A father, Darren Rainey, has expressed frustration with easyJet, claiming they left his family stranded in an airport after diverting their flight to the wrong country and failing to provide proper accommodation. The incident occurred when they were en route from Luton Airport to Crete but had to make an emergency landing in Croatia, leading to an overnight delay.
Despite assurances from easyJet that they would arrange overnight accommodation for the passengers, Darren and his family found themselves stuck at Split Airport without a clear timeline for their replacement flight. With no assistance from the airline, Darren and his family spent the night at the airport, with him staying awake to watch over his children as they slept on the uncomfortable airport floor.
Darren’s complaints to easyJet initially went unanswered, citing the emergency landing as a reason for no compensation. However, after media intervention, the airline offered a refund for their night in Croatia. The family’s replacement flight was significantly delayed, causing them to lose almost a full day of their holiday upon reaching Crete.
Expressing disappointment with easyJet’s handling of the situation, Darren highlighted the lack of communication and support provided during the ordeal. Despite his wife’s subsequent complaints to easyJet, the airline refused to offer any compensation, citing the emergency landing as justification. Darren emphasized the impact of the experience on their holiday enjoyment and stressed the importance of fair treatment for hardworking travelers.
In response to the incident, an easyJet holidays spokesperson acknowledged the inconvenience faced by Mr. Rainey and his family, attributing the delay to a crew member’s medical emergency. The airline expressed regret over the situation, citing limited accommodation availability in Split due to the busy holiday season. They assured Mr. Rainey of a refund for the incurred expenses and offered a goodwill gesture to address the family’s negative experience.