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.

Supply and demand. Look into flying to a different airport and taking the train?

Sadly I’ve found that half terms are a nightmare. You can get lucky with the Autumn half term to Europe as it’s “ out if season “ but May has never been easy.

I usually find something at the end of the summer. I’ve changed jobs twice in the last few years and allowed for a holiday in my start date. It’s all that’s kept me sane as I’ve been stuck with school holidays for 30 years.

I hear ya. Flights are expensive. But I’m not sure they’re quite as expensive as you say. My half term in May is the last week. Just looking on Skyscanner for flights from the U.K. to Spain for four people going out on the Sunday and back the following Saturday (total return prices show below, not price per person):

• Stansted to Malaga £940 with Jet2
• Stansted to Palma £1360 with Ryanair
• Manchester to Palma £1440 with Ryanair
• Manchester to Ibiza £996 with Ryanair

There are loads to all the Spanish destinations. Hope you find one!

Surely you knew all this when you chose your profession?
Such post are thrown up every term and half term.
Why not lobby the hospitality and airline industry to get prices changed.
Although given australia and nz have their long holiday 6 months after the uk, it's all going to get complicated.
Market forces. Sometimes timing is shitty, but silver lining, it's for those not tied to kids

Ah, fabulous. If you are happy to suggest another citizen to break rules for their own benefit, it says a lot

That half term is always more expensive than summer holidays. I guess because there are fewer options. If you want a week holiday you pretty much have to go Saturday to Saturday. Maybe a Friday or Sunday if you can make timings work. In the 6 weeks of summer you have much more flexibility.

You can usually get a package deal for much better value. Expedia for example do some great deals.

£800 is crazy though, we are going on a cruise for half term and it was only that each and includes all our food.

Ooh my reply was hidden, I mentioned a holiday company so many thats why?

I just said that £800 is crazy, our half term cruise was only that each which includes food. Package deals tend to be the best value at the more expensive times.

It's quite late to be looking for deals for May HT.

You either have to risk really last minute like the week before, or book months in advance.

I'm not mega organised but booked for may HT with a black Friday deal.

Is it really that much? Where are you travelling from and to OP?

Saturday to Friday of May half term Edinburgh to Santander is £100pp return Ryanair basic fare.

Even more popular spots like Malaga are only £200pp Sat-Sat.

You’ve left it very late to book to expect a reasonable fare, especially after such a long awful winter when we’re all after some sunshine.
Plan earlier and you can get well priced flights.

Thanks everyone. Managed to get cheaper looking at different airport. Don't know why did not think of that

I was going to say exactly the same! We’re near Glasgow & have driven to Newcastle & Manchester before to get better deals! Thr flights were full of Scots families. I have noticed the reverse too! Glasgow flights full of Northern families. Only works if within a tolerable drive though! Much easier now dc are uni age. But I can understand your frustration as s teacher.

As others have said, it’s purely to do with supply and demand. Very few people want to go in mid January, so it’s a lot cheaper. Loads of people want to go in May half term week so it’s a lot more expensive. And holiday businesses have to maintain the infrastructure all year round, so of course will seek to maximise profits in the popular weeks given that very few people want to go at other times of the year.

Loving your username!

But surely parents 'know all this' when they choose to have children and choose to send them to school...

There are plenty of parents constantly complaining too about the cost of holidays. As parents, it affects them only for the years their children are actually at school and if they are happy to pay the fines, it doesn't actually affect them as much as it affects teachers and other school staff.

It affects teachers for their entire waiting lives. Yes, they chose to be teachers. It doesn't mean they are joyfully happy to pay extortionate prices for every single holiday we ever go on before they retire (including 'cheaper' options in the UK). It's OK for teachers to complain too, surely?

Just google the flights you want and go on a different airline. Sometimes you may have to go on a different airline there and back. No biggie. Or go for 6 days not 7. There are many ways to get a normal rate. I am a teacher and have never paid over the odds. Always get a decent price for things.

It depends where you are - my sons school go back 22 April

jet 2 are double what easy jet are for me

I booked as soon as came out last year for school holidays this year

1 adult and 1 child was £600 so £300 a flight

easy jet was over a grand for the two of us

diff time flights are cheaper so a midnight flight less then a civilised lunchtime one

Glad you found something OP.

Spreading out of school holidays by area would possibly reduce this issue, but have many drawbacks. The Welsh government may end up imposing dates for 2027 because some councils want different times than others, and those with children at different schools in some cases will have different holidays.

Enjoy your trip!