Originally published on businesstraveller.com 20/08/2012   RSS

CHECK-IN My Easyjet flight (EZY8576) to London Gatwick was due to depart at 1710 from Barcelona-El Prat’s Terminal 2. As I was travelling with hand-luggage only and had checked in online before my outward journey and printed my boarding pass, I arrived at 1600 and went straight to security, which was located upstairs. The process was quick (liquids and laptops out, watches off) and I was airside by 1610. I took a seat at the Cerveceria café overlooking the tarmac for 20 minutes and had a drink.

BOARDING At 1630 I walked to Zone MO, through passport control, which was empty. My gate opened a couple of minutes later so I was first in line (there was also a separate channel for those who had paid for Speedy Boarding). The process began on time at 1640, but while waiting there was a bit of a kerfuffle when a tiny mouse ran across the floor and over people’s bags and shoes.

Passengers were directed on to an awaiting shuttle bus, with Speedy Boarders kept in a separate pen at the front so they could get off before anyone else. There was a bit of a delay while everyone crammed on but it departed at 1655, only to then sit on the tarmac beside the plane for another ten minutes. The bus doors opened at 1706, with travellers hurrying to access the A320 via steps to the front and back.

THE SEAT I chose seat 6F by the window, and obeyed crew instructions not to put my seatbelt on as the plane was being refuelled. Legroom wasn’t too bad (30 inches/76cm – the same on all Easyjet flights) – at least for someone of my height (five-foot two-inches).

Although Easyjet is trialing assigned seating on certain routes (click here to see which routes and how much it costs) most travellers (including those on this service) have to sit wherever they can when they get on – unless they pay extra for Speedy Boarding. 

WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE? There were 31 rows of seating on the A320. If you want to take your pick of seats, get to the gate as early as you can and get in line, or book Speedy Boarding. If you are tall, opt for seats A, B or C in row one as they offer the most legroom. Exit row (12 and 13) seats are also a good bet.

THE FLIGHT The aircraft pushed back at 1720 and take-off was ten minutes later. A refreshment service began at 1805, after a bumpy start to the journey, with scratch cards offered at 1830. The crew were polite and friendly on this two-hour trip.

ARRIVAL Landing was at 1930 (1830 local time in the UK). Passengers were disembarked promptly and herded on to another shuttle bus that took us to a terminal. I walked briskly to immigration to avoid the worst of the queuing and, fortunately, found plenty of immigration staff on hand and biometric gates open so was through within five minutes, at 1900.

VERDICT A very easy short-haul flight – a minor delay but nothing to cause any inconvenience. A good-value option.

FACT FILE:

SEAT CONFIGURATION 3-3 (A-B-C, D-E-F)

SEAT PITCH 30in/76cm

SEAT WIDTH 20in/51cm

SEAT RECLINE 4in/10cm

PRICE Internet rates for a return flight from London Gatwick to Barcelona with Easyjet in October ranged between £66 and £218.

CONTACT easyjet.com

Jenny Southan