Flight prices at half term

[goodnightgrumble]

Sounds childish but it really isn't fair. I am a teacher and wanted to get away for a cheap week to visit a friend. Looked at may half term and the flights to Spain with Jet2 are 832 per person. I have this every bloody holiday. We end up not going as we can't. That's nearly 4k for the 4 of us on just flights. I looked to booked when flights first came out and they were 3k then so was hoping they might go down. How the hell do teachers afford holidays abroad or anywhere in fact? I completely understand why parents take their children out of school but I can't.
Just a moan really as nothing I can't onabout it except change jobs. Another reason to leave the profession in top of the stress and workload.

Dont know where you live but you could drive.

We both worked and only took annual leave when our kids had holidays. I wouldn’t have had enough annual leave if I took time out in term time too. So we were in the same situation as you. It’s not just teachers who can’t afford to go away.

Any business will want to maximise their profit, so if they can fill their flights at those prices, then they will charge that.

it is frustrating though, I can’t wait till I’m retired to explore more cheaply!

Have you looked at other airports and airlines?

Weve just booked a weeks holiday for four, all inclusive in a nice hotel in a popular destination in the summer holidays for not a lot more than that!

I agree it’s hard & unfair with school holiday prices, I think these days flights never get cheaper the closer to the date, the best option is to book as soon as they become available. Where are you trying to fly to/from though as from a quick search flights from London to Malaga in half term with BA are coming up at £2k for the 4.

It's called supply and demand. It's how capitalism works. As a retired teacher, yes, it was always more expensive when we wanted to holiday and we spent many years holidaying in the UK.

It's annoying. Half terms are the worst because there is so little flex. It can be a bit better at Easter and sometimes the summer if you can fly mid-week.

Look at airports in neighbouring counties or in one of the other home nations as half term holiday dates vary. As an example, we're in England but near the Scottish border and sometimes it's significantly cheaper for us to fly from Edinburgh or Glasgow than from our regional airport due to differences in pricing and in school holidays dates.

You can find the odd deal if you look around and book early. We're flying for £70pp return to Italy over may half term.
You also get more holiday than the average worker, which is an advantage in itself.

We’ve had cheap flights in the May and October half term but you have to book way in advance.

Scotland don’t have a half term in May so look at Scottish airports.

You need to shop around and look at other airports/dates ~ I’ve got London-Madrid coming up at £150pp Mon-Sat during May HT. Sure it’s Ryanair and not great timings, but even if it’s a bit of a trek on either end or a hotel stay the night before, it comes out miles cheaper than £4k! I travel a lot with DS during the holidays and never pay - or even look - for the ‘ideal’ flight, I run loads of options and work to my budget. It takes a while to get used to but well worth it for the hols!

Take a family sickie and go a couple of days early

Flights seem to be more expensive than ever too OP, so YANBU!

And claim fraudulent sick pay and risk being sacked for misconduct?

I feel your pain OP. In a similar situation myself 😕

🥱

Mental health innit

In Ireland and listened to a lovely headmaster this morning on the radio giving out about people taking their kids out of school and saying’kids don’t need foreign holidays, when we were growing up we just went to relatives’. I thought ‘my word he must be a laugh and a half to live with’ . It’s crap op, I hate what they do with prices at holiday time

to Spain for one week?

jet2 flights are often more expensive as they’d rather you booked a package. Have you checked out Ryanair, easier, Wizz air etc

Agree with PP to look at flights from Scotland. It’s not half term here.
We often fly from Newcastle when our schools break up at end of June as the school holiday prices haven’t hit there yet.

For a teacher that's gross misconduct if discovered and potential instant dismissal.

If the OP lives in the south and shares the driving. Depends where she wants to go.

Don't be ridiculous.

I managed to find a flight to Madeira from Bristol for £180 return 19th-26th April (second week of the Easter hols). I’m a teacher and I always manage to find something on Sky scanner.