easyJet launches connecting flights platform

booking platform will make it easy to book connecting long haul flights

easyJet has launched ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ – a product that allows passengers using easyJet.com to book flights on easyJet and connecting flights at London Gatwick with easyJet and other airlines.

With seats available from today, “Worldwide by easyJet” enables passengers to connect their easyJet flight with launch partners WestJet and Norwegian using the GatwickConnects product.

GatwickConnects is a product from Gatwick airport. To use it passengers collect their bags from the arriving flight and take it to the GatwickConnects desks in baggage reclaim. They are checked-in and their bags taken to the flight. Passengers then exit through Customs, go to security and then the departure lounge.

Currently around 200,000 “self-connect” on easyJet – booking separate easyJet flights and the GatwickConnects product themselves in three different transactions (one for each easyJet flight and the GatwickConnects product).

New partners and additional connections to be rolled out at other European airports

easyJet says it is in talks with other airlines at Gatwick Airport and plans to expand to other key easyJet airports in Europe such as Milan Malpensa, Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris Charles De Gaulle and Barcelona.

easyJet’s technology partner Dohop developed the platform.

Restrictions

The service does have a number of restrictions.

  • Airlines will not hold flights for connecting passengers
  • Worldwide by easyJet is subject to a 2 hour 30 minute ‘Minimum Connection Time’, which should give passengers plenty of time to transfer between flights and/or terminals
  • Baggage cannot be checked through
  • GatwickConnects is only open between 0600 and 1800

Should a passenger miss a connecting flight they will be transferred to the next available flight.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet’s CEO explained the strategy behind Worldwide by easyJet:

“Around 70m passengers flying through an easyJet airport each year are connecting on to other flights, mainly long haul, and it is this market segment that Worldwide by easyJet will open up for us.<

“Our own customers and those who fly with other airlines, short and long haul, have also asked us to make it easier to connect with easyJet flights and this simple booking platform makes it easy for them to do so.

“By opening this new market segment this now means that easyJet can access a greater range of passengers flying across Europe.”


N.B. Image credit: easyjet

Internet links

easyJet (U2)
Norwegian (DY)
WestJet (WS)
GatwickConnects
Dohop