Chances of turning up at the airport and getting a flight?

mae

Does anybody know what the chances of turning up at the airport on Friday and waiting for a flight to Amsterdam are? And also will this be a cheap way of doing it? I am trying to get 2 flights to Amsterdam for Friday morning but the prices are ridiculous????

Elljay_2

What airport are you going to do this from? Are there many airlines that fly to Amsterdam from your chosen airport? I would say that you don't have a better chance than booking in advance. Most airlines would rather their seats go empty than slash prices on the day. Airlines usually don't do "standby" seats any more. Sorry, I may be wrong but I worked in an airport for 12 years and they were phased out. I didn't have any experience with the "budget airlines" but I would imagine their policy is the same. The further in advance you book, the cheaper it is.

snu

Why not get the ferry - it would be £50 return per person (for One trains from London to Harwich + ferry + trains amsterdam side). I know it seems a long time to travel but the ferry has things to do (cheapish drinks too). Also you may be waiting at the airport for a long time too - so if you can get to London easily then maybe thats the way to go?

http://www.dutchflyer.co.uk/

richardw

No chance. I'd seriously look into the ferry or http://www.nationalexpress.com/eurolines/home/hp.cfm

mae

Thanks everybody for the info. I would be flying from either manchester or liverpool. The flights are coming up about £450 for 2 of us I think that is a bit pricey but my son really wants to go and see the united match over there. I'll keep looking.

alanrowell

You have a good chance of getting a flight - but you don't have any chance of getting it cheap.

For scheduled flights the rule is simple - book well ahead.

BTW the probable reason the flights are so expensive is because people are flying out to watch United

gizmos

if you go out on 4th and back on 6th its £335, that would involve two nights stay this is with KLM, however have you looked on Expedia etc to see if they can do some sort of "weekend break" package deal

marble

Hi,

Having turned up at the airport before on the off chance of getting a cheap flight, I can tell you that it doesn't work like that any more. TO go anywhere was twice as expensive as usual.

There are some relatively cheap flights on flyBMI and BA looked cheap for the return leg (if you can find a cheap outward bound flight).

Al

gizmos

marble wrote:

Hi,

Having turned up at the airport before on the off chance of getting a cheap flight, I can tell you that it doesn't work like that any more. TO go anywhere was twice as expensive as usual.

There are some relatively cheap flights on flyBMI and BA looked cheap for the return leg (if you can find a cheap outward bound flight).

Al

Found a cheap outward leg from Newcastle on the Friday at £30

marble

The cheap flights I saw were London ... I think Amsterdam to Newcastle via BA is veeery expensive!