Cheap flights to med, or lack of

Magnum

Magnum

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Everytime we have booked flights to Mallorca it's cost between £400 and £500 for the two of us. Maybe it's because I leave it fairly late before booking or just because, so far, they've been during August and September.

So, planning a trip next week I thought I'd shop around.

Approx total return cost for 2 from Manchester except EasyJet from Liverpool :-

BMI Baby - £520
Monarch - £492
Easyjet - £460

Now I don't think that's bad value, afterall it's a long way. But I would like the odd bargain now and again.

So I thought I'd plan the next trip a little further ahead. ist few days of November have to be warmer than over here right? That'll be £195 for 2 please - much better.

Then I looked at the breakdown :-

Passengers - GBP 119.96
Taxes and Charges - GBP 71.74
Credit Card Charge - GBP 4.00

72 bleedin quid in Tax and Charges representing 60% of the flight only cost. What is this "Tax and Charges" nonsense?
 
Magnum

You can have your boat in the uk and then you can complain about the prices and services in the marinas in this country !

Anyway isnt it to do with fuel prices rising?


Tom
 
I'm not complaining about the overall price - I think it's reasonable value. Just surprised at how much of it is Tax and Charges.
 
Count yourself lucky. I have to travel in halfterms and school hols and the prices are even more astronomic. Average cost for 2 adults + brat is £600-800 depending on dates
Taxes and charges refers to the insurance surcharge which [--word removed--] Brown gets plus the extra cost for fuel that the airline is paying since this scam started. Quite why airlines are allowed to show these extra charges separately when you're more than half way through the booking process, I dont know
The other thing is that budget airlines are no longer budget airlines. Easyjet and Ryanair fares are now only slightly less than so called full service carriers like Bmi and BA on most routes. Not worth the hassle anymore IMHO to save just a few quid
 
Check out holidaysyoulike.com 0800-0193202 example they've got 2 adults s/c leaving Manchester next sat £109 each . Obviously forget the s/c and stay on the boat!!!
 
Hi Magum,
Have mine parked in Palma also and understand the need for cheapo flights. Think you'll find some charges and taxes are local airport taxes going up - as they now often pay a subsidy to cheapo airlines to encourage them to land there!
All one can do is go on overall costs but it is a bit of a vicious circle.
FYI I use Thomson out of Bournemouth and have secured £90 returns in past weeks - 'tho sadly this service stops end October.
Out of Gatwick from then on I've got long weekend flights for £60 return with easijet. As opposed to view given by chappie above - that is a lot lower than BA or regular airline.
It may waste more of your time but save you money to fly Manchester Gatwick then Gatwick Palma?
Cheers
John
 
Swagman, Magnum's own figures and my own experience suggests that Easyjet's fares are not on the whole substantially less than BA or Bmi, at least to Palma. My guess is that for the times and dates you booked for your £90 ticket, you could have gone by BA/Bmi for not a lot more.
Indeed why would Easyjet price themselves substantially lower than the market? The only thing you dont get is a reserved seat. Even Bmi charge you for food and drinks now
 
Booked a flight, well 2 ABZ - LTN, LTN - BCN, last week and only paid £72 for SWMBO to come back from ABZ. Included taxes.
Flight she had last Sat morn was BCN - AMS, AMS - ABZ but that was an expensive € 15.45 in taxes, using KLM air miles (Business Class)
Taxes from UK are out of proportion with what you pay going the other way.
If you can do a bit of preplanning you can get a lot cheaper - apart from the bl**dy taxes!!!
 
Don't know where you are based so may not be any use, but we are flying to Palma next week from Coventry (Thomsonfly.com) 2 passengers return, cost £198.38 ,includes reserved seats !
Ian
 
Soddem

Yup, after2+ years I know for sure there are no cheap flites except at times you dont want to go. If you want to book late and travel weekends or holidays there just aren't any cheap flights. A couple of hours ago I booked the weekend after this next, out Sat am back Sun pm, Luton-Nice, and it's £220 pp return. About a week ago I booked flights for this coming weekend, same thing. Much is tax as you say. I've given up caring about it. I shudder to think what £££ I've given Easyjet this year, with 66 flights this year (33 returns) average 4 people on each one if you count guests. And I dont qualify for a free cup of tea never mind a goldcard. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
BA seem to be the airline who levy the highest taxes between UK and Alicante/Valencia; RyanAir are much lower but fly into Stansted as opposed to BA going to LHR or GTW.

Couple of weeks ago (for forward booking into October) Ryanair were doing 1p flights (plus taxes) UK/Spain return.

Currently you could book Stansted/Valencia return in mid October for £46 so that's not bad.

Steve
www.seraph-sailing.com
 
Feel sure that you are aware of Skyscanner but for others very useful guide as what are the best days/times to get decent flight prices.Curious thing is that on one trip Ryanair was even cheaper than price posted on skyscanner.
 
Yep, thought I'd try Skyscanner and intial results were promising. Then return leg listed wasn't actually available with the airline, so I gave up.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Swagman, Magnum's own figures and my own experience suggests that Easyjet's fares are not on the whole substantially less than BA or Bmi, at least to Palma. My guess is that for the times and dates you booked for your £90 ticket, you could have gone by BA/Bmi for not a lot more.
Indeed why would Easyjet price themselves substantially lower than the market? The only thing you dont get is a reserved seat. Even Bmi charge you for food and drinks now

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't wish to argue but I always check BA, Easijet, Ryanair, Bmi, Flybe, Thomson and other cheapies when seeking flights overseas and on the dates I booked can confirm Easijet UK - Palma were not just significantly less cost - but also had flight times that suited my needs better than BA's.

If I could have booked with a higher standard carrier would always do so as I'm not daft enough to forego booked seats, a G&T or four, use of lounge or my club points .............but I also know if the cheapie mob did not exist - everyones BA flights would shoot back to where they once were.

QED - IMHO it's worth checking the cheapies to see if they meet ones price and needs.

Cheers
JOHN
 
"Why dont you move your boat to Malta".
The last time we were in Malta the standard of cooking ranged from fish and chips with mothers pride bread to a very big posh hotel who thought that roast meat and two veg was the height of culinary whatever............... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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