EasyJet confines traditional package holiday to dustbin of history
EasyJet is making a major assault on traditional package operators by launching a holidays arm.
EasyJetHolidays will offer Travel Trust Association protection, giving consumers the ability to create personalised holidays based on the budget carrier's 900 flights a day to 75 destinations combined with more than 10,000 hotels across Europe.
The carrier claimed the new venture "confines the traditional European package holiday to the dustbin of history".
EasyJetHolidays are protected by the Travel Trust Association. By booking flights and hotels together as a single package, the company claims to be offering "100% refund protection" in the event of a cancelled flight or disrupted hotel booking.
The initiative will put further pressure on mainstream operators and agents offering fixed duration holidays and online holiday providers who can only offer the flights on low-fare airlines by daily "screen-scraping" and, in some cases, adding a booking surcharge of up to £15, according to the airline.
"Travellers won't find any travel agents' commissions, fuel surcharges or the booking mark-ups on easyJet flights added by the likes of lastminute.com," a statement said. "Perennially-unpopular features such as compulsory seven-nights stays, the holiday 'sales rep' or 'accommodation allocated upon arrival' are absent from easyJetHolidays."
A price promise guarantee on all easyJetHolidays is being offered, with a claim that consumer won't find cheaper prices on the web.
Users can access a new website through http://www.easyJet.com or go direct to http://www.easyJetHolidays.com
Similar launches are planned across Europe in Germany, France, Holland, Italy and Spain.
The airline's chief executive Andy Harrison said: "Package holidays offered through travel agents and tour operators have developed a deserved reputation for everything that is bad about travel - fixed-term holidays in shabby hotels allocated on arrival with flights at the most inconvenient times on some of Europe's least-known airlines. No wonder they are a thing of the past.
"easyJetHolidays is redefining holidays by enabling travellers, for the first time, to combine flights on any of easyJet's 298 routes with over 10,000 hotels across Europe to create their own easily-bookable holiday combinations in a single place.
"There are no middlemen, no 7-night stays, no dodgy "sales-reps" or any of the things that really annoy the independent, savvy traveller.
"easyJet has completely revolutionised the short-haul air market over the course of the last decade and we are now targeting what remains of the travel agent and tour operator business in Europe. Today really does mark the end of the European 'package holiday' as we knew it."
With permission from Travelmole
London (All Airports)
2 Adult(s) for 6 night(s) in London (All Airports)
1 Room(s)
Flights
Outward: 24 Aug 2007 Aberdeen to London (All Airports) Return: 31 Aug 2007
Errrm, when I went to school and learned to count that would have been 7 nights......
Not sure if I trust this site.
luci
I found out this morning when I happen to visit the Easyjet site, don't if I shall use it or not.
Dawnie-Rob
Well I recently booked a holiday on this site! Got a good deal and am happy so far!!!
And they won't be ATOL protected because you are buying a scheduled flight direct from them and they are only acting as a agent to book a hotel for you.
We have had a number of quotes from various travel agents/operators for a week in Athens first week December 08, the cheapest deal was with Co-Op Travel Escape Breaks at £702.00 for 2 adults flying from Birmingham (we prefered a Birmingham flight but of course this restricted the airline) staying at a 3 star hotel. Had a go at DIY but I was getting in a muddle. I went on Easyjet's site and couldn't find a flights to Athens from any London airports (although it is a drag flying from London airports I figured there would be more options than from Birmingham). What I did find was an Easyjet Holiday deal flying from Gatwick and returning to Luton,flying Easyjet of course, same hotel as offered by Co Op for £341 for 2 adults, this being a direct flight whereas with Co Op it would have been via Zurich on Swiss Air. Even adding coach travel to and from gatwick and Luton and no free drinks or food on the flight, this is still a better deal.
I have never booked a holiday over the internet before and was wondering if is any pitfalls I should be aware of? Are Easyjet Holidays the same as TA/TO as far as consumer protection goes? Anyone had any experience good or bad with Easyjet Holidays?
Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong place.
Augustmoon, sorry I can't answer your questions, but you may find the DIY forum could help you. Louise
As this is probably a tour operator query I have moved it to our TO/TA forum.
Hi Augustmoon, we went on an easyjet holiday to Krakow in May and couldn't fault it,hotel flights all excellent, all i would say is check out the hotel reviews on tripadvisor holidayforums etc. hope you have a good time Maggie
and dont forget first to check our own reviews. from fellow members
EasyJet selects partner for package holiday business
EasyJet has signed a three-year deal with lowcosttravel group to launch dynamically packaged holidays to the Mediterranean and beyond.
The deal will combine easyJet's fares with Lowcost's accommodation and transfers to offer dynamic packages to European cities and beaches sold through a single website, easyjet.com/holidays.
Launched early next year, the holidays will be marketed to easyJet's 50m customers through a range of on and off-line marketing channels.
As well as providing accommodation and transfers, Lowcost will provide a call centre and customer service expertise. Chief executive Paul Evans said: "We are very proud to have been selected to work with easyJet to create a new and exciting holiday brand in the travel industry.
"Lowcost's significant growth over the last 5 years has demonstrated the huge demand for good value, flexible and convenient holidays and combined with easyJet's respected brand, we believe we can create a very significant player in this market."
EasyJet had been planning for some time to expand its holiday business but had been prevented from doing so by an agreement with the airline's founder Stelio Haji-Ioannou which limited the amount it could earn from ancillary sales.
A new agreement reached with Haji-Ioannou last month means the airline can now expand its business beyond the sale of airline seats.
EasyJet CEO Carolyn McCall said "We see a significant opportunity to further grow our ancillary revenues, by offering our customers a huge range of flexible and low cost beach and city holidays.
"This will be based on our extensive, convenient flight schedule and Lowcosttravelgroup's great quality, competitive accommodation and transfers."
With permission from Travelmole
EasyJet has signed a three-year deal with lowcosttravel group to launch dynamically packaged holidays to the Mediterranean and beyond.
The deal will combine easyJet's fares with Lowcost's accommodation and transfers to offer dynamic packages to European cities and beaches sold through a single website, easyjet.com/holidays.
Launched early next year, the holidays will be marketed to easyJet's 50m customers through a range of on and off-line marketing channels.
As well as providing accommodation and transfers, Lowcost will provide a call centre and customer service expertise. Chief executive Paul Evans said: "We are very proud to have been selected to work with easyJet to create a new and exciting holiday brand in the travel industry.
"Lowcost's significant growth over the last 5 years has demonstrated the huge demand for good value, flexible and convenient holidays and combined with easyJet's respected brand, we believe we can create a very significant player in this market."
EasyJet had been planning for some time to expand its holiday business but had been prevented from doing so by an agreement with the airline's founder Stelio Haji-Ioannou which limited the amount it could earn from ancillary sales.
A new agreement reached with Haji-Ioannou last month means the airline can now expand its business beyond the sale of airline seats.
EasyJet CEO Carolyn McCall said "We see a significant opportunity to further grow our ancillary revenues, by offering our customers a huge range of flexible and low cost beach and city holidays.
"This will be based on our extensive, convenient flight schedule and Lowcosttravelgroup's great quality, competitive accommodation and transfers."
With permission from Travelmole
http://www.easyholidays.co.uk/ - this can only end in confusion!!!!!!
They may have reached an agreement with Stelios but he's launching
Ha anyione booked a holiday through Easy jet - any feedback would be great
I did an Easyjet holiday to Poland in 2009 and it was absolutely fine: I had no problems at all with it and would use them again. Flight fine and check in fine at hotel in Krakow. The only reason I didn't do another holiday with them for my visit to Poland this year was I because I got a cheaper price for the hotel with another company, so just used Easyjet for the flight.
Let's be careful here. Was that a "holiday" found by going through the holiday section of the site or was it a flight plus a hotel from the list that pops up when you book a flight? It could affect legal rights if things go wrong.
hi all ....EASYJET HOLIDAYS..??....have used thomascook and thomsons who have airlines and do hols...but didnt know easy jet did same.....I am thinking about going pefkos next year and want to stay in the marianthi apartments....only easyjet are offering as a package....unless I used the likes of lowcost hols this is the only way I can find to get hotel I want....I have been comparing prices for my favorite places...and was surprised that pefkos came out best..
anyone know what the weight of hand luggage is please looking at 3 night Malaga Easy jet
I believe easyjet doesn't have a weight restriction, only a size restriction which you will find on their website.
thanks that would be good
It's deifnately a size thing rather than a weight thing. I would have said 75% of the passengers were travelling with hand luggage only.
Our suitcase was looking very lonely on the carousel when we went to collect it, nothing like a Thomson or Thomas Cook Flight.
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