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Prices of flights in the past

Koptain Liverpool

I travel a lot to different cities in Europe these days. Often get flights for cheaper than a Bus Eireann ticket to another part of Ireland.

I've often wondered how much more comparatively expensive flights were in the 80s and 90s though?? (in terms of today's money)

Let's say you can get a flight to berlin, Rome, Paris, or Madrid, for 50-100 euro now if you book in advance.

How much roughly were flights such as these prior to the budget airlines?

Interestingly, I've read articles recently which have predicted that when oil levels get really low, the prices of flights will increase to the extent that air travel will once again become a luxury.

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Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Koptain Liverpool wrote: »

I travel a lot to different cities in Europe these days. Often get flights for cheaper than a Bus Eireann ticket to another part of Ireland.

I've often wondered how much more comparatively expensive flights were in the 80s and 90s though?? (in terms of today's money)

Let's say you can get a flight to berlin, Rome, Paris, or Madrid, for 50-100 euro now if you book in advance.

How much roughly were flights such as these prior to the budget airlines?

Interestingly, I've read articles recently which have predicted that when oil levels get really low, the prices of flights will increase to the extent that air travel will once again become a luxury.

About 150-200 Irish punts for a return flight to European city, if I recall. Bear in mind, you'd have to factor in inflation to get a more accurate measure of difference.

[Deleted User]

My parents did a lot of work in the UK in the late 80s and early 90s. Flights were extortionate. At times 3, 4 and even 500 punts for Dublin to Heathrow. Not last minute flights either.

Koptain Liverpool

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

About 150-200 Irish punts for a return flight to European city, if I recall. Bear in mind, you'd have to factor in inflation to get a more accurate measure of difference.

Right. That converts to around 350-400 euro according to the CSO inflation calculator :eek: Pricey alright.

the groutch

Which is why people should be thankful of the likes of Michael O'Leary.

Koptain Liverpool

the groutch wrote: »

Which is why people should be thankful of the likes of Michael O'Leary.

Absolutely.

I do have fond memories of heading to France on the ferry for summer camping holidays though. Still have the option of the boat even with the cheap flights though I guess!

whoopsadoodles

In 2008 myself and two friends decided to go away for a weekend, we didn't really care where, cheapest flights would do.

We got 3 return flights to London Gatwick for 0.06cent - no taxes or charges. We paid 1 cent each for each flight.

None of those bargains to be had nowadays.

amtc

I went to Australia in 1979 as a child and it was well over 1000. I remember my mam paying the cash to a travel agent and I had never seen a 50 note.

rossie1977

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

In 2008 myself and two friends decided to go away for a weekend, we didn't really care where, cheapest flights would do.

We got 3 return flights to London Gatwick for 0.06cent - no taxes or charges. We paid 1 cent each for each flight.

None of those bargains to be had nowadays.

Yeah some amazing bargains back then. We got a trip to pisa for 1 cent

While you never see those kind of deals today I got one way Glasgow to Dublin for 9.99 the other week and last year return to Hong Kong for €250 (one stop in Zurich)

whoopsadoodles

rossie1977 wrote: »

Yeah some amazing bargains back then. We got a trip to pisa for 1 cent

While you never see those kind of deals today I got one way Glasgow to Dublin for 9.99 the other week and last year return to Hong Kong for €250 (one stop in Zurich)

I also pulled a few string for that trip and got us a free hotel in Kensington for three nights!

Hong Kong for 250 is fantastic.

HensVassal

rossie1977 wrote: »

Yeah some amazing bargains back then. We got a trip to pisa for 1 cent

While you never see those kind of deals today I got one way Glasgow to Dublin for 9.99 the other week and last year return to Hong Kong for €250 (one stop in Zurich)

Jaysus, what website do you get these deals on?

Grayson

I was looking at a contracting job in Birmingham two weeks ago. I was wondering how much it would cost to fly home at weekends. 20 each way. Then I realised it might be a bit of a long commute but I could actually commute to Birmingham every day.

As someone earlier said, you were looking at a few hundred quid to fly to the UK in the 80's.

Winterlong

I used to fly to manchester every few months back in the early 90s. Booked flights months in advance and with either SAS or Aer Lingus it was always in and around £125 return.

There were no baggage costs and I remember taking my bike on those flights a few times at no extra cost.
Got a free drink on the plane too. But the smoking ban on planes had just come in...so no smoking on the flight.

How times have changed!

Red Kev

the groutch wrote: »

Which is why people should be thankful of the likes of Michael O'Leary.

British Midland were the first to do cheap flights to the UK, Ryanair followed. It was an EU ruling that made airports give up slots for other airlines.

Return flight for a child Dublin to London in 1983 was £79.
For an adult in 1985 it was £129. British Midland started selling them for £49 when they started.

snubbleste

rossie1977 wrote: »

Yeah some amazing bargains back then. We got a trip to pisa for 1 cent
While you never see those kind of deals today I got one way Glasgow to Dublin for 9.99 the other week and last year return to Hong Kong for €250 (one stop in Zurich)

Yeah you do.
Ryanair had 70c return to Copenhagen last year
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=94258628

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

keano_afc

I remember seeing an episode of Reeling in the Years from the 80's and there was a section on Moore Street in Dublin. A travel agency was in the background and in the window they were advertising flights to America one way for nearly £1000.

ceegee

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

In 2008 myself and two friends decided to go away for a weekend, we didn't really care where, cheapest flights would do.

We got 3 return flights to London Gatwick for 0.06cent - no taxes or charges. We paid 1 cent each for each flight.

None of those bargains to be had nowadays.

Ryanair have 2 euro flights on tuesdays and wednesdays in november to selected location

[Deleted User]

Deleted User wrote: »

My parents did a lot of work in the UK in the late 80s and early 90s. Flights were extortionate. At times 3, 4 and even 500 punts for Dublin to Heathrow. Not last minute flights either.

Wow ... £500 in the late 80s was like a months take home pay.

Koptain Liverpool

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

How much would the ferry/bus combo to London have cost at that time?

Pinch Flat

I lived in London for 5 years, mid 90s to 2000. A flight could work out about £150 (sterling) return, sometimes cheaper £80 perhaps with Ryanair - much more at Christmas £400 return not unusual.

I used to have to book my flight home in a travel agents around June - get a deposit down then pay a bit each week.

Winterlong

ceegee wrote: »

Ryanair have 2 euro flights on tuesdays and wednesdays in november to selected location

Call me cynical!

Ryanair has been experiencing 'issues' with its website since the launch of its €2 sale. Independent.ie Travel has contacted the airline for clarification. Its IT team "is investigating to resolve this issue," it has tweeted.

[Deleted User]

Koptain Liverpool wrote: »

How much would the ferry/bus combo to London have cost at that time?

About 30 pounds if I remember correctly.

whoopsadoodles

ceegee wrote: »

Ryanair have 2 euro flights on tuesdays and wednesdays in november to selected location

Are you actually able to find a flight at that price?

Winterlong

whoopsadoodles wrote: »

Are you actually able to find a flight at that price?

Some people at the bargain alerts thread did find some at that price. But none since about lunch time due to the 'issue' with the website!

Cienciano

I remember around 1997 looking for a flight to London to any airport well in advance and it was costing about £200. I had call around travel agents to get quotes too. In the end, I got the bus from Busaras to London, cost me £42.
And last week I flew to Bristol for €30. Taxi from the airport to my house in Dublin, 20 minutes drive cost €45.

hmmm

Expensive enough that the ferries were packed during the Summer with families going on holidays. For most middle class families, the idea of flying anywhere wasn't an option.

Cienciano

hmmm wrote: »

Expensive enough that the ferries were packed during the Summer with families going on holidays. For most middle class families, the idea of flying anywhere wasn't an option.

Yeah, the only people I knew that went abroad on a plane in the 80s were people who worked in the airport

unkel

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

About 150-200 Irish punts for a return flight to European city, if I recall.

It was far higher than that on some routes with zero competiton. I travelled a lot between Dublin and Schiphol around 1995 and 200 punts would be about the cheapest return flight I had

I remember paying about 350 punts for a one way flight and some of my flights for work were several times that. And to put things into perspective: a university graduate fresh out of college made £11k back then gross. On which you had to pay substantial taxes.

So basically, a return flight was one or two weeks wages for someone making decent money

Unthinkable now!

A few years later we flew return to Paris all the time for anywhere between £0.01 and £14.99 thanks to Michael O'Leary

Mint Sauce

Remember in the late 80s and 90s, you had to go into a travel agents, who printed your tickets, and prices between London and Belfast were between £100-200. Of course if you were under 12, you could get a child rate. You could get away with this for a year or two, just as long as you changed your DOB by a year, if ever asked at the check in desk. As it was London/Belfast you didn't need a passport. Just as long as you didn't already appear on your parents one.

It was the good oul days, British Midland, Britania, and the Worlds Favourite Airline BA, free drinks and snacks, 20kg of baggage, roll up 10 minutes before departure, and a shake down from the British Army, The RUC, and Airport Security, just to get into Aldergrove (Belfast INT).