QUALIFY IT
Involuntary, and on time
Two tests. First: was it involuntary? If your client accepted a voucher and a later flight when the gate asked for volunteers, that was voluntary and Article 7 compensation is waived. Coach clients to say no at the gate.
Second: were they on time? easyJet closes bag drop 40 minutes before departure and the gate 30 minutes before. A client who met both and was still refused is a denied-boarding claim. A client who missed either is a no-show, and that is a different conversation.
Downgrades count too. A client moved from a paid Up Front seat to the back is owed a percentage refund under Article 10 — not the full compensation, but real money.
THE MONEY
What is it worth?
£220
Under 1,500 km
£350
1,500–3,500 km
£520
Over 3,500 km
Per passenger — payable immediately under Article 4(3).
Under 1,500 km £220 / €250 · over 1,500 km £350 / €400, per passenger, owed on the day. If the re-route lands within two hours (short) or three hours (medium) of the original, easyJet may halve it — rarely relevant, since the next easyJet seat is usually the next day.
THE PUSHBACK
What easyJet will say
There is no defence to an involuntary bump, so the argument moves to facts: easyJet will say your client was late to the gate. The gate-close time on the boarding pass and any time-stamped evidence your client has settle it.
easyJet oversells lightly compared with the legacy carriers, so most of its denied boardings are aircraft swaps — an A321 replaced by an A320, 50 seats gone. That is a bump, and it pays.
THE EDGE
What’s specific to easyJet
Report it the day it happens. Flight data cannot see the gate; the claim exists only when it’s recorded.
easyJet’s compensation form has no denied-boarding option that’s obvious — select the disruption type nearest and state “involuntary denied boarding, Article 4” in the description.
The 40-minute bag-drop and 30-minute gate rules are easyJet’s own — quote them back when the reply claims lateness.
Reading this as the passenger, not the agent? The plain-English version for your own trip: bumped from a flight — your rights.
THE PLAY
How do you file it?
Record the denied boarding on the trip the same day — the claim generates from that.
Get the reason in writing at the gate if possible; a staff name and time is enough.
File via the form citing Article 4; attach the boarding pass showing the gate-close time.
Refuse the voucher. Cash is the entitlement.
FLYING IT YOURSELF?
Check what easyJet owes you — free, two minutes. $39 only if the airline pays.
Check my flight →TRAVEL AGENTS · Forward the booking and this claim is prepared for you. Start watching client flights →
AGENTS ASK
Questions agents ask
They volunteered for a £100 voucher — anything left to claim?
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The voucher settles compensation. Care and re-routing rights remain.
The aircraft was swapped for a smaller one — does that count?
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Yes. A seat that existed at booking and was withdrawn is a denied boarding.
Does easyJet have to fly them home the same day?
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It owes re-routing at the earliest opportunity, on any carrier if needed, plus a hotel if that is tomorrow.
Is there an extraordinary-circumstances defence?
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No. Article 4 has none. That is what makes this the strongest claim available.
How fast does easyJet pay a bump?
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Faster than delays — the facts are simple. Two to four weeks is typical when the gate evidence is attached.
General information for travel professionals, not legal advice. Compensation depends on the facts of each disruption and the airline’s evidence. MyAirAdvocate prepares claims; it does not represent passengers and takes no percentage of any compensation.