EZY8624 PMI-LGW 18th January 2010

After the work meeting, it was back to the airport, which was even more deserted than Gatwick had been. The flight was showing delayed, which was about 30 minutes or so. The usual scrum around the gate developed prior to the plane even arriving in Palma. Once the passengers were off, boarding started almost straight away - starting with the wheelchairs. This was the trick I had seen before, start boarding so that people think they are getting on and actually you stand on the airbridge for ages! Managed to bag the front row again - the wheelchair passengers were not happy that they couldn't sit there, especially as they were on first.

Boarding seemed to take a long time, and then the door closed and airbridge left. Shortly afterwards, the pilot came out to make an annoucement (although he had no idea how to work the cabin intercom system). Basically because of fog at Gatwick, we were going to be held on the ground on Palma for about another '30 minutes'. He then tried to cheer people up, chatting about the safety briefing and that everyone had to listen and make eye contact with the crew doing the briefing (sensible to try and make people pay attention). This was followed by, 'I want everyone to clap when they had done it and if it is a loud enough clap and you have all been good, I'll fly you back to LGW'. I know he was trying to be funny, but it was rather patronising and made me feel like a child!

The crew did the safety briefing (which included despite the fact we were delayed that all mobile phones had to be off), some people clapped and the pilot came back on and thanked people and pointed out that he was showing the first officer photos of his wife (on his phone of course!).

After we had waited about 30 minutes, it was time to go. During this time the senior cabin crew person had had time to empty her toiletries bag out, wash it in the toilet and then use the cockpit air system to try it - not very professional!

Once in the air, the usual hard sell on food/drinks, scratch cards and duty free ensued. This is fine, as you expect it on EasyJet, it was just that the cabin crew seemed to very unprofessional and not taking anything seriously during the flight (pretending to talk like people from Gavin and Stacey to each other).

Finally arrived an hour late, which wasn't too bad. The delay due to fog wasn't the problem with this flight, it was the unprofessional crew throughout the experience! Role on BA restarting this route!

Thank you for the TR. As for the unprofessional staff, that sort of thing would put me off as well but for other people as long they have their cheap flight home them that's all they care about.

It's always interesting to hear of other's experiences of EasyJet.

You become inured to the queueing on the airbridge / hard sell stuff after a while; I barely notice it now.

In my experience I don't think the misplaced humour / unprofessional attitude you experienced are symptomatic of the airline nor limited to them. Shame it spoiled your experience though. Don't let that be the reason not to pick EasyJet again - for me if there were competition on the route I fly with them every week it would be price vs allocated seating that would swing it.

I've heard the line about paying attention to the safety briefing on a recent flight (though without the 'humour' and the applause). It was additionally pitched that it showed some respect to the crew.


Paul