It’s not as easy as it once was to grab a bargain flight – whatever happened to those £1 ticket offers? But the good news is that there are still great deals to be had, especially as flash sales have been replaced by some incredible value-for-money journeys.
If you’ve ever wondered just how much value for money these flights offer, wonder no more. While some routes are notoriously expensive (anything involving French Polynesia, for instance), the Flexicover team has crunched the numbers and figured out which routes in the UK give you more miles for your money, speed for your sterling or distance for your dollar. And here are the results…
London to Kathmandu
While 2015’s earthquake may have caused devastating damage, Nepal’s rich history and majestic mountain trails are still in abundance. Home to 10 UNESCO world heritage sites, bursting with both cultural wonders and spellbinding natural scenery, the Himalayan nation’s deep, spiritual beauty remains unscathed. In wake of the disaster and in a bid to re-invigorate the economy, flights are cheap, with Oman Air flying the 9,106-mile round trip at a staggering £324 – 3.5 pence per mile. With a brief stop in Muscat, visiting the snow-capped Himalayas is now not only inexpensive but will help to support and rebuild the country.
London to New York
With flights from London to New York for just £246 each way, budget Scandinavian airline Norwegian has been muscling in on this competitive transatlantic route with significantly lower prices than other carriers. Sure, creature comforts like a meal, blanket, headphones and checked baggage cost extra, but for frequent fliers who can do without the frills, the price tag of 4.23 pence per mile makes it clear why Norwegian has been awarded the title of Europe’s best low-cost airline for four years running. While add-ons might be steep, Norwegian’s new 787 Dreamliners boast huge windows with a 'sunglasses mode' instead of blinds, lighting designed to ease the effects of jetlag and quieter engines for a sound night’s sleep.
London to Manila
Collating deals and error-fares from around the globe for serious savings, fanatics of the website secretflying.com will no doubt have noticed Air China’s unbelievably cheap fares to far-flung destinations - a result of increased international competition from more established airlines. Right now it’s possible to fly from London to Manila via Beijing for a staggering £279 round trip, a meagre 2.09 pence per mile. Admittedly, with Air China having recently ranked near last in AirHelp’s list of the world’s best carriers, this is one for the more seasoned budget traveller. Yet with some of the Philippines’ most beautiful islands within reach at such low prices, more and more travellers are willing to compromise on quality over cost.
Edinburgh to Lanzarote
With higher taxes and fees in comparison to the overall distance travelled, short-haul flights can tend to have higher running costs. But low-cost carriers like Ryanair are able to offer budget prices on popular routes, with daily flights and guaranteed demand for seats pushing overall costs down. Flights from Edinburgh to Lanzarote, for example, are available from just £34 return – that’s 0.87 pence per mile, and less than your average train ticket.
London to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s colourful capital city sits on the island’s Atlantic coast - a heady combination of Spanish colonial buildings and a lively night scene. It may sound exotic, but flying across the Atlantic is typically cheaper than staying inside of Europe, with one-way fares starting from just £347 (4.09 pence per mile) on low-cost carriers like Norwegian. The added value is that from Puerto Rico you’re within easy reach of the rest of the Caribbean, with onward flights on local airlines like Cape Air and Seaborne. While most carriers from Europe would re-route through Miami at a large expense, from San Juan you’re able to fly directly to the British Virgin Islands for just £70 each way.
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