EasyJet overbooking leaves Barnet groom stranded as bride flies to Montenegro alone

A Barnet couple’s honeymoon began with a 21-hour separation after easyJet overbooked their flight from Gatwick to Tivat on 26 July 2026. Andy Wedlake was denied boarding while his wife, Katya, flew alone to Montenegro. The airline later apologised and paid £350 compensation, but the couple said the sum did not cover the stress and lost time.

The Wedlakes, who live in Barnet, had booked their trip months in advance. They arrived at Gatwick’s North Terminal in time for their 8:25 am flight but found it overbooked. EasyJet staff told them one seat was available, but only one of them could board. If neither took the seat, they would be treated as "no shows" and lose rebooking rights.

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Airlines’ overbooking policy

Overbooking is a common practice among airlines, which sell more tickets than seats to account for no-shows. Under EU air passenger rights, airlines must first ask for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for compensation. If no volunteers come forward, airlines may deny boarding to passengers, who are then entitled to compensation.

EasyJet said overbooking affects a "very small proportion" of flights and is used to keep fares low. A spokesperson told MyLondon: "In the rare event a customer can't travel, we take our responsibilities seriously and seek volunteers to travel on a later flight in exchange for compensation. Where this is not possible, a decision is made based on order of check-in."

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For me that doesn’t cover the stress, the sadness of being apart from my new wife, the loss of one full day in Tivat, or the wasted time.

Andy Wedlake, Barnet resident

Compensation and apology

Wedlake is entitled to £350 under EU rules for being denied boarding. EasyJet apologised for the incident and said it had reached out to the couple to offer compensation and a goodwill gesture. The spokesperson added: "We are sorry that an exception was not made on this occasion to book an alternative flight for them together, especially as it was such a special trip."

Wedlake criticised easyJet’s handling of the situation. He told the Telegraph: "I’m shocked they do it to destinations where they only put on one flight per day, and that they would not be able to predict this flight on a Sunday morning in summer would have a high attendance rate."

What happens next

The Wedlakes have received their compensation and an apology from easyJet. No further action is expected from the airline or the couple. The incident highlights the risks of overbooking, particularly on routes with limited daily flights.