Is this a daft idea?

[bigchris]

Dcs really want to go on a plane

We have no cash but wondered if we could do a day trip

We're near London so to Bristol or somewhere ?

Would we need passports?

I was thinking of putting the plane ticket in a stocking ?

Any amazing ideas , deals out there ?

As always thanks lovely mumsnetters x

You need photographic ID for any flight, I think.

I think a driving license is OK for an internal flight, but for those without it would have to be a passport anyway.

Don't assume that shorter flights will be cheaper, internal flights can be very expensive.

You'd be better off doing a night in a European city. Short internal flights are crazy expensive.

We got flights to Paris for £64 return - could be a nice day trip!

Prwssed post too soon!

Try www.skyscanner.com

You can search for flights from a specific airport to 'Everywhere' then either by a specific date or even better by month. The site will then give you a list of destination options in price order to you can see the cheapest tickets. If you go for one night or a day then you won't need hold baggage which will keep costs down.
Good luck

We've done Dublin for £1 plus taxes

I did a night flight up into the arctic circle to look at the northern lights then straight back to Gatwick. It was fab and not too expensive.

For example this is pretty good

Stansted to Dublin on Saturday 5th January
Outbound leave 6.30am arrive 7.55am
Depart 9.30pm arrive 10.45pm
£56 total for one adult and one child

Play around see what you can find.

Budget ???

It's a great idea. I wouldn't put the ticket in a stocking. I'd put a copy in a stocking. Or id frame a photo collage of the destination. But if be too worried about the ticket!

Oh this is brilliant thank you !

Chipsandketchup- that is amazing, I literally had no idea you could do that !

Op, check thr passport requirements with the airlines before you book, they all can differ for internal flights, and have their own rules, especially with kids.

Thanks bluntness , I'll definitely do that

It looks like it's gone up in price a lot since I did it 10 years ago but it's well worth it if you can pick up a deal

ChipsandKetchip, I'm intrigued could you tell us what your trip involved and times and flight etc. Appreciate it was 10 years ago but very interesting!

If you didn't actually want to go anywhere per se, Southend Airport are doing their Santa flights again this year...

www.essex-tv.co.uk/santa-flights-are-back-at-london-southend-airport-for-2018/

Rollseyes, that's a fantastic idea!

I know, @DeepIn40. I'm actually a bit annoyed mine are too old for this now. So selfish .

I've seen Glasgow to Dublin for £17 return with Ryanair. But...I think you will need passports for the children? As they won't have any photo ID?

As an aside my nan used to talk with great fondness of day trip she had as a teenager in 1930s and it involved a flight from the pier. Her mum was cross with the saved wages she spent.

@DeepIn40 sure thing.

It was an evening flight from Gatwick. So a short briefing and coffee then onto the plane. We flew north just into the arctic circle then they turned out all the lights. It was so pitch black. Then out of one side of the plane we could see the lights.

People swapped seats a lot to allow others to view out of the window. Then after a while of circling we returned to Gatwick. It was a great experience!

omegabreaks.com/northern-lights-flights

You can book flight experiences in a light aircraft, and you wouldn't need passports as you basically stay in this country. I bought one a few years back and it was about £50.

From Southend pier, @MrsPear? Sounds like it was worth the money 😀

If you're flying within the UK you just need photo ID (i.e. driving license) and the kids are usually fine to travel without a passport (airline dependant - I know FlyBe are fine) as long as you can prove your relationship, e.g. by taking their birth certificate.

Mum says she said had a certificate. We will have to look it up.

op just a thought how about a local flying school - they may have experiences you can book