Looking to book flights from London to Geneva soon for new year holiday. Which airline is best will be 4 adults 2 children taking 4-5 suitcases and 3 pairs of ski boots one snowboard plus hand luggage. Looking at BA and swiss on they look quite pricey at first but then heard lots of bad things regarding easyjet charging for everything. Thanks for any advice much appreciated.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I prefer Swiss. Flight attendants much nicer than BA staff. Once you take into account the inconvenient times of Easy Jet flights and added extras there is not much difference in price.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Quote:
lots of bad things regarding easyjet charging for everything.
No, they just charge for the flight and what baggage you want to add. If you really think it's worth paying to get onto the plane before everybody else despite not getting there any quicker, or want to reserve a specific seat, you can pay extra for that. But their website is really good - you can rapidly see what you are paying for, and you can also compare flight prices across a few weeks.
However, their flight schedules for next season are not yet published. Flight prices for popular dates will rise steeply after publication.
They are ALL pricey at New Year, like everything else. Don't be tempted to go for cheap Tuesday or Thursday flights unless you are sure you can get accommodation for those dates - which is improbable.
Children pay the same price as adults but being little they definitely don't need a 20 kg suitcase. Try to travel reasonably light, it makes things much easier as well as cheaper; nobody really needs 20 kgs of stuff for a week's ski holiday. Last time I flew to ski I had a backpack which weighed under 15 kg including ski boots and only carried a very small bag into the cabin.
I don't find easyJet flight times inconvenient - there are loads of flights throughout the day.
Why not simply spend a few minutes on the websites typing in some bogus information for some representative flights, and cost things up that way?
Instead of waving around second hand half-formed notions such as an airline being 'bad' because they charge for 'everything'.
Although don't rely on the price comparison websites like Skyscanner come up with, they don't consider the additional costs of baggage or seats. Use Easyjet and the likes own websites if you need to add things like that to cost flights. Only takes a few mins.
FWIW I think last time I checked Swissair I had to add in the cost of bags.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Easyjet have been OK for me. The financial success of Easyjet/Ryanair has many other carriers taking a leaf out of that model. Swiss Air to charge £20 extra from their light to economy flex if you want hold luggage. BA have something similar which is good if you travel light. I do like the little bar of chocolate you get on Swiss & free ski carriage even better. New Year prices will be high unless you can hit a sale or are prepared to take an inconvenient flight time i.e out at 7:30 pm and back at 7:30 am you can get a good deal right now with Swiss but these timings maybe hard work with kids in tow.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Mr Pieholeo,
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Linnylou26 wrote:
Looking to book flights from London to Geneva soon for new year holiday.
Ryanair are good. You get what you pay for. As it will only cost you a fiver you can't complain that your London GVA flights leave from Glasgow and land in Dublin.
Seriously though....Easyjet aren't bad. Everything is clearly laid out on the website and if you are nice the check in people tend to apply some common sense. (If you decide to argue with them you will lose. They are holding all the cards.)
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ba and Swiss AFAIK have only introduced discounted no-luggage fares on routes where they compete directly with Easyj and Raynair.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
We use easyjet from Gatwick for virtually all of our trips and have done for the last 4 years or so. Loads of flights each day to GVA. The first one out seems to leave at about 6.10am, then there's usually one every 2-3 hours till 8pm. Same frequency on the way back.
Yes, you have to pay for bags. For a week's skiing I can easily fit ski boots into a suitcase with all my other clobber.. Easyjet also seem quite chilled about a ski bag having more than one pair of skis in it and other "stuffing" as long as it does not exceed the weight limit. Use your hand baggage allowance too-ski boots can also fit into hand baggage.
Flights then will be expensive. Have you thought about driving?
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Linnylou26, all airlines can muck you about.
Before christmas my flight to Lyon was changed from 6.30pm to 1.30pm.
BUT: often if you add up all the Budget Airlines charges for bags and stuff, airlines like BA and Swiss come in at a similar price
For the flight before christmas BA was cheaper
(and they did give me over 3 months warning)
AND, in many airports, the waiting area for Budget Airlines is a bleak shed with no chairs, whereas BA or Swiss have comfortable lounges with cafe and toilets.
Budget Airlines have built their reputation on Cheap Flights, but Fascinating Aida summed it up perfectly:
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Biggin hill on a Gulf Stream , expensive but pick your own travel times.
Free parking. No queues either.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Quote:
in many airports, the waiting area for Budget Airlines is a bleak shed with no chairs, whereas BA or Swiss have comfortable lounges with cafe and toilets.
in airports such as Gatwick and Geneva (and many others but those are relevant and I know them well) the easyJet flights come and go from exactly the same areas as BA. With cafés (all airports are desperate to sell you food and drink) and toilets. Which airport/airline were you thinking of, jonpim, where easyJet passengers have to languish in a bleak shed with nothing to eat or drink? Though of course, if there are no toilets, it's just as well there is nothing to drink.
If you have access to executive lounges you have smarter facilities, but that doesn't come with a basic BA flight (I do basic BA flights to Genoa from Gatwick quite regularly and I like the fact that I can get a discount for having no hold baggage).
There have been some very angry Snowheads bumped off BA flights in the last few years - with kids, last minute. All airlines can muck you around, as you say.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
pam w, agree some lounges for Easyjet/Ryanair are same as other airlines, but you should try Luton or Lyon.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
What the budget airlines really specialise in is locally situated airports in the uk. Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow are awful places for a short Euro hop. I can tun up at the car park entrance at Leeds Bradford or Newcastle 90 mins before departure and know that I will be sipping a coffee in the departure lounge with an hour to spare (very peak weeks excluded). The OP wants to fly out from London so he can choose BA, Swiss or any of the "better" airlines.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Easyjet for ski flights given free choice, they are the most accommodating ime when snow is falling and travel plans go awry. They flown me home both early and late without any fees when we've had trouble getting to Geneva.
BA/Swiss have city airport flights though which for me are very convenient - nothing much between them.
j.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Filthyphil30k, nah, king air and straight into courchevel
Would it be OK, given the repeated observations that easyJet, BA and Swiss are all cost equivalent, to cease this ludicrous assertion that some are in the category of 'budget airlines', and the others are not?
They're all budget airlines, it's just that easyJet is the best out of them.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Also would it be ok to cease this ludicrous assertion that BA is in any way British? Being as it serves only London.
Frosty the Snowman, But not at Luton - check in is 20 minutes, and security can exceed 30 minutes. They take staff off the security desk to ensure that it never goes below 20 minutes to encourage desperate people to use the express security service.
hobbiteater, I agree, just as Sabina was renamed Brussels airlines I think BA should be renamed London airlines. Has anyone actually flown into Courchevel?
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
johnE, sorry, should have included Luton in my London horror list.
After all it is free
After all it is free
For a skiing trip, the big advantage of BA is a 2x23kg hand baggage allowance. One can be "roll-aboard" size, the other a "handbag/laptop bag"; in reality a computer backpack is acceptable. You can put your boots into one of the bags, saving a big chunk of your hold baggage allowance.
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Pricing it up BA has come out quite a bit cheaper and flight times are better for us. I used Easter week for easyjet comparison and they were most expensive of all 3 that fly London to Geneva.
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Ski the Net with snowHeads
Budget airlines will be cheaper for base ticket prices but will also charge you for everything and anything - but that's the deal (there's not such thing as a free lunch).
EasyJet aren't actually too bad these days, as they have moved out of the true budget market - you still have to pay for everything but the seat but seats are now pre-allocated not a fight to sit together as a family.
Ryanair... yea. I'd probably take a coach first!
Premium airlines will be more expensive for the ticket but usually give you a lot for free that the budget airlines will charge you for.
I live in central London so can get to City airport in 20 minutes in a cab. As a result I usually fly Swiss to Geneve. Make sure you don't go for their cheapest (carry-on only) price and you can split your baggage alowence between one checked bag and one checked ski equipment bag for free.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Note, the Swissair the baggage allowance (economy) is 23kg within which they allow a separate bag for ski boots in addition to a case/bag. As with everything it's the final price that matters, Ryanair/Easyjet/Monarch, etc., may have cheaper headline prices when compared to the scheduled carriers, but, when all is added in, can be more expensive, and that goes for the charters as well.
As for cabin service, IME, they're all pretty much the same, only difference being that on the schedules, the so called "full service" airlines, the bun that they throw at you is free.
For low fares on the scheduled boys, IME, book well in advance, maybe six months.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
davidthornton wrote:
...Ryanair/Easyjet/Monarch...
Monarch. Oh god, the memories. I'm 5'6" and even I thought the leg room was tight!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I like Swiss.
Worked well for us last few years.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Mjit wrote:
Monarch. Oh god, the memories. I'm 5'6" and even I thought the leg room was tight!
I flew transatlantic with Monarch, only 28 inch leg pitch, I was lucky not to get DVT
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I haven't read all the other comments but my kids fly out most weekends and the one airline that is never delayed is Easyjet. Daughter has to fly BA to Heathrow to get back to Oxford and 9 times out of ten its delayed. Son flies from Bristol with Easyjet and all flights are on time, if not early.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Swissie wrote:
Daughter has to fly BA to Heathrow to get back to Oxford and 9 times out of ten its delayed. Son flies from Bristol with Easyjet and all flights are on time, if not early.
That's more a case of airport than airline.
Bristol isn't very busy so has plenty of space in the landing schedule to handle delays and disruption.
Heathrow is the busiest international airport in the world, with a flight taking off or landing every 90 seconds most of the time and every 60 seconds at peak times. If someone's just 30 seconds late leaving their gate it knocks on the whole day, as the gate isn't free for the next aircraft and they are 30 seconds late getting to the runway for their take-off slot.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
easyjet for me. never take more than hand luggage so there cheap, convienient and fly to the right places for me.
never even bother looking at any other airlines now.
guess it depends on what you look for in an airline, different strokes and all that.....
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
I do bother looking at other airlines, but every time I do, they're more expensive. That includes BA as well as the main "no frills" airlines (NB they're "no frills" NOT "budget"). Major international airport and Easyjet don't even fly here, and Ryanair (whom I'll never fly with, at least with my cash) fly from an airfield 2 hours away, with pretty much zero public transport infrastructure.
Actually Air Canada was better, but company paid for the front seats, so not comparable.
Swiss are the best in my experience by a good margin with Easyjet in second place. Have used both lots of times in recent years for long weekends to the Alps and no problem with either. The airline I absolutely refuse to fly with if at all possible is Ryanair because I always feel like they are out to rip me off at every possible opportunity.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Swiss are the best in my experience by a good margin with Easyjet in second place. Have used both lots of times in recent years for long weekends to the Alps and no problem with either. The airline I absolutely refuse to fly with if at all possible is Ryanair because I always feel like they are out to rip me off at every possible opportunity.
After all it is free
After all it is free
As others have said, it's really down to which offer the best value for what (and where) you need, once all the costs are added in. Doesn't take long to compare via the airlines own sites.
Personally, I almost always use BA, mainly because they give me my ski's free. Quite happy with the service and performance. I wouldn't use Ryan Air if they were paying me to fly, partly because the places they fly from aren't so convenient for me. Appreciate for others, it's the other way around.
Worth noting the differing baggage 'rules' when comparing (many threads on here I think)...
- As others have said, with Swiss, if you have a fare including hold luggage, your skis are free as well as a hold bag (I think the same applies to Lufthansa, but I've never used them with skis to check).
- With BA, your skis (and other things in the bag, up to 23kg) can be your hold luggage. If you need a second bag, sometimes it's better value to book business class one way and get the extra bag both ways - and a more comfortable lounge one way too! And note, the BA hand baggage allowance is much higher than the budgets, so things like ski boots can go as hand baggage.
- Also note the extra 3kg on hold baggage with BA and Swiss compared to Easyjet - can be enough to make a difference.
To give some credit to Easyjet, when my ski-buddy missed his flight back from Basel on a Sunday evening after we got caught in traffic across Switzerland, they rebooked him to the first flight out Monday morning for a very nominal charge (£10 I think). So they certainly aren't out to extort people for everything, and I'm not sure if BA or Swiss would have been so forgiving, especially on a busy Monday morning.
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That depends on what type of ticket you have. His Sunday flight in ezy was probably more expensive (by a lot) than the Monday one hence the nominal fee. If the monday one was busy then the fee would have been alot more extravagant. Cheaper tickets tend to be alot more restrictive, Ezy, BA and everyone else also sell flexible tickets so you can chop and change flights, but you pay for the privilege in the ticket price so it's not about being "accommodating", its about what is written on the ticket!
ALL airlines are bound by the Same rules when it comes to disruption / snowclosed airports etc and they all have to get you home, so there should be no difference there, although there is some evidence that Ryanair try and play the system, and ezy have been caught out a few times being a bit cheeky too, so your mainline carriers tend to win out here slightly,,but they shouldn't as this is all covered by EU rules and you should be able to argue your case. Personally unless you want to fly to the middle of nowhere in the middle of the week then I've always found the fares for BA / ezy / everyone else to be much the same. However I wouldn't touch Ryanair with someone else's bargepole.
So basically it comes down to where / when etc. all the airlines have flexible pricing, cheaper tickets sell first and so on, so I'd check all of them and just see what comes out. On a point to point flight of 2 hours there is not much "good or bad" that can be experienced in the on board service.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
On the missed flight thing above, it was purely our fault we were late (traffic isn't the airlines fault), so they had no obligation to credit anything for his missed flight. And it was cheap ticket to start with (<£70 - no luggage as that stayed in my car). Not trying to set an expectation they always do that, clearly it's their discretion, but only seems fair to credit their customer service on this occasion.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
No, they just charge for the flight and what baggage you want to add. If you really think it's worth paying to get onto the plane before everybody else despite not getting there any quicker, or want to reserve a specific seat, you can pay extra for that. But their website is really good - you can rapidly see what you are paying for, and you can also compare flight prices across a few weeks.
