. Possibly they haven't recieved the permission yet or are deciding about the next step...
Good news for the passengers
The permission for Easy Jet has been issued only couple of hours ago in Ankara. They will fly everyday and it will be daytime flights.
I guess Easy Jet will now decide when to start again. I have just checked their web site and tickets are still not on sale. Possibly they haven't recieved the permission yet or are deciding about the next step...
Good news for the passengers
Tickets are back on sale now. The final solution:
easyJet announces London Luton - Istanbul route
http://www.easyjet.com/EN/News/announci ... anbul.html
easyJet, Europe's leading low-fares airline, will commence services between London Luton and Istanbul ( Sabiha Gokcen International Airport) on Tuesday 1 August 2006.
The launch of the new route was postponed, following a delay in the application for an operating licence. The airline has been working closely with the Turkish authorities and will now be operating a three times weekly service throughout August (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), increasing to daily from 4 September.
The timetable is as follows:
- London Luton Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International; departing at 0615 - arriving at 1210
- Sabiha Gokcen International to London Luton Airport; departing at 1235 - arriving at 1435
Seats are on sale from today, with fares from £30.99 one way.
This is the second easyJet route to Istanbul, following the launch of flights from Basel on 29 May 2006.
Philippe Vignon, easyJet Commercial Manager for Turkey commented
"Istanbul is the only city in the world that embraces two continents - Europe and Asia and is a spellbinding combination of past and present. Once the capital of three successive empires – the East Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman - the city has unique historical and cultural traditions with a captivating array of attractions including bazaars, palaces, sights of natural beauty and the World famous Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.
easyJet is delighted to be launching this new route this fantastic city, and would like to thank the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Turkey, the Director General of the Turkish Civil Aviation and the British Embassy for their support."
easyJet announces London Luton - Istanbul route
http://www.easyjet.com/EN/News/announci ... anbul.html
easyJet, Europe's leading low-fares airline, will commence services between London Luton and Istanbul ( Sabiha Gokcen International Airport) on Tuesday 1 August 2006.
The launch of the new route was postponed, following a delay in the application for an operating licence. The airline has been working closely with the Turkish authorities and will now be operating a three times weekly service throughout August (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), increasing to daily from 4 September.
The timetable is as follows:
- London Luton Airport to Sabiha Gokcen International; departing at 0615 - arriving at 1210
- Sabiha Gokcen International to London Luton Airport; departing at 1235 - arriving at 1435
Seats are on sale from today, with fares from £30.99 one way.
This is the second easyJet route to Istanbul, following the launch of flights from Basel on 29 May 2006.
Philippe Vignon, easyJet Commercial Manager for Turkey commented
"Istanbul is the only city in the world that embraces two continents - Europe and Asia and is a spellbinding combination of past and present. Once the capital of three successive empires – the East Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman - the city has unique historical and cultural traditions with a captivating array of attractions including bazaars, palaces, sights of natural beauty and the World famous Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.
easyJet is delighted to be launching this new route this fantastic city, and would like to thank the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Turkey, the Director General of the Turkish Civil Aviation and the British Embassy for their support."