Spain has become one of the easiest countries to reach by with direct flights from the U.K., thanks mainly to the low cost airlines who will now fly you to many regional airports, as well of the major cities. The large number of tourists that visit each year has helped increase the need for direct flights to Spain and with many people also having purchased second homes there, the whole of the country has become accessible by air.
The use of smaller airports has been helped by the Spanish government investing large sums in improving the road and rail links between cities and also by upgrading services at the airport itself.
When searching for your direct flights to Spain, often the best deals are to be had by booking through the internet. Some websites offer a search engine, which enable you to put in your details and the computer will then carry out a comprehensive search for flights that match your dates. If you book well ahead of your departure date, you will usually receive a better offer than by leaving it until the last minute, although occasionally a good deal can be had at the 11th hour, if you are able to delay booking your direct flight until just before you go.
Mid-week direct flights are generally better priced than those at the weekend and avoiding school holidays will definitely improve your chances of a good deal.
Direct flights to the less popular airports in Spain are well worth investigating, so make sure that you search by region, in addition to the place where you are actually staying, as often there are smaller, lesser used airports within driving distance that will work out cheaper. It might be worth considering booking each journey separately, especially if you are planning to tour around the Spanish countryside, as a single journey to one destination with a return from another, can often be more cost effective.
As a rule, the low cost airlines, such as Easyjet and Ryanair, will offer you a better price for your direct flights to Spain than using a scheduled service, but you may need to be prepared to give up such things as an in-flight meal and an allocated seat. Usually, the amount you pay for your ticket is purely the air fare plus taxes, which is why tickets offered by the low cost airlines are often referred to as having ‘no frills’. Refreshments have to be purchased on board, sometimes at very inflated prices, but usually your direct flight will be of no more than 2 – 3 hours in length, if travelling from the U.K. and the lower cost of your ticket makes this worthwhile.
If the cost of your direct flights to Spain is not an issue, a scheduled service with a large international carrier, such as British Airways or Iberia Airlines, may be your preferred choice. Usually, these flights would be from major airports in the U.K., such as London Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester to one of the larger cities in Spain. There are fewer flights available from and to regional airports and they often have to be booked direct with the airline, or through a Travel Agent, which would be more expensive. |
