Crossing to the dark side...easyjet in this case
May 14, 2018, 8:25 am
#46
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,609
Agreed - This for me is by far and away the worst aspect of U2. It spoils an otherwise generally very good experience indeed: so many of their systems (checkin, automated baggage tag dispensing, in-flight catering, etc) just seem to be better designed and implemented than BA's.
May 14, 2018, 10:40 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
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May 14, 2018, 10:46 am
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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May 14, 2018, 11:06 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: BA exec, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 556
easyJet plus is definitely worth the money if you fly with them a few times a year. Front row seats are usually £20-25 each way, so within 4 return flights you've got your money back. Plus you get fast track security and priority boarding at most airports. You can also switch to earlier flights for free for no cost at all.
easyJet do often use the cheap end of existing airports, AMS is another example. But there is one really bad aspect of U2, very different from BA, which is that they do expect people to queue and be ready for boarding, including Priority, well before the aircraft has even landed. Their app has Flightradar embedded into it so while you wait in the queue - sometimes outdoors - you can see for yourself that the aircraft is still 100km away. Ryanair also do this. You can of course opt out of this and wait for the "last remaining customers" annoucement, but sometimes you will lose your cabin baggage as a result, even if Priority.
Agreed - This for me is by far and away the worst aspect of U2. It spoils an otherwise generally very good experience indeed: so many of their systems (checkin, automated baggage tag dispensing, in-flight catering, etc) just seem to be better designed and implemented than BA's.
May 14, 2018, 11:14 am
#51
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
I've started using the 'Hands Free' option at AMS. You can drop your hand baggage off for EUR6 (it should be free IMO) and then just turn up as the gate closes. No need to worry about getting there 50 minutes beforehand to ensure you get overhead space - there are often 50+ people in the Speedy Boarding area. It's a bit of an extra wait at MAN, but not too bad - it's an extra glass of wine in the Privium lounge 
May 14, 2018, 12:21 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: London, UK
Programs: Virtuoso, FSPP, Hyatt Prive, Hilton Impressario, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Roswood Elite, MO Fan Club
Posts: 560
Having flown FR just a couple of times and never having flown on U2, this thread is a very interesting read!!
May 14, 2018, 12:35 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Programs: Ba Silver ( for now!)
Posts: 776
I have a boat in Mallorca and commute every other week.
This is year I am mostly on ba as following the monarch slots the fares are way way down
like the op I needed to make a change from a Wednesday to a Friday. £300 odd. A new ba fare was about £129 ( how can it be more to change !) and easyJet was £27 one way.
The ba flight will will just be left to wilt
This is year I am mostly on ba as following the monarch slots the fares are way way down
like the op I needed to make a change from a Wednesday to a Friday. £300 odd. A new ba fare was about £129 ( how can it be more to change !) and easyJet was £27 one way.
The ba flight will will just be left to wilt
May 14, 2018, 12:46 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Blue, EI Silver, Honours Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,209
For those of us who live outside the M25/SE BA is a much less viable option than the Jet2/easyJet/Ryanair offerings from a local airport. BA might be overall more polished than easyJet and certainly FR, but Im already landing at my destination while I'd still be at T5 with BA, so that counts for a lot. The seats are the same as easyJet and the BoB is arguably better on easyJet too, so why waste time on a connection?
I do like Club Europe and Club World and Executive Club is a brilliant FFP. I think the T5 lounges are great too. If I were to live close to LHR I think BA would easily be my first choice. But living further north BA travel, particularly on EU trips, is hard to justify on grounds of comfort, convenience or cost.
I do like Club Europe and Club World and Executive Club is a brilliant FFP. I think the T5 lounges are great too. If I were to live close to LHR I think BA would easily be my first choice. But living further north BA travel, particularly on EU trips, is hard to justify on grounds of comfort, convenience or cost.
May 14, 2018, 2:02 pm
#55
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Malta
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 671
I think Easyjet are pretty good and have been using them more since the recent BA enhancements lowered standardsbut left prices more or less where they were. I just wish that they flew to more destinations.
May 14, 2018, 2:07 pm
#56
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
Which destinations? There aren't many left in Europe that easyJet doesn't fly to!
May 14, 2018, 3:59 pm
#58
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,770
May 14, 2018, 11:56 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
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I think you might retain memories of the earlier days of Ryanair, and the yobbish antics of Michael O'Leary before the tranquilisers kicked in.
Book early, select a seat, pay for fast boarding and you'll be fine - just so long as you follow the (easily understood) rules, and you are happy with onboard service that is cheerful rather than polished. BOB works well. Take a book.
You stand to gain substantial fare savings and direct access to a startling number of destinations.
May 15, 2018, 1:02 am
#60
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
@ IAN-UK : I was very surprised to read the analogy you referenced - especially coming from a such an experienced, and measured, traveller as bisonrav. Would agree that the only rational explanation for that particular post must be an outdated perspective.
Recently used FR for a STN-OSL return (well .... I did pop over to Australia in between, so the Ryanair flights actually comprised just 2 within what was a 13-sector trip).
I do like FR’s “Priority + 2 Cabin Bags” deal. Being really keen to avoid carousel waits, it enabled me to be just as confident of keeping my stuff with me as I was with the various subsequent J class sectors.
All CC were extremely polite and personable ; a BoB coffee was delivered promptly / fuss-free (and, for coins of the realm, so no card-related shenanigans ....) ; and the seat was fine for such a short hop. I had in fact paid (subsequently) another, separate, fee to grab front row with extra leg-room, and am not 100% sure whether it would have been more cost-effective to go for the ‘Flexi Plus’ bundle in the first place (memo to self to check thoroughly next time)
There were slight delays in arrival time on both sectors, but nothing that caused me any issues. On the return sector, there was a very messy boarding process at OSL, which I really did not enjoy. But if anyone should think that messy boarding is somehow the preserve of FR, then may I suggest a quick review of the current “Group Boarding 2018” thread.
All in all, there was absolutely nothing about this FR experience (or indeed any of my other flights with them spanning the last 2/3 years) which would push me to selecting BA over them - subject of course to other key considerations including pricing & timings. Even STN was functioning well in terms of security etc ....... although that can certainly be a different story in peak summer, as it can anywhere (even F wing at T5)
The reality, IMHO, is that FR have been getting their act together, amidst a changed culture engendered by their weirdly enigmatic, yet uniquely talented, head honcho O’Leary ; and all at the very time that Sr. Alejandro Cruz de Llano and his cohorts seem to find great difficulty in doing the same.
Recently used FR for a STN-OSL return (well .... I did pop over to Australia in between, so the Ryanair flights actually comprised just 2 within what was a 13-sector trip).
I do like FR’s “Priority + 2 Cabin Bags” deal. Being really keen to avoid carousel waits, it enabled me to be just as confident of keeping my stuff with me as I was with the various subsequent J class sectors.
All CC were extremely polite and personable ; a BoB coffee was delivered promptly / fuss-free (and, for coins of the realm, so no card-related shenanigans ....) ; and the seat was fine for such a short hop. I had in fact paid (subsequently) another, separate, fee to grab front row with extra leg-room, and am not 100% sure whether it would have been more cost-effective to go for the ‘Flexi Plus’ bundle in the first place (memo to self to check thoroughly next time)
There were slight delays in arrival time on both sectors, but nothing that caused me any issues. On the return sector, there was a very messy boarding process at OSL, which I really did not enjoy. But if anyone should think that messy boarding is somehow the preserve of FR, then may I suggest a quick review of the current “Group Boarding 2018” thread.
All in all, there was absolutely nothing about this FR experience (or indeed any of my other flights with them spanning the last 2/3 years) which would push me to selecting BA over them - subject of course to other key considerations including pricing & timings. Even STN was functioning well in terms of security etc ....... although that can certainly be a different story in peak summer, as it can anywhere (even F wing at T5)
The reality, IMHO, is that FR have been getting their act together, amidst a changed culture engendered by their weirdly enigmatic, yet uniquely talented, head honcho O’Leary ; and all at the very time that Sr. Alejandro Cruz de Llano and his cohorts seem to find great difficulty in doing the same.