easyJet: Paphos to Liverpool

The carrier: easyJet

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

Downside
Notoriously bad customer service.

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. The airline was founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, and he and his family are still major shareholders. 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 not quite so many complaints as Ryanair's.

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.

Baggage
*Carry-on: One piece of hand luggage
*Checked: €12 per bag (per flight), combined weight not to exceed 20 kg. Over 20 kg, €9 per kg.

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.

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.
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Departure: Paphos, Cyprus - Paphos Intl (PFO)

Paphos International Airport is the country's second largest airport and is most commonly used by tourists on vacation in western Cyprus.

Location: Paphos International Airport is located 15 km (9.5 miles) east of Paphos.

Transport:

- Bus: There is regular bus service to and from central Paphos and the airport. Buses can be found outside the main airport building. Connections to other parts of Cyprus are available.

- Taxi: The taxi rank is located outside the main terminal building.

Service: There are a few places to eat in the main terminal, one which offers a terrace where travelers can watch planes take off and land. Other services include: banking, currency exchange, ATMs, post office, first-aid and a baby care, and public telephones. Shopping(and duty-free) is available as well. more...

Arrival: Liverpool, United Kingdom - Liverpool John Lennon (LPL)

Liverpool John Lennon Airport, formerly known as Speke Airport and RAF Speke, serves the English city of Liverpool. In 2002 the airport was renamed in honor of John Lennon, a founding member of The Beatles (the group is from Liverpool). Twenty-two years after his death, a seven-foot bronze statue was erected near the check-in area. In recent years it has been one of Europe's fastest growing airports.

Location: Liverpool John Lennon Airport is located 13 km (eight miles) southeast of Liverpool.

Transport:

- Rail: Inexpensive buses run regularly between the airport and many local railway stations. For information and schedules, check the rail Website.

- Bus: Multiple buses are available in front of the main airport terminal building. The Airlink 500 line goes to the Liverpool City Center stopping at a few stations on the way. The line operates Monday through Friday every 20 minutes during the day. On weekends and evenings the line runs every 30 minutes. The Airlink 700 provides express services (limited stops and connections) and operates every hour from early morning to late night. Bus connections are also available between the airport and nearby rail stations.

- Taxi: The taxi rank is located just outside the entrance of the airport terminal. Private hire vehicles must operate within the nearby short stay parking lot. The trip from the airport into the Liverpool city center takes about 20 minutes.

Service: This airport has various shops, cafes, and restaurants. Throughout the terminal there are five currency exchanges and Wi-Fi internet service. A multi-faith prayer room is also available.
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