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EasyJet urges passengers bumped from flights to seek compensation

Low cost carrier easyJet has urged any passengers who have been removed from overbooked flights without compensation to come forward after a British couple were forced to cancel a trip to Italy.

The couple were due to fly from Luton to Catania in Sicily and were not offered compensation as they learnt their flight had been overbooked.

They were due to fly a day after a doctor was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight in the US, which led to a furious reaction around the world.

EasyJet has apologised for the incident, which it has blamed on a manual error at the gate and says it will provide additional training to its call centre staff.

A spokesman said: “The circumstances were very unusual and resulted from a manual error at the gate.

“If any customer feels that we have not handled their claim appropriately, they should get in contact with us so we can look into it.”

The passengers in question, who paid £628 for their flights and had non-refundable accommodation, told the Independent that the only difference between their experience and that of Dr David Dao, who is taking legal action against United, was the level of force used.

EU rules demand that passengers are offered a flight the same day with another airline, or compensation.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: “Passengers are entitled to a minimum level of compensation and must be offered an alternative flight, or re-rout, at the earliest opportunity or at a date that suits you, or offered a full refund, if the passenger no longer wants to fly.”

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