easy Lowcost Mismanagement on a grand scale
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Ten years ago easyjet was launched with just 2 aircraft flying internal routes. Ten years later they now have around 114 aircraft flying all over Europe. Seems to me that management must be doing something right.
The competition (Germanwings, Wizzair, Air Europe, SkyEurope) is catching up very quickly and EZY does not seem to be able to expand in important growth markets as Spain, France and Scandinavia.
You´re correct, EZY started very well indeed, but now seems to be running out of steam (i.e. motivated crew/competent managment) to continue the expansion.
Since joining EZY, I always get the impression that EZY is too focused on the UK market and is neglecting the point to point intra-European market.
What's wrong with that? UK is a big market and it is also where the airline is based. Can you imagine a Germanwings hub in Liverpool or a Wizzair base in Newcastle?
Also in this industy big is not necessarily an indicator of success. Look at Delta - 5-6 times as many planes as EasyJet but losing $1000m per quarter!
Also in this industy big is not necessarily an indicator of success. Look at Delta - 5-6 times as many planes as EasyJet but losing $1000m per quarter!
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What is wrong with a German airline having a hub in the UK? Easy do it on the continent, Ryanair have been doing it in the UK for years (being an Irish airline, not a British one). Yes the UK is a big market, but the European market is much bigger, especially in those parts of Europe where train travel is not as easy.
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Spot on Tallbloke!
Look at Southwest Airlines in the States. They´re all over the country and not only in the southwestern part of the US.
Ryanair has most bases outside Ireland in markets like Belgium, Spain, Italy Scandinavia where EZY does not seem to get a foot in the door.
That´s exactly the attitude I´m talking about... True, the UK market is very big, but it´s also very saturated with LoCost airlines. Besides that, the world/Europe does not stop at the UK shores. It only begins....
Look at Southwest Airlines in the States. They´re all over the country and not only in the southwestern part of the US.
Ryanair has most bases outside Ireland in markets like Belgium, Spain, Italy Scandinavia where EZY does not seem to get a foot in the door.
What's wrong with that? UK is a big market and it is also where the airline is based.
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If only Atree was running easyjet none us us would be knackerd we'd all be well rested sitting in the sunshine outside the dole office.
Yes there are a few problems at easy but they do get solved eventually and there have been a few howllers in the past, however some of the managment have learnt from old mistakes and a feel a little more confident that easyjet has a good future. Wether we want to be a part of it or not is the question we should ask ourselves sadly in my case after many years I need to move on, but only if my next job an improvment on easyjet. Only a complete fool would think that Ryanair is the hooly grail, if you don't like it at easy you may as well cross off any low cost operator as a potential employer as the only differance is the colours on the tail of their aircraft. Further more this type of airline is on the increase so perhaps Atree and his fellow bitchers should consider an alternative career!
As for 5/2/5/4 all I can say is I told you so!
I was one of the greatest critics of this crap system during the trial and now you got what you voted for!
If you are not a BALPA member then you've got no less than you deserve, because if you were a member you would have had the chance to vote it out !
Stop bitching and leave if your not happy!
Yes there are a few problems at easy but they do get solved eventually and there have been a few howllers in the past, however some of the managment have learnt from old mistakes and a feel a little more confident that easyjet has a good future. Wether we want to be a part of it or not is the question we should ask ourselves sadly in my case after many years I need to move on, but only if my next job an improvment on easyjet. Only a complete fool would think that Ryanair is the hooly grail, if you don't like it at easy you may as well cross off any low cost operator as a potential employer as the only differance is the colours on the tail of their aircraft. Further more this type of airline is on the increase so perhaps Atree and his fellow bitchers should consider an alternative career!
As for 5/2/5/4 all I can say is I told you so!
I was one of the greatest critics of this crap system during the trial and now you got what you voted for!
If you are not a BALPA member then you've got no less than you deserve, because if you were a member you would have had the chance to vote it out !
Stop bitching and leave if your not happy!
I wasn't suggesting that a German carrier would not base in the UK - All I was saying is that it is easier for a carrier to operate hubs in it's home country. Even so, Easyjet does have bases in Berlin, Dortmund, Basle, Barcelona and Geneva. Hardly "no presence".
Certainly at STN easyJet have let Ryanair take over; over 40 aircraft against easy's 13, rumoured to be reducing to 11 over the winter. In GO days there were 18 aircraft here.
Icelandair have increased their stake to 13.01% - maybe part of the reason that so many directors are deploying their golden parachutes...
Icelandair have increased their stake to 13.01% - maybe part of the reason that so many directors are deploying their golden parachutes...
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The problem at eJ is this:
10 years ago, eJ slapped a pie in the large carriers faces. A lean team of motivated people set about providing an efficient service that was going to be "cheap and cheerful". Kind of like SWA. There was a phone number down the side of the aircraft, the cabin crew looked basic, we flew to main airports, and the training (safety) was excellent.
This formula worked very well.
Trouble is, now eJ is the big airline waiting for a face/pie moment.
The management are trying to continue this original philosophy when the competition is 10 years more modern. The aircraft are the same as everyone else's, the girls now look cheap, the crew are worked to death and fed constant BS, and the management are busy in working groups or steering committees producing the worst business jargon I have had the displeasure to read.
The company has a good business model (cheap flights to proper airports) but it will fail to keep the lead unless it provides more than the others for a bargain price. So it needs to sharpen up the look and feel of the service (happy, well dressed crew would be a start) and it should try to avoid crew problems (fatigue, grumpiness, moving-on) by making a workable roster. If SWA can keep their crews happy, loyal and hard working (and reap the benefits) then why can't we?
Crews are treated very poorly at eJ. Try asking for a day off (I've never succeeded), we are never ever thanked for those moments where we really go the extra mile, and we're not even allowed to sit on empty seats on our own aircraft. We are low life! (Here's another good example - a CPT was positioned in a chartered light twin because 2 CPTs on days off would not work those days off. Why? Because the only offer of remuneration was another day off instead. Both CPTs had had requested days off rejected recently, so both said "no thanks". If eJ had offered a few hundred quid they'd have done it, but they'd rather go to the vast expense of chartering a twin than paying a penny or two to flight crew.)
I think the reason for some of the grumbling here is because many of us think that eJ is so nearly a good company, but is dramatically spoiled by a few foolish individuals and their policies. You can either complain and try to make it better, or just walk. The irony and shame is that noone in command can can see this.
Stu
10 years ago, eJ slapped a pie in the large carriers faces. A lean team of motivated people set about providing an efficient service that was going to be "cheap and cheerful". Kind of like SWA. There was a phone number down the side of the aircraft, the cabin crew looked basic, we flew to main airports, and the training (safety) was excellent.
This formula worked very well.
Trouble is, now eJ is the big airline waiting for a face/pie moment.
The management are trying to continue this original philosophy when the competition is 10 years more modern. The aircraft are the same as everyone else's, the girls now look cheap, the crew are worked to death and fed constant BS, and the management are busy in working groups or steering committees producing the worst business jargon I have had the displeasure to read.
The company has a good business model (cheap flights to proper airports) but it will fail to keep the lead unless it provides more than the others for a bargain price. So it needs to sharpen up the look and feel of the service (happy, well dressed crew would be a start) and it should try to avoid crew problems (fatigue, grumpiness, moving-on) by making a workable roster. If SWA can keep their crews happy, loyal and hard working (and reap the benefits) then why can't we?
Crews are treated very poorly at eJ. Try asking for a day off (I've never succeeded), we are never ever thanked for those moments where we really go the extra mile, and we're not even allowed to sit on empty seats on our own aircraft. We are low life! (Here's another good example - a CPT was positioned in a chartered light twin because 2 CPTs on days off would not work those days off. Why? Because the only offer of remuneration was another day off instead. Both CPTs had had requested days off rejected recently, so both said "no thanks". If eJ had offered a few hundred quid they'd have done it, but they'd rather go to the vast expense of chartering a twin than paying a penny or two to flight crew.)
I think the reason for some of the grumbling here is because many of us think that eJ is so nearly a good company, but is dramatically spoiled by a few foolish individuals and their policies. You can either complain and try to make it better, or just walk. The irony and shame is that noone in command can can see this.
Stu
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Have to agree about no thanks been given when you work into discretion.
The company would rather they rewarded the cabin crew with a Ł20 voucher if they get an extra 12 pence per pax on sales than, reward the crew when they save the comapny thousands in hotel bills and charter flights, by working into discretion.
Where are the priorities?!
The company would rather they rewarded the cabin crew with a Ł20 voucher if they get an extra 12 pence per pax on sales than, reward the crew when they save the comapny thousands in hotel bills and charter flights, by working into discretion.
Where are the priorities?!
If there are any easyJet management reading this please accept some well-intentioned advice from a frequent flyer:
1. Your free seating policy is a mess. Boarding becomes a riot at every "B-end" airport where the local handlers do not observe the boarding by priority number policy. As a result of the boarding gate being opened without announcement a scrum occurs between passengers with valid early priority numbers and those not used to the system who think they are pushing in. Absolute mayhem often ensues.
2. Introduce allocated seating thereby getting rid of this mess once and for all and tempting people like me back onto your airline.
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!!!!!!
1. Your free seating policy is a mess. Boarding becomes a riot at every "B-end" airport where the local handlers do not observe the boarding by priority number policy. As a result of the boarding gate being opened without announcement a scrum occurs between passengers with valid early priority numbers and those not used to the system who think they are pushing in. Absolute mayhem often ensues.
2. Introduce allocated seating thereby getting rid of this mess once and for all and tempting people like me back onto your airline.
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!!!!!!
Last edited by Doors to Automatic; 10th Aug 2005 at 15:07.
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Doors to Auto,
I'm very sorry to have to report that this suggestion has been put forward by crew many times to our "Step Change" team. It has been rejected every time, and their word is now final - rejected.
It's a tragic shame - it is one of the ways we could improve the service, but they are not astute enough to spot this.
WE NEED TO SUPPLY A BA-STYLE SERVICE AT EASYJET PRICES. This would be a winning solution. Wipe the floor with BA and FR - and it's not impossible. Nice uniforms, allocated seating, flexible tickets, happy faces from willing crew....
I guess, and I am guessing now, that the thinking is:
Ryanair have free seating, Ryanair make a profit. So we must have free seating to make a profit.
Stu
I'm very sorry to have to report that this suggestion has been put forward by crew many times to our "Step Change" team. It has been rejected every time, and their word is now final - rejected.
It's a tragic shame - it is one of the ways we could improve the service, but they are not astute enough to spot this.
WE NEED TO SUPPLY A BA-STYLE SERVICE AT EASYJET PRICES. This would be a winning solution. Wipe the floor with BA and FR - and it's not impossible. Nice uniforms, allocated seating, flexible tickets, happy faces from willing crew....
I guess, and I am guessing now, that the thinking is:
Ryanair have free seating, Ryanair make a profit. So we must have free seating to make a profit.
Stu
Doesn't surprise me Stu. Airline management often thinks they have nothing left to learn even well after the preverbial pie has landed slap bang in their face!
Take it from me, a 600-sector plus veteran, it is the ONLY thing which stops me flying easyJet. They are losing thousands per year as a result of only one passenger as a direct result of this half-baked policy!
Take it from me, a 600-sector plus veteran, it is the ONLY thing which stops me flying easyJet. They are losing thousands per year as a result of only one passenger as a direct result of this half-baked policy!
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Would you fly with them if passengers were boarded as per their boarding number? Surely the solution is to solve the problem with staff not respecting boarding numbers? Free boarding is part of easy's business model, there is no reason it should not work properly.
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Tallbloke,
When at "proper" airports, PAX are held in a pen (by number). This is unpleasant.
When at other airports, buses are used. This results in a running scrum for the aircraft. People push, shove, shout and generally get upset about getting on and finding seats together. This is very unpleasant.
Many business pax just can't be bothered with this.
As I've said, to get better we need to tweak our model to suit modern times.
Stu
When at "proper" airports, PAX are held in a pen (by number). This is unpleasant.
When at other airports, buses are used. This results in a running scrum for the aircraft. People push, shove, shout and generally get upset about getting on and finding seats together. This is very unpleasant.
Many business pax just can't be bothered with this.
As I've said, to get better we need to tweak our model to suit modern times.
Stu
Tallbloke - It would be a start but I would still prefer assigned seating as a business traveller.
Now that airlines have to issue paper boarding passes (the plastic re-usable ones are a thing of the past) it wouldn't even cost any more. And to say that free seating speeds up boarding is codswallop.
In the old days easyJet was a LOT cheaper than everyone else one would put up with it but not anymore. IMHO they really need to address this more than any other part of their business model.
As both a very frequent business traveller and an aviation consultant I would hope that I know what I am talking about on this issue.
Stu - well said!
Now that airlines have to issue paper boarding passes (the plastic re-usable ones are a thing of the past) it wouldn't even cost any more. And to say that free seating speeds up boarding is codswallop.
In the old days easyJet was a LOT cheaper than everyone else one would put up with it but not anymore. IMHO they really need to address this more than any other part of their business model.
As both a very frequent business traveller and an aviation consultant I would hope that I know what I am talking about on this issue.
Stu - well said!
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I thought free boarding was supposed to speed up check-in and encourage early check-in, not improve turnaround time.
I understand what happens with EZ, FR etc. flights and personally I prefer preassigned seating but the point is that obviously EZ think that most people are less discerning.
I understand what happens with EZ, FR etc. flights and personally I prefer preassigned seating but the point is that obviously EZ think that most people are less discerning.
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I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. I fley Easy from Gatwick to Cork recently for the first time. I found it an absolute superb service. Loading was in batches of first arrived, first seated And the price? how do they do it? And, I didn't notice any staff shortages so there didn't appear to be problems in that department either. So what is all the sour grapes about? Beats me!
Only negative comment is that the cabin crew uniforms looked a bit naff, looked more like lifeboat crew than cabin crew!
Only negative comment is that the cabin crew uniforms looked a bit naff, looked more like lifeboat crew than cabin crew!
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I totally agree that from a passenger / product perspective, allocated seating would be a huge step forward. However, eJ would need to be confident that the benefits would outweigh the 'costs' and operational implications:
Boarding via free-seating is quicker than allocated seating....I have worked with a number of carriers and have no doubts about that whatsoever. I agree it's not pretty, but it works.
Before you all shout and disagree with me, which you have the perfect right to do, consider not just the boarding time for the main mass of passengers who happen to be ready and waiting at the gate, but the TOTAL process until the last pax is seated and ready to go!
a) As soon as you allocate seats, passengers immediately adopt a "we've got time for another pint....they'll wait!!" attitude. The number of late/missing passengers at the gate increases hugely as there is no longer an incentive to get to the gate. I have been involved in a number of trials, and have operated both allocated and free-seating, and this is a huge factor in terms of overall punctuality.
b) Free-seating encourages earlier check-in. On average LoCo pax turn up earlier than 'traditional' pax in the same airport infrastructure. This better utilises your check-in resources as you can get 150 pax through 2 desks if passenger 'presentation' is encouraged in this way.
c) Earlier passenger arrival gives a greater average 'dwell time' in the shops, and greater 'spend per head' than 'traditional' pax. (Having to pay for catering on board also encourages more spending in the terminal.) This helps in negotiation of competitive airport rates, as the airport will factor in the retail revenue.
I agree that free-seating was the right approach in the early days, but they are undoubtedly losing business by continuing the policy now. However, a change to allocated seating would definitely have operational impacts, some of which are not immediately obvious.
Boarding via free-seating is quicker than allocated seating....I have worked with a number of carriers and have no doubts about that whatsoever. I agree it's not pretty, but it works.
Before you all shout and disagree with me, which you have the perfect right to do, consider not just the boarding time for the main mass of passengers who happen to be ready and waiting at the gate, but the TOTAL process until the last pax is seated and ready to go!
a) As soon as you allocate seats, passengers immediately adopt a "we've got time for another pint....they'll wait!!" attitude. The number of late/missing passengers at the gate increases hugely as there is no longer an incentive to get to the gate. I have been involved in a number of trials, and have operated both allocated and free-seating, and this is a huge factor in terms of overall punctuality.
b) Free-seating encourages earlier check-in. On average LoCo pax turn up earlier than 'traditional' pax in the same airport infrastructure. This better utilises your check-in resources as you can get 150 pax through 2 desks if passenger 'presentation' is encouraged in this way.
c) Earlier passenger arrival gives a greater average 'dwell time' in the shops, and greater 'spend per head' than 'traditional' pax. (Having to pay for catering on board also encourages more spending in the terminal.) This helps in negotiation of competitive airport rates, as the airport will factor in the retail revenue.
I agree that free-seating was the right approach in the early days, but they are undoubtedly losing business by continuing the policy now. However, a change to allocated seating would definitely have operational impacts, some of which are not immediately obvious.
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At LTN you're held in a pen and treated like cattle, made to stand for upwards of 20 minutes.
Everywhere else it's at the discretion of the handling staff who gets on first.
Where buses are used passengers with boarding card 1-30 who are first on the bus are normally last off the bus!
Where we use jetties (lots of continental airports) the first 20 people choose the first four rows and slow the boarding process right down.
Now the cabin crew are telling passengers to move right down the cabin to speed up boarding. Well if I'd checked in 2 hours before departure I'd tell them where to stuff their suggestion as it's free seating! The other latest wheeze they have is that if you're sitting in an aisle seat to move into the middle seat to speed up the process. Makes a mockery of free seating!
Boarding by allocated seating makes the process more flexible and more pleasant for the customer.
Instead of pens you can have seating areas. When boarding by jetty you can board the back 10 rows first. Boarding by buses or when there is no jetty tell passengers to board at the back or front...
It's not rocket science. As a passenger I find the whole process stressful and actively choose not to use eJ for personal travel even if the alternative is more expensive!
Everywhere else it's at the discretion of the handling staff who gets on first.
Where buses are used passengers with boarding card 1-30 who are first on the bus are normally last off the bus!
Where we use jetties (lots of continental airports) the first 20 people choose the first four rows and slow the boarding process right down.
Now the cabin crew are telling passengers to move right down the cabin to speed up boarding. Well if I'd checked in 2 hours before departure I'd tell them where to stuff their suggestion as it's free seating! The other latest wheeze they have is that if you're sitting in an aisle seat to move into the middle seat to speed up the process. Makes a mockery of free seating!
Boarding by allocated seating makes the process more flexible and more pleasant for the customer.
Instead of pens you can have seating areas. When boarding by jetty you can board the back 10 rows first. Boarding by buses or when there is no jetty tell passengers to board at the back or front...
It's not rocket science. As a passenger I find the whole process stressful and actively choose not to use eJ for personal travel even if the alternative is more expensive!
Paxing All Over The World
Boarding by allocated seating makes the process more flexible and more pleasant for the customer.
If eJ handling agents ignore the 1~30; 31~60 route and just open the gate, then so do mainlines. It is infuriating to know that you are in the last rows in Y and then have to scrimmage your way down the aisle as the front 25/45 rows try and stuff their oversized bags into the overheads!
The stupidest version of this is when you see all the Y pax of a 744 loaded one-at-a-time through a single door with no priority of rows. My presumption is that carriers are cutting back on gate staff. Also, gate staff know that pax are becoming ever more bl@@dy minded - whether they have pre-allocated seating or not!
So, back to eJ, what to do? I agree that free seating CAN work but it has to be controlled more strongly and that takes experienced staff and they cost money.