Just two days after the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) was launched, easyJet passengers flying from Milan to Manchester on Sunday 12 April not solely confronted hours-long queues, however the majority missed their flight altogether, thanks to the new border management checks.
Of the 156 passengers booked on the flight, it’s reported that solely 34 managed to board. The relaxation (122 individuals) have been deserted at Milan’s Linate airport, scrambling to discover a approach to get dwelling.
Some, it has been reported, even handed out and grew to become unwell due to the warmth and the circumstances in the queue, whereas others had to pay over £1,000 for new flights.
The Manchester-based Hume household, for instance, advised The Independent that that they had arrived on the departure lounge three hours forward of time, heeding the airline’s warning of prolonged ready instances.
They nonetheless missed their flight and have been as an alternative supplied another one which departed 5 days later – however it could have costed them £330 to rebook, not to point out the additional lodging charges.
Instead, the household, together with two dad and mom and their 13-year-old son, spent over £1,600 on a connecting flight through Luxembourg, which nonetheless meant arriving at their vacation spot 24 hours later.
Similarly, the mom of 17-year-old Kiera paid for alternative flights for her daughter and her boyfriend, which set her again £520 and meant the pair would land at London Gatwick, not Manchester.
“We got here at seven-thirty for our flight at eleven so were super early,” the teenager advised the BBC. “We got to Border Control and it was a massive queue of people. I wasn’t feeling great anyway because I think I’d got food poisoning.
“At about ten-fifty they introduced some water over for individuals, and once we received to the entrance of the queue somebody requested us if we have been going to Manchester, and advised us our flight had simply gone. There have been solely about 30 individuals received on the aircraft, and about 100 individuals did not.”
When she emailed easyJet in regards to the scenario, she says they replied providing her a complete of £12.25 in compensation.
“We won’t be able to buy a sandwich at the airport for that, and we’re going to be stuck here until we can fly tomorrow,” she added.
A spokesperson for easyJet advised the publication: “We are conscious that some passengers departing from Milan Linate right this moment skilled longer than typical ready instances at passport management and we suggested prospects due to fly to enable further time to make their approach by means of the airport.