Airline bookings. A preview

Following our review of forward bookings in last week’s issue, BTN has now taken a look at the booking situation for a typical day (Wednesday 28 July) from London to Belfast, New York and Palma Nova Majorca.

All flights can be found on the OAG website.

Our investigation shows limited services compared to two years ago, all very much open.

Belfast has two airports, City (BHD) and International (BFS); New York two international airports, Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (EWR), and Palma (PMI).

Belfast
You can fly from Gatwick (LGW) easyJet – BFS; Heathrow (LHR) BA & Aer Lingus – BHD; Luton (LTN) easyJet – BFS; London City (LCY) BA – BHD; Stansted (STN) easyJet – BHD.  There is a back door with the twice daily Loganair flights from STN to Derry (Eglinton) LDY.

Cheapest at this time is easyJet from LGW £34.99.  From LHR it is £66.00.

New York
This gets more complicated with only United (Star Alliance) flying into EWR on the other side of the Hudson.  American has teamed up with BA and Delta (SkyTeam) which owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic.  All have different products but you can go out on one and back on another.  With BA you are into oneworld but Virgin is not part of SkyTeam.  

BA lists at £1,705 single Economy, but for next Wednesday (7 April) it is £939.  The fares are common rated with American Airlines.  For Virgin Atlantic in July it is £1,508 and £948 next Wednesday.  The fares are the same with Delta and it is possible to go via Amsterdam slightly cheaper.  With United the July fares start at £1,606 and in April a mere £264.

If JetBlue is about to come in at this time its small capacity is unlikely to have much effect on prices.  See in this issue.

Palma
The choice is very good and besides BA from LCY, LGW & LHR, easyJet offers LGW and LTN; Jet2 from STN; and Ryanair LGW.  Jet2 is expected to be flying from STN on 28 July with a single fare of £192, likewise Wizz from LTN £82.99.

www.oag.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

David Starkie, United Kingdom

"American has teamed up with BA and Delta...fares are the same..." BA/American have clearance for their alliance, but with Delta!!!! Sounds like a cartel; hence the high fares?

John Scones, London

How on earth do the airlines come up with these odd fares? Have they become computer mad? Or are the high prices just to cover the bonus points giveaway.