Anyone with any ideas about flight costs to various med destinations?

[Lozzapops]

Hi, I'm starting to think about next years holiday, it will be our first trip abroad with our daughter, who will be around 20 months when we go. We think we will hire an apartment or similar, and would really like to go somewhere that has reasonably priced flights. We'll go low-cost airline (most likely easyjet). Just wondering if anyone can suggest which locations might have the lowest cost flights - more specifically we are thinking of Portugal, Majorca, Ibiza or Menorca. Probably not mainland Spain, and thought we would avoid Greece as we'd like a flight of around 2 hours or so. Plan to go in the beginning of June, and will travel from Stansted or possibly Luton.

I haven't planned a short haul trip for a long time, so I'm sorry if this seems like a ridiculous post. Just wish they released flights a bit further in advance than they do and I could look myself!

Try the Jet2 website they have some flights showing just now -well up until July 2015. As a rule BA normally show up to 11 months in advance too (although I know you said low cost but sometimes there isn't that much in it if you are buying early and BA don't charge luggage fees-worth a check)
Your daughter will only have to pay an infant fee unless you want her to have her own seat
I normally cheapest Spain or Portugal -although remember destination can balance the price out for you for instance -flights are cheaper to South of France but accommodation over summer is more expensive than say Spain or Portugal where you get more value for accommodation. We hire a car and found Spain a couple of hundred pounds cheaper than elsewhere so you probably need a rough idea of everything involved. With being able to go in June and not be stuck to school holidays you should get a reasonable price and choice of accommodation.

Have a look at www.whichbudget.com

you can choose just where you want to fly from and then see different pricing options of all the different flights available from there (scroll down to the bottom of the page)

I hope that makes sense!

Just to add I also liked using Jet2 or BA as when travelling with an infant the luggage allowances were more generous. 22kg luggage, a pram and a car seat made it easier than trying to keep nappies , swim nappies etc in 15kgs of luggage. BA also give you 10kgs hand luggage allowance for a baby which is again handy for nappies, snack , spare clothes and toys on board if you need to use your own hand luggage allowance for your own stuff.

Yes, definitely don't rule out BA from your searches.

I have paid £900 for return flights from Heathrow to Majorca for 2 adults and 3 children end May/beginning of June next year (school holidays). Jet2 were wanting over £1,600 for the same dates from all their northern airports, and that was with us managing with one checked-in bag for the hold and cramming everything else into hand luggage.

BA don't charge extra for anything, the flight times are better and the kids get an activity bag on the plane. You also get a drink and snack on the plane for free.

magenta and silly, sorry it's taken so long to respond to you. And Alice thank you for your input too.

I hadn't considered BA at all, nor Jet2. Neither of those fly from Stansted unfortunately, it is tricky, we live only 20 minutes away from Stansted so it is just so convenient. And my parents are only 20 minutes from Luton, so that is a good other option. I feel loathe to travel to Heathrow or Gatwick, although obviously would if the flight options are way better.

BA sounds good in terms of being child-friendly. As it will be our first time travelling with a little one, perhaps we should just suck up the inconvenience of getting there, to have the peace of mind that we'd get a better flight experience.

It seems it is as I suspected - Spain and Portugal being cheapest. South of France may be an option - I have never been, but many friends have taken little ones recently and raved about it. A friend of a friend has a nice apartment they rent out quite reasonably, maybe we could look into that.

Lots of food for thought! Thanks for all your help, especially with suggesting airlines I hadn't thought of.