The passenger of EasyJet airline was denied boarding due to a mistake by the staff
Two British citizens were denied boarding on an EasyJet flight to Lanzarote due to allegedly incorrect passport details. Consequently, Sheila and her daughter Jessica Queenan were unable to proceed with their vacation plans and suffered a loss of over £800.
This incident took place on May 21, 2022, at Gatwick Airport. It was reported that the women possessed passports that complied with the post-Brexit regulations for British travelers to the European Union, as per Yahoo News citing the Independent.
According to reports, Sheila Quinan's passport was valid until 2018, meaning it had another 10 years and 5 months of validity. However, EasyJet staff refused to allow Sheila Quinan to board the aircraft without providing a clear explanation for the denial. The company attributed the mistake to the passenger, stating that her passport was expired. A customer service agent mentioned that although her passport had been extended, EasyJet does not accept such documents. He further explained that the passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the scheduled flight date.
Subsequently, the women sought compensation for their losses totaling £1,322 and additional compensation of £350 each for the denied boarding incident through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). In response, the airline offered compensation of £489, covering Sheila Quinan's expenses only, including compensation and the ticket cost.
Ultimately, the court ruled that only Sheila Quinan was eligible for the initially offered compensation of £489 by EasyJet.