Ski travel by Air
If you want to go "independant" and so arrange your own flights you could take advantage of some fantastic deals available through the budget airlines - but in the current economic climate (with cheap airlines struggling and even closing) - you have to be vigilant to get the deals that were available not long ago..
Initially prices went up considerably since last season - due to the above, plus the weak pound and inflated fuel prices, but now both fuel and prices have started to come down again.
Also the equation is altered by the fact that the credit crunch has affected many holiday companies and often there is little difference between the cost of flight only and a package deal including transfers and food. Obviously, in cases like this, take the package.
So you must check carefully on what is available AND BE FLEXIBLE if you are going to land a bargain.
If you do still decide to put the holiday together yourself, a couple of words of caution:-
Firstly, the destination airports are often cheaper because they are located on the outskirts of major towns or cities.
You will need to organise your own transfers to your ski resort.
If you are lucky a good bus or train service runs from these airports but too often you have to book a taxi which can work out expensive - so check before jumping in.
Sometimes it can work out cheaper to hire a car for the week (see section on Car Hire), even though it will probably be standing idle for five days !! - but you do still have the option to use it socially.
The other alternative is to check out 'Transfer' companies (some advertise below) who will put a minibus together of different ski parties, and so will often work out cheaper than taxis.
Finally, budget airline companies often make a glamourous display in their adverts about how low their price is to fly to certain destinations, but this price is nearly always for one way only. Frequently, their price doesn't include return flight which needs pricing seperately and regularly works out considerably more than the outward journey. Even taking this into account, though, air travel is still considerably cheaper than ten or even five years ago.
Many of the budget airlines are now giving total prices (including taxes & surcharges) which is a big improvement on a couple of years ago, but still check, as this is still not yet standard. And don't forget they all still have add ons that nearly always include the carriage of skis/snowboards, inflight meals and excess baggage (over quite a miserly maximum weight).
These add-ons can significantly bump up the price, but as each airline and passenger varies it would be impossible to include these details for each company listed.
The prices listed below have been updated in late Nov '08. and as far as possible include taxes & surcharges - unless otherwise stated.
They refer to flights bookable for Saturday Jan 3rd - 10th (or closest) unless noted.
FLIGHTS TO AUSTRIA
Klagenfurt - Good for South Saltzburg resorts (eg. Villach)
30 mins. by train to Arlberg (eg. St Anton)
Ryanair £47.40 return inc taxes from Stansted
Saltzburg
Ryanair £81.75 return inc taxes from Stansted
ChpFltSeats £89.58 return inc taxes (11 Jan) from Gatwick
Thomsonfly £118.98 return inc taxes from Bournem'th
FLIGHTS TO BULGARIA
Sofia
Easyjet £63.98 return (inc taxes) (12 Jan) from Gatwick
BA £178 return (skis free) from Heathrow
FLIGHTS TO FRANCE
Grenoble
Easyjet £47.81 return inc taxes (11 Jan) from Birmingham
Thomsonfly £83.98 return inc taxes from Bournemouth
ChpFltSeats £84.17 return inc taxes (9 Jan) from Luton
Ryanair £86.75 return inc taxes from Stansted
Ryanair 130.54 Euros return inc tax from Dublin
Return Flights from Grenoble as cheap as £0.01 + taxes
Check out other dates
Lyon
ChpFltSeats £85.17 return inc taxes (9Jan) from Gatwick
BA £122 return inc taxes (skis free) from Heathrow
Chambery
Snowjet £88 return inc taxes & free skis (4Jan) from Gatwick
Pau (Pyrenees)
Ryanair £46.26 return inc taxes from Stansted
Lourdes (Pyrenees)
Ryanair £46.26 return inc taxes from Stansted
FLIGHTS TO ITALY
Bergamo (Milan) for Bormio, Courmayeur, Livigno, (Zermatt) etc.
Ryanair £38.97 return inc taxes (11 Jan) from East Mids
Ryanair £53.34 return inc taxes (11 Jan) from Liverpool
Ryanair £61.59 return inc taxes from Stansted
Ryanair £68.18 return inc taxes (11 Jan) from Glasgow
Turin - for Sauze, Cervinia, Sestriere, Aosta, etc.
Ryanair £27 one way inc taxes several airports
Venice - for Cortina, Carina, Caviola, etc.
Ryanair £27 one way inc taxes several airports
FLIGHTS TO SPAIN
Granada (for Sierra Nevada)
Ryanair £51.84 return inc taxes from Stansted
Ryanair £58.57 return inc taxes from Liverpool
Barcelona (for Andorra & Eastern Pyrenees)
Easyjet £42.83 return inc taxes (11 Jan) from Stansted
Pau (France) for Western Pyrenees
Ryanair £46.26 return inc taxes from Stansted
FLIGHTS TO SWITZERLAND
Geneva
Easyjet £51.98 return inc. taxes (9 Jan) from East Mids
Thomsonfly £63.98 return inc. taxes (8 Jan) from Doncaster
Easyjet £43.98 return inc. taxes (7 Jan) from Liverpool
Easyjet £51.98 return inc. taxes from Luton
Flights from Geneva as cheap as £6.99 + taxes
There are lots of other flights departing from airports closer to you, but the ones listed above are the cheapest we could find for these dates.
Check the listed airlines for your local airport, it may be a Iittle more expensive, BUT could save you from the hassle and expense of arranging transport and parking etc.
We shall be updating again in early 2009.
If you discover a good route that is not covered above, and is cheap, we would appreciate your input.
Please email info@skiingonashoestring.com
We are hoping, in future, to contain feeds from all of the major budget airlines, so that offers would be automatically updated. Please check back with us for these additions.
