I am in the same position - 4 x flights booked to Lanzarote for end of April. Easy Jet website shows that return flight times have been moved by over 8 hours (were day flights, now night flights).
Easy Jet's helpdesk confirmed this, but GB Airways said they had been assured that flight times would not change!

I could not take the chance - I refuse to travel at night & I found an excellent (Monarch) flight at a very similar price to what I had paid. & of course will also include food & an allocated seat! So I've booked them.

I do feel strongly that because GB Airways cannot confirm, at this point in time, that my flight times would be the same, I should be entitled to a refund NOW, instead of "after completion".

No one seems to know when "completion" will be. Easy Jet say no refunds until after 30th March - GB Airways say completion is expected on 31 January. I have tried phoning the 'Air Transport Users Council' for advice, but line is always engaged.

My fingers are crossed for a refund asap though!!

Ozzie

Do you mean Monarch "Scheduled"?? When I travelled with them last year food was extra and according to their website still is.

Steve8482 ...

No, I think I've booked on a Monarch 'charter' (through Avro). The food was extra, but the flights still didn't cost a great deal more than the GB Airways (Easy Jet) ones, and at a MUCH MUCH better time than the 'new' Easy Jet departure (which would have us arriving back in UK at 0.55 am (rather than 16.40 as originally scheduled) !

Hi Karen, I've re-booked my flight to Tunis direct with BA as Easy are not listing that route on their site and I can't afford to leave it any longer. I had contacted BA via 'Manage My Booking' asking if they would transfer me to their flight but they would not tell me, simply repeating the spiel in their original e-mail. BA had a good price (£30 cheaper than I originally paid), at a more convenient time, and 23 kg hold luggage allowance, so I went ahead and am now waiting to claim my refund. It was relatively easy for me as I'm travelling alone, but it could work out really expensive for a family to do this. The cavalier attitude of BA towards their customers has been appalling in my opinion.

Ozzie,

Where did you get the information about Easyjet not giving refunds until 30th March, rather than on completion of the takeover? I have been led to believe from both Easyjet and GB/BA that as soon as the takeover is complete (estimated to be by the end of January) refunds will be forthcoming to those who do not wish to travel with Easyjet.

I'm losing paitence with this whole sorry saga

I would happily rebook with Monarch for our flights to Dalaman but I can't afford to lose £800 if the sale isn't finalised and I have to then travel with GB!

So pleased you've sorted yourself out Aslemma!

Me too Cazz. I really find it quite insulting that BA respond to enquiries with an automated e-mail repeating their original spiel. The fact that they have now started flights to Tunis themselves and there is no reference to that route on the Easy site does strongly indicate that I made the right decision. However, if they had confirmed that I would be transferred to the BA flight they would have been over £30 better off, as the original flight was dearer. Of coure, BA have had our money in their account for some months and I doubt very much we will get interest!!

Hi

I did try to phone The Air Transport Council myself to day but like Ozzie they were engaged, Im not sure if they can help but anything is wrth a try.
I am not in work tomorrow so i am going to keep trying for a long as it takes to try and speak to someone there and will let you no how i get on. I am also going to phone BA,GB and Easy Jet by the time this is all over with the amount of calls iv made since this was announced i could have paid for another flights.

All I want is my refund allowing me freedom off choice as to who I fly with for my summer holiday now it might not be GB airways. Its the one thing we all look forward to all year.

Cheers
Karen

Hi Cazzholly

It was Easy Jet themselves (their customer services) who told me that there would be no refund until 'completion' and that wasn't until 30th March!! I've no idea whether to believe them or not!
The lady I spoke to at GB Airways said the info that Easy Jet are giving out is wrong.
To be honest I'm totally confused, I've no idea what to believe & I'm appalled that these two companies can't get together, get their facts straight, & let us, their customers, have some honest & fair information.
I rebooked now because it will simply be too late to rebook in March/beginning of April, as I fly on 24th April. If I don't get my refund, I will take Easy Jet to the small claims court.
(Alternatively as I paid by credit card I believe I can seek a refund through the c.c company & they then take up the matter with Easy Jet). I'm waiting until 31st January to see what happens after that!

This sounds like a real mess, I am so glad I asked for a refund and was given one early on. I hope you all hear something very soon and get your refunds.

I see the whole sorry episode had a spot on BBC Watchdog last night.

One of the real complaints last night was from people who'd booked BA/GB club class....and of course there is no such thing on Easyjet. When trying to obtain a refund on the club portion of the fare, GB didn't want to know and neither did Easyjet as the funds were apparently never passed on to them.

Article here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/holidays_and_travel/holiday_20080123.shtml

Unfortunately I missed the programme last night but was told about it this morning. It is absolutely disgraceful the way people are being treated. In my case it's actually worked to my advantage, as I'm now flying with BA themselves at a cheaper price and better time, though of course I still have to wait for my refund. People are stuck between a rock and a hard place and many will be left seriously out of pocket. I'm wondering if someone will pick up the gauntlet and take BA/GB to the Small Claims Court once it has all gone through.

It was Easy Jet themselves (their customer services) who told me that there would be no refund until 'completion' and that wasn't until 30th March!! I've no idea whether to believe them or not!

I would take that with a pinch of salt, it may well be that the person on the end of the phone at easyJet is getting confused. Lets be honest the people at the end of the phone probably have little more information than us, and have probably been told refunds will be given out after completion. 30th March is the day that GB Airways services stop operating as BA. Perhaps the customer agent thought that is the completion date? Sale completion should hopefully be soon now thaty the OFT has waived the flag. On completion easyjet will own GB, and between completion and 30th March will continue to operate as BA. Its easy to see how someone could egt confused. All communication has said refunds after completion, and after that date easyJet own GB, so doubt they can withold your funds.

The club class issue is a mess, and to be honest I blame BA, or more importantly GB Airways. They knew they were selling up to easyJet, it was not a hostile takeover, so conditions could have been set on each side. easyJet don't offer club and won't start. GB/BA should have shown due dilligence and ensured a solution for club class bookings when they were agreeing takeover terms. I can't believe the issue slipped through the net.

Hi

I have made many telephoned calls to day and the most favourable being GB airways. The lady I spoke to said hopefully it will be completed tomorrow and that an email would be sent by Monday how true that is i'm not sure because I then spoke to BA who would not varify what i had been told by GB.

On the GB site there is a box at the side that says Easy Jet, and all information regarding the take over is on there it also now states that completion should be no later than 31st January 2008.

Sorry I could not find anything out for certain but will see what happens tomorrow.

Cheers
Karen

Thanks for the up-date Karen. Hope it goes through soon as it is difficult working with fingers permanently crossed.

I booked 8 June flights to Faro back in August. We do not now want to fly from Gatwick with Easyjet. In the absence of a refund I have had to book another 8 flights before the prices all go up. I also found the email confusing and unhelpful. I am out of pocket big time.

What email Tricia? (I booked through an agent so unfortunately have received no emails from either GB or Easyjet)

Hi Cazz, I'm sure you are up to speed on this fiasco, even without the e-mail BA originally sent those of us who had booked direct, as I see you posted back in November to say you had booked through Thomson. Keep watching here, because as soon as anyone gets an update I'm certain they will post. In the meantime keep chasing Thomson, as they might have further information which is being denied to us.

Hi all, just found this http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2008/01/28/26519/green-light-for-easyjet-takeover-of-gb-airways.html doesn't tell us much, but it is dated mon 28th jan, so maybe things are happening & we will hear something soon about our flights.

Deb.

Hi Deb ... although that article is dated 28 January, it is not really a new development. The Office of Fair Trading did in fact clear the GB Airways acquisition by easyJet on 18 January, allowing both companies to proceed to finalise the deal.

David