Aibu. To be ridiculously angry and fed up because I didn't think that "overbooking" a flight existed...
Due to fly to Croatia today, 7.25am. With two female friends (all professionals in our late 20s). Tried to check in yesterday but it wouldn't allow us to. Tried and tried. In the end we just decided to get to the airport early and check in.
Printed our boarding passes and then headed through security, had breakfast and went to the gates and joined he queue.
On passing over our cards and passports we were told we had to stand aside. We were not told why. Everyone walked past us one by one.
Finally they told us "this flight is overbooked and only two of you can fly, the third person can't" they explained: albeit rather abruptly and with little apology, that there was nothing to be done. So between us we had to choose who stayed and who went, we were assured the third person would be out on the next flight. I stayed.
I then have a lengthy walk back through to departures, found a help desk, explained, waited... was escorted through security (with others who'd missed flights) and then left to queue in the "EasyJet queue". My friends flew to Croatia and messaged me before I even got to the front TWO HOURS of queing: I needed the loo, had no water and quite frankly was losing patience.
I knew there was another flight at 1pm but it said online fully booked. There are three more tomorrow. Although in my head I was very disappointed to be missing a days holiday, having to wait and fly alone, re book ferry crossings in Croatia etc etc life is what it is....
AND THEN....
I was told I couldn't wait as standby for the 1pm flight. And that they couldn't we book me for a flight for another three days THREE WHOLE DAYS as they are overbooked on all their flights to Croatia until then. Like wtf...?!?!
I went away in tears. I get one holiday a year. I haven't endless money to whittle away on taxis, food, flights.
So I sit down and look at easy jet. Tomorrow 5.55am flight is still up for sale (although I've just been told it's sold out and overbooked by 4 seats). But whatever it's £290 so I put that on my credit card.... I then pay an extra £16.99 for reserved seating and I check in and print a new boarding pass.
I go back to the front desk and explain. They've put me up overnight in a hotel: no lunch offered or snacks. Just dinner.
My issue here is tomorrow the flight is iverbooked. I have paid for speedy boarding, and for an extra leg room seat. All of which I hope to be compensated for. I will join my friends a day late and hopefully enjoy my holiday. BUT that flight is iverbooked and unless five people don't turn up then they'll be removing people from the flight. I hope to God it isn't me.
How do they get away with this?!
And EASYJET YOURE COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY INCOMPETENT.
just to add the queue was so long due to various complaints: one lady who's seat wa double booked so she was thrown off, 30 people also denied boarding S they'd downgraded to a smaller plane, a few missed flights due to the gate being changed and then not knowing, then those that were there due to overbooking. As well as the misfortinate who had simply missed their flight.
So I'm in my hotel room, bored and hungry and yes ranting!