Sky high cost of flying to the Island

[KWC]

After checking with various airlines that fly out of Glasgow on Saturday 5th April, it was down to two - Thomas Cook and Thomsons.

TC was just over £2000 and Thomsons were this:
2 Adults£1,217.02
2 Children£1,217.02
Taxes & charges£121.96
Web saving-£120.08
Total price:£2,435.92

The above is Flights Only, no AI or package holidays.

That's too much to take our two Grandchildren over for a weeks holiday and I refuse to pay these rip off prices. My wife has had to put in for her holidays in advance and can't now be changed as we could have went with Ryanair on Thursday 3rd a lot cheaper as well.

Unless I win the lottery before then, Im stuck here in good (c)old Scotland with them!!

[Blueboy7]

Just did a quick check with Ryan Air out of Liverpool for the same date, total cost £1043.92p. If you can drive, it might pay to hire a car both ways, could save around £600,
just an idea. Then there's Mega Bus???

[Can the Man]

After checking with various airlines that fly out of Glasgow on Saturday 5th April, it was down to two - Thomas Cook and Thomsons.

TC was just over £2000 and Thomsons were this:
2 Adults£1,217.02
2 Children£1,217.02
Taxes & charges£121.96
Web saving-£120.08
Total price:£2,435.92

The above is Flights Only, no AI or package holidays.

That's too much to take our two Grandchildren over for a weeks holiday and I refuse to pay these rip off prices. My wife has had to put in for her holidays in advance and can't now be changed as we could have went with Ryanair on Thursday 3rd a lot cheaper as well.

Unless I win the lottery before then, Im stuck here in good (c)old Scotland with them!!

Kenny, try routing through Dublin with RA, often get good deals and more flight options than Glasgow or Edinburgh. You also have Aer Lingus as an alternative.

[IsThisForumStillGoingWow]

Not always sky high, I know this is from the the South but just booked a flight for my son £85 return... with RA btw..gotta love  'em 
PAYMENT DETAILS
Total Fare   51.74 GBP
Taxes, Fees & Charges   0.00 GBP
EU 261 Levy    5.00 GBP
Web Check in    14.00 GBP
ETS   0.50 GBP
Administration Fee   14.00 GBP
Payment method   DL
Account name   xxxxx
Card number   xxxxx
Payment amount   85.24 GBP
Total paid   85.24 GBP

[KWC]

That's unbelievably cheap and I don't know how they can be happy at flying over for that, yet charge our price given to us yesterday.
Quite bizzarre really.

But well done Hev on that price. As a matter of interest what would it cost you for 2adults and two children (sub 10 year old) from that same airport on 5th April, as a matter of interest!

[whispa]

Have you tried norwegian.com think they fly out from Glasgow but not sure if their calendar is up to April yet, March was showing very cheap flights!!! Good Luck

[andi]

Just booked a one way Thomas Cook flight Manchester to Fuerteventura for 8th November £36. I booked another one for the same date two weeks ago and had to pay £62. In my experience Thomas Cook operates in a different way for ticket pricing than both Easyjet and Ryanair. EJ and RA increase prices (often substantially) the nearer you get to the departure date. TC are still predominantly in the business of selling a package holiday so they will make it highly unattractive to go flight only with more than a few weeks to the departure date. In the main they will only make it attractive for flight only when the potential to sell the holiday packages has gone.

[KWC]

Have you tried norwegian.com think they fly out from Glasgow but not sure if their calendar is up to April yet, March was showing very cheap flights!!! Good Luck

Thanks Whispa, I never knew that Co/carrier flew from Scotland to Fuerteventura.  I will check it out 

[KWC]

Just booked a one way Thomas Cook flight Manchester to Fuerteventura for 8th November £36. I booked another one for the same date two weeks ago and had to pay £62. In my experience Thomas Cook operates in a different way for ticket pricing than both Easyjet and Ryanair. EJ and RA increase prices (often substantially) the nearer you get to the departure date. TC are still predominantly in the business of selling a package holiday so they will make it highly unattractive to go flight only with more than a few weeks to the departure date. In the main they will only make it attractive for flight only when the potential to sell the holiday packages has gone.

Totally agree Andi.  But its mainly my wifes work that is a pain in the rear, as they are so inflexible/unhelpful etc and the only flight carrier on Saturday 5th out of Glasgow is Robbing (T) Cook.

Ill check out the Norwegian Co next.

P.S To confirm what you say Andi, I can, bizarrely, get AI for £1,600 - £1,900 range!!

[KWC]

Have you tried norwegian.com think they fly out from Glasgow but not sure if their calendar is up to April yet, March was showing very cheap flights!!! Good Luck

Thanks Whispa, I never knew that Co/carrier flew from Scotland to Fuerteventura.  I will check it out 

Nothing showing out of Scotland for April Whispa - so far.  Have to agree the flights I did see where very competitive.

Any other ideas ladies and gentlemen (No rowing a boat jokes!)

[andi]

Sympathise with you completely Kenny. Airports in Scotland have for some time received less availability for cheaper flights than anywhere in the UK. If the Norwegian one can't sort it for you then if I were you I'd do what has already been suggested. Either drive to Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester or Liverpool or alternatively take a short shuttle flight to RA`s main operating centre in Dublin. I did that frequently in the days before Liverpool and Manchester flights got cheaper and sometimes I flew to Lanzarote and hopped on the ferry from Playa Blanca.

[Mr Boo Boo]

If you could fly from Manchester,  TC are showing a total price on that date from Man to Fue for 2 x Adults and 2 x Children of £1017.92 (14:25 outbound / 19:50 Inbound), you could drive down to Manchester and stay in one of the many Airport hotels, I know that earlier this year one of the big hotels at the airport (might have been the Hilton) was offering 1 nights stay + free airport parking for < £100, might be worth the drive down the day before.

[Mr Boo Boo]

< £100 was for the room not per person

[KWC]

If you could fly from Manchester,  TC are showing a total price on that date from Man to Fue for 2 x Adults and 2 x Children of £1017.92 (14:25 outbound / 19:50 Inbound), you could drive down to Manchester and stay in one of the many Airport hotels, I know that earlier this year one of the big hotels at the airport (might have been the Hilton) was offering 1 nights stay + free airport parking for < £100, might be worth the drive down the day before.

Thank you very much Nosmo. That is something I didn't want to have to do, but it does make sense when you see how much cheaper one can get it for. An early drive down would also suffice at that flight time.

I will speak to the boss My wife and see what she thinks.

[Ronnietheblue]

Just checked Leeds/bfd Kenny with two flights on the 4th. Basic costs no extras Ryanair £ 640 jet2 £934. Ryanair fly at 7am and return 12-10 to uk

[Ggarlo]

Just reading your dilemma here and sadly, think it may be the old story of your fortnight ending with a return on Easter Saturday so the prices shoot up.  Checked the same flights for you all leaving Glasgow a week earlier and returning a week earlier than your planned dates and the price is virtually half of what you have been quoted.  I sympathise with everybody in this position as we've been there and done that for many years with our two when they were school age. We have considerably more spare cash in the pocket since we could travel whenever we liked, though might be in your shoes again soon as we also now have a 4 year old grandchild (here we go again!!!!).  Best of luck with your search and I'll keep my eyes open for any cheaper options cropping up for you the same as everybody else on here.

[KWC]

Brilliant assistance guys and I thank you all. Food for thought and will investigate all tonight.

Even an over night stay is now appealing to me, when you see the savings being made 

[Ggarlo]

Doh!!  Just ignore me, I've just noticed you are only going for a week so its nothing to do with Easter, just daylight robbery as you say.

[Voldermort]

Norwegian only fly out of Gatwick so far..Their website is very confusing though

[KWC]

 

I have managed to get us booked up through Monarch, flying out of Manchester for only £1100 for the four of us. Best deal I could find that fly on a Saturday (5th April) Thats a saving of nearly 55% on the Airtours prices as above and 50% on TC.

So I'm happy its down to a manageable level and don't feel I'm being totally ripped off now.  Another good aspect of this is the mid afternoon departure, so can travel down on the day saving hotel bills etc.

Very happy chappy now and thanks for all your assistance - power to the forum eh 

Now anyone know best and cheapest parking, without the wheels being nicked 

[charlatanefc]

We always use Airparks at Manchester.  Only 5 mins on the shuttle bus and cheap as chips

[meggie]

KWC i fly from Manchester regularly and use a company for parking called Chapel House they meet you at departures door take your car to their secure parking,on return you ring them once youve cleared customs and they have your car ready and waiting at the same point as drop off you jump in and drive home.
          Chapel house 01619039016.

[IsThisForumStillGoingWow]

So pleased you got a lot cheaper flights Kenny, thats an awful lot of extra ice creams for the grandkids 

[KWC]

So pleased you got a lot cheaper flights Kenny, thats an awful lot of extra ice creams for the grandkids 

True Hev, and a few more drinks for moi 

[Mr Boo Boo]

Hi Kenny

Pleased you got a good deal from M/cr, check MIA website as they list various companies/offers, never had to drive to the airport as its only a 20 min taxi ride for me from home.

Enjoy.

Graham

[PHo]

Another tip for those from Scotland with kids. Come out for the October two week holiday, driving down to Manchester or Leeds-Bradford. School holiday trip for term-time prices.

[Mr Boo Boo]

One more tip, we have done the M/cr Sat afternoon flight on many occasions (all months), if you don't like queuing through customs I would recommend you book fast track through customs, cost £3.50 pp but well worth it, we book it every time.

[KWC]

One more tip, we have done the M/cr Sat afternoon flight on many occasions (all months), if you don't like queuing through customs I would recommend you book fast track through customs, cost £3.50 pp but well worth it, we book it every time.

Ah thanks for that.but how or whom do you contact for that service?

[Paddster]

One more tip, we have done the M/cr Sat afternoon flight on many occasions (all months), if you don't like queuing through customs I would recommend you book fast track through customs, cost £3.50 pp but well worth it, we book it every time.

I quite like the sound of that too Graham,how's that happen then ? I went through the speedy scanner with my passport last night - bloody great not queueing for ages 

[Paddster]

PS I know exactly what you mean regarding the flights Kenny - we were pricing up next years flights whilst we were over there because we're going at a different time and they were ridiculously expensive ? What is going on with these airlines ?