Vickie, last year the flights from Gatwick were released on 5th December.

We were in a similar predicament, unsure what Easyjet's release prices for Dalaman would be. On the day the flights were released at 12.00, I spent ages just refreshing the page until the system allowed summer bookings and booked within 5 minutes of them being released and even then the price rose by £10/person before I could finish the card payment section. By the evening our flights had almost doubled in price. If you can be around to book as soon as they are released you can get a bargain but it is a gamble. If you are happy with the price of the Jet2/Monarch, I would be tempted to book now before they rise too.

I have always found that Easyjet's prices are at their cheapest when they are first released. The flight prices rise as more people make bookings. I booked 5 one way seats with Easyjet yesterday for April and did it in two bookings - the first 3 seats were £32 each which I was thrilled with but on the second booking the seats were now £48 each.

EASYJet API(Advanced Passenger Information)

I made two booking with EASyJet in Feb 09, one booking is for two people including myself and the other is for a friend flying on the same day from a different UK airport.

I entered the API for one booking in July and the API for the other when the friend had renewed his passport.

However, last Saturday I received one email for the first booking reminding me to add API info. I did not receive an email for the second booking, not in spam folder and friend who flight is for got no emails either.

I am concerned to get reminder when have already provided info but find it strange I only got reminder for one booking. I have been into the booking to check and both bookings have all the API saved online. The yellow warning boz with red text reminding you that info is needed has disappeared as well.

Does anyone know if these emails are automated and should be sent for every booking, regardless of whether info has yet been provided. Tried help section on their website but cant find any info about reminder emails. Tried to go through form to email them and it is asking me to register as new member when already registered and their 0905 customer service number states it is only for bookings, cancellations and car hire.

Any help appreciated. Thanks

From memory I think you can go into the "my booking" section of Easy Jet web site - enter your booking ref numbers and from there see if you can check that the API has been entered. As you seem to have done this and information is there I should think all is well. This API stuff is a blooming Pain!

Nivsy

Thanks, it is a pain!

Might print off the page showing it is all entered for the airport just in case.

I have always found that Easyjet's prices are at their cheapest when they are first released. The flight prices rise as more people make bookings.

Indeed that is the case & as far as I know always has been.

This isn't meant personally to anyone, so please don't take offence, but I'm surprised that in the 24 years eJ have been flying there's a soul in the universe that doesn't know it's book early for the cheapest seats.

You're right cazzholly, I only booked my April 2009 flights on 8th Dec 2008, which was pretty well as soon as they came out but was able to book April 2010 flights on 16th Aug 2009. As I was sort of sharp this year our returns for 2 to Crete are £60 cheaper for April 2010 than I paid for pretty well the same dates in 2009. However in the month since I've booked they've only gone up £20 overall, so I suspect many either don't know they are out or are waiting due to personal circumstances. I think the general concensus is that the July 2010 flights will be out pretty soon, despite eJ's announcement in July that they expected to release them in August.

This is the obviously exact opposite of charters who will only sell spare seats (generally) with knock down prices at the very last minute just to raise what they can. Obviously the charter market has been hit by a reduction in capacity so there are fewer bargains to be had.

Again on what I assumed was common knowledge, I was amazed talking to someone at work the other day that they didn't know eJ & Ryanair were unallocated seating. My gast had never been so flabbered.

Hooly i did know that they are cheapest when released and increase the more bookings are made but i guess i just wanted it confirming lol.

So in your experience, would you book flights for a family of 4 at around 900-1000 return or wait for the easyjet flights (knowing in the mean time these others will increase)
Any idea what sort of prices they normal release canaries at?

vicky, that's why I tried to be careful with what I said.

Sorry I head Crete & Greece way so really can't comment on the Canaries. I always book my flights as soon as I can after they come out & even with Crete being 4 hours the most I've ever paid either with eJ or GB before them is the £320 for our 2 returns last Easter, which I still don't consider too bad. Next April I've paid £260 but eJ don't fly daily until the end of that month so they get slightly inflated.

When they fly every day I pay £65-£75 each for our return flights out late June/back early July & again late Sept/early Oct booking well in advance. But looking at the outbound June 2010 flights they are already in the £80-90 mark so I'm going to blow more than my normal return on the outbound if I go on the usual dates. I see some of the Canary flights at the same time are anywhere between £50 & £90 & to be fair eJ are normally consistent in where they pitch the opening fares, which I assume is about £40.

I could've, & probably should've booked June 2010 outbound at the same time as April & relied on getting in early for the July dates I wanted, especially as I'm out there for the next couple of weeks out of internet contact, but as an accountant I'm always a bit prudent. If they release July onwards before the end of September I'll miss out on the real cheapies both ways because of that tactical error.

I wished I could be more help & I know what I'd do if it was the same to Crete. However it'd be wrong of me to comment & it really relies on how flexible you can be with dates & how keenly you check the sites for updates. Personally I'd...................
Sorry I can't be more help.
Pete

Vicky, I usually find that Jet2 are cheaper than Easyjet so on that basis I would most probably go with the price you have now. Throw in the allocated seats and better luggage allowance I feel that you get more for your money with Jet2.

Thanks both, it seems i might need to fly on a fri now as we are quite limited with hubbies dates so on that basis i might have to book with Monarch, not used them before but i guess they are good.
I know what you mean about allocated seats etc, i wasnt too bad last time i did EJ as i have a young child i got priority boarding!

Vicky Easy Jet don`t give priority boarding to families anymore, it`s priority first (pay for) then in the order you check in next.So the earlier you check in the quicker you board the aircraft.

Wouldn't bother me as I don't have children, but their website still shows that people with children under 5 can board with the SA group i.e. after the speedy boarders & it was certainly like that last time I flew a few weeks ago.

I would presume that by "young child" vicky doesn't mean a yoof with a hoodie.

Easyjet's boarding order is:
Speedy Boarders (extra cost)
Special Assistance - for disabled passengers/passengers with special needs
Passengers with children under 5
Group A (first passengers checked in and not in the above groups)
Group B -

I have always found this to be adhered to in UK airports but the boarding at overseas airports can vary.

Group A (first passengers checked in and not in the above groups)

Also includes anyone who books in online & only has hand luggage. I think it's the 1st 30 checking at the airport, though as more passengers do the online/hand luggage gig, they'll presumably have to revise this.

Easyjet do give priority to families with young children, after the speedy bookers as Cazzholly says.

Yes i have an under 5 thats why i got on almost straight away.

H Vicky
I booked my easyjet flights to Gran Canaria as soon as they went on sale,last Dec.£800 for a family of 4,other airlines were around £1000 to £1200
so i am keeping my fingers crossed they will be around the same price for next year!
Boots

Easyjet comes under fire from agent

EasyJet has been criticised for continuing to sell flights on routes due to be cancelled at East Midlands.

Earlier this month, the low-cost airline announced its intention to close its East Midlands base and withdraw the 10 routes based there.

It said the services were no longer viable, partly down to the increase in Air Passenger Duty.

But its website is still offering flights for sale right up until the end of June.

Easyjet claims it cannot take the flights off sale while it is still in an agreed 90-day consultation with affected staff. It claims that to do so would give the appearance that the final decision had already been taken.

"Whist we are under consultation with staff, we cannot presume the outcome and therefore its business as usually until a decision has been made," said a spokeswoman.

But Mike Stones, personal travel advisor for the Co-op's Future Travel, said: "This is exposing thousands of passengers to the likely prospect of cancellation with no compensation except a full refund or a trek to Luton, Liverpool or Manchester.

"We can all surmise the probable outcome of this consultation period. The routes include six popular Mediterranean resorts.

"Apart from the inconvenience to passengers, this could have a severe impact on companies like ours who package up under the ATOL rules as we will bear the expense of sourcing alternative flights for our clients.

"I also predict that those agencies who circumvent the package requirements and give their customers split invoices will happily leave them holding the accommodation baby and further bring the retail industry into public disrepute."

The easyJet spokeswoman said the airline would provide passengers with a full refund or with a free transfer to another easyJet route.

"All of the routes served from East Midlands are offered from other airports," she added.

With permission from Travelmole

what constitutes a free transfer ? will they pay for a taxi from east midlands to say manchester ? also for people like me who have booked car parking at east midlands, will they re-imberse that cost !!! also they will have had our money for some considerable time earning interest in their bank.

I would imagine a 'free transfer' means that Easyjet will transfer yourbooking from your East Midlands airport flight to say a Gatwick flight at no cost to you. I don't think it refers to transfer as in your costs to an alternative airport.