Budget flights Britain to Italy
Budget flights Britain to Italy
Author
Discussion

Louis Balfour

Original Poster:

28,176 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all

I’ve been searching for flights from midlands airports to Italy but there seem to be few available, from budget carriers, until next year.

I have been looking at East Mids and Birmingham but also Stansted.

I appreciate that it is low season, but in the past it has been possible to find convenient flights to various destinations.

I know Ryanair was threatening to cut flights in response to APD increases, but are there other factors at play?


Puggit

49,394 posts

269 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
Have you looked at Trieste from Stansted - 2 or 3 a week currently. I know this as I was supposed to be in coastal Slovenia this week (didn't go in the end).

the-norseman

14,944 posts

192 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
if your considering Stansted then what about Luton.

Louis Balfour

Original Poster:

28,176 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
if your considering Stansted then what about Luton.
Can you fly to Luton from Stansted?

the-norseman

14,944 posts

192 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
Luton to Italy?

Louis Balfour

Original Poster:

28,176 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
Luton to Italy?
Ah I see, sorry. I thought you were suggesting Luton as an alternative to the bel paese for a week's break.

Yes definitely an option and I hadn't considered it. Thank you.

TownIdiot

3,527 posts

20 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
I have a quick look on skyscanner first as you can select regions in the UK and the entire country of Italy.
Budget wise I think it's Ryan Air, Easy jet and Jet 2.

In the end we nearly always end up just paying extra to fly from Manchester as by the time cost and time of travel is factored in it's really difficult to actually make a worthwhile saving.

It does seem that there is less choice and much less chance of a properly cheap flight these days.

Louis Balfour

Original Poster:

28,176 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
TownIdiot said:
I have a quick look on skyscanner first as you can select regions in the UK and the entire country of Italy.
Budget wise I think it's Ryan Air, Easy jet and Jet 2.

In the end we nearly always end up just paying extra to fly from Manchester as by the time cost and time of travel is factored in it's really difficult to actually make a worthwhile saving.

It does seem that there is less choice and much less chance of a properly cheap flight these days.
Indeed. I am trying to establish why.


TownIdiot

3,527 posts

20 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
Louis Balfour said:
Indeed. I am trying to establish why.
It's been like that for a good few years.
And not just to Italy - it's the same to Portugal.
Can't remember the last time I got on a flight that wasn't almost totally full.

budgie smuggler

5,884 posts

180 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
Sorry if I'm missing something but all we do is go on SkyScanner, set the dates to "all december (flexible)" for both legs, then select Stansted to "Italy (any)", sort by "cheapest" and there seems to be reasonable availability.

We got 2 return tickets to Pisa for around £100 at short notice about a week ago, I noticed at the time Milan was even cheaper, pretty sure it was £30 each return.

In fact, here's the link we use:

https://www.skyscanner.net/transport/flights/stn/i...

I think the days of the £10 return are gone, but £30 ain't bad

Louis Balfour

Original Poster:

28,176 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
budgie smuggler said:
Sorry if I'm missing something but all we do is go on SkyScanner, set the dates to "all december (flexible)" for both legs, then select Stansted to "Italy (any)", sort by "cheapest" and there seems to be reasonable availability.

We got 2 return tickets to Pisa for around £100 at short notice about a week ago, I noticed at the time Milan was even cheaper, pretty sure it was £30 each return.

In fact, here's the link we use:

https://www.skyscanner.net/transport/flights/stn/i...

I think the days of the £10 return are gone, but £30 ain't bad
You're not missing anything. Stansted is the best bet but it is my least convenient airport, even including Luton. To get a flight that works and which doesn't require me to get up at unhealthy-o'clock I need to stay down there.

I believe that East Mids used to have flights year-round to Milan and maybe Venice. Birmingham too had more flights.


TownIdiot

3,527 posts

20 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
Louis Balfour said:
You're not missing anything. Stansted is the best bet but it is my least convenient airport, even including Luton. To get a flight that works and which doesn't require me to get up at unhealthy-o'clock I need to stay down there.

I believe that East Mids used to have flights year-round to Milan and maybe Venice. Birmingham too had more flights.
As did Manchester and Liverpool

Not come back since Covid.

Louis Balfour

Original Poster:

28,176 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
TownIdiot said:
Louis Balfour said:
You're not missing anything. Stansted is the best bet but it is my least convenient airport, even including Luton. To get a flight that works and which doesn't require me to get up at unhealthy-o'clock I need to stay down there.

I believe that East Mids used to have flights year-round to Milan and maybe Venice. Birmingham too had more flights.
As did Manchester and Liverpool

Not come back since Covid.
Ah Covid was the point when it stopped, was it? I was unaware.

TownIdiot

3,527 posts

20 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
Louis Balfour said:
Ah Covid was the point when it stopped, was it? I was unaware.
I can't say exactly but that is how it feels

Certainly had more choice 10 years ago than we do now.
As an indicator I have a friend who works for easyJet out of Gatwick - they have 187 aircraft based there
21 Manchester
7 Liverpool
3 Birmingham
0 east mids


Louis Balfour

Original Poster:

28,176 posts

243 months

Wednesday 27th November 2024
quotequote all
TownIdiot said:
Louis Balfour said:
Ah Covid was the point when it stopped, was it? I was unaware.
I can't say exactly but that is how it feels

Certainly had more choice 10 years ago than we do now.
As an indicator I have a friend who works for easyJet out of Gatwick - they have 187 aircraft based there
21 Manchester
7 Liverpool
3 Birmingham
0 east mids
Interesting.

East Mids is my nearest and it's not a bad little airport. Little is the issue though, I think. I don't see airlines putting on more flights there.

Another project

1,066 posts

130 months

Saturday 30th November 2024
quotequote all
My family will usually fly from Stansted to Pescara with Ryanair, I went over with the kids for October half term and it wasn't terribly expensive (just over £200 each with baggage charges). But I'm sure flights can be found for around £30 each way