Arrived at the check-in, to find two longish queues for the EasyJet flight to Gatwick. There is no speedy boarding plus here, so no separate check-in. Took about 25 minutes to reach the counter....I had forgotten what a 'normal' check-in process was like. Then off to a long queue at security......redirected to the 'R' gate queue (although there was no sign for the A gates down there....bit nervous but thought it was at least shorter. There was one person on the baggage x-ray, and so everytime she saw something she didn't like, she stopped the machine, got up and looked into the bag. All in all a very slow process. Finally got through, and then round the corner to the A/B/C/D gates. Noticed outside theree appeared to be quiet a few Iberia A300s (or similar) parked up gathering dust. At gate A2, there was a huge queue already - although I had speedy boarding, I headed off to the shop. Back to gate A2 to find it now said EasyJet to Bristol......a gate change to where the Bristol flight was supposed to have gone (no idea why they did the swap). Boarding was on time, through the gate and down the gangway to find a barrier across, and time to queue again. People seemed intent on blocking the path for speedy boarders and / or stare at them as though they were committing a crime.......we weren't doing anything wrong, and I don't know why people who don't pay for speedy boarding make people who do feel uncoomfortable?[V]
Finally got on, and this time settled for 1B.....again people starred at me as they boarded as though I was a criminal (or something similar) for having sat at the front. I tried to ignore them as they boarded - I had paid the extra for speedy boarding, so I got the benefit of having a chance to have Row 1. Once all on board, we were a little delayed shutting the door as the groundstaff though we had one less person than the cabin crew had counted (all the crew counted several times!)......eventually he came back to say that he had got it wrong (no much confidence in the ground crew having put the LGW bags on the LGW flight at this point). Doors now shut, short taxi and time to get into the air. Once airbourne, the trolley was out. I opted for the tomato and mozarella panini - not too badly priced (especially as there had been no where really to get anything in the departures lounge). Was suprisingly tasty, even thought the cheese had exploded out and the bread was a bit soggy. Sat bag and read my book listening to the iPhone, and very soon it was time to pack up and land at LGW. The crew made an appeal for all rubbish due to the short turn around, including any newspapers / magazines as that saves them time on the ground (what about if you wanted to read on the way down).
Short taxi and then a long walk back to the terminal over the bridge, to find IRIS working and then a long wait for the bags (there were no flights really there, but still they took for ages to start coming out). Out of customs and then up to get the bus over to the South Terminal and train back into London (again the Transit was shut due to temporary technical difficulties).
All in all, EasyJet were surprisingly ok - if I had to travel them again, I would ensure that I had speedy boarding (plus where possible), aim to get 1A, B or C. And maybe treat myself to a lounge at the airport (there was one at Valencia through loungepass.com, although I didn't think I would have been there long enough to pay up for it). I am not a great fan on unreserved seating - I know it everyone gets a seat, but I was made to feel uncomfortable by those who don't pay for speedy boarding and get to the airport late (i.e. don't make it to Group A).
