We were very nervous before our flight after hearing of friends’ EasyJet flights getting cancelled & then reading news of delays & cancellations because of strikes. That’s why we were very surprised at how fast the line was for bag drop-off but we were still holding our breaths & praying for no delays.
EASY LUGGAGE ALLOWANCE
We were allowed 1 check-in suitcase (23kg max) each + 1 small under seat cabin bag each. Each hand-carry must fit underneath the seat in front of you, no large cabin bags. What we brought:
- CHECK IN: 2 full sized suitcases + 1 small trolley
- CABIN/HANDCARRY: a handbag for me & a backpack each for TD & DiploBaby
Because buying goods is expensive in Geneva, I packed our 3 suitcases half full. We weighed before leaving the house & each was also less than half the 23kg maximum.
WHY WAS ONE SUITCASE SMALL? I usually place the heaviest stuff – like the Weleda loot that I was planning to buy in Berlin – in a small suitcase. This is to prevent us from overloading a huge suitcase. Also a small heavy suitcase easier to handle. If a big suitcase was too heavy the airline might not allow it or it might get damaged when it’s thrown by the bag handlers.
READ EASY JET BAG ALLOWANCES & HOW TO UPGRADE
SOME RULES
Below are what are allowed & not allowed on EasyJet, but I was also surprised with the ZERO TOLERANCE sign on each drop-off counter. I wonder what happened to cause them to have this sign in the Geneva Airport?
FLYING EASY JET WITH CHILDREN
I also packed a booster seat for DiploBaby because:
- Germany is very strict about carseats for kids
- We knew we would be driving through the autobahn where there is no speed limit so SAFELY USING AN APPROPRIATE CAR SEAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT
I made a mistake PACKING IT INTO THE SMALL SUITCASE. I should have had him use it then just place it in a paperbag because EASYJET can carry two additional items for your child in the hold for free i.e. travel cot, pushchair, car seat, collapsible or non-collapsible pram, booster seat and/or baby back carrier.
Surprisingly coming back from Berlin, they just allowed us to carry this booster in a paperbag with us into the cabin. Had it been a full-sized carseat, I am sure they would have asked us to check it in or gate check it. Gate check is when you carry the car seat till right before boarding & surrender it to the plane staff right before boarding. This keeps the car seat safer because it isn’t manhandled like the rest of the luggage.
READ MORE ABOUT FLYING WITH CHILDREN ON EASY JET
BEFORE BOARDING
I didn’t realize that Geneva Airport celebrated it’s 100 year anniversary in 2020. Wow!
Diplomats are quite lucky here in the Geneva Airport. I think because there are so many diplomatic missions, consulates & international organizations with diplomatic status, they have made some great concessions, like a special parking lot for Diplomats, which makes it easier to also pick up visiting dignitaries, and being able to go through special access. How lucky are we?
SWATCH DESTINATION WATCHES
After going through security, TD pointed out the special Swatch display showing all the cool SWATCH DESTINATION WATCHES. I never saw these before & I think it’s such a great way to remember a favorite city!
QUICK BITE
While waiting to find out what gate we will board on, we decided to have a quick bite. The restaurants were all crowded, thankfully we found the last table in this restaurant. We’ve had good experiences wherever we choose to eat. The pain au chocolat & butter croissants were heavenly! DiploBaby‘s face says it all!
SURGICAL MASK REQUIREMENT
TD insisted on only brining our favorite UNIQLO AIRISM MASKS because he didn’t think they would be so strict, because basically there are no more COVID restrictions or rules in Switzerland. I was telling him we should buy a surgical mask since we didn’t bring our KN94 masks which we still have so much of.
Here we were being super chill waiting, when we should have used the time to buy disposable masks. As usual we board last to be relaxed, not stand for too long & socially distance from crowds.
As we were one of the last to board, the EasyJet staff told us we could not go in without SURGICAL MASKS. So TD had to run to the nearest restaurant that sold masks. Thank God they let him cut the line because they were about to close the gate on us! Talk about photo finish!!!
EASY JET AIRPLANE RIDE
We made it! But truthfully the mask hurt so bad, they were basically folding our ears, that TD shifted to Airism Masks after a while.
It’s so strange how strict they are, but when it’s time to serve refreshments, everyone removes their masks to eat & drink anyway. Me being the girl scout that I am, I kept the painful mask on.
DiploBaby was soooo excited to be back in Germany, which he considers “his home” because he was born there. We have told him so many stories about it: how he was in my tummy when we had our church wedding there, and how he was born & baptized there.
TOUCH DOWN FLUGHAFEN BERLIN BRANDENBERG!
After a bit of a rough landing we were in Berlin! I was a bit sad that we were arriving in the new FLUGHAFEN BERLIN BRANDENBURG because we really love the super small but super efficient airport that was in the heart of Berlin. I remember how easy it was to commute to the airport. It was only 20mins away from our old place! Now it’s an hour away.
It’s also an NEW BUT OLD AIRPORT because it had been delayed so long that by the time it was launched it was already old. It’s funny because it reminds us of Terminal 3 in the Philippines. When you arrive, the walkalators aren’t even working when you are in the last gates – which you are bound to be if you are flying a budget airline. Sounds familiar?
It’s also worth noting, that if in Geneva Airport what will great you are advertisements for luxury watches and encouragement to invest your money in gold bars & Swiss Investment Banks, what greets you in the Berlin Brandenburg airport are CARS of course! The Germans are as car obsessed as the Swiss are luxury watch & money/investment obsessed.
One of my regrets during our 2.5 year stay in Berlin was never doing the boat tour around Museum Island or Museum Insel. This sign reminded me of that!
I did this quick reel to remember this trip! I hope you enjoy watching it. Tap on the reel to pause it so you can read the subtitles!
READ: THE REST OF OUR BERLIN 2022 TRIP ITINERARY
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