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EasyJet has launched its Worldwide By EasyJet to offer long-haul connecting low-cost flights. The partnership is squarely aimed at the transatlantic market and is a partnership between three low-cost carriers; EasyJet, Norwegian, and WestJet. The new partnership will connect transatlantic flights by Norwegian and WestJet, to EasyJet’s European route network. The connection hub will be London’s Gatwick Airport (LGW).
The new service is called Worldwide by EasyJet, and to facilitates baggage transfers the partnership will use Gatwick Connects, which is run by the airport and facilitates luggage transfers.
How It Works
The principle of how these new partnerships work is relatively simple: you book a trip with Worldwide by EasyJet, and it will include a ticket with WestJet or Norwegian, and then a ticket with EasyJet.
Transfer And Baggage
One of the most interesting aspects of the new routes is that you cannot check your bags through all the way. You will have to pick up your bags at Gatwick and take them to the Gatwick connect counter for them to handle the luggage transfer. Usually, you would be charged £15/$20, but this is included in the fare price. To take into account these extra steps needed, the minimum connection time at Gatwick is 2 hours 30 minutes, which is significantly longer than most other connecting flights.
A Threat To The Big Players
This new partnership has the potential to cause serious problems for some of the big transatlantic players. Looking at the route map below, it is clear that marrying EasyJet's extensive European route network, with Norwegian’s and WestJet’s transatlantic routes, the new venture has the capacity to strip away quite a few of the price conscious travelers from the big players.
Overall
No doubt this new partnership will take some time to bed in and settle, but if EasyJet can get the baggage process to flow easily, or even find a way to transfer baggage directly, then this new partnership could easily become a major headache for its competitors in the transatlantic market. It is interesting so see Low Cost Carriers specializing and then starting to collaborate and work together to take on the big carriers.
Source: Wandering Aramean
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This will certainly give the legacy carriers something to think about!
LCC’s have been around in one form or another for a long time. I wish I felt more comfortable about using them, but I always am concerned about their aircraft maintenance,
A LCC alliance can be a good thing.
Let see if the competition will lower their prices! It may be a win-win for customers. For once…
Not particular attracted but if prices decrease a little why not?
Competition never hurts
The major carriers don’t have to worry about losing my business to a low-cost carrier, especially while traveling transatlantic. A low stress, more comfortable trip is worth the increased ticket price for me.
I wonder who will be on the hook for missed connections and EU compensation – probably Easyjet… The LCCs don’t have that many daily flights to most of these destinations, so a delay until the next day’s flight is going to get expensive…
It looks like this might be a good option!
Great news!
Very interesting concept, and I am curious to see how this plays out. Increased competition should translate into lower prices and hopefully better service for consumers.
Hopefully other carriers will lower fares.
Excellent news. We look forward to increasing the offer of low cost long distance flights.
they are still a crap carrier
But if their prices are significantly cheaper, would it sway you?
I would fly them – if…IF they come to Frankfurt 🙂
nice to see Norwegian and westjet on the list!
Really interesting. Will help avoid lengthy drive to Gatwick.
This is a good move to take carriers with a big footprint in Europe and match them with counterparts in North America. I will say I’m a little skeptical that when you add the tickets and fees together that you’d end up cheaper than other options. It could be just as well to go non-stop on a mainline carrier. As others have said, however, it’s good to have options.
wow. AA, et al should be afraid.
Do you think this will drive even more focus on price by AA , like the basic economy fares they introduced?
An interesting option for those who are very price conscious and don’t check bags. I’ve heard that Westjet is a pretty decent airline. However, I collect points so I don’t have to sit in cramped seats for 8 hour flights so I’ll probably not take advantage of this new alliance.
This is great news! As AirBerlin is leaving the international Market, I’d love to see another low cost competitor! Super!
Assuming that the connections would be protected in case of delays, I think this takes away one of the major downsides if travelling with LCCs
Well I never check bags so will not really be an issue for me. But some of these European airlines are really strict on carry-on sizes for some reason
This is a really smart advertising concept by all three carriers. For me though, extra baggage check and second security check doesn’t do it for me. If they can fix the baggage re-claim they will be players.
Don’t rate easyJet at all!
Personally I don’t find a great deal of difference these days between easyjet and a legacy carrier in the UK like British Airways, certainly in relation to European flights. I think easyjet are at the upper end of the scale when it comes to LCCs, and are nothing like some of their LCC competitors.
Still not flying them, I have a policy of not flying LCC.
interesting concept.
hopefully it will lower prices on other airlines
I am not interested in having to collect my bags, recheck my bags, and then go through security again, not worth the hassle.
It’s interesting. There are definitely bound to be some difficulties with the options (checked bags, as noted)…but depending on the cost savings, etc, then it might prove to be interesting.
“One of the most interesting aspects of the new routes is that you cannot check your bags through all the way”
And what is so interesting about it? Mere hassle, no?
Exactly. It is a hassle, but the interesting thing is that they realized the value in at least having a relationship and not charging extra for a baggage connection. It is clear they wanted to get this partnership out quick, even if it meant a little work for passengers with their baggage.
I’d like to try “Gatwick Connects” and find out how good (or bad) it is in practice.
I remember about a year ago looking to connect with two carriers at Gatwick and reading about Gatwick Connects. From memory I think it added quite a bit to the cost so I decided not to use it. I just booked the flights with plenty of time between them and self connected instead.
Meanwhile Ryanair announced partnership with Air Europa and Norwegian has been expanding for a very long time too. So, they had to come up with something really. Actually Easy Jet seems to be a bit late in the game
I guess that is one way to get into the long-haul flights.