Is it too early to book Lanzarote?

corblimey

Late last year, I decided I was going to spend New Years 2018 in Lanzarote. At the time, I checked the flights ORK-ACE and they were definitely flying on New Year's day, my preferred day. So I went ahead and booked accommodation last month. Stupidly, as it turns out.

Because now I'm a little worried. ORK-ACE doesn't fly on New Year's day (to be fair, they don't fly on any Monday). The only direct flight I can find is from DUB - not a great problem flying out, but the return lands at 0020 with a 3 hour drive home (I would need to find a hotel for the night). And that's the only direct flights I can find from Ireland. And the prices from DUB are phenomenal, e400+ pp return. Is it just too early for flights for next Jan and my options will open up soon enough? Or should I bite the bullet and book ORK-ACE for 2/1, and lose that day? Or DUB-ACE and spend an extra night in Dublin?

I realise Lanza is a popular place that time of year, but as I'm a virgin in this area, some advice would be helpful.

aquarius10

Did you check the airports for charter flights ?

Sometimes Falcon and other tour operators sell flights for charter flights out of Dublin, Cork & Shannon. Falcon fly Shannon - lanzarote on a Monday but not sure if they fly at New Years ? Might be worth a phone call ? Plus the times in and out of Shannon are during the day.

Good luck

corblimey

Hey, thanks for the response, I did check Falcon and few others, and although it's too early to check availability for Jan 2018, from what I can see, most of them tend to fly only once a week anyway which doesn't suit this time. Since I don't want to lose a night in Lanzarote, I'm pretty much resigned to DUB-ACE now, with a stay in Dublin the night of return (although it's not like I'm going to be jetlagged, so maybe setting off from Dublin airport for Cork at midnight wouldn't be a big mistake). I guess then I'm just wondering whether e400 is an absolutely ridiculous price or quite reasonable given the timeframe. A week before Christmas, return flights are sub-200.

Birdie086

Could you get a bus to cork from the airport? My man lives abroad and when she travels out of season has to fly in and out of Dublin so she uses coaches rather than pay premium for a Dublin hotel.

Clazbeag

Aircoach it up and down. Comfy, cheap and no worrying about parking. Once you've booked on you are guaranteed your seat so you can sleep the whole way down.

corblimey

Nice idea, but it would mean a 4 hr wait in the airport for the 6:25am bus (the one before that is 0025).

I continue to search for options. Think this is my favourite convoluted one so far:

Shannon (SNN) Departs: Mon 1 Jan 2018 12:45
JFK Arrives: Mon 1 Jan 2018 15:25

JFK Departs: Mon 1 Jan 2018 20:35
Madrid Arrives: Tue 2 Jan 2018 09:40

Madrid Departs: Tue 2 Jan 2018 11:25
Lanzarote Arrives: Tue 2 Jan 2018 13:10

Oh sure, divert via JFK, seems reasonable

Lyle Lanley

I would definitely just drive back. Try to sleep on the plane if you can.

corblimey

I've been giving this some thought, and now I'm swinging back towards ORK-ACE. I lose a day over there, but the only sunk cost so far is 1 night's accommodation, and I think it's the simpler, most cost effective choice. I'll get a good swing at Lanzarote in 4 days, I'm sure, and if not, I'll come back (with better planning next time). This assume there'd be no issue with the accommodation, but that seems unlikely as I've already paid for the room.

Lyle Lanley

It's a long way in advance so they may even refund you the night if you ask nicely..

aisleseat

I still think it's a little early. We went to Gran Canaria for New Years and flew out from Cork on the 30th Dec. Flights were pretty reasonable and I booked them in June/July
It was a brilliant time to go away and we decided to book again for 2017, but going for a few days more - hoping to go on Dec 28. I've booked the hotel but lo and behold immediately after releasing the flights, Ryanair are showing "Sold out" and EI have yet to release their schedule. I reckon Ryanair are still working on their seat prices because our flights out and back recently had in the region of 40 empty seats.
We're going to hold tough for the moment and keep an eye on it

corblimey

Yeah, same here, aiseleseat, I'll hang in there til April/May anyway, my resolve isn't as good as yours . Do you mind me asking the ballpark you paid last year?

aisleseat

corblimey wrote: »

Yeah, same here, aiseleseat, I'll hang in there til April/May anyway, my resolve isn't as good as yours . Do you mind me asking the ballpark you paid last year?

I think it was 230 each that we paid (excluding bags) which i was delighted with because I thought we'd be paying way more given the time of year.
At least with Lanzarote there's a good few flights going out of Cork every week so you should be able to get something at a reasonable enough price, maybe out on Ryanair and back on aer lingus or vice versa. You'll need nerves of steel though ;-)

76544567

Try flying via the uk.
I find that makes a huge difference in price during peak times.
Easter, Christmas, July/August.