Founded in 1995, EasyJet is a British budget airline serving more than 160 airports across 35 countries. For decades, the carrier has built its reputation on rock-bottom base fares, but here’s the catch: every single extra comes with a fee. Seat selection, water onboard, even a baby sitting on your lap (yes, really) will cost you extra, and those charges add up fast.
As a frequent traveler living in Amsterdam, I’ve come to appreciate easyJet for what it is: often the cheapest way to fly between some of the most popular hubs in Europe. For first-timers, it’s helpful to understand the booking process and have the right expectations for the flight. Here’s how to make your easyJet experience as easy as possible.
Familiarise yourself with easyJet’s terminology
A quick language lesson: In easyJet’s British English, checked baggage is “hold luggage,” and carry-on bags are “cabin bags.” The airline also has its own terms for other perks. Priority boarding is called Speedy Boarding, and Fast Track gets you access to priority security lines at selected airports.
Booking on easyJet
Fortunately, easyJet has made it fairly simple to book, change, and check-in on its app and website. I don’t consider myself very tech-savvy, and even I find these tasks mostly straightforward and user-friendly.
Fare classes on easyJet: What’s included and what’s not
EasyJet offers three main fare options, from bare-bones to more inclusive. Here’s what you’re actually getting with each:
Standard: Just an underseat bag. I only recommend this for short flights if you’re truly low-maintenance and don’t mind a middle seat at the back.
Standard Plus: Up Front seat, small under-seat and large overhead cabin bag, Speedy Boarding, and dedicated easyJet Plus Bag Drop. Often worth the upgrade since add-ons cost more separately.
Inclusive Plus (formerly FLEXI): The works (large cabin bag, 51 lb hold bag, premium seat, Speedy Boarding, dedicated bag drop and Fast Track at selected airports). Priciest option, though lounge access is sold separately.
When selecting seats, you can also purchase Extra Legroom or Up Front seats separately. These upgrades include Speedy Boarding and two carry-on bags (one small under seat bag, max 45 x 36 x 20 cm, and one large overhead bag, max 56 x 45 x 25 cm), which can make them worth the cost.
How easyJet Plus membership works
For frequent flyers, or passengers who regularly check a bag or prefer to select their seats, I highly recommend an easyJet Plus membership. The annual fee (£249 per person per year) comes with a ton of extra perks: dedicated bag drop, Speedy Boarding, free seat selection and Fast Track security at selected airports. Considering how quickly these add up, a membership can pay for itself after just a few flights.
If you opt for easyJet Plus, here’s a booking quirk that always trips me up: you’ll enter your member number near the end of the process, not at the beginning. It’s easy to miss the prompt, so watch for it before you pay.
Since easyJet Plus members don’t pay for large cabin bags or seat selection, choose the cheapest Standard fare when booking. Once you enter your membership number, the final price should reflect just the base fare with no extra fees.
Tips and tricks for cabin and hold luggage
Baggage fees can vary greatly, so be sure to check easyJet’s baggage policy beforehand to get an idea of how much you’ll pay. Keep in mind that starting prices shown for luggage and seat selection are much lower than what you’ll actually pay. All passengers are allowed one small under-seat cabin bag (max 45 × 36 × 20 cm) for free. One perk of paying for a larger carry-on bag is that it comes with Speedy Boarding.
Don’t forget about weight limits. Small under-seat bags may weigh up to 33 pounds, and you’ll need to lift your own carry-on. Standard hold luggage is 51 pounds, with extra weight (up to 70 lbs) purchasable for a fee.
If you’re not sure whether your bag meets the restrictions, measure and weigh it before heading to the airport. Trust me, it’s worth avoiding those surprise fees at check-in.
Don’t try to skirt the rules
A common question on online travel sites is whether passengers can get away with bringing a large cabin bag onboard without paying those pesky fees. My advice: Don’t risk it. Like many budget carriers, easyJet is notoriously strict about baggage because those fees make up a significant portion of its revenue.
Your boarding pass will indicate whether you’ve paid for a large cabin bag. Gate agents often scrutinize the boarding area, looking for passengers trying to sneak on bags they haven’t paid for. If you get caught, your bag will be placed in the hold and you’ll pay the airport bag fee at the gate.
EasyJet change, cancelation and even infant fees
The good news: easyJet’s fees for changing or canceling a flight aren’t terribly hefty, coming in at £49 (approximately $63) per passenger, per flight when made online more than 60 days before departure, or £55 (approximately $70) when made 60 days or less before departure. You can also cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking for a refund minus a cancellation fee of £49 (online) per passenger, per flight. This is a service I especially appreciate, since travel plans can quickly change. Save money by making changes yourself on the easyJet app or website; calling the customer service line costs extra.
And heads-up, parents: easyJet charges an “infant fee” for a baby sitting on a lap. As a parent, I’m appalled by this, but alas, easyJet isn’t alone with such a policy. You can also purchase a separate seat for a baby under two years old, but they must be in an approved car seat. You’ll have to call the customer service line for such bookings; you can’t make them online.
Checking in on easyJet
EasyJet lets you check in up to 30 days before your flight, which may seem unusual if you’re used to US carriers. If you’ve purchased a Standard ticket without free seat selection, checking in early can help you avoid the dreaded middle seat (though there are no guarantees).
While online check-in opens 30 days before departure, easyJet recommends arriving at the airport at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure time. Bag drop and airport check-in desks strictly close 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time (60 minutes at some airports such as London Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle). Unlike its main competitor, Ryanair, easyJet does not charge passengers to check in at the airport. If you’re traveling with only carry-on luggage, save some time by checking in online and printing your boarding pass at home, or just use the easyJet app.
The easyJet boarding experience: Pack your patience
My least favorite part of the easyJet experience is the time prior to boarding, which is generally crowded, chaotic and confusing. EasyJet gates are often located in far-flung terminals, some of which have limited dining options (like the M Pier at Amsterdam Schiphol, my home airport). Some gates are on the ground floor, and boarding queues can wind up the stairs in a tangled mess. Finally, you may be crammed onto a bus and shuttled to the aircraft, where all semblance of order goes out the window in the mad dash to board.
A few tips can make the boarding chaos more manageable. First, use the restroom before you get to the gate. Many easyJet gate areas don’t have their own facilities, and you don’t want to end up at the back of the boarding scrum after a bathroom break.
Arrive at your gate early and grab a seat near the front of the boarding area. This way, you’ll be among the first to line up when boarding starts.
If you’ve opted for Speedy Boarding, be sure to look for the signage. Sometimes, all the crowding makes it hard to see where to queue up. Finally, keep your boarding pass and passport accessible at all times. I’ve been asked to show my passport even on Schengen flights.
The easyJet experience onboard
Once you’re settled into your seat, congratulate yourself: the toughest part is over. EasyJet’s cabin experience isn’t markedly different from that of other budget carriers. There’s no in-flight entertainment and food and drink are for purchase, although its dining options are noticeably cheaper than its competitors. Still, I highly recommend bringing your own snacks and a device loaded with entertainment, especially if you’re traveling with little ones.
Seats on easyJet’s all-Airbus fleet (consisting of A319, A320 and A321 aircraft) are as comfortable as you’d expect on a budget carrier. Taller passengers, however, might find the minimum 29 inches of seat pitch quite tight. In that case, paying extra for an Extra Legroom seat could be well worth it.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
