easy jet speedy boarding

[zachary36]

how do i make sure my daughter of 10 years gets a seat next to me without paying for speedy boarding

[dianahoohar]

I suggest getting there in plenty of time - but I've never had a problem with this before and I've flown with my daughter several times. You'll be fine.

[boxtops]

You can't guarantee it, zachary, just get to the check-in as early as possible so you are at the head of the queue - but check the easyjet website to see if your daughter is too old for "child boarding" as they board families with young children first. Otherwise we have never bothered with speedy boarding, in airports where you may have to use a bus for transport it just means you get on the bus first - and it's a gamble anyway. The other option is to sit across the aisle from her - I like an aisle seat and we often find that twos get in the window and next seat, leaving aisle seats free. If you are there early enough and head towards the back of the plane, there often seem to be more seats there than in the front (or vice versa if you are loading from the back).

[zachary36]

thanks for the reply, there is actually 4 of us travelling not that bothered if were scattered around the plane aslong as myself or my wife is next to my daughter

[DavePotts]

What is Speedy boarding? I thought it was first come first served on budget flights?

[boxtops]

Dave it is on some (such as Ryanair), but on easyjet you can pay an extra £15 per person and get through the door before the rest of the queue.

[DavePotts]

What if everyone pays 15 quid?

[zachary36]

lol if everyone pays theres gonna be some pi$$ed off travelers

[DavePotts]

Lol.

[Twenty20]

Let me see if I've got this right. You pay £15 extra (per person?) and you get to get on the plane quicker? You don't get to the destination quicker, just get to sit on the plane longer? And people actually pay this, do they?

[Andyvon]

My wife and I often travel with easyJet and we always pay for Speedy Boarding. We like to sit together in the last row of seats at the rear of the cabin and it's been a couple of years since we've had to sit anywhere else. We always check-in early by being there when the desk opens. We then watch the screens in the departure lounge and walk quickly to the gate as soon as the boarding call appears. We are usually first through the gate and often first onto the plane to nab our usual seats at the back.

We always find Speedy Boarding well worth the extra cost. At the end of the day, the extra is only a few pounds which we don't notice. It's no big deal and certainly worth the extra if you want to ensure yourselves of particular seats.

[malagabob]

At airports where you are bussed to the plane, speedy boarders flying with Easyjet are told to stand/sit by a certain door, this one and only this one opens, allowing the SBs to get off first. It was changed to this after,when bussed to the aircraft all doors opened and it was a mad rush,with everyone heading for the front steps.
I have found SBing a useless expense as I always head for the rear steps and get a good seat.

[NoMercy]

Get there early and be in Group A.

They board the plane thus:

1st. SB - Speedy Boarding.
2nd. SA - Special Assistance (disabled and people with children under 5)
3rd. Group A
4th Group B.

[tigwig]

Ryanair do this too as we flew with them last month for the first time and paid it as we didn't know what to expect and had a young child and a baby. It was fine on the outbound flight but coming home although we were some of the first through the gate the rest of the passengers then joined us on the bus to take us to the plane so as someone else has said, at least half the bus got on at the same time as us without paying! This said though I wouldn't like to have the pressure of joining the normal queue so early and waiting for ages to ensure sitting together so I would pay it again.

[Andyvon]

That's right tigwig. I'm not sure why there seem to be such debates about Speedy Boarding. It's not as if it costs £100 or doubles the fare. It's only a few pounds which really won't buy much else anywhere now - some people will spend that amount on takeaway pizzas, or burgers at the airport or drinking in the bar before the flight !

[boxtops]

Depends on the state of your budget andyvon, I wouldn't spend an extra £30 on SB - if I wanted to spend more I would go with a different airline.

[Andyvon]

True boxtops. I suppose it's each to their own. If we had ever had a bad experience with easyJet (I won't even mention Ryanair!) we might feel differently. It's always worked out well for us though and it's a comfort to know that we should be amongst the first to board. It's always worked out that way. If it ever went wrong we might feel differently.