Gate Closed 45min before departure rather than 40minutes as advised
My son arrived at the departure gate 45minutes before the departure time shown on the airport signage.
The EasyJet ticket issuing person also confirmed to my son when he checked in that he had to be at the gate 40min before the departure time shown on the airport signs (billboard).
The flight was delayed however when my son arrived at the gate 45min before the displayed departure time he was refused access to the plane and the luggage was removed.
EasyJet did as follows:
refused my son from recording (filming) his discussion with the EasyJet personal (within their rights/ EasyJet personal are entitled to ask a person to stop this and my son complied)
refused to look for an alternative flight
have up to now refused to pay back the airfare as well as the cost for additional luggage
Easyjet have confirmed in writing that the boarding is 30min prior to departure as shown on the airport signs but advise that the Toulouse Airport company made an error although they have confirmed telephonically that the revised departure time on their system was 09H00 (I have asked that they keep a record of my telephone recording)
EasyJet keep on referring to their travel insurance however why is the onus on the passenger if they have not complied with their instructions.
My question is would we have recourse and who would be the best people to contact in light of the above.
Best Answer
Pre-flight time limits are always based on the originally scheduled departure time, these include both check in close and arrive at the gate by times. The fact that a flight is delayed does not waive these time conditions, primarily because the airline will do what it can to get the flight to depart as close to scheduled departure as it can.
It sounds like your son made the mistake of assuming he could do as he pleases during the delay. This is never a good idea, because the revised departures times are "estimated" and may happen sooner than posted.
There is really no recourse other than writing a polite message, explaining what occurred and asking for their assistance. Maybe you will get a sympathetic ear, maybe not. But it sounds like the airline did nothing wrong based on the terms of your contract with them.
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How many minutes before departure do they close the gate?
Most flights start boarding 30 - 50 minutes before scheduled departure, but the exact time depends on your destination and plane. Boarding ends 15 minutes before departure. If you're not on board, we may reassign your seat to another passenger. You will not be allowed to board once the doors close.Can I arrive 45 minutes before flight?
For domestic flights, a safe range to ensure you make your flight is 45 minutes to two hours. Note that 45 minutes is the absolute latest you can arrive prior to departure if you're checking a bag. This is the average cutoff time for airlines accepting checked bags.Can airlines close the gate early?
Doors closing earlyThis has increased from 10 to 15 minutes, according to American. This explains why you can no longer arrive at the gate 15 minutes before the flight departs. Passengers will not be allowed to board the aircraft once the door has closed. The airline also reserves the right to reassign seats.How To Survive The First Hour Of A Nuclear Blast / Fallout! #SURVIVAL #MYTHS #DEBUNKED
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