EasyJet kick Jo Wood off f light from Spain
Fury of rocker’s ex-wife after overbooking fiasco
Jo Wood has said she is ‘furious’ after being refused permission to get on an overbooked EasyJet flight on her way home from a romantic Easter break.
The ex-wife of Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood was due to fly from Murcia to London Gatwick on Tuesday, and had checked in at the airport with her boyfriend.
But when they went to board the plane, the couple were told only one of them could get on as it had been overbooked.
The pair were then forced to buy alternative flights with Ryanair home from Spain, as EasyJet could not put them on another plane. The mother-of-three said: ‘I was furious. I was panicking.
‘I have a little house in Murcia, I went there with my boyfriend for Easter, I booked the flights three weeks ago, I booked my seat and everything.’
The 62-year-old added: ‘We got to the airport, we checked in, we got our boarding passes, we were in front of the gate to go on the plane and they came up and they said, “only one of you can go, it’s either you,” pointing to me, “or your friend here”.
‘I said, “Hey I’m not going without him” and he said, “I’m not going without her”.’ Miss Wood had to get back for filming and her builder boyfriend Paul Scarborough, 53, had work on Wednesday morning at 5am.
They then had to book two tickets with Ryanair to Stansted as EasyJet could not fit them on another flight.
They did not get back to her
‘I just think it’s outrageous’
Camden home in London until 1am – nearly eight hours later than they were supposed to.
She added: ‘I just think it’s outrageous that they can overbook and then pick on anybody they want to take off the flight.
‘I’m fortunate enough to be able to buy another ticket home but for other people who have saved up, what do they do? It’s not right. They have to change something.’
A spokesman for EasyJet said: ‘We were sorry to hear of Ms Wood’s experience and would like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused ... Whilst there was one seat available, we understand that she wanted to fly with her travel companion.
‘Unfortunately, it was not possible to get them on an alternative EasyJet flight that evening and Ms Wood made alternative arrangements to travel back to the UK. A member of our customer services team will be in touch with Ms Wood directly to reimburse her for these costs and to compensate her.’
Miss Wood’s experience is the latest in a string of incidents in which airlines have overbooked flights, and either told passengers they cannot board or asked them to leave the plane.
Earlier this month, a shocking video of a 69-year- old doctor being dragged brutally off a United Airlines flight by security guards was shared online.
The airline had overbooked the flight from Chicago to Louisville, Kentucky, and needed four spaces for staff who were due to work the next day.
Grandfather Dr David Dao was asked to leave the flight, but after he repeatedly refused – saying he had to get home to treat patients the next morning – the footage showed him being dragged down the aisle, screaming. Later, pictures emerged showing him with blood on his face. United apologised after an outcry.