ryanair/easyjet flights to Palma from Liverpool

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Hiya, just thinking WAY ahead here, but thinking of going to Majorca NEXT year, in August - self-catering & cheapo flights. I have NO idea of how far ahead you have to book to get the cheapest flights, or even roughly what it would cost a family of 4 in August if you booked at the earliest opportunity.

I've tried looking at flight for THIS August to try and get an idea of what it's like during school holidays and it's coming to nearly 800 quid for a family of 4! Can someone reassure me that it's because it's only a month away that they're that expensive now? Do they have cheaper deals when they first release the flights or something? And how far ahead do they release the cheapest ones?

Thanks

Some EasyJet tips,

• Yes, you are probably right in thinking that the flights you are looking at for this year are at their top price because you are close to the date.

• In my experience, EJ flights are cheaper when first released, then go up and up, ....and then sometimes(but not always!) go down again if demand is not great.

• Many airlines have cut back their flights this year, due to recession, which probably means the remaining flights are more expensive.

• The very cheapest "low cost" flights will be from the major airports (where there is more competition) - check out London to Palma - any relatives you could stay with in the area? Also check out other airports closer to you.

• somewhere on EJ's site they tell you when the next season's flights will be released.

You can also register for email info.

• Midweek to midweek is always cheaper.

I guess the same pretty much applies to Ryanair too. Good luck!

Does it have to be Liverpool? bmibaby, Jet2, Thomson & Monarch all fly there from Manchester (you would have to pay me to use ryanair when there is an alternative but easyjet are OK).

I've just done a quick price check on all of them (except bmibaby, who aren't offering this Aug but do have schedules up to March 2011) & they all seem to be round about your £200 per head for Aug this year; but as mumonthenet says, prices do go up as you get nearer departure (but then sometimes down again...)

oo-er, just discovered Jet2 already have Aug 11 prices up but they are actually worse than Aug 10, although if you could travel on a Thursday they'd be less than half weekend prices, but unfortunately you can't usually book accommodation to start outside the weekend in the school holidays.

Does it have to be August? You can usually get much better prices around the May half-term holiday, esp if you could go maybe Thu before & come back Mon/Tue after, if no exams are involved?

Good luck anyway

Thanks for the posts, you two.

mumonthenet, some good tips there, thanks.

Ponders, unfortunately I work in a secondary school and we only get a week off for the May half-term, so it would HAVE to be Saturday to Saturday. So it's either do that, or go in August.

I'll try and register with all the cheapo airlines to get emails when the flights are released. Hopefully easyjet might be the best option if I book way ahead. I'll also look at going from Manchester as a possibility too.

Thanks again!

We flew with Easyjet this Spring Bank. I work in a school too so am tied to holidays and found that Sunday to Sunday was much cheaper. Hard getting up for work on Monday tho!