Easyjet A Business Alternative, Hell Yes

I travel across Europe regularly for work and over time I have shifted most of my business trips to easyJet, supported by an easyJet Plus membership. What began as a cost-saving experiment has become my main approach to short-haul business travel. After years of moving between British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France, I realised that easyJet offered a combination of value, convenience and predictability that the full-service airlines struggle to match on European routes.

The first thing that drew me in was the straightforward pricing. With easyJet I only pay for what I genuinely need. The base fares are far lower than those on traditional carriers and once I added easyJet Plus to the mix, many of the extras that would normally push up the cost on other airlines became standard for me. The membership gives me premium or extra-legroom seating, a larger cabin bag allowance, priority bag drop, speedy boarding and, at many airports, fast-track security. These perks remove the small stresses that accumulate when you travel often and they create a more predictable experience each time.

From the perspective of work travel, that predictability is far more valuable than the formality of a legacy carrier. Corporate travellers often talk about the comfort of business class on airlines like BA or Lufthansa, but on short-haul flights it is usually little more than standard seating with the middle seat kept free. Lounge access can be useful, yet it rarely justifies the fare difference when you compare the prices like for like. By contrast, my annual membership with easyJet Plus gives me a consistent level of convenience while still keeping overall travel costs low. Even on busy routes the financial advantage is considerable.

Where easyJet has improved my travel routine most is at the airport. Priority security and speedy boarding have saved me hours over the course of a year. The ability to bring a larger cabin bag without worrying about overhead space has made a big difference on days when I need to fly at short notice. With the membership I can also switch to an earlier flight on the day if seats are available, which has been useful when meetings finish ahead of schedule or plans change. That level of flexibility is something I previously associated only with expensive fare classes on the major airlines.

What has surprised me most is how seldom I feel that I am compromising by not flying with a traditional carrier. On European routes the on-board service is fairly minimal regardless of airline. The seats are similar, the flying time is short and the difference in comfort is marginal. What matters to me is whether I can travel efficiently with as little friction as possible. easyJet delivers that consistently. I check in quickly, I avoid long queues, my bag travels with me in the cabin and I have a seat I actually want. For regular business travel, that is what makes the journey workable.

This is not to say easyJet replaces everything. When I need lounge access for a long layover or when travelling long haul, the traditional airlines still play a role. However, for the majority of my work trips within Europe, the premium they charge does not translate into a noticeably better experience. The difference is mostly branding and the perception of status rather than practical benefits that make a real impact on the trip itself.

The financial side is hard to ignore. My travel budget has stretched further since shifting to easyJet. Even after factoring in the annual membership fee, the savings compared with full-service carriers are significant across a year of regular travel. That has been especially valuable when flights are booked close to the departure date, which is often when legacy airline prices jump sharply. With easyJet, fares tend to stay more manageable and the membership ensures that the travel experience stays consistent.

In practice, what I have gained is a balance between affordability and efficiency. My trips feel simpler and less constrained by unnecessary add-ons or fare classes. I do not waste time navigating complicated seating rules or restricted luggage allowances. I get what I need without paying for things that add little value to a short-haul business journey.

Looking back, switching to easyJet for European travel was driven by cost, but staying with it has been about convenience. The airline has made the core parts of travel easier, and the Plus membership has filled in the gaps that used to make low-cost carriers feel limiting. For the type of journeys I take for work, easyJet has become the most practical choice. It saves money, saves time and delivers a level of reliability that I once expected only from the major airlines.