Budget Travel - Vueling or EasyJet?

I am planning to travel from Paris to Madrid in Sept and it looks like both Vueling and EasyJet have flights. Price is about the same, although Vueling flies out of CDG and EasyJet out of ORY. Any recommendations between the two?

Second, does anyone know of any LCC service from Madrid to Zurich?

Thanks!

I have flown both. Both are good. Vueling has nice new planes (Airbus). Take the flight with the best time, airport for you.
For MAD-ZHR look here http://whichbudget.com/
You may look at MAD-Basel/Muehlhouse too...

Both pretty simple no-frills type carriers. I'd personal take Easyjet just to avoid CDG but YMMV

Thanks for the replies! The MAD-ZRH options are fairly slim, so I'm thinking I may end up doing IB ORY-MAD-ZRH since a one-way MAD-ZRH is insanely expensive.

Thanks for the replies! The MAD-ZRH options are fairly slim, so I'm thinking I may end up doing IB ORY-MAD-ZRH since a one-way MAD-ZRH is insanely expensive.

Just make sure every piece of your luggage is securely labelled and addressed! The combination of ORY, MAD and IB is ominous.

EZ have never lost any of my bags - IB have lost tons :( .
Current statistic is 18.5 bags per 1,000 are lost by IB - although they're supposed to be bringing in some new technology to help.
Link to El Pais (http://www.elpais.es/articulo/elpporeco/20060210elpepueco_6/Tes/economia/Iberia/encabeza/ranking/europeo/perdidas/maletas)

This topic is discussed at (rabid) length in this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567195&page=4&pp=15) post 57 onwards.

And take some sandwiches, IB don't feed Y pax anymore.

Just make sure every piece of your luggage is securely labelled and addressed! The combination of ORY, MAD and IB is ominous.

EZ have never lost any of my bags - IB have lost tons :( .
Current statistic is 18.5 bags per 1,000 are lost by IB - although they're supposed to be bringing in some new technology to help.
Link to El Pais (http://www.elpais.es/articulo/elpporeco/20060210elpepueco_6/Tes/economia/Iberia/encabeza/ranking/europeo/perdidas/maletas)

This topic is discussed at (rabid) length in this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567195&page=4&pp=15) post 57 onwards.

And take some sandwiches, IB don't feed Y pax anymore.

Thanks- that's good to know! Hopefully I will be able to squeeze everything into a carry-on.

I have flown EasyJet: I had a great experience. Having said that, when it comes to discount carriers, I'd take the one that's most convenient.

I would like to contribute my support for Vueling as well. ^

Flying Vueling CDG-BCN for the first time tonight. Was able to choose seats online ^ Will let you know how it went. Never tried EasyJet, but have had positive experiences with German LCC's Germanwings and HLX.

Just returned from my Vueling CDG-BCN-CDG flights. Pros: On time, new planes, free newspapers/magazines (in Spanish), in flight entertainment, online seat reservation, online check-in, good website, nice graphics... Cons: CDG T1 (actually prefer T3 for LCCs since there is no need to take a shuttle from RER), tight seat pitch (maybe similar to Easyjet, but worse than German LCCs), bus gate at BCN (not so for Easyjet). This negative might not be valid in MAD however. Overall a good experience, but considering flying out of ORY next time.

Vueling is usually good value.

Vueling, anytime.

I have never taken Vueling but I would always side with Easyjet as they really are the standard setters in the LCC industry

I have never taken Vueling but I would always side with Easyjet as they really are the standard setters in the LCC industry

My guess from this comment is that you haven't flown with Air Berlin yet.

Just returned from my Vueling CDG-BCN-CDG flights. Pros: On time, new planes, free newspapers/magazines (in Spanish), in flight entertainment, online seat reservation, online check-in, good website, nice graphics... Cons: CDG T1 (actually prefer T3 for LCCs since there is no need to take a shuttle from RER), tight seat pitch (maybe similar to Easyjet, but worse than German LCCs), bus gate at BCN (not so for Easyjet). This negative might not be valid in MAD however. Overall a good experience, but considering flying out of ORY next time.

Anyone splurge for the extra roomy seats for 10 euros? Recommend, or no?

I flew Vueling for my first time a couple weeks ago. Nice new Airbus planes, although the seat pitch seemed kinda tight, based on American standards. I think they just started charging 4.50 Euros for each checked bag per segment (9.00 for a round-trip). I was exempt from this charge since my reservation was made before the policy went into effect.

On my short hops between MAD and BCN, the extra-roomy seats were unsold.

My guess from this comment is that you haven't flown with Air Berlin yet.

No, they pulled out of belfast after (I think) a year because no one would fly them :cool:

No, they pulled out of belfast after (I think) a year because no one would fly them :cool:

???:confused:

And that merits a :cool:?

For anyone else from Belfast - my earnest commiserations. I hadn't realised.
It was just 6 months (but long enough to generate posts like this (http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.com/2006/06/air-berlin-belfast-to-stansted-with.html)).

???:confused:

And that merits a :cool:?

For anyone else from Belfast - my earnest commiserations. I hadn't realised.
It was just 6 months (but long enough to generate posts like this (http://alaninbelfast.blogspot.com/2006/06/air-berlin-belfast-to-stansted-with.html)).

Sorry, I didnt mean to come across like that. I have no problem with Air Berlin, but they were on a up hill battle in BHD against easyjet in BFS (lower airport charges and BFS can support bigger aircraft).

For what it is worth, I have flown CityJet and I like that product but EZY would always be my first choice due to it employing NI staff, good reliable service from BFS and more modern aircraft.