Cheapest way to travel to Ireland for Christmas

[Tillyboo]

Hi, a friend of mine needs to get back to Ireland (Belfast) for Christmas to see his family. He has limited funds (he works with horses) and has been quoted over £400 to fly from Heathrow with Aerlingus. He's only a young lad starting his first job so it's important to go back & be with his family.
Closest airport is Heathrow but I am sure he'd manage to travel from somewhere a little further afield if the overall travel cost is cheap.

So, in brief, Berkshire to Belfast or City of Derry ...

Can anyone help offer any advice please, I haven't got a clue !

Look at Easy jet from Luton or Gatwick or stansted I have just found return flight from luton 21 st to 28th for £121. easy bus connects to airports. It is best to start search from belfast or Derry and see who flies and from where . Then do your searh using that airline.

I use www.skyscanner.net which searches for the cheapest flight for you (including budget airlines). I love this website, saved me so much time!

London (all) for a departure will give you prices for the five airports. If he has freedom datewise it could be done for under £100.

Aw, thanks so much for the info. I am sure it will be very helpful !!!!!

Also if he is heading to Belfast it wouldn't be dreadful to fly into Dublin then bus up. I have done this the other way round before if flights significantly cheaper. Would look at stansted with Ryanair to Dublin or easy jet to Belfast. Best of luck

AS CestTout says, if he can get a cheaper flight to Dublin, there is a bus from Dublin airport to Belfast with Bus Eireann. Probably takes less than 2 hours.

cheaper again is the ferry to Dublin if he has a day to spare for travel!
Feckin Aer Lingus have got extortionate of late.