re. early morning flight to Berlin with Easyjet next week

katejo

I have an 8.40 flight to Berlin with Easyjet next Tues 8th Aug. Given the extra security issues and news of long queues, I am wondering how much extra time I need to allow. Has anyone flown to Berlin from Gatwick with Easyjet in the past week or so? The Easyjet website just warns us to allow extra time without saying whether some countries are worse affected than others.


I already have a hotel booking for Monday 7th so can get to the airport earlier.

leylandsunaddict

It's not leaving the UK that's the issue. The extra checks are done when arriving and leaving the Schengen area.

richardw

Mornings are very busy at Gatwick North terminal with the long haul flights on larger aircraft so get their early generally. Plenty of airside places for breakfast.

katejo

richardw wrote: »

Mornings are very busy at Gatwick North terminal with the long haul flights on larger aircraft so get their early generally. Plenty of airside places for breakfast.

I am used to flying from Gatwick at that time. Have done so several times. I was just thinking about the current situation and wasn't sure whether outward flights were also an extra problem.

Raymondo111

Have you flown from Gatwick recently with EasyJet? the reason I ask is that I always worked on an arrival time at the Airport to check in 3 hours before the flight was due to leave. However, EasyJet are using self check in desks and seem to be operating 'dynamic' check in times which can mean they will amend your check in time to 2 hours before your flight is intended to leave if the area is busy. Also there is a distinct lack of seating around the check in area, most of the seating is marked for disabled seating so you end up with lot's of people having to sit on the floor, we experienced this at the end of June and we ended up being given conflicting information by different staff in the check in area so they need to get their act together. If they operate the 2 hour check in rule and security is busy it doesn't leave a lot of time to get through/ get something to eat and drink and then get to the gate for your flight.

katejo

I have already checked in and got my boarding passes so will only need to drop my bag off. I always do this with Easyjet and print the passes out as soon as the option becomes available online. I am planning to be there about 2.5 hours before departure.

soolin

katejo wrote: »

I have already checked in and got my boarding passes so will only need to drop my bag off. I always do this with Easyjet and print the passes out as soon as the option becomes available online. I am planning to be there about 2.5 hours before departure.

It's the bag drop that's the issue. We were all checked in and had our boarding cards but EasyJet checked our flights and would not let us proceed to the bag queue until 2 hours before the flight. As Raymondo says, you get in the queue and then are told you are too early and everyone just hangs around in the check in hall until the lady at the queue allows you to join it. Personally I dislike EasyJet and having to wait before I am allowed to queue doesn't help, but I know that generally EasyJet are well liked by others.

katejo

soolin wrote: »

It's the bag drop that's the issue. We were all checked in and had our boarding cards but EasyJet checked our flights and would not let us proceed to the bag queue until 2 hours before the flight. As Raymondo says, you get in the queue and then are told you are too early and everyone just hangs around in the check in hall until the lady at the queue allows you to join it. Personally I dislike EasyJet and having to wait before I am allowed to queue doesn't help, but I know that generally EasyJet are well liked by others.

How long ago did you fly with them? my last one was just over a year ago. I have always been able to queue to drop off as soon as they staff the desks but have had to hang around waiting for them to open the desk/allow a queue. Or do you mean something more than this?
I generally like Easyjet because I can print boarding passes for outward and return flights (or download to phone) 4 weeks before the flight.

Raymondo111

katejo wrote: »

How long ago did you fly with them? my last one was just over a year ago. I have always been able to queue to drop off as soon as they staff the desks but have had to hang around waiting for them to open the desk/allow a queue. Or do you mean something more than this?
I generally like Easyjet because I can print boarding passes for outward and return flights (or download to phone) 4 weeks before the flight.

As I said in my post I flew from Gatwick at the end of June this year and like you I had checked in and printed boarding passes, however, their are no manned check in desks now it's all bag drop where you use your boarding passes to create your luggage tags and you put them on yourself and put them on the conveyor belt. The issue is the variable timings that are now in place and the left hand is sometimes not talking to the right hand so you get mixed messages. Somebody else also commented on this so be prepared and don't expect to turn up 3 hours before as usual to the manned check in desk as it aint gonna happen!!

katejo

Raymondo111 wrote: »

As I said in my post I flew from Gatwick at the end of June this year and like you I had checked in and printed boarding passes, however, their are no manned check in desks now it's all bag drop where you use your boarding passes to create your luggage tags and you put them on yourself and put them on the conveyor belt. The issue is the variable timings that are now in place and the left hand is sometimes not talking to the right hand so you get mixed messages. Somebody else also commented on this so be prepared and don't expect to turn up 3 hours before as usual to the manned check in desk as it aint gonna happen!!

Yes I did use my boarding pass to create the labels last time on the outward flight. The return flight still had a check in desk and a queue. So how long before the flight did you actually manage to use the drop off?

worried_jim

I arrive 90 mins before flying at Gatwick with carry on only. Clear security in 20 mins (always get searched, no matter what). Two bottles of gin from duty free, sit down for 20 mins looking at all the sights (whoever thought wearing a shower curtain for a dress in an plane is a good idea, but there you go) then amble to the gate about 5 miles away and jobs a good 'un.

Last did it in June. Gatwick seem to have it all organised now and EasyJet make it like catching a bus. Nice and easy.