Has anyone ever had much luck with standby flights?

[piggynose]

I´m looking at an outside chance of going to the uk from spain on 13 May for a couple of days.
any advice would be gratefully received

pn

[237SJ]

Well, I have never done a commercial stand by flight myself. I have been in Barbados and have been standing by with stand by passengers who have managed to get onto the aircraft. It is a very nerve-wracking experience and in Europe I would say, it isn`t worth it. Air tickets in Europe are quite cheap and to be honest, stand by would be a waste of time. Oh, I`ve just remembered I stood by to get home from Bahrain with Gulf Air about 7 years ago and it cost me £430 one way. God, I`ve never been so glad to get home!

[Prudie]

I've never done it but I'd have thought UK to Spain flights were fairly heavily booked if not overbooked so chances of a standby seat are slim. The prices of a standard booking these days aren't so bad are they?

[Buenchico]

'Standby flights', per se, seem to be a thing of the past. In the 'good(?) old days', you could turn up at an airport shortly before a flight was due to take off and argue for a discounted fare. Since the advent of budget airlines, the rule seems to be that last-minute travellers must always pay the absolute maximum price.

If you're more specific I'll try to see what options you might have. Which Spanish airports are suitable for you? How will you be getting to the airport? (If it's in your own car it's obviously important that you fly back to the same airport that you left from. If it's by public transport, or you'll be getting a lift, you could possibly fly out from one airport and return to another). Which UK airports are acceptable to you? (Again, could you fly into one airport and leave from a different one?). Are there any time constraints on your 13th May departure? When you say 'a couple of days', when exactly do you want to return? (Date and time constraints, please).

Chris

[237SJ]

Stand by flights in Europe will be a waste of time. Long haul flights - yes maybe. Europe - no.

[piggynose]

well chris, i´m not so minted as some abers. the cheapest i found was over 200 euros, and this was an indirect flight. i want to travel from madrid to brum depart 13 may and return 15 may.

thanx in advance

pn

[Buenchico]

Both the Madid Barajas Airport website and the Birmingham International Airport website state that there are currently no direct scheduled flights from Madrid to Birmingham. The prices you've found are almost certainly for connecting flights, which are usually more expensive anyway.

Flights from Birmingham don't go anywhere near to Madrid. (The nearest airport, which is served directly from Birmingham, is Valencia but that's a very long train journey away).

The nearest airport to Birmingham, served directly from Madrid, is Manchester. The 1635 flight with Ryanair, on 13th May, is currently priced at €27.99. It lands at 1825. The 1929 rail departure from the airport will get you to Birmingham New Street at 2132. (Or the 2000 will get you there at 2200. Change at Manchester Piccadilly in both cases). The advance purchase fare is currently £17.00

There's a £17.00 advance rail fare currently offered on the 1401 service ex Birmingham New Street (arriving at 1617) or on the 1531 (arriving at 1729). Change at Manchester Piccadilly again. The return flight leaves at 1850, arriving in Madrid at 2240, costing €27.79.

http://www.ryanair.com/en

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Chris

[Buenchico]

PS: To save money, take the (direct) National Express coach service from Manchester Airport to Birmingham Coach Station.
Outbound: Depart 2025 Arrive 2250
Return: Depart 1500 (or 1415 ). Arrive 1710 (or 125)
Return fare = £21.50
http://www.nationalex...rport/manchester.aspx

[micmak]

Chris, You're wasted on AB. :-)

[piggynose]

you´re a star chris!!!!!!!!!!
i´ll book it now.
if its booked without any problems, i owe you a drink