Transfers ridiculously early

[y0rkier0se]

This is kind of an AIBU, but holiday related so posting here.

We are flying home from holiday at 10.30am Spanish time this morning. The airport transfer, through EasyJet as a package holiday, was due to pick us up from the hotel at 6.30am. This would have been fine - an hourish transfer to the airport, then 2-3 hours at the airport. However, last night we were informed that they’d moved our transfer earlier, and it was now at 3.40am. So we’ve arrived at the airport for 4.40am, meaning we now have nearly 6 hours at the airport, and we can’t check in until 2 hours before the flight.

Would you complain? Do you think they’re likely to do anything? All I can see under their terms and conditions is “We aim to pick you up 3.5-2.5 hours before your flight”.

Would you be able to arrange a taxi in time instead? Obviously it would depend on how far you are from the airport and how much it’s likely to cost, but it may be a solution if you really don’t want to use the transfer at that time and it really is very early.

I’d complain, that’s too long. You could’ve stayed in bed longer.

I think the OP is already there.

It's far too much in advance of your departure time. A lot of companies contract out to local firms and so they've probably got a clash or a busy morning and think the solution is to just start earlier without any regard for the passengers.

Yep already here. I think that’s exactly what’s happened, it’s contracted out, but it’s very annoying! Nothing is open this side of departures and we can’t check in until 8.25 🤦🏼‍♀️

I’d complain if you’ve booked with a package operator, as your most likely to get a voucher off your next holiday.
I’d be peeved, especially with kids and no facilities- it’s not ideal at all.
We found it annoying when we were dropped off 45mins before check in opened earlier in the year as it was more waiting with a grumpy toddler.

I presume whoever picked you up has gone off to collect more people, so maybe there is a shortage of drivers. I hate pick ups and when we travelled before children, once we got forgotten and had to get a taxi. After that we arranged our own transport, until we had children, then we waited for coach. Once in Cyprus, we were about 20 minutes from the airport but the journey took over 1.5 hours.

3.40 is ridiculous. You've basically lost a night's sleep for no reason.

It is rubbish. I doubt you would get much in compensation though, just a small voucher like the PP said.

Obviously they contract to a local firm, they are not running their own vehicles and staff. There has probably been a last minute problem (someone sick or vehicle breakdown), and it was this or either you or someone else wouldn’t make their flight. I guess they could have paid to taxi people but that might be tricky if they needed a large number of taxis during the night/very early morning. I wouldn’t like it but probably accept it as shit happens and at least I got there tbh

We've had easyjet holidays, but booked our own transfers as it was much cheaper than ej.