easyJet: Pisa to Lyon

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: Pisa, Italy - Pisa Gal Galilei (PSA)

Galileo Galilei International Airport is named after Galileo Galilei, the famous scientist and native of Pisa. The airport serves Pisa, but also functions as a secondary (or primary, depending on who you ask!) airport for nearby Florence.

Location:

Galileo Galilei International Airport is located 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) south of Pisa in the San Giusto neighborhood.

Transport:

•Rail: Trains run from the railway station next to the terminal, with services to Lucca via Pisa Centrale, Florence (Firenze SMN) via Pisa Centrale, Pontedera and Empoli, as well as a service to Florence via Montecatini and Pistoia.
•Bus: Buses carry passengers to various stops in the city center, and leaves from outside the Arrivals hall and from the Cassa Parcheggi, outside the Departures hall.
•Taxi: The Pisa taxi cooperative known as the CO.TA.PI, and Radio Taxi both run a 24-hour taxi service from the airport. CO.TA.PI has a collective taxi running to the Pisa Centrale railway station and Ospedale Santa Chiara for a flat rate.

Service:

The airport information desk in the Arrivals hall provides tourist and flight info, and one can purchase rail and bus tickets there. The tourist information desk can be found outside the Arrivals Hall. There is a bar on the ground floor, and two restaurants on the first floor. Most of the shops are located in the La Corte shopping area. A tax-free shop is located in Departures.

There is a post office in the airport, and a bank that has an ATM, as well as a currency exchange machine. The airport provides a First Aid Station, and an Air Health Office, which offers vaccinations. Other facilities include a children's play area.

Arrival: Lyon, France - Saint-Exupéry International Airport (LYS)

Saint-Exupéry International Airport or "Aéroport Lyon Saint-Exupéry," formerly known as "Lyon Satolas Airport," is named after the French writer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a native of Lyon. This airport is an important transport facility for the entire Rhône-Alpes region.

Location

Saint-Exupéry International Airport is located in Colombier-Saugnieu, 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the east of Lyon.

Transport

• Rail: Trains run from the airport’s TGV station and serve some 15 cities in France and northern Italy daily. For detailed information on rates and times (for trains within France), check the official rail website.
• Bus: Several buses, operated by charter company Altibus, offer transportation to and from 34 mountain resorts in the region. Visit the airport’s shuttle information website for more info.
• Taxi: A taxi station is located in front of Terminal 1. The taxis operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Fare information can be found at this website.

Services

Airport facilities include an exchange office and a post office in the central building. Bars, restaurants and many shops are also located in the central area. This airport also features a wide variety of services including a pharmacy, baby changing room, places of worship, a 24-hour medical center, a dry cleaning service, an electronic equipment recharging station, Internet access and even showers.