EasyJet - 4
Pilot of the Airwaves
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Mr A Tis
Boarding at Malaga is no different to Gatwick.
The statement
, is simply untrue.
The difference at Manchester, is that you are called to an A/B/C gate and kept in a cold area prior to walking to the aircraft and boarding by stairs. I know which I prefer.
Boarding at Malaga is no different to Gatwick.
The statement
"penned" in a corridor
The difference at Manchester, is that you are called to an A/B/C gate and kept in a cold area prior to walking to the aircraft and boarding by stairs. I know which I prefer.
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Easy Jet Boarding experience
Just reading through the various posts re 'Quality of EJ Boarding experience'.
As has been said, this is usually down to the airport concerned rather than EJ.
Based on my own personal experience I avoid flying EJ out of Glasgow & Amsterdam, both these airports 'herd you' into a dedicated boarding area, that at Glasgow is solely for EJ departures, at AMS it is the 'Low fares' terminal.
I often fly into Glasgow but always ensure I return from Edinburgh, so unpleasant is the 'pig-pen holding area at Glasgow, presumably EJ have some policy control/decision making influence at Glasgow?
To echo the feedback aimed at MOL, Why make the passengers experience so unpleasant?
As has been said, this is usually down to the airport concerned rather than EJ.
Based on my own personal experience I avoid flying EJ out of Glasgow & Amsterdam, both these airports 'herd you' into a dedicated boarding area, that at Glasgow is solely for EJ departures, at AMS it is the 'Low fares' terminal.
I often fly into Glasgow but always ensure I return from Edinburgh, so unpleasant is the 'pig-pen holding area at Glasgow, presumably EJ have some policy control/decision making influence at Glasgow?
To echo the feedback aimed at MOL, Why make the passengers experience so unpleasant?
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In the last three months I've boarded EZY jets at Bristol, Southend, Rome, Edinburgh and Amsterdam. At none of those airports did I have a particularly unpleasant experience although the bussing at Bristol was rather slow. SEN was the best, but that's not surprising with its size and modernity. At whichever airport, folks do leap up as soon as the aircraft stops on the stand, but there's no need to do so and you lose little time by staying in your seat. EZY do a good job in my experience and the queues are no worse than for other airlines. Brits just like queuing - it's in our genes.
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Very interesting Mr Surreyman.
I was just thinking about Amsterdam, where there is barely a single seat in the departure pen and you can be trapped in there for ever.
Above is a reference to Manchester. easyJet only transferred to Terminal One quite recently, and it is indeed appalling to be sent down down those 1960's stairs from that inadequate pen into the freezing pit to await the eventual release into a Manchester downpour.
In UK I don't believe it is down to the airport at all. Airlines these days have a lot of clout with airports. And even if the physical facilities are tight or prehistoric, the airline can easily add a human touch to make it bearable.
An example is Jet2's check-in area at Manchester. Arrive at the door and your heart will sink as you view the usual 0600 heaving mass of humanity... until you find yourself welcomed by one of an army of red-fleeced assistants who will smooth your path. Suddenly you realise that the whole thing is under control and it doesn't seem so bad.
In summary, I'd say that easyJet has complete power to move passengers around just as they would like to. Either they are choosing to do it as they are now, which is appalling, or it has evolved like this because nobody has really given it a thought.
I was just thinking about Amsterdam, where there is barely a single seat in the departure pen and you can be trapped in there for ever.
Above is a reference to Manchester. easyJet only transferred to Terminal One quite recently, and it is indeed appalling to be sent down down those 1960's stairs from that inadequate pen into the freezing pit to await the eventual release into a Manchester downpour.
In UK I don't believe it is down to the airport at all. Airlines these days have a lot of clout with airports. And even if the physical facilities are tight or prehistoric, the airline can easily add a human touch to make it bearable.
An example is Jet2's check-in area at Manchester. Arrive at the door and your heart will sink as you view the usual 0600 heaving mass of humanity... until you find yourself welcomed by one of an army of red-fleeced assistants who will smooth your path. Suddenly you realise that the whole thing is under control and it doesn't seem so bad.
In summary, I'd say that easyJet has complete power to move passengers around just as they would like to. Either they are choosing to do it as they are now, which is appalling, or it has evolved like this because nobody has really given it a thought.
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It does depend, departing domestic at GLA can be from the old domestic which has a big communal seating area with food and drink or if the inbound arrived from abroad boarding from international pier. Occasionally they do use airbridges, and allocated seating means I can saunter on last as I travel light enough to get the bag under the seat in front.
Originally Posted by pilothouse
easyJet... I can see absolutely no sign that you are trying to make the ground journey in any way tolerable.
Originally Posted by pilothouse
A lot of people seem to think that the plane outside is ours and some are queueing for it
Originally Posted by pilothouse
After what seems an age, the doors of our prison open and everyone charges out, to join... yes, another queue.
Originally Posted by pilothouse
At Liverpool, as soon as the engines shut down, everyone gets up and yes, you've guessed it, they queue to get off.
Originally Posted by pilothouse
It's all in the hands of easyJet.
Most of our pax fly once a year, so it's going to be a good year before they work out that there's no need to queue any more.
Originally Posted by pilothouse
An example is Jet2's check-in area at Manchester. Arrive at the door and your heart will sink as you view the usual 0600 heaving mass of humanity... until you find yourself welcomed by one of an army of red-fleeced assistants who will smooth your path. Suddenly you realise that the whole thing is under control and it doesn't seem so bad.
To be fair, you should know that the airlines can exert very little real difference on the monopolistic airports when it comes to major infrastructure change.
* Contemporary internet meme.
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Why on earth do people queue at the gate now that easyjet have allocated seating?? Surely the idea of that was to stop the cattle stampede to be the first on to get the best seats?! And its not just punters with enormous carry ons who want to ensure there is space in the overheads, it seems that nearly everyone still queues, it must be our british love of queueing, if there is a queue, join it, if there isnt a queue, form one.. There is a seat for everyone and it aint going to take off until the last person has boarded! And on the subject of enormous carry ons, why do easyjet not enforce the size and weight restrictions? Some of the suitcases people carry on now barely fit in the overheads, and then they have the cheek to ask if you can help lift it up for them! You pack it, you rack it sister.
Why on earth do people queue at the gate now that easyjet have allocated seating?? Surely the idea of that was to stop the cattle stampede to be the first on to get the best seats?!
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Just watched a FR flight turn on to stand. AS it was doing so an announcement was made for Priority Q and reserved seat pax to board. So absolutely not an easyJet only issue.
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Stampede at the gate
My 10 penny'th on this, - Selfish I know, bigoted - probably, neurotic - certainly; -
I am not as young as I used to be, like everyone, I do not like stress/hassle/queuing etc, the worst part of flying is the boarding process, so my reasoning is, get on first (few people in front of me to block the aisle, seats, or just irritate me), put my hand luggage in overhead or on floor, get into my seat with reading material, watch everyone, else board, hope that whoever is due to sit next to me isn't fat/loud/very young/smells of alcohol, stale tobacco or worse.
Having tried every conceivable seat on a short haul plane, I usually opt for the rearmost seats (no one behind you) Easyjet the exception as no window.
From this point on it is usually fairly painless, (unless Ryanair, where your ears are assaulted by loud audio ads).
I am not as young as I used to be, like everyone, I do not like stress/hassle/queuing etc, the worst part of flying is the boarding process, so my reasoning is, get on first (few people in front of me to block the aisle, seats, or just irritate me), put my hand luggage in overhead or on floor, get into my seat with reading material, watch everyone, else board, hope that whoever is due to sit next to me isn't fat/loud/very young/smells of alcohol, stale tobacco or worse.
Having tried every conceivable seat on a short haul plane, I usually opt for the rearmost seats (no one behind you) Easyjet the exception as no window.
From this point on it is usually fairly painless, (unless Ryanair, where your ears are assaulted by loud audio ads).
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Stampede at the Gate
I first noticed this years ago while travelling in the US, and while there was still assigned seating. The only thing I could think of was it was an attempt to secure a place for the vast array of hand luggage that was going onboard. I don't know if it's still that way over there, but perhaps the idea spread beyond US borders. The only other reason I can think of is habit borne of LCC boarding practices. I agree it has made boarding genuinely unpleasant so much of the time.
I first noticed this years ago while travelling in the US, and while there was still assigned seating. The only thing I could think of was it was an attempt to secure a place for the vast array of hand luggage that was going onboard. I don't know if it's still that way over there, but perhaps the idea spread beyond US borders.
Ultimately it was just myself and a young lady left after all FFliers had boarded
We were called forward and the two of us looked around and asked you sure you got all your FFliers.........fit of giggling hit the 2 desk people.
They said its always this way as taxpayers pay their fares, you have to read out every single one as someone will get upset, this being Washington.
They tickets were taken off both of us and they said well neither of you are FFliers with us but seems we have some upgrades, introduce yourselves as you both just got upgraded.
Of course when boarded there was no space in overheads as people down the plane seem to always want to leave their bags as close to front as possible..........seems a US thing though.
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I've just flown on 5 us domestic flights on delta and American in the last two weeks and can confirm that boarding is still a nightmare.
There are 5 different boarding groups on Delta and 6 on American. Everyone in the everyday coach class which is last to board blocks the boarding gate even though they have allocated seats. It's all because no one wants to be the last one on and have their hand luggage at the other end of the cabin or worse in the hold.
European airlines are developing the same problems, the root cause of which is because of charging for a hold bag.
Saying that has anyone ever tried boarding a flight from The Middle East to India/Bangladesh & vice versa ... Some people queue at the check in / boarding gate for hours
There are 5 different boarding groups on Delta and 6 on American. Everyone in the everyday coach class which is last to board blocks the boarding gate even though they have allocated seats. It's all because no one wants to be the last one on and have their hand luggage at the other end of the cabin or worse in the hold.
European airlines are developing the same problems, the root cause of which is because of charging for a hold bag.
Saying that has anyone ever tried boarding a flight from The Middle East to India/Bangladesh & vice versa ... Some people queue at the check in / boarding gate for hours
Saying that has anyone ever tried boarding a flight from The Middle East to India/Bangladesh & vice versa ... Some people queue at the check in / boarding gate for hours
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Hundredpercentplease, I'm so pleased that someone who appears to have influence at EZY has joined the debate.
First though, may I please diffuse the idea that I am trying to inspire an easyJet v Jet2 debate? Yes I do work for Jet2, that much easily detectable in 10 seconds of research, and I have no doubt that overall Jet2 inflicts just as much unfortunate stuff on passengers as any airline. And I have already recognised, right at the top, that you have a really good product at EZY. But why not try and make it even better by utilising a bit of thought and care, both of which cost nothing?
Re Ryanair too, above is a reference to Jet2 v Ryanair OTP. I had made the point that trying to get Ryanair to improve its treatment of passengers would be a waste of time. Well, since I wrote that, I've read that MOL suddenly wants Ryanair to move towards warm and cuddly.
Could it be that the LCC's are suddenly in a race to give people not just a good price, but care and quality too?!
Hundredpercentplease, thank you, and later on I'll respond to your specific points.
First though, may I please diffuse the idea that I am trying to inspire an easyJet v Jet2 debate? Yes I do work for Jet2, that much easily detectable in 10 seconds of research, and I have no doubt that overall Jet2 inflicts just as much unfortunate stuff on passengers as any airline. And I have already recognised, right at the top, that you have a really good product at EZY. But why not try and make it even better by utilising a bit of thought and care, both of which cost nothing?
Re Ryanair too, above is a reference to Jet2 v Ryanair OTP. I had made the point that trying to get Ryanair to improve its treatment of passengers would be a waste of time. Well, since I wrote that, I've read that MOL suddenly wants Ryanair to move towards warm and cuddly.
Could it be that the LCC's are suddenly in a race to give people not just a good price, but care and quality too?!
Hundredpercentplease, thank you, and later on I'll respond to your specific points.
Last edited by pilothouse; 27th Oct 2013 at 13:28.
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Scandinavia
I'm intrigued why easyJet hasn't done more to target the Scandinavian market from at least one of its London bases, other than its flights to Copenhagen? Is it because BA, SAS & Norwegian are just too dominant?
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The BGO route rarely hits the triple figures. They tried Gothenburg and Helsinki but again they were never popular. But saying that, I walk past the DY gates everyday and they are heaving. It's strange.
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People in Scandinavia tend to support their own more than other carriers. The UK has limited services outside DY and SAS, Ryanair have very small presence form UK bedsides STN and EDI. Outside the main cities Ryanair have low presence and its going South to the med. As you say DY is doing great and SAS do well to.
It's probably the hardest area of Europe for many carriers to crack with limited opportunity to get a share of the market and going head to head with DY and SAS makes it harder.
It's probably the hardest area of Europe for many carriers to crack with limited opportunity to get a share of the market and going head to head with DY and SAS makes it harder.
Last edited by j636; 27th Oct 2013 at 15:55.
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Hundredpercentplease,
I cannot comment on airline influence over airports, that would seem to be your area of expertise. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some airlines used to use nasty threats, others to blatant bribes, but I doubt if these work any more.
I was indeed referring repeatedly to our passengers' compulsion to join a queue at every opportunity, but I am not criticising them. I am simply amazed at their tolerance. They would seem to be their own worst enemies in this respect. But even if they are willing, surely queueing is still best avoided. Do you really want them to go home and tell all their friends that all you ever do with easyJet is to queue?
I don't think it's respectful to reckon that if your average passenger travels only once a year, that he can put up anything - we are humans, not parcels! And how about your frequent flyers, how can they tolerate this treatment and remain loyal? Simply because they have little choice?
Where has this queueing compulsion come from? Since the birth of the LCC, passengers have had to compete with each other and airlines have exploited this to achieve rapid boarding. Then along came allocated seating and turnrounds started to drag. Now we have a easyJet's revised handbaggage policy, which again pitches passenger against passenger. We return to competition and queues. Quite simply, queueing at every opportunity has become an infectious disease. The likes of easyJet have created it, maybe now it's time to take the lead in stamping it out?
Just because people are ready and willing to join a queue, I don't think it is right to exploit someone's wish to be at the front of a queue in order to send them down an airbridge to stand for half an hour before boarding. There is a post above from an elderly person who tries to get aboard first, simply to get settled down early and avoid any complication from boarding later. I think that it is callous that this person's wish to do so is taken advantage of.
Reference is made above to the no-shows, and that assembling people downstream of the passport and final boarding pass check finalises the loadsheet. Well, from my experience of Jet2 at Manchester, we do not know the final passenger figure until they have actually boarded. The loadsheet is based on passengers who have checked in bags, plus internet no-baggage check-ins. Inevitably a couple of the latter fail to turn up and it takes less than a minute to LMC them, hardly a nuisance. It is completely unnecessary to corral passengers so far in advance simply to finalise the passenger load.
Finally, the queues that the crew can apologise for. When I arrived at Liverpool late on Thursday night, there was not one word from the crew about the 15 minute delay in disembarkation.
The classic is of course the coachful of sardined passengers that arrive too early at the bottom of the steps, usually in the blazing midday heat. It has been sent in anticipation of the cabin being ready and the passengers almost die of stress and heatstroke while waiting. This happens because the handling agent is petrified of sending the coach too late. Resources are always scarce so they send the coach as soon as they can get hold of it, for fear of losing it. The passengers board exhausted and spitting with rage. However, a good PA of explanation can save the day - but how often does this happen?
Maybe it is the lowest level of handling agent that is causing all this queueing. They are so terrified of being disciplined for a failed OTP that they will happily send passengers to hell and back to achieve an OTP. If this is the case, then the pressure under which handling agents work needs a complete rethink. They might be creating queueing by their actions but it is the policies under which they work that are truly responsible, and ultimately these come from the very tops of the airlines.
I cannot comment on airline influence over airports, that would seem to be your area of expertise. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some airlines used to use nasty threats, others to blatant bribes, but I doubt if these work any more.
I was indeed referring repeatedly to our passengers' compulsion to join a queue at every opportunity, but I am not criticising them. I am simply amazed at their tolerance. They would seem to be their own worst enemies in this respect. But even if they are willing, surely queueing is still best avoided. Do you really want them to go home and tell all their friends that all you ever do with easyJet is to queue?
I don't think it's respectful to reckon that if your average passenger travels only once a year, that he can put up anything - we are humans, not parcels! And how about your frequent flyers, how can they tolerate this treatment and remain loyal? Simply because they have little choice?
Where has this queueing compulsion come from? Since the birth of the LCC, passengers have had to compete with each other and airlines have exploited this to achieve rapid boarding. Then along came allocated seating and turnrounds started to drag. Now we have a easyJet's revised handbaggage policy, which again pitches passenger against passenger. We return to competition and queues. Quite simply, queueing at every opportunity has become an infectious disease. The likes of easyJet have created it, maybe now it's time to take the lead in stamping it out?
Just because people are ready and willing to join a queue, I don't think it is right to exploit someone's wish to be at the front of a queue in order to send them down an airbridge to stand for half an hour before boarding. There is a post above from an elderly person who tries to get aboard first, simply to get settled down early and avoid any complication from boarding later. I think that it is callous that this person's wish to do so is taken advantage of.
Reference is made above to the no-shows, and that assembling people downstream of the passport and final boarding pass check finalises the loadsheet. Well, from my experience of Jet2 at Manchester, we do not know the final passenger figure until they have actually boarded. The loadsheet is based on passengers who have checked in bags, plus internet no-baggage check-ins. Inevitably a couple of the latter fail to turn up and it takes less than a minute to LMC them, hardly a nuisance. It is completely unnecessary to corral passengers so far in advance simply to finalise the passenger load.
Finally, the queues that the crew can apologise for. When I arrived at Liverpool late on Thursday night, there was not one word from the crew about the 15 minute delay in disembarkation.
The classic is of course the coachful of sardined passengers that arrive too early at the bottom of the steps, usually in the blazing midday heat. It has been sent in anticipation of the cabin being ready and the passengers almost die of stress and heatstroke while waiting. This happens because the handling agent is petrified of sending the coach too late. Resources are always scarce so they send the coach as soon as they can get hold of it, for fear of losing it. The passengers board exhausted and spitting with rage. However, a good PA of explanation can save the day - but how often does this happen?
Maybe it is the lowest level of handling agent that is causing all this queueing. They are so terrified of being disciplined for a failed OTP that they will happily send passengers to hell and back to achieve an OTP. If this is the case, then the pressure under which handling agents work needs a complete rethink. They might be creating queueing by their actions but it is the policies under which they work that are truly responsible, and ultimately these come from the very tops of the airlines.
Last edited by pilothouse; 27th Oct 2013 at 18:11.