Will Aer Lingus drop flight price?

Kevcol

Hi guys,

This is a question that has been asked before but the reason I'm asking again is because the flights I'm looking at are for July. I looked at flights to Athens about 4 weeks ago and they were around €260. They are now up to €308. I'm just wondering if you think they will drop again between now and maybe March or should I just book them now since they're not too expensive.

Thanks

BuffyBot

No one but Aer Lingus knows. It's not a route they fly frequently so it's never going to have a lot of really cheap seats, and the cheaper seats will sell out in advance. As such, in comparison to other routes they do fly more frequently, there is less incentive for them to reduce prices.

The best bet is to buy at a price you're happy to pay, and not look back.

Kevcol

Cool stuff, thanks for the reply.

Ya I think I'm going to try to book them this week or next week but I know there'll be a fierce temptation to check the prices again in a month or two :P I don't think the price should go down much anyway if they do so I should be safe enough

juan.kerr

Maybe, maybe not. It's a bit of a lottery.

belcampprisoner

how much would all in holiday cost
from travel agent

Jamie2k9

Check the website from 15 Jan everyday as they will have the peak summer sale then over the next while. All there routes have being creeping up before the sale so you might get it cheeper but it could only be a small reduction. Last year they had a 20% sale last Jan for July when I booked.

Kevcol

Well we're going Island hopping so there's no travel agent that covers that kind of holiday at a reasonable price AFAIK

Jamie2k9

Well we're going Island hopping so there's no travel agent that covers that kind of holiday at a reasonable price AFAIK

I see but they will have a sale over the next few weeks current one ends 14 Jan so the next one should follow a few days after.

Have you looked at DUB-Corfu to start the island hopping unless you are basing yourselves in ATH.

Kevcol

The Corfu flights only leave every Sunday so it doesn't work because of lack of holidays from work on my part.

That sale sounds it might be worth a try so I think I might leave it off for another week maybe and see how things go.

Thanks

Jamie2k9

You should once 15 Jan comes they will have some other offer for the summer months.

infocal

Only if Ryanair tookover it... Lets make a wish

F1ngers

Clear your cookies before you go back to check ticket prices.

naughtysmurf

F1ngers wrote: »

Clear your cookies before you go back to check ticket prices.

Does that really make any difference, I'm not so sure?

F1ngers

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Does that really make any difference, I'm not so sure?

I've seen and heard of it myself, albeit a good while ago now, so maybe it doesn't make a difference any more.

naughtysmurf

F1ngers wrote: »

I've seen and heard of it myself, albeit a good while ago now, so maybe it doesn't make a difference any more.

I've also heard of it but never seemed to get a lower price after doing it but that's not to say there isn't something in it, just never worked for me

Kittywake

Hi Kevcol,

If you are going island hopping, you can check through skyscanner and get flights straight to an island eg Mykonos or Santorini and skip Athens altogether. It would mean flying via uk or maybe Germany but it could save you time and money on the ferry from Athens to the islands which can be up to 8 hours. I've done this a few times. Both of those islands have good ferry connections to the other Cyclades islands of Naxos, Paros, Ios. Return flights in July to Mykonos are coming up at around 320 now, this could change though! But maybe you want to see Athens...

Kevcol

Kittywake wrote: »

Hi Kevcol,

If you are going island hopping, you can check through skyscanner and get flights straight to an island eg Mykonos or Santorini and skip Athens altogether. It would mean flying via uk or maybe Germany but it could save you time and money on the ferry from Athens to the islands which can be up to 8 hours. I've done this a few times. Both of those islands have good ferry connections to the other Cyclades islands of Naxos, Paros, Ios. Return flights in July to Mykonos are coming up at around 320 now, this could change though! But maybe you want to see Athens...

Sounds like some good advice, thanks Kittywake. I might wait and see how it goes over the next few weeks. At the moment I can get a flight from Athens to Santorini for €65 so that seems good value. In total the flights would be around €400 then. Are Naxos and Paros worth a look would you think? I don't wanna pack too much into the couple of weeks I have so I was thinking Santorini, Ios and Mykonos.
Thanks

Kittywake

Kevcol,

Santorini is definitely worth seeing, but 2 or 3 nights is more than enough time there. Ios is the party island and gets really really busy from July onwards. I spent three months there when I was in college and then went back last year for a few days. It's a young crowd, I prob wouldn't go back again but I lived every minute while I was there. Not sure what age bracket you are in? Last year I stayed in Naxos for a few days and loved it there, gorgeous port and village and a really nice vibe. We did a day trip to Mykonos and really liked it, more expensive and upmarket, but gorgeous village, cool giant pelicans walking around and little Venice is class! Paros is lovely too, a quieter more mellow vibe than ios or Mykonos. Loads to choose from! How long do you plan to go for?

Kevcol

That's great, we were planning on staying in Santorini for 3 nights so that sounds perfect. Would Fira be the best place to stay or does it matter? It's my girlfriend and I going and we're 25/26. We'd be looking for both nightlife and places to relax. Naxos sounds nice, I think we might like something like that for a few days too. We're going for around 2 1/2 weeks so we'd be looking to see a few islands. Mykonos does look slightly expensive so if we do go there it will probably be only for a few days. Ios might be our main place to stay. Any recommendations on budget places to stay?
Sorry for all the questions.

Thanks so much for all your advice, it's great to hear from someone who knows so much about it.

amen

Have you looked at DUB-Corfu to start the island hopping unless you are basing yourselves in ATH

Don't use Corfu. Its a long way a way from the rest of the islands.
It to the top left of Greece opp Albania and just south of the heel of Italy.

The main Island hopping islands are to the south east of Greece.

Would take a long time to get from Corfu to the rest of the islands.

Kittywake

In Santorini I've stayed in Fira and Oia, Fira is probably a bit better for nightlife. Oia is a little bit older, honeymooners and a accommodstion is a bit more expensive etc, but def worth a visit while ye are there. We stayed in Islandblue in Oia, easily the best place I've ever stayed, didnt want to leave, but expensive! Both towns are so busy during the day with Cruise ship passengers doing day trips.
In Ios Francescos is busy and central and cheap. It's hostel style but you can get private rooms. It's a great place to meet people and has brilliant views at sunset. I also stayed at Lofos village which is more expensive- hotel prices. For the three months we stayed at Golden Star which was great too. Just outside the village on the road to the beach. A really nice couple run it and I see they have upgraded and put in a pool. Nice and clean and cheap too. Another place I always liked the look of is Hotel Katerina and Katerinas rooms. They are halfway between beach and village but they have the best views ever. It's 3km from village to beach.
In Naxos we stayed in Glaros hotel.

Any more questions I'm happy to answer! Im planning my next Greek trip for this summer too!

Kevcol

Thanks Kittywake.

I think we're pretty happy to go to Santorini and Ios but now we're trying to decide between either Naxos or Mykonos. Of the four islands I mentioned which do you think we could maybe leave out. We don't want to go to all of them as we'd probably feel like we didnt relax for the whole holiday. We might just do a day trip to whichever of the islands we leave out.
Also, is there any island in particular that is good for watersports, scuba diving, hiking etc??

Still hoping Aerlingus have their summer sale up soon. Be great to get some money off the flights.

Jamie2k9

20% sale on now for travel all summer.

Kevcol

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

20% sale on now for travel all summer.

Thanks Jamie, was worth waiting for!! we saved €90 between the two of us to Athens Can look forward to booking accomm now and some sun for a change :P

Kittywake

Hi Kevcol,

Naxos is great for watersports. Saw lots of kitesurfing and windsurfing there. Lots of scubadiving schools there too. We rented a car and went to a few different beaches, lots of choice there.
I havnt stayed in Mykonos so I can't say it's better than Ios- it sounds like your choice is between Ios and Mykonos. We did a day trip to Mykonos and thought it was lovely, but definitely a more expensive place to stay I would imagine especially in the peak season when ye are going. I think it might come down to your budget. Ios is lots of fun though and maybe it's one of those places you should see at least once!
You should definitely go to Santorini.

Kevcol

Kittywake wrote: »

Hi Kevcol,

Naxos is great for watersports. Saw lots of kitesurfing and windsurfing there. Lots of scubadiving schools there too. We rented a car and went to a few different beaches, lots of choice there.
I havnt stayed in Mykonos so I can't say it's better than Ios- it sounds like your choice is between Ios and Mykonos. We did a day trip to Mykonos and thought it was lovely, but definitely a more expensive place to stay I would imagine especially in the peak season when ye are going. I think it might come down to your budget. Ios is lots of fun though and maybe it's one of those places you should see at least once!
You should definitely go to Santorini.

Thanks for all the advice. I think we've pretty much decided that we're going to to go to Santorini, Ios and Naxos. I love the sound of Naxos, sounds perfect!!

What kind of price would you be paying to rent a car or a moped on the islands?

Kittywake

Naxos is great, good nightlife, great restaurants, lovely town centre, you will love it. I think we paid approx €25 for a car for 11 hours, so we took it early and dropped it back in the evening- didn't have to worry about parking then. There are loads of car rentals there. Also quad bikes are popular for getting to some beaches off the beaten track but ye can figure that out when ye get there. Stay around St Georges beach area for good proximity to everything.

RubyK

Just to let you know, there's a bus that regularly goes from the Port at St. Georges, to the beaches of Agi Anna and Aghios Propopikis (sp ). Well worth visiting.

The Kastro is lovely to walk around, especially in the evening. Some lovely restaurants there, and along the harbour & side streets.

GenuineFan

Aer Lingus put up the prices before the 20% off sale. The prices for next summer are very high. Do you think they will drop them again?

Jamie2k9

GenuineFan wrote: »

Aer Lingus put up the prices before the 20% off sale. The prices for next summer are very high. Do you think they will drop them again?

They will have another sale at some point soon but weather they will be much lower I don't know. It depends if bookings did well over the current sale and prices they may put them up and drop them for the next sale like what happened over the last few weeks or drop them further for the next sale.

Truman Burbank

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

They will have another sale at some point soon but weather they will be much lower I don't know. It depends if bookings did well over the current sale and prices they may put them up and drop them for the next sale like what happened over the last few weeks or drop them further for the next sale.

Hi Jamie, I didn't know I knew someone at AL in this line until the last month or so. Anyway, from the horse's mouth - this is a good as it gets for this summer's flights.

Jamie2k9

Truman Burbank wrote: »

Hi Jamie, I didn't know I knew someone at AL in this line until the last month or so. Anyway, from the horse's mouth - this is a good as it gets for this summer's flights.

I work for an airline but not EI..

They will have a sale, trust me an airline will not have enough seats sold for the whole summer season yet, I'm not saying prices will drop again but they will run s sale of some sort again over the next 2 months. Prices will only drop in bums are not going on seats and if they are then prices will go up more.

BTW they had more than one summer sale for last summer and the one befoe that.

Truman Burbank

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I work for an airline but not EI..

They will have a sale, trust me an airline will not have enough seats sold for the whole summer season yet, I'm not saying prices will drop again but they will run s sale of some sort again over the next 2 months. Prices will only drop in bums are not going on seats and if they are then prices will go up more.

BTW they had more than one summer sale for last summer and the one befoe that.

Sales used to be when prices dropped :eek:. Person works in this department. I asked and re-asked on behalf of someone who goes on a family holiday to X every July, and specifically wanted to know if those '2nd (perhaps now pseudo) sales' would be on, given this year's current sale prices. Just passin on the PM!

Jamie2k9

Truman Burbank wrote: »

Sales used to be when prices dropped :eek:. Person works in this department. I asked and re-asked on behalf of someone who goes on a family holiday to X every July, and specifically wanted to know if those '2nd (perhaps now pseudo) sales' would be on, given this year's current sale prices. Just passin on the PM!

All airlines increase prices before sales and then claim the reductions, its business and most of them do. Just be thankful FR havn't taken EI over then you would know what high prices are.

Best advise is to visit the website at least once or twice a week I would recommend Tuesday and Saturdays over other days.

tatli_lokma

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Best advise is to visit the website at least once or twice a week I would recommend Tuesday and Saturdays over other days.

But make sure you clear your cookies before you do