GB Airways taken over by Easyjet

rainee

has anyone out there heard any more?
gb airways customer service has refered me to easyjet but i've not had a reply from them

JoolsB

We are booked with BA to fly to Portugal next summer. I rang up Easyjet customer services today to basically check that, travelling with 2 children, they still did priority loading for us so we could guarantee that we would all be sitting together. Lady I spoke to told me you that now anyone who has paid for speedy loading can get on first, they dont do priority loading anymore for people with children.

I said I thought it was unfair that I booked for a service that included on line check in the night before, & refreshments on board, and was going to be transferred to a flight that doesn't offer any of this and will result in us having to pay more money for 'speedy loading' and still end up with a rugby scrum to get on board. She said that they've been told the service we will receive is exactly the same as what we booked with BA, and that the confirmation of the takeover that is expected in the near future should confirm all this i.e. we will be able to reserve seats in advance etc. Has anyone else heard this?

She also confirmed that the flight times would remain the same.

jcorbygas

Thanks for that info re flight times staying the same. I had the misfortune to first of all book flights to Faro with XL for June 08, then they were cancelled by XL, so I got a refund and booked with BA, - also cancelled/changed to Easyjet. I booked with BA so that we got drinks and meals included and also the ability for our friends to bring their golf clubs with them for no charge, so I will be a bit upset if we start having to pay for everything.
I will wait and see how it goes.

bagand96

JoolsB wrote: »

I said I thought it was unfair that I booked for a service that included on line check in the night before, & refreshments on board, and was going to be transferred to a flight that doesn't offer any of this and will result in us having to pay more money for 'speedy loading' and still end up with a rugby scrum to get on board. She said that they've been told the service we will receive is exactly the same as what we booked with BA, and that the confirmation of the takeover that is expected in the near future should confirm all this i.e. we will be able to reserve seats in advance etc. Has anyone else heard this?

From everything I've read easyJet will only operate the flights as BA, with BA service until March 31st 2008. Afetr that point all flights will operate as easyJet with easyJet service. The BA website even quotes:

Once easyJet's purchase of GB Airways is complete, flights after 30 March 2008 will be operated under the easyJet brand. Customers holding a booking on one of these flights should visit easyJet's website for more information about the service they will receive.

From that it seems after March 30th the flights will be operated by easyJet, with easyJet flight codes and easyJet service. The aircraft will probably still have BA branding (they won't be able to change that overnight!) but all else will be easyJet.

Its an unfortunate situation for some who are expecting BA service, but I guess it will be a like it or lump it situation. Accept the easyJet way or have a full refund and take your money elsewhere.

rainee

I said I thought it was unfair that I booked for a service that included on line check in the night before, & refreshments on board, and was going to be transferred to a flight that doesn't offer any of this and will result in us having to pay more money for 'speedy loading' and still end up with a rugby scrum to get on board. She said that they've been told the service we will receive is exactly the same as what we booked with BA, and that the confirmation of the takeover that is expected in the near future should confirm all this i.e. we will be able to reserve seats in advance etc. Has anyone else heard this?

She also confirmed that the flight times would remain the same.[/quote]


The only thing I can think of is that they might give all existing gb airways customers a vouchure for a drink and sandwich and speedy boarding ??
the only way you can book in online with easyjet is if you have no hold luggage. I can imagine the chaos and scrum at Sharm already

rainee

Just a thought I wonder how many passengers are waiting for some news there must be thousands of us all waiting!!!

Musicman

Yes I am also waiting for news, and to see if my flights are still going to take off.

If they are, I will also look to see if I can book the flights again with Easyjet, and cancel my BA ones, if the Easyjet booking is cheaper, as I do not intend to pay top price for the low standards of Easyjet.

richardw

easyJet won't release their Gatwick flights until the deal is complete and when the deal is complete BA will say refer to easyJet, easyJet will probably stop being good with the existing BA bookings.

Where are you flying to Musicman and did you pay a lot for your flights?

Sam_Bee

I seriously doubt that easyjet will a) offer BA customers 'extras' i.e. priority check-in, luggage, meals and drinks or b) keep the flight times if they calculate it is better for them to use the slots for other times. Why should they (they will think)?

Any promises made now strike me as more to fob you off, and it is only time that will actually show what happens. I think many of you will be better off cancelling your post March flights, getting a refund, and booking at a substantially cheaper cost on Easyjet or a.n.other low cost carrier (check prices first).

richardw

...also compare the charter airlines aswell http://www.gatwickairport.com/portal/page/LGW%5EFlight+Information%5EDestinations+and+Airlines/

and BA have also said they will be starting some routes http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bapress/public/en_gb BUT they aren't on sale yet and may only go on sale when the deal is complete