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Original poster

Easyjet with a baby - any tips?

19 replies

littlestar · 07/09/2005 14:01

We're thinking of going to Spain next month, by which time our DS will be 7 months. Can anyone tell us what it's like to fly Easyjet with a baby? We'd be going from Gatwick to Malaga and I'd really appreciate any advice and thoughts about checking in, what to do with pushchairs, luggage allowance etc.

OP posts:
sweetkitty · 07/09/2005 14:06

Found them really good I have done a fair few trips with them with DD from about 4-10 months. You just inform them at the desk you have a buggy and they put a sticker on it and you can have it right up until you board the plane, you take babe out at the steps and carry them on, they ground staff put the buggies on and off the plane for you. As I was alone there was usually some nice person who would either hold DD or collapse the buggy for me. On the plane it was fine (I only did short Glasgow-London trips though) they give you a belt extension for the baby. DD usually slept or fed most of the way.

One thing that was annoying was the amount of steps to board the aircraft from the departure gate. But again usually some nice person would help me lift buggy down them.

Enjoy your hol!

ParisMum · 07/09/2005 14:14

I've done several trips with EasyJet from Paris to Luton with dd now nearly 1yr. I keeping the pushchair until the plane steps and then they take it away and put it in the hold which is ideal but I didn't always have some helpful bod to give me a hand with folding it up. However, they do help you change your baby on a makeshift table in the loo (More than ### Air France were willing to do!) Have a great holiday!

gemmamay · 07/09/2005 21:31

One of the good things is the 'free seating' thing - 2 flights we did with DD at 9 months-ish we had 3 seats to ourselves - no single person is going to choose to sit next to a baby! that means more space to juggle everything.

LIZS · 07/09/2005 21:39

Out from Gatwick is fine with buggy - you take it right up to the departure gate - back you'll have to be very awkward to get it back at point of landing rather than the baggage carousel and it is a long walk, or take a sling. You should be able to board ahead of those without under 5's but you may have to stand right by the desk to get to the front before they call the others in number order especially at the Spanish end.

Nemo1977 · 07/09/2005 21:41

we went with easy jet to take ds to spain last r when he was 6mths. WE took pram right up to the door of plane where it was folded down and they put it in the hold. Baggage i think you only get the normal adult amount however if you take a travel cot it is taken on for free. We also got 3 seats and no one wanted to sit by us..lol

Angeliz · 07/09/2005 21:43

We took the pram to the door and had 3 seats too.
We are using them again in a few weeks with 2 this time!

Angeliz · 07/09/2005 21:43

We took the pram to the door and had 3 seats too.
We are using them again in a few weeks with 2 this time!

Angeliz · 07/09/2005 21:43

We took the pram to the door and had 3 seats too.
We are using them again in a few weeks with 2 this time!

Angeliz · 07/09/2005 21:43

ooohh!

Pamina3 · 07/09/2005 21:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
littlestar · 08/09/2005 09:23

Thanks, you're all so helpful! I'm brimming with confidence now!

OP posts:
morningpaper · 08/09/2005 09:32

I've flown with easyjet and found them VERY unhelpful.

DD was 2 and VERY small - on takeoff she got HYSTERICAL and started vomiting but the cabin staff said if we unclicked her belt they would have to stop takeoff. So we had to just watch her jerking hysterically and screaming for 20 minutes. I was in tears.

On the way back, we had 'priority boarding' with a wheelchair user, but because they hadn't got hte wheelchair ramp ready in time we had to wait until everyone else was on and THEN find seats! So we were the last to board.

I wouldn't use them again, it was one of the most awful experiences.

foxinsocks · 08/09/2005 09:32

when we flew with them, they separated us all so I had our (at that stage) 4 month old ds and dh sat rows away with 19 month old dd. It was an absolute pain and I had to breastfeed ds whilst elbowing the bloke next to me so I could get him in the right position! So I would check in early to make sure you get seats next to dp (if you're travelling together).

morningpaper · 08/09/2005 09:33

(I asked for a lap-belt for dd but was told that because she was over 2 it wasn't allowed, even though she was tiny and we were in fact seeing a paed. because she was so fecking small! It was just bloody-mindedness - really unhelpful.)

Kelly1978 · 08/09/2005 09:37

I used easyjet, and they were really helpful ont eh way out - we had three seats, and we have four children, the odler two were stiing behind us and they helped them loads with their meals, etc. Gave them free packs with crayons etc.

However on the flight back they just couldn't be bothered. The flight was very full. They sell off the seats with extra legroom rather than give them to ppl who need them. We were stuck with twins and no room whatsoever. We couldn't even sit together as they only have 4 oxygen masks per row. Pushchair was no trouble, but you do have to keep askign to make sure you get it back the other end, otherwise they seem to 'forget'.

We didn't get it til baggage reclaim in alicante, but managed to get it at gatwick. BUT, we did have to collapse it for the bus - not allowed to push them straight on, then when we got to the terminal, the lift was broken. The driver couldn't give a toss, shrugged and dissapeared. We were left gettgn four kids and a double buggy up the esclator. I think you need to make sure you se out your requirements well before hand.

Kelly1978 · 08/09/2005 09:38

foxinsocks - if you were takign the little ones on your laps, they wouldn't let you sit together anyway, unless there is an empty seat - no more than four per row. It is bloody stupid.

foxinsocks · 08/09/2005 09:47

ah I see - that, of course, was never explained to us!

Kelly1978 · 08/09/2005 09:47

mm, they never told us on the way out. Unless you argue they don't seem to get any info out of them.

Skribble · 08/09/2005 22:50

I haven't flown with easyjet but with Ryanair, as it is unreserved seating also don't be a polite Britain queuing up behind the grannies and everyone else. Go all european head up and barge to the front. Its not the time to be polite.

As for any flight with kids try to keep hand luggage to an absolute minimum. Use a back pack to keep hands free. We found that at Prestwick there was stairs inside that we had to go up then down. So even though they let you take buggy up to plane its not too helpful.

We found staff were helpful but very overworked and struggled to hold back the business men to let the harased mums and dads board first. Watch the business and where the stand waiting to board its usually a give away as to the best place to be.

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