- Mr Plane Guy
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
How ‘Speedy’ Is easyJet Speedy Boarding?
By Mr Plane Guy, Plane Travel News & Reviews with Altitude
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog flying high and fuels my airport lounge addiction.
Why Everyone Complains About easyJet (and Why They Still Fly It Anyway)
There’s something wonderfully British about easyJet. We complain about the bag fees, the boarding scrum, and the orange boarding passes and then we book it again next month because, frankly, £29 to Spain is hard to beat.
But if you know the system, you can skip the chaos completely. easyJet’s Plus membership, boarding process, and baggage options are confusing at first glance, but once you understand how they work, you can travel cheaper, faster, and with fewer “gate bag” dramas.
So, let’s demystify easyJet’s boarding groups, explain who actually gets on first, and whether easyJet Plus is worth the £215 fee (spoiler: it can be, if you play it right).
How easyJet Boarding Really Works
easyJet boards differently from most airlines and that’s not always a bad thing. The key difference? Gates close 30 minutes before departure, and boarding starts earlier than you’d expect.
Here’s the breakdown:
Pre-boarding:
Passengers needing special assistance or reduced mobility.
Group 1 Speedy Boarding (the premium crowd):
easyJet Plus members.
Passengers in Up Front or Extra Legroom seats.
Anyone who’s paid for a large cabin bag.
Group 2 Family Boarding:
Families with children aged five or under.
Group 3 General Boarding:
Everyone else.
In other words, Group 3 = almost the entire plane, and that’s where you’ll find the biggest queues.
If you have time before boarding, you might want to check my guide to the best lounges at Gatwick Airport.
What Are easyJet Boarding Groups?
easyJet boards passengers in three main groups, with priority given to travellers who have paid for upgrades or require additional assistance.
Here’s the typical boarding order:
Pre-boarding Passengers needing special assistance or reduced mobility.
Group 1 – Speedy Boarding
• easyJet Plus members
• passengers seated in Up Front or Extra Legroom seats
• passengers who purchased the large cabin bag option
Group 2 – Family Boarding
Families travelling with children aged five or under.
Group 3 – General Boarding
All remaining passengers.
On most flights, Group 3 includes the majority of the aircraft, which is why queues can suddenly appear at the gate once boarding begins.
Plane Tip: Don’t be fooled by the boarding time printed on your pass. easyJet actually begins boarding at that time not 20 minutes later. If you show up five minutes late, your flight will leave without you (and it won’t matter that you can see it out the window).
If you’re flying with easyJet, it’s worth understanding easyJet check-in times and bag drop deadlines before arriving at the airport.
Double-Door Boarding, Why It Matters
easyJet often boards through both the front and rear doors to speed things up. If your seat number is in the front half, you’ll usually board through the front door; rows toward the back will use the rear stairs.
It’s quick, efficient, and surprisingly civilised, provided you’re in Group 1 or 2. Once Group 3 starts, it’s a free-for-all.
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What easyJet Plus Actually Includes (and Whether It’s Worth £215)
easyJet Plus is the airline’s paid loyalty scheme, designed for frequent flyers who want perks without elite status. It’s £215 per year, which sounds steep until you do the maths.
Here’s what you get:
Benefit | Real-World Value |
Free Seat Selection (Up Front or Extra Legroom) | Worth £8–£30 per flight |
Dedicated Bag Drop Desks | Saves 20–30 minutes at major airports |
Fast Track Security (where available) | Priceless during summer queues |
Speedy Boarding (Group 1) | Board first every time |
Additional Cabin Bag | Bring both a large overhead bag and a personal item |
Price Promise | Refund in credit if your fare drops |
Same-Day Flight Changes | Free move to an earlier flight (subject to seat availability) |
Plane Tip: If you fly easyJet six or more times a year and always pay for an extra bag or seat upgrade, easyJet Plus can easily pay for itself before summer’s even over.
The Real Money-Saver: Baggage Strategy
The biggest easyJet mistake? Booking the cheapest fare and then paying more in add-ons than the flight itself.
Here’s the 2025 baggage breakdown you need to know:
Standard Fare: One small cabin bag (45 × 36 × 20 cm) that must fit under the seat.
Large Cabin Bag (Paid): Add a 56 × 45 × 25 cm case (think Cabin Max Anode size) which includes Speedy Boarding.
Hold Luggage: £23–£37 each way online (costs much more at the airport).
If you’re flying often, easyJet Plus eliminates these fees for cabin bags entirely and that’s where the value stacks up.
For everyone else, the cheapest “hack” is to buy the Large Cabin Bag add-on, which includes early boarding and ensures your suitcase flies overhead, not in the hold.
Plane Tip: I use the Cabin Max Anode 55 × 40 × 20, it fits perfectly for easyJet Plus, Priority, or large cabin bag rules and doubles for Ryanair and Wizz Priority too. You can check my full review here: easyJet Cabin Bag Guide.
Best Cabin Bags That Fit easyJet (Tested)
Choosing the right bag makes all the difference. Soft-sided bags that match the 45 × 36 × 20 cm limit are safest.
Under-Seat Cabin Bags (Free Allowance)
👉 Cabin Max Metz 30L (45 × 36 × 20 cm) The maximum size for easyJet’s free under-seat allowance, avoid gate fees and are comfortable on your back for city breaks and short trips.
Paid easyJet Cabin Bag Option (Overhead Locker)
If you want more space, you can bring a larger cabin bag by paying for:
Speedy Boarding, or
A large cabin bag add-on
Bag type | Size | Where it goes |
Large cabin bag | 56 × 45 × 25 cm | Overhead locker |
Weight: No set limit, but you must lift it unaided.
This is often cheaper than buying hold luggage and works well for trips up to a week.
My go-to option
This suitcase fits perfectly within easyJet’s large cabin bag allowance, making it ideal if you’ve purchased Speedy Boarding or the large cabin bag add-on.
It comes in so many colours!
Using the right cabin bag is one of the easiest ways to avoid expensive gate baggage fees on easyJet.
The Boarding Dance, What Really Happens at the Gate
easyJet’s boarding process moves fast because staff pre-scan boarding passes and stage passengers in “holding zones” before the plane is ready.
Once cleared, boarding is almost instant, especially at airports like Gatwick North and Luton where dual doors are used.
Plane Tip: If you want overhead space, be at the gate when Group 1 is called. By the time Group 3 begins, overhead bins fill up fast, even for correctly sized cases.
Fast Track & Lounge Access, The Combo That Changes Everything
For frequent travellers, the real luxury hack isn’t just easyJet Plus, it’s pairing it with lounge access.
If you’re flying from Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, or Edinburgh, you can walk straight from Fast Track Security to a Priority Pass lounge for a calm pre-flight hour with proper coffee, Wi-Fi, and outlets.
Priority Pass memberships currently offer up to 30 % off
Plane Tip: Is it worth paying for Fast Track security, sometimes- I would recommend using it, if you're jetting off just before school holidays, especially early morning and also if you are flying from a busy main airport before a Bank holiday.
Is easyJet Plus Worth It? My Honest Verdict
I’ve tested easyJet Plus over multiple European trips, London to Berlin, Tenerife, Milan, and Copenhagen and I’d sum it up like this:
If you only fly once or twice a year, skip it.
If you fly every couple of months or more, it’s worth every penny.
The biggest gain is convenience: faster security, guaranteed space for your bag, and first access to overhead bins.
Plus members experience an almost “premium economy” version of easyJet, same seats, but a smoother journey from airport to arrival. ( Ok not premium economy but a slightly upgraded version for easyJet)
Packing Smart for easyJet Flights
Travelling light is a skill and for short European trips, it’s the key to saving both time and money.
My setup for easyJet Plus flights:
Cabin Max Anode 55 × 40 × 20 cm suitcase for overhead.
ALPAKA Elements Tote for under-seat essentials.
Trtl Travel Pillow for early flights (yes, it works I’ve even slept in middle seats).
If you prefer not to buy easyJet Plus, this combo still keeps you within limits, avoids gate fees, and makes even the smallest Airbus cabin feel bearable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does easyJet have assigned seats?
Yes. Every passenger is assigned a seat at check-in, but only Up Front or Extra Legroom seats guarantee priority boarding.
When do easyJet boarding gates close?
30 minutes before departure and they mean it. Once the gate closes, you’re not boarding.
Can families board early?
Yes, families with children under five board in Group 2.
Can easyJet Plus members take two cabin bags?
Yes, one large cabin bag for the overhead bin and one personal item under the seat.
Does easyJet Plus include checked baggage?
No, but you can add it at a discount. Most Plus members don’t bother for short trips.
Final Boarding Call
easyJet's boarding structure rewards preparation, and easyJet Plus gives frequent flyers the flexibility and comfort missing from ultra-low-cost travel.
When you combine easyJet Plus with smart packing, a well-sized Cabin Max suitcase, and lounge access through Priority Pass, your short-haul experience becomes surprisingly seamless.
Next time someone complains about easyJet at the gate, you’ll already be boarding bag overhead, coffee in hand, and wondering why everyone else is still in Group 3.
📩 Get Next Week’s Tip First
More Plane Blogs:
How I Turned My £34 Worth of Tesco Clubcard Points into a Flight from London to New York
easyJet Plus Card Review 2026
Best Lounges at Gatwick Airport
The Perfect Cabin Bag for Travelling with Low Cost Airlines. Cabin Max carry on Luggage
This is how I get amazing cheap easyJet flight deals all the time
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading How ‘Speedy’ Is easyJet Speedy Boarding?
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