ChatterBank3 mins ago
"budget" Airlines?
7 Answers
What has happened to the cheap and occassionally cheerful flights to and from Spain?
The return leg is invariably now much more expensive, sometimes two, three times or even more even trying to book a year in advance in the 'sale'.
Have they realised that once we've opted for the land of the sombrero and sangria, we have to come back so they're able to gouge the traveller or is there something less sinister going on?
Ta.
The return leg is invariably now much more expensive, sometimes two, three times or even more even trying to book a year in advance in the 'sale'.
Have they realised that once we've opted for the land of the sombrero and sangria, we have to come back so they're able to gouge the traveller or is there something less sinister going on?
Ta.
Answers
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It would be interesting to know the dates that you're trying to book for, what flexibility you've got around those dates, which outbound airports you can use and where you'd like to go to. (It would also be interesting to hear your definition of 'cheap'!).
I've just tried a few random dates and destinations and I don't seem to have had much difficulty finding (what I'd call) cheap fares. For example:
Stansted to Girona (for the Costa Brava): £45.99 out on Wed 8 June, £32.99 back a week later. (Ryanair).
Stansted to Malaga: Dates as above, £39.99 out, £54.99 back. (Ryanair).
Stansted to Palma, Majorca: £35.49 out on Sat 11 Jun, £44.49 back a week later. (easyJet).
Manchester to Alicante: £57.49 out on Wed 15 June, £65.48 back a week later.
I've just tried a few random dates and destinations and I don't seem to have had much difficulty finding (what I'd call) cheap fares. For example:
Stansted to Girona (for the Costa Brava): £45.99 out on Wed 8 June, £32.99 back a week later. (Ryanair).
Stansted to Malaga: Dates as above, £39.99 out, £54.99 back. (Ryanair).
Stansted to Palma, Majorca: £35.49 out on Sat 11 Jun, £44.49 back a week later. (easyJet).
Manchester to Alicante: £57.49 out on Wed 15 June, £65.48 back a week later.
That's fairly short notice for booking. (I can't even find the cheap outbound flights that you've referred to. Perhaps they've gone up since you last checked?). Looking at the airlines that fly that route brings up the following:
easyJet: £115.49 + £188.49 on 14/10. (No flights 15/10 and no other cheap alternatives around that date)
Jet2: Flights on Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon only, with no cheap options at all anyway
Ryanair: £147.99 + £151.99 on 14/10. No flights on 15/10. Looking better on 16/10 at £90.99 + £130.99.
Thomson: Flights on that route seem to have stopped by then.
Does it definitely have to be Alicante (e.g. because you've got a timeshare property there) or could it be elsewhere in Spain? Ryanair can get you to Barcelona on 14/10 for £65.99 + £110.99. (It's a fantastic city in its own right and with easy links to the Costa Brava resorts as well).
The more I look at it though, the more I'm becoming convinced that your real problem is simply that you've left booking too late to get the best deals for sunny resort holidays. Perhaps you might like to consider delaying your visit to Spain until next spring, when there are still plenty of bargains available between Edinburgh and Alicante? (e.g. Ryanair's fares are typically around £120 return in May).
Of course that doesn't mean that you can't have a cheap break in October as well. For example, Ryanair can fly you to Hahn on 15/10 for £29.99 + £35.99. It's in a lovely area of Germany, with the delightful historic city of Mainz linked to the airport by a direct bus (and with nearby places like Frankfurt offering far more to explore as well).
Oh well, it was just a thought!
;-)
easyJet: £115.49 + £188.49 on 14/10. (No flights 15/10 and no other cheap alternatives around that date)
Jet2: Flights on Fri, Sat, Sun & Mon only, with no cheap options at all anyway
Ryanair: £147.99 + £151.99 on 14/10. No flights on 15/10. Looking better on 16/10 at £90.99 + £130.99.
Thomson: Flights on that route seem to have stopped by then.
Does it definitely have to be Alicante (e.g. because you've got a timeshare property there) or could it be elsewhere in Spain? Ryanair can get you to Barcelona on 14/10 for £65.99 + £110.99. (It's a fantastic city in its own right and with easy links to the Costa Brava resorts as well).
The more I look at it though, the more I'm becoming convinced that your real problem is simply that you've left booking too late to get the best deals for sunny resort holidays. Perhaps you might like to consider delaying your visit to Spain until next spring, when there are still plenty of bargains available between Edinburgh and Alicante? (e.g. Ryanair's fares are typically around £120 return in May).
Of course that doesn't mean that you can't have a cheap break in October as well. For example, Ryanair can fly you to Hahn on 15/10 for £29.99 + £35.99. It's in a lovely area of Germany, with the delightful historic city of Mainz linked to the airport by a direct bus (and with nearby places like Frankfurt offering far more to explore as well).
Oh well, it was just a thought!
;-)
Well I've tried the alternatives but I don't seem to be getting anywhere:
Valencia Airport is nearly as close to Denia as Alicante is but there aren't any direct flights from Edinburgh.
The next closest airport is Murcia but flights (out on 15/10, with Jet2) are currently shown at £83.70 + £253.80.
Flying to Madrid, and then taking a train, seemed a possibility but Iberia Express want a total of €240 (=£176) for travel on 15/10. By the time you've added the train fare on you wouldn't save anything. (easyJet also fly from Edinburgh to Madrid but their website is currently down for maintenance, so that's a route that I've not checked).
Oh well, at least I tried!
Sorry that I failed though :(
Valencia Airport is nearly as close to Denia as Alicante is but there aren't any direct flights from Edinburgh.
The next closest airport is Murcia but flights (out on 15/10, with Jet2) are currently shown at £83.70 + £253.80.
Flying to Madrid, and then taking a train, seemed a possibility but Iberia Express want a total of €240 (=£176) for travel on 15/10. By the time you've added the train fare on you wouldn't save anything. (easyJet also fly from Edinburgh to Madrid but their website is currently down for maintenance, so that's a route that I've not checked).
Oh well, at least I tried!
Sorry that I failed though :(
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