EZY8645 LGW-VLC 14th Sept 2009

Having been at home for less than 2 days, it was time to head off to Valencia to participate in a conference there. Unfortunately, the choice of airlines was either EasyJet from Gatwick or Ryanair from Stansted (as BA have pulled out of flying there)[:(] I opted for the Easyjet option, and paid the extra for speedy boardin plus.

Arrived at Gatwick, to find that the transit was working today (so the bus last time, was simply a test thing before the real shutdown in the next few weeks). When I got to the check-in area, the was a longish queue for standard check-in and only 3 couples waiting at speedy boarding plus queue. Having said that, I can guarantee that the speedy boardin plus queue moved very slow and took longer than standard check-in as there were only 2 desks open, compared to about 12 or 14 for standard check-in [V]

Security was a breeze - I was greeted with a smile, a comment that I must travel a lot as I took my laptop out without being asked and was through in about 5 minutes. I had pre-booked the Aviance Lounge - only 14.50 and was a welcome escape from the terminal. Free bar (without champagne), nibbles and free WiFi. Was a pleasant couple of hours. Flight eventually came up for 'go to gate' and then almost instantly 'boarding'. Oh no, I thought, I have speedy boarding and they have already started! A very brisk walk, up and over the bridge to the gate, to find that only about 10 people had got to the gate already and no sign of the plane or boarding yet. Very shortly the plane arrived, and was quickly turned around. Overheard one of the BAA (sorry Gatwock Airport) security people saying that they hated the flights without seat allocation, as some people got all agitated about when to get one. Finally the plane was ready for boarding - obviously EasyJet are saving money by not paying for PA annoucements, as this was done by a guy shouting from the door and explaining the boarding groups etc. I was about the 8th person on (a group of 6 had been boarded first, as one has visual problems - technically they should have been in the SA group (special assistance) and therefore boarded after the SB group (speedy boarding) - no issue for me. The other person infront of me was in a group with his wife saying, you have the speedy boarding so you get on board and save us all seats (against the rules!). However, I opted for seat 1C. More leg room during the flight, but everyone starring at you as the boarded, as though you had done something wrong! The flight was pretty full, although, I love the way people take the aisle seat leaving the other two empty and pretend to be asleep!![;)]

Take-off was a few minutes late, short taxi and then off into the afternoon clouds. Shortly after take-off, there was the drinks round - I found the fact that the hot food / special combinations differed depending on which country you were flying to. I worked for pretty much all of the flight and therefore had a G'n'T to help....the prices weren't too bad. Regular rubbish collections and a second drinks round before landing.

Arrived in Valencia, to find it was pouring with rain.....the crew had their fingers crossed for an airbridge so that they didn't get wet. There wishes were obviously heard and we had a gate. Off and through security/immigration to the baggage carousel. There was a very long wait for bags, with grumpy kids climbing on the carousel....the wicked part of me wanted it to start up, and them by whisked off and disappear. [:I] Eventually the bags appeared, and as I had checked in first for this flight, my bag was almost the very last one off! Off to find the Metro, and part with 1Euro90 for the single into town and the hotel.

All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised with EasyJet - I had been expecting the worse, and actually it was all ok. I still am not keen on the free for all seating, but it seems to work and probably saves a bit of money (or makes more with speedy boarding / speedy boarding plus).

Thank you for the TR!

My son was bored waiting for the luggage to come through the carousel so he sat down on the dge of another carousel. All of a sudden the carousel he was sat on started up with warning sounds and lights. It scared the living daylights out of him as he thought he set it off, well he is 4.

Glad to hear your trip on my 'favourite' carrier didn't prove as bad as you'd feared. Your observations are pretty much on the money for the general EZY experience.

Speedy Boarding is pretty much a money making device. EZY claim that only a certain percentage of passengers can book SB for any given flight. This may well be true, but they also have the EZY Plus cardholder scheme where you pay an annual fee and automatically get Speedy Boarding for any flight you take, which kind of undermines the idea of limiting the availability on a given flight. Its biggest benefit relates not so much to seating as the chance to occupy the overhead locker space close to whichever seat you choose.

Your experience of the SB check in at LGW sounds uncannily similar to that at STN; at EDI however it's a breeze.

After a few EZY flights you realise that the whole 'Go To Gate' / 'Boarding' sequence bears little relation to the reality on the ground. Somebody was working themselves into a bit of a rage at the gate about this the other morning; pitch up around the boarding time marked on your boarding card;

Generally anyone with an infirmity above and beyond a stick will be boarded before Speedy Boarding; wheelchair passengers and the visually impaired fall into this category.

Thanks for the TR. I hope it helps demonstrate that there are worse things in life than having to fly EZY.

Paul

Thanks for the TR. I guess EasyJet delivered exactly what it said 'on the tin' and frankly there is nothing wrong with that these days. 'Free for all seating' brings back some great memories from days of yore however.[y]