Easyjet for First-Timers: How to Make it “Easy” & What to Expect
My first Easyjet flight was chaotic in the best way. Picture me, backpack a bit too stuffed, clutching a Pret coffee like it was holy water, and staring at the boarding gate queue that looked like half of Europe had turned up. 😅
If you’ve never flown with Easyjet before, let me set the record straight: it’s not luxury, it’s not glamorous, but it is brilliantly practical. Easyjet is Europe’s budget carrier that can get you from London to Lisbon for less than a night out back home. The trick is knowing how it all works before you rock up at the airport.
So if you’re an Easyjet first-timer, buckle in. Here’s the inside scoop from baggage quirks and legroom hacks to those little unspoken rules that make budget flying a whole lot smoother. ✈️
Easyjet for First-Timers: The Basics
Flying Easyjet is simple at heart: book a cheap fare, check in online, turn up with your bag, and off you go. But like all budget airlines, the devil is in the detail.
- Main hubs: London Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Bristol, plus dozens more across Europe.
- Style: Low-cost, no-frills, quick turnaround.
- Best for: City breaks, sunshine escapes, weekend trips.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Always download the Easyjet app. It holds your boarding pass, sends flight updates, and makes bag drop faster.
🗺️ Related article: Easyjet Plus: Your Golden Ticket to Smoother Skies or Just an Extra Fee? ✈️
Easyjet Baggage Rules (Late 2025 Update) 🎒
This is where most rookies slip up, so let’s clear it up. Get it wrong, thats on you!
Included with every fare: One small under-seat bag (max 45 x 36 x 20 cm, including wheels/handles, 15 kg max). It must fit under the seat in front. Think slim backpack, laptop bag, or small holdall.
Want a bigger cabin bag? Pay for Up Front or Extra Legroom seats, or buy a large cabin bag option. Size: 56 x 45 x 25 cm, max 15 kg. Goes in the overhead locker.
Hold luggage: Pay separately. Options: 15 kg, 23 kg, or 32 kg (size limit: 275 cm combined L+W+H).
| Bag Type | Size | Weight | Included? | Goes Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small personal item | 45 x 36 x 20 cm | 15 kg | Yes | Under seat |
| Large cabin bag | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 15 kg | Paid | Overhead |
| Checked bag | Max 275 cm (L+W+H) | 15, 23 or 32 kg | Paid | Hold |
Real-time baggage changes can be found on Easyjet, obviously!
🗺️ Fancy Easyjet plus? Take a look! Easyjet Plus: Your Golden Ticket to Smoother Skies or Just an Extra Fee? ✈️
💡 Good to know: Soft backpacks squeeze better than hard-shell cases if you’re pushing size limits.
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The Online Check-in Game 🎟️
Forget rocking up to the airport unprepared. Easyjet wants you checked in online (or on the app) 30 days before departure.
You’ll get a digital boarding pass that scans fine at security, but print it if you’re the anxious type.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Screenshots work if your app glitches. Save your pass in your wallet app too.
Seats: What’s Worth Paying For? 🪑
If I have a 2nd cabin bag I always choose a closer to the front seat, purely so I know my cabin bag will be close to me if the plane is full! You don’t want your bag at the back of the plane while you’re in the middle! Standard seats are fine for short flights or where you just have an underseat bag, but here’s the lowdown:
Extra Legroom (rows by exits, front): Best for tall people. Comes with large cabin bag included.
Up Front (rows 1–6): First off the plane. Handy for business trips or sprinting for trains.
Standard (everywhere else): Cheapest.
💡 Fact: Middle seats are often last to fill, so couples who don’t pay to sit together may end up split.
Boarding: The Shuffle to the Plane
Unlike long-haul airlines, Easyjet boarding is quick and sometimes… chaotic. You’ll usually walk across the tarmac, so be ready for rain or wind.
💡Good to know: Priority boarding is included with Extra Legroom or Up Front seats. If you’ve paid for the larger cabin bag, you also board earlier.
🗺️ Holiday Related: Why Booking ABTA and ATOL Protected Holidays Is Your Smartest Travel Decision
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Airport Experience: From Bag Drop to Gate 🛫
Most Easyjet airports use self-service bag-drop kiosks. Weigh your bag, print a tag, slap it on, then put it on the belt. Staff are around if it’s your first time. Only got a cabin bag? Go straight to security, unless stated!
Security queues can be long at hubs like Gatwick or Luton, so leave extra time.
🗺️ More Guides: How to Handle Flight Delays Without Losing Your Cool
Food & Drink Onboard 🍔
There’s no free meal service. Instead, Easyjet sells sandwiches, snacks, hot meals, Costa coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol. Prices are standard airport level, not outrageous.
- Hot meals: Pasta pots, curries, toasties.
- Snacks: Crisps, chocolate, biscuits.
- Drinks: Coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer, wine, spirits.
😳 Have a brew on the plane? Airplane Beverages: Why Tea and Coffee Might Not Be the Best Choice
👉 Fact: You can bring your own food (airport Pret, anyone?) but not hot drinks through security.
In-Flight Comfort & Entertainment 🎧
Easyjet isn’t about luxury frills, so don’t expect seatback TVs, built-in USB chargers or reclining chairs. The seats are fixed upright and designed for quick turnaround, which makes them perfectly fine for short hops but a bit stiff if you’re used to long-haul comfort. Honestly though, most flights are under three hours, and by the time you’ve fiddled with your snack, flicked through the magazine, and queued for the loo, you’re already starting your descent.
If you’re someone who gets twitchy without entertainment, you’ll want to come prepared. Think downloaded podcasts for background chatter, a Spotify playlist that keeps you chilled, or a couple of Netflix episodes saved to your phone or tablet. Bring your own headphones too, the airline doesn’t hand them out.
🗺️ Recommended Read: How to Make Economy Feel Like First Class When Flying
Legroom Reality Check 🦵
Let’s be real: Easyjet isn’t winning any awards for spacious seating. The standard seat pitch is around 29 inches, which means average-height travellers will manage, but anyone taller than 6 foot may feel their knees nudging the seat in front. It’s not unbearable, more like “cosy”, but on a full flight it can feel cramped if your neighbour likes to spread out.
For those who need more space, the exit row or extra legroom seats are worth paying for. The difference is night and day. Suddenly you’ve got room to stretch, your tray table isn’t nudging your stomach, and you can cross your legs without apologising to the person next to you.
💡 Tinker’s Tip: If you’re tall, book the exit row early. They sell out fast, especially on ski and beach routes where half the plane is carrying bulky kit.
Weather Factor: Tarmac Boarding 🌦️
One of Easyjet’s quirks is how often you’ll board via stairs directly on the tarmac. In summer, it feels like a bonus, sunglasses on, boarding pass in one hand, selfie in the other. But in Manchester in February? You’ll be cursing yourself for leaving your coat in your checked bag while the wind howls across the runway.
It’s all part of the budget airline charm: quick, efficient, no jet bridges needed. Just be prepared for whatever the weather throws at you. Spain in August means sweaty tarmac queues, while Amsterdam in November might mean dashing across puddles.
💡 Good to know: Always keep a hoodie, light jacket, or raincoat in your under-seat bag. It makes that windy walk to the plane a lot more bearable.
Destinations: Where Easyjet Can Take You 🌍
From beach holidays to city breaks, Easyjet’s map is broad. Popular routes:
- Sunshine: Tenerife, Malaga, Mykonos, Santorini
- Cities: Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Rome
- Adventure: Innsbruck, Geneva (ski trips), Madeira
💡 Good to know: Checking in later can sometimes surface better random seats, but there are no guarantees.
Our Google Maps Legend
Save time pinning everything! Get lifetime access to our endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in the area. You simply open the Google Map on your device and all our pins are at the touch of your fingertips.
Delays & Cancellations: What Happens?
I’ll keep it super simple! Budget airlines aren’t immune to delays. If it happens:
- You’re entitled to re-routing or refunds.
- EU261 rules apply for compensation on long delays.
- Easyjet app updates are quicker than departure boards.
If I ever have any issues I just use Compensair!
🔹 A quick heads-up: Always travel with a credit card and snacks in case you’re stuck longer than planned.
Money Matters 💳
Easyjet is cheap upfront, but extras add up. Budget accordingly:
- Seat selection
- Cabin/hold baggage
- Priority boarding
- In-flight food
💡Good to know: Sometimes buying Up Front or Extra Legroom works out cheaper than adding a big bag separately.
✋🏼 Be a Travel Master: Mastering Peak Season Travel: Essential Do’s and Don’ts
Sustainability & Offsetting 🌱
Easyjet talks a lot about reducing carbon impact. They offset fuel, but you can also add a voluntary offset when booking. So if you’re an eco warrior, you don’t have to feel as guilty!
💡 Fact: Easyjet was the first major airline to offset all flight carbon emissions as standard.
Travel Insurance: Don’t Skip It 🧾✈️
Here’s the thing: Easyjet gets you from A to B cheaply, but it doesn’t cover you if things go pear-shaped. Lost luggage, missed connections, last-minute cancellations, or even a twisted ankle on your city break, that’s where travel insurance steps in. It’s not the most exciting part of planning a trip, but it can save you hundreds (sometimes thousands) if the unexpected happens.
When booking with Easyjet, you’ll see an option to add insurance during checkout. Handy, yes, but often more expensive than arranging your own policy. It’s usually worth shopping around before you click.
What to look for:
- Medical cover (especially important if you’re heading outside the EU/UK).
- Cancellation cover for illness or emergencies.
- Lost/delayed baggage cover (handy if your bag takes a holiday without you).
- Activity cover if you’re skiing, hiking, or doing something adventurous.
Always have Travel Insurance! Peace of mind = priceless. Don’t skip it! 🩹
Recommended Travel Insurers:
Travel Insurance articles: Get Travel Insurance
🚨 We like to help out at The Travel Tinker: How to Get Through the Airport Quickly: Expert Tips for Savvy Travellers
My First Easyjet Mishap 😅
On my first flight I misread the baggage policy, rocked up with a chunky case, and got politely told it was £48 at the gate. Painful. Lesson learnt: pack smart and read the fine print.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Use our Entry Requirement Checker before you book big pieces. It saves time and stress.
💡 Good to know: Gate fees for oversized bags are steep, always measure first.
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
Now, over to you…
Have you flown with Easyjet before? Share your funniest, most chaotic, or most unexpected Easyjet story in the comments 👇🗣️
Adventure on,
The Travel Tinker Crew 🌍✨
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FAQs
Is Easyjet strict with cabin bag sizes?
Yes. Staff do check at boarding. If it doesn’t fit in the sizer, you’ll pay a fee and it goes in the hold.
Can I bring food onboard Easyjet?
Yes, as long as it’s not hot. Think sandwiches, crisps, chocolate, fruit.
Does Easyjet provide free water?
No. You need to buy drinks onboard or bring an empty reusable bottle to fill after security.
How early should I arrive at the airport for Easyjet flights?
At least 2 hours before short-haul, 3 for longer or busy airports.
Does Easyjet fly long-haul?
No. Only short and medium-haul across Europe, North Africa, and some Middle Eastern destinations.
Travel Planning Resources
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Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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Nick Harvey
Hi, I am Nick! Thank you for reading! The Travel Tinker is a resource designed to help you navigate the beauty of travel! Tinkering your plans as you browse!
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