What is easyjet?
easyjet: A Simple, Honest Guide to Flying Europe’s Orange Low-Cost Airline
If you’re hunting for affordable flights across Europe, easyjet is one of the first names you’ll see. This guide explains how easyjet works—routes, baggage rules, fees, booking tips—so you can fly smart, save money, and avoid surprises.
What is easyjet?
easyjet (stylised as easyJet) is a major European low-cost carrier founded in 1995 with its first flights from Luton, near London. The airline has grown into a pan-European network carrier with bases across the UK and EU and a trademark bright-orange brand. (corporate.easyjet.com)
Where does easyjet fly?
The network is broad and leisure-friendly: city breaks, beach destinations, and ski gateways all feature heavily. Public figures from the airline and independent trackers show easyjet operating hundreds of aircraft on close to a thousand routes, touching well over 150 airports in more than 30 countries. (easyjet.com)
For a sense of scale, public destination lists show easyjet serving 180+ destinations, with big bases like London Gatwick, Manchester, Geneva, Bristol, Milan Malpensa, and Berlin among its busiest. Routes change seasonally, but the breadth makes it easy to mix short city hops with sunny holiday runs. (Wikipedia)
Recent growth snapshot: easyjet has been adding routes and capacity in key markets (for example, new routes from Rome Fiumicino), showing that the network continues to expand. (Reuters)
easyjet baggage rules (the short version)
1) Small cabin bag – free
Every passenger can bring one small under-seat cabin bag for free, up to 45 × 36 × 20 cm (including wheels/handles). Weight up to 15 kg, but you must be able to lift it yourself. This bag must fit under the seat. (easyjet.com)
2) Large cabin bag – paid (unless you have an included seat/bundle)
You can purchase a large cabin bag (max 56 × 45 × 25 cm) that goes in the overhead bin. Prices vary by route/season and start from £5.99 when bought in advance. (easyjet.com)
3) Hold luggage – paid
A standard hold bag is 23 kg. You can buy extra weight in 3-kg steps up to 32 kg and pool allowances with people on the same booking. (easyjet.com)
Tip: Measure your bag including wheels and handles. Oversize charges at the airport are much higher than paying in advance online. (easyjet.com)
Seats, boarding, and add-ons
As with most low-cost airlines, the base fare is stripped back. You then choose extras:
- Seat selection: Pay to pick seats; front-row and extra-legroom seats cost more.
- Speedy Boarding / large cabin bag bundles: Certain seat types or bundles include priority boarding and a large cabin bag—handy if you prefer overhead space.
- Hold luggage, sports gear, special items: Add during booking or later in Manage Bookings; buying early is usually cheapest. (easyjet.com)
Managing your booking & checking in
- Use Manage Bookings on the website or the easyJet mobile app to change flights, add bags/seats, and download boarding passes. (easyjet.com)
- The app also includes a live Flight Tracker fed by the airline’s control centre—useful for gate info and delays. (easyjet.com)
How easyjet keeps fares low
- Point-to-point model: No checked-through connections; you book each leg separately.
- High aircraft utilisation & quick turnarounds: More flying hours per plane keeps costs down.
- Unbundled pricing: You pay only for what you use—simple fare + optional extras.
This structure is why easyjet can undercut traditional carriers on many routes while still offering frequent schedules on popular city pairs. (See the airline’s corporate overview for scale and model.) (corporate.easyjet.com)
Smart tips to fly easyjet for less
- Bring only the free bag (45 × 36 × 20 cm) if you can travel light—this avoids most add-on costs. (easyjet.com)
- Buy extras early. Large cabin bags and hold luggage are cheapest online, not at the airport. (easyjet.com)
- Be flexible with airports. easyjet often flies to multiple airports in a region (e.g., London, Paris, Milan); check all before booking. (Wikipedia)
- Use the app’s Flight Tracker for live updates and mobile boarding passes—less time printing, more time for coffee. (easyjet.com)
- Mind seasonal shifts. Ski routes flood the timetable in winter; Mediterranean sun routes surge in summer—prices follow demand. (Wikipedia)
Is easyjet good for business travel?
Yes—many travellers use easyjet for day trips and short-haul business hops because of the dense schedule on core European routes and the ability to add priority services without buying a full-service ticket. Public numbers show tens of millions of annual passengers, with a significant share travelling for business. (easyjet.com)
Quick FAQ about easyjet
Q: Does easyjet include a free carry-on?
A: Yes—one small under-seat cabin bag (45 × 36 × 20 cm) is free for everyone. A large cabin bag for the overhead bin costs extra unless included with certain seats/bundles. (easyjet.com)
Q: What’s the checked-bag allowance?
A: Standard hold bag is 23 kg; you can buy extra weight up to 32 kg per bag, and pool allowances on the same booking. (easyjet.com)
Q: Can I change my flight?
A: Yes—via Manage Bookings or the mobile app. Fees apply and vary by route/date. (easyjet.com)
Q: Which airports are biggest for easyjet?
A: Historically and currently: London Gatwick, Manchester, Geneva, Bristol, Milan Malpensa, Berlin and others—these typically offer the widest choice of routes. (Wikipedia)
Bottom line
easyjet is one of Europe’s most useful low-cost options: big network, straightforward rules, and a pay-for-what-you-need model. Pack to the free under-seat size, add extras early if you need them, and use the app for a smoother trip. With these basics, you’ll get the best of easyjet—low fares, plenty of choice, and fewer airport surprises. (easyjet.com)
