EasyJet or a national carrier?

[LaLaLouella]

Is it worth paying the extra or are all airlines going to be affected equally by cancellations/disruption/delays this summer?

Myself and teenage DS (who is a nervous flyer) are going to Holland this summer - it's either EasyJet or KLM? Flight times, duration, airport, are all the same, we will have carry-on luggage only - when I've totted it up, including all the potential extras, KLM is £200 more expensive.

Would you pay it? Money is a consideration but not the deciding factor (we can reduce the budget for other things)

For a 200quid saving I’d go with easyjet

I'm just really worried that EasyJet are going to be affected more than KLM by travel disruption - I really want to go on holiday!

Definitely easyJet! That's a huge price premium for such a short flight.

A lot of the cancellations would be just as likely to affect KLM, I would have thought, because they're being driven by the airports not the airlines themselves.

Alternatively, why not go on the EuroStar - especially if your DS is a nervous flier?

I've found Easyjet to be the easiest to deal with, we fly with them several times a year.
TBH it's all a bit of a gamble at the moment but the worst experience I've had recently has been Vueling and friends have had a terrible time with BA.

DS is a bit nervous about all firms of travel tbh, flying gets it over quicker....

Eurostar to Amsterdam

(I realise this does assume you would be starting from London, or having to travel to London)

Look at the percentage flight cancellations per carrier. That's the best estimate of likelihood of cancellation.

Good idea, I guess it's the predicting it forward over the summer months given how unprecedented the times are that's making me doubt myself...

I think under the circs I would go with EasyJet. KLM were forced to suspend all travel to Schiphol within Europe a few weeks ago and flew its planes back empty in an effort to try to reset and get back on track the next day. So there really is no guarantee that a full cost airline will provide you with a more reliable service than a budget at this point. The only consideration might be that KLM may fly more frequently from your home airport to the Netherlands, whereas EasyJet might only fly once or twice a day? So delays could be longer.

Is the ferry a viable alternative for you?

Ferries not an option - I can get him on a short flight but I don't think he could manage a ferry crossing that was 11 hrs long. Thanks for the idea though!

Harwich-Hook of Holland is 6.5 hours but I take your point - it's still longer than a flight is (assuming no delays).

If I have the option I try and use National carriers as they will have priority at their home airports for arrival/departure slots so less prone to delay although of course from time to time other things happen. We have totally stopped flying Jetstar (which I think would be the EasyJet equivalent here in Aus) as although they are absolutely fine once you get on the plane the airport experience can be grim and caused me more stress than the holiday was worth.

@LaLaLouella looks like easyJet is going to be your best bet - KLM reducing summer flights

I'd actually argue the opposite - KLM cutting flights now is to improve the reliability of the remaining flights. I see from another article on the same site that EasyJet has the worst reliability of any airline operating in the UK this summer.

The issues here aren't to do with slots afaik, it's to do with staff shortages and all airlines use the same security and baggage systems. The only thing I know about KLM is that they cancelled all their flights a few weeks ago at Amsterdam, I don't think you can rely on them being a national carrier to not have cancellations, aren't BA cancelled thousands of flights?

There's no way to predict what will happen with a particular flight unfortunately

It's completely unpredictable. They all have issues and all are working to minimise them.

I'd save the £200.

Lots of conflicting data and advice!

Thanks for all your help, I'm still undecided but it's given me lots to think about!

I'd just fly with anyone else before giving my money to Easyjet. Even in 'normal' times it seems to have issues.

Really? We fly with them probably 6+ times a year and find the exact opposite

I have always found easyJet great, but that was pre Covid, it’s not just the airline you chose it’s the airports that are having too many passengers to process, all a proper mess.

KLM has had cancellations too. Though a thought - what about the train?

We are going to Germany in a couple of weeks. We booked with a EasyJet as they were around £200 cheaper than Lufthansa.
About 10 days ago EasyJet cancelled our flights and we have had to rebook with Lufthansa, which has cost us £800 more.
In future unless the flights are double I will try and fly with a different airline

Eurostar has had plenty of cancellations and delays too @gogohmm ! (And is expensive). I think I'd follow @Hoppinggreen 's advice and book now with KLM to avoid having to book later when/if EasyJet cancel.

I would look at the Eurostar option if DS is a nervous flyer, if London is somewhere you can get to.

I've flown easyJet regularly for years and never had a single problem outside of uncontrollable events (weather delays etc).