EasyJet
 

Has anybody had any experiences flying on Easyjet. We might fly from Amsterdam to Geneva in February with them. Thank You

Airline is fine - like Southwest in USA. Founded in the UK by Greek businessman Stelios, who maintains a high public profile, but company is managed by UK airline professionals. Expanding across Europe - both Geneva and Amsterdam are hubs for them. Modern fleet of 737s, punctualty as good as other operators on the route. Leader in bookings on the web. A profitable business set for much expansion.

You buy food and drink on board if you want. Aircraft on your particular route is operated by Geneva flightcrew.

No lounges, first class, Elites, miles, etc.

The future of air travel - unfortunately !

You get a seat and friendly service and they are usually on time and cost much less. That's it.

Here is a link to two trip reports I wrote. Both of these trips were on EasyJet

The Princess Goes to Paris (on EasyJet)

The Princess Goes to Amsterdam


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Rachel
CO - Platinum
Hilton - Diamond
SPG - Platinum

I've only flown them once (someone else booked it), and all went smoothly. However, from reports from friends and colleagues, I gather than when it works its fine, but when things go wrong they go horribly wrong.

Make sure you check all other possible airlines to make sure they really are the cheapest (by a considerable margin) first. And if you don't like huge check-in queues, forget it altogether!

I would never fly EJ on business, but might consider it on vacation if it offered a considerable cost saving...

I don't recognise the scenario painted by Wingnut after - how many times was it? - one journey, and even that 'went smoothly'.

Wingnut's contribution could apply to any airline, though the recommendation to check prices is of course an absolute. Long queues? Just travel in the US. I had particular problems with BA in FRA, and they're certainly not alone.

You get what you pay for, and as outlined in other posts, that's fine. With easyJet, there is a useful added extra: if your flight is four hours or more late, you get a refund. Which other airline offers that?

And they do carry an awful lot of business passengers. Just check the suits and ties!

you buy online, and the further in advance you buy the cheaper the ticket. no refunds. another drawback--they often use suburban airports which if you take a cab will eat up your savings--be sure you know how to get to the city center from the particular airport. Still, I recommend them.

I think you are confusing them with Ryanair. In London Easyjet operations are split between Luton and Gatwick. At all other destinations on their network - 21 points so far - they use the principal airport along with the other major carriers.

He is not! Frankfurt Hahn is 100 miles or so away in the middle of nowhere.
Also, a lot of people complain that Easyjet and Ryanair are not reliable. Search for them on FlyerTalk and Google and you find a lot of complains. I would use them only when I really get a good deal.

Flew ZRH-LTN (London Luton) last month on easyJet for CHF 40, when BA wanted CHF 1175 for ZRH-LHR at almost exactly the same time.

Inbound plane was late, but turnaround was very quick, so we left 20 minutes late and got in 10 minutes early.

There was NO check-in line at all 90 minutes before scheduled departure, and I was the 20th person to check in on a nearly full flight. I imagine there must have been a line sometime later, but I didn't see it.

The gate personnel were at first not very good about enforcing the boarding rules (boarding pass #s 1-30 board first, then 31-60, etc) but after a couple of people complained, they started turning away queue-jumpers.

I'd certainly do it again, given the same unpalatable alternatives.

In my experience, EZY does not assign seating at check-in. You get given a coloured plastic boarding card (not a pass) and they call you forward for boarding according to the colour of your card. Those than check-in early get given the colours that are called first. Once on board, you pick your own seat. In practice, of course, everyone simply surges forward to the gate the moment the flight is called and there is a rather undignified scramble for seating.

Yes he is, and so are you; EZY does not fly to Frankfurt.

EZY chooses principal airports in comparison to Ryanair, which for example flies to Hahn (for Frankfurt), Prestwick (for Glasgow), Charleroi (for Brussels) etc. This makes EZY one of the few low cost carriers I would be prepared to fly.

[This message has been edited by ajamieson (edited 12-06-2002).]

They issued real boarding passes in ZRH, with 2-point type designating one's boarding number.

Hi Roger. Not strictly true. Obviously, all airlines suffer delays, mechanicals, etc etc etc. What I'm talking about is the customer service you get when these things happen. On a "scheduled" carrier you would expect to be booked onto the next flight, endorsed onto another carrier, or offered overnight accommodation if something went wrong on the last flight of the day. I have colleagues travelling with Easyjet where the only option provided was a flight 24 hours later.

This is my point precisely - I fail to see how this is useful! Mileage runners excepted, most people fly for a time-specific reason. A meeting. A holiday reservation. You need to get there rather than get a refund!

I do regularly, although admittedly using my FFP to circumnavigate the horrible queues!

Here, I think we're agreed. Given the choice on a route between Easyjet and BA, I too would probably choose Easyjet! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

I'd say check how close the airport is to the city and also DON'T take the last flight of the day if possible. They use their aircraft so intensively that if there is a problem it can cause a considerable knockon effect.

Nigel

[Couldn't get the right quotes, so here's a cut-and-paste job.]

Wingnut said 'On a "scheduled" carrier you would expect to be booked onto the next flight, endorsed onto another carrier, or offered overnight accommodation if something went wrong on the last flight of the day.'

You often don't get these on the lowest fares anyway, which I think is a fair comparison. There's even a post on the BA forum where Concorde passengers say they were refused hotel accommodation after a significant schedule change.

Wingnut said 'I fail to see how this is useful! ... You need to get there rather than get a refund!'

Excuse me, I have been delayed more than 4 hours by LH, BA, UA, VS, US and probably more. Guess what, they didn't refund my fare. EZ does, and I find that quite amazing.