We're flying from Gatwick to Venice and back from Rome to Gatwick....I'm a pretty big guy and was wondering if the exit rows have more legroom like other "conventional" airlines....Trying to figure out if being in the first group of passengers on the plane is worthwhile or not...

any thoughts?

i would not pay an extra penny to HOPE to get a better seat.
ask the desk clerk nicely if there is anyway you can sit by the front door where there is extra legroom.

Yes, of course the exit rows have more legroom.

EasyJet uses the "typical" 3 + 3 737 seating arrangement so I am not sure those seats are any narrower than on some other "high density" flights.

However, there isn't a whole lot of seat pitch so I would definitely try to be the first in line at check-in but you may also have to jockey for position at the jetway, too.

<<< jockey for position at the jetway >>>

You mean getting off the bus - many Easyjet flights require getting a bus to the plane from the boarding gate, so if you are first on the bus you can be last off

And many Easyjet flights do NOT require the use of a bus, Alan, but if the OP's does then I guess he'll still have to jockey for position to be the last one ON the bus, OK?

Get there early, board first and take the first row. Since there is no First Class, the first row will have the most room. The flight attendants sit during takeoff and landing in front of you.

casanova - there is no allocated seating. Passengers sit where they can/want on boarding.

When I travelled with them..the flight attendants didn't let people to choose the front seats freely...I mean, they decided who can have these seats... and yes, once they were a very tall couple and in another flight, they were three young girls. They reserved for me (I have a disability) the first row but not on the exit side. But it is the crew that makes it..not the check in people.

EasyJet also sells first on boarding rights. I forget the price, but you pay a fee and that entitles you to get on first.

If everybody does it, I am not sure how that dogfight is officiated.

At any rate, on most EJ flights, don't expect to pay for snacks and beverages with US currency. Two years ago I got on board in Geneva after having spent all my Swiss francs and euros. Not yet having arrived in the UK I had no pounds sterling. My US dollars were worthless so i was in effect flat broke.

One stop at a Barclays ATM took care of the no pounds sterling problem, but that was after the fact.

I know I've seen some budget airlines block off the exit rows entirely. I think they might be used by flight attendants only. I don't recall if EasyJet does this.

As noted, EasyJet does not guarantee that your paid-for Speedy Boarding feature will be of any use whatsoever if you are bused to another part of the terminal. Some airports may not use buses at all, so Speedy Boarding would be fine for those, but I can't say about Gatwick and Ciampino.

If you and your traveling partner do get to board first, try to get an aisle and window in the mid-back of the plane (not the back, because there is also boarding from the back so these seats are at a premium also). Then, if the plane is not full, it's unlikely anyone will come to take "your" middle seat.

My wife can attest to the tight spacing of EJ seats. Having secured 1A and 1B she had a moment to try sitting in row 2 and found that there was insufficient room for her to sit down because of her long legs. While having esentially unlimited leg room the front row seats are narrower because of the trays between the seats and possibly because the aircraft is a bit narower there.

hi ajr,

Having flown easyjet numerous times, IME there is no way to guarentee getting the exit rows [which are indeed more spacious]. Even if you pay for "speedy boarding" [usually £2.50 pp per flight] if you are put on a bus out to the plane, it really makes no difference.

and if too many [ie more than the no .of exit seats] folks pay for speedy boarding, even walking to the plane won't help.

I've given up with all of the bun-fights- I wait for the end of the line, read my book, and take my chances.

definitely not worth it for just a chance of getting the good seats.

regards, ann

On the subject of paying the priority boarding (£5 fee I think), check whether the boarding is by bus or not. EasyJet group passengers in to A, B, C etc depending on when you check-in. Early check-ins get group A along with those that pay the priority fee (incidentally, online check-ins get group C).
It makes it clear on the website that paying the priority does not guarantee that you are first on the plane, especially when a bus is involved. When I flew from Bristol to Rome in December, groups A, B and C were all shuttled in the first bus with D onwards on the second bus. As I was in group C, the bus was full when I got on and therefore had to stand near the doors. On arrival at the aircraft, Hey presto - I was the first off the bus as I was the last on and therefore got the choice of the plane to sit in.

Overall, even if you can walk to the plane and not travel by bus then I'd still not consider priority as they board disabled and people with children first. I assume there are only a handful of seats with better legroom and the chances of being able to guarantee these are slim.

nona..."casanova - there is no allocated seating. Passengers sit where they can/want on boarding."

i know. i fly them when the price is right. that is why i suggested he sweet talk SOMEone, as i have seen them seat people there and NOT let others sit down there, just as kenderina has implied.

However, i did not know WHO one must talk to, but i think the situation is clear now anyway.