Easyjet: does the gate really "close" 30 minutes before departure?
Feb 13, 2012, 9:32 am
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
Easyjet: does the gate really "close" 30 minutes before departure?
I have a 7 am Easyjet flight out of LGW. My boarding pass says the gate closes at 6:30. Is there any chance that will get enforced? I'm actually staying at the airport that night and planned to arrive at the gate at 6:30 (sleep being a good thing) but I'll leave extra time for security (it's not bad at LGW at 6 in the morning, right?) if there's a real chance they won't let me fly if I'm a couple minutes late.
I thought Easyjet was trying to be a "no hassle" low cost airline. This seems like hassle to me.
I thought Easyjet was trying to be a "no hassle" low cost airline. This seems like hassle to me.
Feb 13, 2012, 9:42 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Silver (OW Sapphire), A3 Gold (*G), Bonvoy LTTE, HHonors Diamond, LeClubAccor Silver, UA Silver
Posts: 1,775
The trick with most London airport nowadays is to make sure you have your boarding pass scanned at the entrance to security no later than 30 mins before departure time. This is very strict and a 30 sec delay can result in a missed flight. Once past this hurdle though, it very much depends on whether the flight is on time/crowded, etc...
Out of experience with Easyjet, Ryanair, etc, if you make it to the gate around 15-20 mins before departure you will be fine.
Out of experience with Easyjet, Ryanair, etc, if you make it to the gate around 15-20 mins before departure you will be fine.
Feb 13, 2012, 9:56 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,361
To the OP, the rule means that they COULD refuse to let you board if boarding was finished by that stage. I do not recall, however, boarding being finished that early.
Feb 13, 2012, 10:26 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: GVA
Programs: BA Silver (OW Sapphire), A3 Gold (*G), Bonvoy LTTE, HHonors Diamond, LeClubAccor Silver, UA Silver
Posts: 1,775
Hmm... I assumed, as security scans your BP at LHR T3 and LGW. Never bothered to ask about it but just assumed it was the same procedure as T5. Personally, I wouldn't take a chance going through security past this "virtual" cut-off though...
Feb 13, 2012, 10:34 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: BD,Skyteam,QF
Posts: 541
Easyjet is an immovable object with regard to its times. I wouldn't risk it
under any circumstances.
Feb 13, 2012, 11:03 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Do none of you folks watch the airport TV programs? There is one dedicated to Easyjet (ok, I only watch occasionally as ranting passengers who have missed their flights upset me).
Easyjet is an immovable object with regard to its times. I wouldn't risk it
under any circumstances.
Easyjet is an immovable object with regard to its times. I wouldn't risk it
under any circumstances.
Feb 13, 2012, 11:08 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
There are scans at LHR T4 as well, but I'm pretty sure they don't do anything other than eliminate the comical American TSA-style scrutinizing of a BP with an automated process. (For instance, the agents at LHR do not need to have large-print strips of paper saying 'MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2012' on the podiums in front of them like I recently noticed at IAD.) I've never cut it close enough to care if that scan registers with the carriers, and the only posted timelines I've seen for ST carriers operating out of T4 is bag drop cut-offs. (Which AF/KL just increased from 30 minutes to 40 minutes.)
Feb 13, 2012, 11:09 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Barcelona, Catalunya
Posts: 2,108
And it has confirmed my believe that the orange airline and it's LCC brethren are best avoided at all cost. 
Feb 13, 2012, 11:11 am
#9
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,266
I have certainly heard stories about Easyjet starting boarding very early in order to try to leave before the planned time. In such a case I would suspect that they stick to the 30 minute rule with split second precision. Dont try it!
Feb 13, 2012, 11:14 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
OK, so if I don't want some unlikely but really frustrating thing to happen to me, I have to make sure I'm at the Easyjet gate at 6:30 am for my 7 am flight.
Which will undoubtedly annoy me, because the odds that I REALLY need to be there precisely by that time seem extremely low.
Next time, maybe I'll take the train.
Which will undoubtedly annoy me, because the odds that I REALLY need to be there precisely by that time seem extremely low.
Next time, maybe I'll take the train.
Feb 13, 2012, 11:25 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newcastle, UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Gold, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, Avis Preferred Plus, Amex Plat
Posts: 2,080
They will stick to the deadline when it suits them.
In fact, the first flight of the day, when everything is ready on time and there hasn't been the opportunity for delays to build up, is the perfect opportunity to close up and get away ASAP.
In fact, the first flight of the day, when everything is ready on time and there hasn't been the opportunity for delays to build up, is the perfect opportunity to close up and get away ASAP.
Feb 13, 2012, 11:51 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: London
Posts: 1,117
From the easyJet website:
I concur with what mad_rich says above - they like to get their pax on the plane and be ready to roll ASAP. As they say elsewhere, 'if you're late, we won't wait'...
[...] Please note the boarding gate closes 30 minutes prior to departure and certain airports are subject to different check-in desk and gate closure times. [...]
Last edited by Mizter T; Feb 13, 2012 at 11:56 am
Feb 13, 2012, 12:00 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
OK, so if I don't want some unlikely but really frustrating thing to happen to me, I have to make sure I'm at the Easyjet gate at 6:30 am for my 7 am flight.
Which will undoubtedly annoy me, because the odds that I REALLY need to be there precisely by that time seem extremely low.
Next time, maybe I'll take the train.
Which will undoubtedly annoy me, because the odds that I REALLY need to be there precisely by that time seem extremely low.
Next time, maybe I'll take the train.
Feb 13, 2012, 1:14 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,404
Feb 13, 2012, 1:38 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: back to my roots in Scotland!
Programs: Tamsin - what else is there to say?
Posts: 47,843
IME, 30 minutes is not a hard deadline. I think they are just trying to get you to the gate by then, so they can get you on board promptly (or at least lined up in pairs holding hands waiting outside to board the plane) under threat of dire consequences.
Frequently turned up at less than 30 mins to go and joined the end of the queue without any issues.
Frequently turned up at less than 30 mins to go and joined the end of the queue without any issues.
