easyJet: London to Belfast

The carrier: easyJet

About

EasyJet is Europe's second-largest low-cost carrier, after Ryanair. It's also one of the oldest in Europe; its first flights took off in late 1995, and it pioneered the online purchase model.  EasyJet is based at Hangar 89, which is an orange building adjacent to the main taxiway at Luton Airport.

The easyJet route map is not as wide-ranging as Ryanair's, although the airline tends to fly to primary airports over out-of-the-way secondary airports. Fares are also higher than Ryanair's, though the easyJet flying experience tends to receive fewer complaints.

One place where easyJet does not get high marks is in the telephone customer service department. We've read stories of hundreds of faxes remaining unreturned and hours-long waits on toll telephone lines with high per-minute charges.

Among the airline's more notable destinations are Bucharest, Geneva, Istanbul, Madeira, Sofia, Split and Tallinn.

Upside

Great connections across Europe without the lowest-common-denominator panic.

Downside

Notoriously bad customer service.

Baggage

*Carry-on: One piece of hand luggage.
*Checked: €12 per bag (per flight), combined weight not to exceed 20 kg. Over 20 kg, €12 per kg.

* Please visit EasyJet’s website for more information on its baggage policy.

Seating

Strict pre-boarding policy. Check-in no later than 40 minutes prior to departure. Boarding is on a first-come first-serve basis and can be a nightmare if you don’t arrive early. EasyJet never allows stand-bys.

Check-in and Ticketing

Online check-in is available from 60 days before your flight until two hours prior to the scheduled departure time.  Passengers with hold-luggage are allowed to do this as well. The boarding gate closes 25 minutes prior to the scheduled time of departure.  If your flight leaves London Gatwick before 08.30 you can check in for this flight the night before from 20:00. This will give you the opportunity to leave your baggage at the airport. You will be issued with a boarding pass so you can go straight to security for your flight the following morning.

Tip
Check in online so that you’re automatically entered into the "A" group for boarding, meaning you'll hop on—and off—first. Be careful with personal property as there is little or no compensation for damages or losses.

Fun Fact

EasyJet offers the possibility to carbon offset the CO2 to their customers' trips for a surcharge via a calculator which calculates a passenger's carbon footprint.

Departure: London, United Kingdom - Luton Apt (LTN)

In Brief: London Luton is another of London's budget airline-friendly airports. It serves as a hub for Ryanair, easyJet, WizzAir, Thomsonfly, and Monarch, and also serves Aer Arann and Flybe. It is located just under 50 km (about 30 miles) north of London. Transportation: The airport offers a free shuttle to the Luton Airport Parkway station, where the Thameslink train speeds passengers into King's Cross Station in 35 minutes (£12.10.) EasyBus runs a 90-minute shuttle to a location on Buckingham Palace Road near Victoria Station. Fares technically begin at £2, but we've found fares more commonly to be around £5. There's also a Greenline (Arriva) bus connection, which charges £12 for a 35-minute journey to the City of London.

Arrival: Belfast, United Kingdom - Belfast City Apt (BHD)

George Best Belfast City Airport was formerly known as Belfast City Airport until 2006 when it was named after George Best, the famous footballer associated with East Belfast. The airport is currently a major base for the low-cost carrier Flybe. Flybe began operations at the airport in 1993 and as of now is the largest operate at Belfast City. Location: George Best Belfast City Airport is located three km (two miles) east of Belfast. Transport: - Rail: A shuttle bus service operates between the airport and the adjacent rail station at Sydenham. The Translink service operates twice hourly to Central and Vicetoria street (Mon-Fri). The service is hourly after 6 p.m. and on (Sat-Sun). Connections are available from Central Station to the rest of the rail network in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. For detailed information on the schedule and corresponding rates consult the Northern Ireland Railway Website. - Bus: Flexibus, which is part of Translink, operates the Airlink that runs every 20 minutes from the Airport terminal to the Belfast Europa Bus Center located in the city center. For more information consult the Translink Website. Also, the "Airporter" service operates daily to Londonderry. Consult the Airporter Official Website for more information. - Taxi: Taxis can be found at the taxi rank which is located outside the main terminal building. Service: In the airport there are a few cafes, restaurants, and shops. ATMs and wireless internet can be found throughout the airport. Other facilities include a currency exchange, parenting room, and first aid. more...