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| EasyJet despicable over Egypt rescue flights, Bristol couple says | EasyJet despicable over Egypt rescue flights, Bristol couple says |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tourists were plunged into chaos when EasyJet cancelled and resold seats on "rescue" flights after Egypt went into coronavirus lockdown, a couple says. | Tourists were plunged into chaos when EasyJet cancelled and resold seats on "rescue" flights after Egypt went into coronavirus lockdown, a couple says. |
| Anne-Marie and Matthew Gikes have described the firm's behaviour as "absolutely despicable". | |
| The pair had flown from Bristol to Hurghada on 11 March, before Foreign Office travel advice was issued. | The pair had flown from Bristol to Hurghada on 11 March, before Foreign Office travel advice was issued. |
| "I will never fly with them again as long as I live," said Mrs Gilke. Easyjet has been asked to comment. | "I will never fly with them again as long as I live," said Mrs Gilke. Easyjet has been asked to comment. |
| "They could have made a horrible situation easier," Mrs Gilke continued. | "They could have made a horrible situation easier," Mrs Gilke continued. |
| 'Blind panic' | 'Blind panic' |
| Because no travel advice was issued before they set off on their 10-day trip, Mr and Mrs Gilke feared their travel insurance would be invalid if they cancelled it. | Because no travel advice was issued before they set off on their 10-day trip, Mr and Mrs Gilke feared their travel insurance would be invalid if they cancelled it. |
| "On the Monday (16 March) we were told that Egypt would be closing its airspace, closing its borders and all the hotels would be closed," Mrs Gikes said. | |
| "There was blind panic, with everyone trying to get on a flight. Just after we found that out, we found that our flight home on the Saturday had been cancelled. | "There was blind panic, with everyone trying to get on a flight. Just after we found that out, we found that our flight home on the Saturday had been cancelled. |
| "They didn't offer us any other flight so people were desperately trying to find a way home, before we were thrown out of the hotel." | "They didn't offer us any other flight so people were desperately trying to find a way home, before we were thrown out of the hotel." |
| Like other holidaymakers, she spent all week trying to re-book a flight. | Like other holidaymakers, she spent all week trying to re-book a flight. |
| In the end, despite losing their original seats for the Saturday flight she still tried to board it. | In the end, despite losing their original seats for the Saturday flight she still tried to board it. |
| "We waited all day, we queued up and they were only allowing people with the new boarding reference number," Mrs Gilke said. | "We waited all day, we queued up and they were only allowing people with the new boarding reference number," Mrs Gilke said. |
| "Essentially, they had cancelled our flights and then sold our seats to someone else. | "Essentially, they had cancelled our flights and then sold our seats to someone else. |
| "There were about 150 people just left in the airport absolutely hysterical by this point because we'd heard this was the last flight from EasyJet." | "There were about 150 people just left in the airport absolutely hysterical by this point because we'd heard this was the last flight from EasyJet." |
| The couple eventually managed to re-book another flight the following day, for £200 each and arrived home on Sunday evening. | The couple eventually managed to re-book another flight the following day, for £200 each and arrived home on Sunday evening. |
| Mrs Gilke believes 50 or so people are still stranded after being unable to book return flights home. | Mrs Gilke believes 50 or so people are still stranded after being unable to book return flights home. |