easyjet allocated seating

[kevc00l]

As part of our aim to making travel easy and affordable, we are rolling out allocated seating across our network from November 2012. We have been trialling allocated seating since April and over this period more than 800,000 passengers have flown on 6,000 trial flights.

Research among these passengers shows that more than 70% think allocated seating is better than easyJet's current system, due to the improved boarding experience, while over 60% said that they are more likely to use easyJet in the future as a result.

We trialled allocated seating because passenger research showed that the current boarding process can be a source of stress for some passengers and in some cases puts people off flying with easyJet altogether. The key tests of the trial were to improve passenger satisfaction without impacting easyJet's ability to deliver industry leading punctuality or adding cost – all of which were achieved on trial flights.

Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of easyJet, commented:

"This is an example of easyJet trying to do all it can to make travel easy and affordable for our passengers. Our customers asked us to trial allocated seating and we are really pleased with the positive passenger feedback during the trial. As importantly, we have shown that we can do so while delivering strong on time performance – the most important driver of passenger satisfaction.

"Allocated seating gives all our passengers a better boarding experience and offers the choice of selecting a seat to those who want to. On trial flights the majority of passengers were simply allocated seats when they checked in. Some passengers chose particular seats with bestselling seats usually those near the front, for those who wish to get off the aircraft quickly at their destinations, and exit row seats with their extra legroom.

"We are confident this move will make our current passengers happier when flying with easyJet and will attract new passengers to fly with us in future."

On allocated seating flights passengers who do not wish to pay to select their seat will be allocated a seat free of charge. Passengers travelling on the same booking will be seated together wherever possible by easyJet's reservation system which uses the most advanced seating algorithm in world aviation.

Some interesting facts emerged from the trial flights:

• On shorter journeys seat 6A was the best seller while on longer flights it was 1A
• On shorter journeys seat 16B was the least popular while it was 19B on longer flights
• Passengers preferred seats on the left hand side of the plane with seats A, B and C out selling D, E and F

Allocated seating will continue on trial flights and the key dates in the roll out across easyJet's network are:

Date – Services to/from

13 November - Gatwick South, Luton, Stansted, Southend, Bristol and Glasgow

20 November - Gatwick North, Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino and Paris Charles de Gaulle

27 November - Belfast, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Basel, Geneva, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse, Paris Orly, Madrid, Lisbon and Berlin Schönefeld.

All passengers will be allocated a seat for free on easyJet's flights but will be have the choice of selecting their seat for a fee when they book flights or add them later to guarantee where they'll be sitting. There are three bands of pricing, dependent on the seat selected:

• £12 for extra leg room (front row and exit rows)
• £8 for up front seats (row 2-5 on A319 or 2-6 on A320)
• £3 for any other seat

We trialled allocated seating during the summer season, the airline's busiest time, to stress test the new systems and procedures. We will roll it out during the winter season when fewer people travel to ensure a smooth transition from one system to another. The trial flights showed that allocated seating can be delivered at the same time as maintaining strong levels of on time performance and without adding cost.

easyJet plus! annual cardholders and Flexi Fare customers will able to select a seat free of charge as well continuing to enjoy the benefits of Speedy Boarding's dedicated check-in desk and Speedy Boarding – allowing them to board the aircraft first.

Passengers purchasing Upfront or Extra Legroom seats will be given access to the Speedy Boarding dedicated check-in desk and will be first to board.

[zedzedeleven]

I can`t understand the near hysteria of passengers who are terrified of not being seated together. I personally wouldn`t spend a brass farthing on reserving a specific seat, just like I wouldn`t care where I sat on a bus or train. I`d much rather see allocated disembarking to stop the same morons leaping out of their seats and dashing to the exit the micro second the wheels come to rest. I wish I was in charge, I`d open the doors before the airbridge or steps were connected and watch with undisguised glee as the sweaty panicking lemmings fell onto the tarmac with wet, splatting noises. Queue jumpers, getting no more than they deserve. What do they think, the plane takes off thirty seconds after landing and if they are still on board they get whisked off back to where they came from?

[glenys]

I totally agree zedzed. Also their mobile phones don't get turned off till your taking off and are turned back on as soon as the wheels touch. Bleep bleeping a pinging all round the plane. Then they drop their luggage on your head as the seat belt lights aren't even off yet,get a grip your on holiday.

[Deso]

Right, thats seats booked for December and March. 

I'll miss trying to outsmart people and get to the front of the 'peasants' queue though.    

Two last goes in October though, just to see if I've still got it. 

[lionfish]

Thanks for the heads up Deso - I now have seats for December/January and February/March.

[kayj]

Just to clarify, if you do want to select and pay for your seat you don't have to wait until November. We have selected ours for January this morning.

[glenys]

I booked our flights for December last March I think, so will our seats still be automatically allocated when I check in online. I don't care where I sit so won't be paying for preferred seats. Thank you

[lynr]

Hi Glenys

According to EJs website:

"You do not have to pay to select your seat, if you are happy to allow easyJet to allocate it for you. In this case we will allocate you a seat when you check-in, either by printing your boarding pass or at the check-in desk at the airport"

However:  "Once you have checked-in and your seat has been allocated it cannot be changed, other than for operational reasons"

So the usual 30 days before you fly you can print off your boarding passes complete with seat number!

[kevc00l]

we booked ours in march fro december .i think il take my chances with allocated seating

[glenys]

Thanks for the reply lynr, I will do that.