easyJet

First time flying with EasyJet and quite impressed for a budget airline. It is a bit of a scramble to get on board even though we had 'priority boarding' but the flights were on time and staff excellent. Flight was Luton to Paris. Service on board was really good and aircraft spotless. Look forward to flying EasyJet again which is something I would not say about some budget (and non budget) airlines both in and out of Australia.

Travelled from Schipol airport to London Southend on 25th October 2013 at 18.50. Was travelling with my partner and my 2 yr old baby and had a lot of baggage. Checked in around 17.00 and was served by one very nice lady who even offered to check in one of our small bags for free so we could be a little bit mobile and free as we had two other bags and a buggy. Really appreciate the help and very friendly mannerism. Will not forget the service and was grateful.

On 6th October we flew with Easyjet from London Luton to Corfu we took off on time at 6.30am. We were told 20 minutes into the flight that we had a problem with the engines that we had to turn round and land back at Luton. On arrival the engineers came over to the aircraft and we were told that the problem could not be fixed so we were off loaded and went back into the airport terminal. We were given a voucher for £3 per person and we went back into the departure lounge. Easyjet flew a replacement aircraft from London Gatwick and we took off 5.5 hours late. Now a few points: there were people moaning and groaning the usual but I cannot praise Easyjet enough. Onboard the aircraft before we were off loaded the pilot kept us informed and invited us to the cockpit to ask any questions we had. The logistics off replacing that aircraft from another airport was I thought brilliant. The service was brilliant on board. The return journey was fabulous and the crew were brilliant as well and I have great respect for Easyjet and enjoy flying with them and they have no comparisons with any other low cost carrier. And another thing on return we had an email from customer service apologising about the delay.

Rome - Paris in October. Despite having checked in online (after having virtually been harassed to do so) we encountered a massive queue at the bag drop in Rome. Way too many passengers and way too few open desks. With our flight nearing the cut off we wouldn't have made it if they hadn't called us over to another counter - a blink- and-you'll-miss-it announcement. With boarding starting in ten minutes desk staff was not even able to tell us our boarding gate. Having made it there boarding was slow and confusing with no announcements made of any kind. We were bussed to the plane but could only board through the front door which slowed things down even more. Flight was uneventful staff was polite but not especially friendly. All in all the only positive aspect of this flight was the fare. Everything else just showed that this airline is operating on the cheap and isn't even trying to hide it.

Gatwick to Moscow. Family of four. I was quite wary of booking with EasyJet for a mid length flight but the experience was absolutely fine. Check in and boarding was simple. Staff both ends were friendly and efficient. There were a lot of Russians on the flights but EasyJet have employed some English speaking Russian flight attendants to handle them. Yes the food wasn't cheap but in quality and price it compared favourably with UK rail and motorway services offerings. Even with the food added to the ticket price costs were less than half of a comparable flight with other airlines. Maybe on a longer flight I would yearn for an in flight movie and some free drink but if I go back to Moscow I will use EasyJet.

Return flight from Budapest. Bright airport. Departure lounge like a cow shed with guiding ropes. 25 minutes wait before boarding. No seats no ventilation and very poor lighting. In fifty years of traveling on most Continents it was the worst embarkation experienced.

5 return trips with easyJet this year and all have been eminently satisfactory: no hitches no delays no unwelcome extra charges. If it were not for easyJet we would not be able to afford so many foreign trips. Moreover we have always found easyJet staff efficient friendly and helpful. Our most recent trip from Liverpool to Palma and back was typical: on the outward journey the computer system at the boarding gate was down but the agents just got on with checking us through "manually" with one of them relaying our boarding card numbers over the phone. Despite this we were only a few minutes late leaving and that was partly because 2 elderly passengers had gone to the wrong gate. When they arrived they were gently guided to their seats and as they apologised for getting lost the stewardess simply said "Never mind you're here now". The boarding agents at Palma were equally amiable and very tactful when 'non - Speedy Boarders' joined the Speedy Boarders queue. The introduction of allocated seating seems to have made the whole boarding process more relaxed though it does mean that you can no longer vet the passengers in your immediate vicinity before sitting down: on one of our flights we had to suffer seat kicking children behind us with parents who took no notice.

Alicante to Gatwick 11th October 2013. Hand baggage only and checked in on my iPhone the app was very easy to use. There was a little confusion at the gate about which queue was what (i.e. Speed Boarding and the Other Queue) however announcements were made to clarify the confusion. One bag policy was an irritation (as was their militant- style checks of it) given that Monarch have now relaxed this as long as both bags fit within the allowance. Very warm welcome onboard by the crew. Seating tight but not too uncomfortable for a short flight - wouldn't fly with them mid-haul in those seats however. Allocated seating is a great improvement although there is still a mad rush to board for locker space. A fear seems to exist on low cost carriers in regards to this but I don't find this same mad rush on BA flights (when passengers tend to carry even more hand luggage). Selection of food and drink very extensive. Not too many announcements and no pushy sales. Service very warm and friendly. On time arrival and quick disembarkation. If easyJet can get smooth out the last remaining 'low cost feel' ruffles from their product (issues with hand luggage and more options to pay extra for space i.e. a blocked middle seat) I would consider them on par with BA 's product in Europe. easyJet have come a long way and overall I was quite pleased with the journey experience.

The fares are cheap but it's like paying to be tortured seats extremely cramped. They will not allow you to put anything under the seat in front of you so your purse is your carry-on and they'll charge you to check what should be your carry-on bag. Most European rollers are smaller than U.S. ones so your roller won't work. Our first flight from Brussels to Berlin cost us 50 euros extra when they took my roller at the gate. My husbands roller was allowed. On the second easy jet flight from Berlin to Paris we paid the counter charge of 30 euro for my roller only to have my husbands roller denied at the security line adjacent (literally) to the ticket counter for which we paid another gate fee of 50 euro even though we hadn't left the lobby. While in the security line a woman on our flight was worried about the time. She said "I know this airline and if you're not at the gate a half hour before departure they will deny you boarding". So we begged ourselves to the front of the line and ran to the gate. At least in Brussels they were calling people up on a flight that was next to depart. If you are under 25 and making a short trip then take easy jet. If you are an American on an extensive trip avoid them. What you save in air fare is not worth the fees you will pay at the airport. I will say the inflight crews were very nice.

Flew Gatwick-Chania and return early October. Both flights arrived on-time and there was enough legroom. That is apart from the guy sitting behind me on return trip when the in-flight magazine proved sufficient padding at my back. Seemed well organised and would use again.