European ultra low cost carrier EasyJet has just opened its first lounge… and now I think I’ve seen it all?
Details: The Gateway by EasyJet & No1 Lounges
EasyJet has teamed up with No1 Lounges to open an airport lounge at London Gatwick as of Thursday, October 21, 2021. The new lounge will be known as “The Gateway by EasyJet & No1 Lounges,” and it will be located in the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport.
The new lounge is bookable in advance through EasyJet’s partnership with Holiday Extras, or alternatively access can be purchased on the day of travel. Packages of one, two, or three hours are available, and prices start at £18.50. Furthermore, Priority Pass members will have access to the lounge up to three hours before departure.
EasyJet’s new lounge will offer the following amenities:
- Free Wi-Fi and areas to work with convenient charging points
- Areas for families, including a TV den and a game room
- Complimentary hot and cold menus with dishes delivered directly to your table; dishes will be “destination-inspired,” and will change every quarter
- Complimentary drinks, including a signature cocktail list
EasyJet’s logic for opening a lounge
EasyJet is London Gatwick’s largest airline, as the carrier has 71 aircraft based there, and operates 120 routes from the airport, across Europe, and to North Africa and the Middle East. It’s stated that EasyJet is opening this lounge as it sees a recovery in business travel demand.
One certainly has to wonder how involved EasyJet even is with this lounge, or if this is just a white label ancillary revenue opportunity. This lounge is a collaboration with existing lounge operator No1 Lounges, so my guess is that EasyJet isn’t too involved in the day-to-day of operating the lounge.
The lounge does seem specifically intended for EasyJet passengers. I’m curious if EasyJet is just getting a cut for marketing this lounge, or if the involvement goes beyond that. I wonder if lounge access might be included with certain premium fare types in the future, as that could be an interesting play for the airline.
The reality is that the gap in quality in Europe has been shrinking significantly in recent years. There’s not that much of a difference between the experience offered on an airline like British Airways or Lufthansa, and the experience offered on an airline like EasyJet. I suppose this development further helps narrow the gap.
Rachael Smith, EasyJet’s Commercial Proposition & Innovation Director, had the following to say about this new concept:
“We are delighted to be launching our very first airport lounge in partnership with No1 Lounges to serve passengers at London Gatwick, where we’re proud to be the largest airline. We’re always looking for opportunities to offer travellers more choice and great value, so we’re proud that The Gateway will be able to offer something for everyone whether it’s all the essentials for a workspace, somewhere comfortable to relax before jetting off or to entertain the family.
The launch is timely as we are seeing the recovery begin in the UK, not only for leisure travel where winter sun destinations are proving popular once again, but for business travellers too, who are returning in their biggest numbers since before the pandemic. Whatever the reason for travel, we are confident that the lounge will provide the perfect destination for customers wanting to get their trip off to a perfect start.”
Bottom line
EasyJet is opening a lounge at London Gatwick Airport, in partnership with No1 Lounges. It’s cool to see an ultra low cost carrier open a lounge at its biggest hub, and for that matter I think this could prove to be popular. There’s not that much of a difference in terms of quality between flying British Airways and EasyJet, so offering a lounge could be something that many passengers appreciate.
I’m curious to see how this lounge concept evolves over time.
What do you make of EasyJet opening an airport lounge?
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