3 hour delay on flight
Discussion
I had a job in Switzerland recently so booked an Easyjet flight over. The plane was delayed due to staff shortage, a lot of passengers were waiting for the 3hr point so they could claim something back, so there was much annoyance at 2 hours 50 minutes when they announced boarding and shepherded everyone through the final passport check and into a small holding area next to the doors where you would board the plane.
The plane hadn't even arrived from the previous leg yet, after about 10 minutes we saw it arrive, watched as passengers and luggage was unloaded etc etc, and finally boarded quite a bit later.
Why would they go to the trouble of herding everyone into a hot, cramped uncomfortable area when the plane we are supposedly boarding is still in the air somewhere? I presume, being Easyjet, that there was a financial reason for doing this. But as far as I can tell, the 3hr rule relates to the doors opening at your destination, and nothing to do with when you actually leave.
The plane hadn't even arrived from the previous leg yet, after about 10 minutes we saw it arrive, watched as passengers and luggage was unloaded etc etc, and finally boarded quite a bit later.
Why would they go to the trouble of herding everyone into a hot, cramped uncomfortable area when the plane we are supposedly boarding is still in the air somewhere? I presume, being Easyjet, that there was a financial reason for doing this. But as far as I can tell, the 3hr rule relates to the doors opening at your destination, and nothing to do with when you actually leave.
I've been on a number of Easyjet routes when we've all been crammed into the gate before the a/c has arrived, notably Londo Luton and Berlin Schoenfold. I assume in those two cases it's more to do with getting people out of the relatively narrow corridors that lead to the gates as quickly as possible. You didn't mention where your experience was, but as my flights were on time I'd suggest that its a normal proceedure rather than a diliberate attempt to dupe you out of a claim.
Boatbuoy said:
I've been on a number of Easyjet routes when we've all been crammed into the gate before the a/c has arrived, notably Londo Luton and Berlin Schoenfold. I assume in those two cases it's more to do with getting people out of the relatively narrow corridors that lead to the gates as quickly as possible. You didn't mention where your experience was, but as my flights were on time I'd suggest that its a normal proceedure rather than a diliberate attempt to dupe you out of a claim.
Bournemouth in this case, although talking to a colleague they had the exact same situation at Bristol with a 2hr+ delayed flight.There is no shortage of space at Bournemouth in departures prior to boarding (no corridors, the gate is directly opposite the waiting area/restaurant etc) and the airport was pretty quiet, there was no logical/logistical reason for it I could see.
I believe it's because getting 150-180 people through the boarding pass check at the gate takes a lot longer than marching the same number of people out of a large box and to the aircraft steps. Hence they get the time-consuming bit out of the way early so that they're ready to go as soon as disembarking is finished. In my experience the same happens with airlines with longer turnaround times, except you can see the aircraft for the whole time you're waiting.
Doing everything at the last minute is fine if it's one person. Take into account lots of people, some of them very probably stupid, half of whom will have to do a lot of pocket-auditing before they find their passport and boarding pass, and you suddenly find you've left half an hour later than you could have done. The only difference is that you've stood in frustration in a queue instead of in a pen.
If it helps, you are luckier than some in that your delay occurred while you were free to roam around the airport a bit (well, as much as that is possible at Bournemouth). I've often seen flights that, due to things like French strikes, end up waiting on a piece of taxiway for four hours for their slot restriction. Thanks to weather I've sat on an Icelandair aircraft at Heathrow for four hours before we could begin the four hour flight to Keflavik!
Doing everything at the last minute is fine if it's one person. Take into account lots of people, some of them very probably stupid, half of whom will have to do a lot of pocket-auditing before they find their passport and boarding pass, and you suddenly find you've left half an hour later than you could have done. The only difference is that you've stood in frustration in a queue instead of in a pen.
If it helps, you are luckier than some in that your delay occurred while you were free to roam around the airport a bit (well, as much as that is possible at Bournemouth). I've often seen flights that, due to things like French strikes, end up waiting on a piece of taxiway for four hours for their slot restriction. Thanks to weather I've sat on an Icelandair aircraft at Heathrow for four hours before we could begin the four hour flight to Keflavik!
Edited by Prawo Jazdy on Thursday 7th April 13:14
The three hour delay rule is nothing to do with boarding or take off. It is only about what time the first door opens on the aircraft at the destination.
On time departure statistics and keeping to schedules are important to airlines, getting people in a holding area before the aircraft arrives simply stops all the people that know best or know least from delaying the departure.
On time departure statistics and keeping to schedules are important to airlines, getting people in a holding area before the aircraft arrives simply stops all the people that know best or know least from delaying the departure.
Did a bit digging and it may also be down to Easyjet policy regarding delays...
http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/at-the-airport/dela...
"If your flight has been delayed by three hours (or more) you are entitled to refreshment vouchers, please see our customer team in the airport. This will allow you to buy some refreshments while you wait."
http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/at-the-airport/dela...
"If your flight has been delayed by three hours (or more) you are entitled to refreshment vouchers, please see our customer team in the airport. This will allow you to buy some refreshments while you wait."
ukaskew said:
Did a bit digging and it may also be down to Easyjet policy regarding delays...
http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/at-the-airport/dela...
"If your flight has been delayed by three hours (or more) you are entitled to refreshment vouchers, please see our customer team in the airport. This will allow you to buy some refreshments while you wait."
In which case you really haven't missed out much!http://www.easyjet.com/en/help/at-the-airport/dela...
"If your flight has been delayed by three hours (or more) you are entitled to refreshment vouchers, please see our customer team in the airport. This will allow you to buy some refreshments while you wait."
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