flights to Genoa and back from CapeTown SA

[mrsann]

My partner and I have booked a cruise leaving from Genoa Italy on October 28th and as we don't want to return from Durban when the cruise finishes we have to make our own flight arrangements.can anyone help us find the best flight options from Manchester or Liverpool to Genoa then from CapeTown to manchester early in December.i know none of the airlines are showing bookings that far ahead yet but just wondered if anyone had any ideas of where we could find reasonably priced fares etc.we did ehar we may find it cheaper to book a return flight from UK /Capetown and not use te outbound journey.Does anyone know more about this please? thanks a lot

[jno]

I don't think they allow that any more though I did it once long ago. Now airlines won't let you on to a flight home if you weren't on the flight out, on the grounds that you are probably al-Qaeda. I could be wrong, so perhaps someone has more up-to-date information.

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

This could turn out to be rather complicated ;-)

There are no direct flights from Liverpool to either Genoa or Cape Town:
http://www.liverpoolairport.com/page.php?p=83

The are no direct flights from Manchester to either Genoa or Cape Town:
http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/MANInfo/All Destinations

The only flights into Genoa, from any UK airport, are from Stansted:
http://www.aeroportodigenova.com/file/orari/or ario_invernale_07_08_arrivi.pdf

Looking at that arrivals schedule for Genoa suggests that Paris CDG might be a sensible airport to make a connection. easyJet fly from Liverpool to Paris CDG. Air Europa, Air France, Delta Airlines, FlyBe and Jet2.com operate to CDG from Manchester.

Alitalia and Air France operate a joint (code share) service from CDG to Genoa, so the obvious airline to check first (because it serves both legs) is Air France. The problem is that they're quoting �619 per person, for flights on 24th or 25th October (with no service available on 26th, 27th or 28th).

[Buenchico]

You could reduce the cost by taking a budget airline flight to Paris but you'd still have to pay �454 per person from CDG to Genoa. (Additionally, if your budget flight was cancelled or delayed, you'd not be able to claim any compensation in respect of missing the Air France flight).

The Genoa airport schedule shows that Air One operates from both Naples and Rome Fiumicino to Genoa. (Alitalia also operates on the Rome FCO-Genoa route). Thomsonfly has a scheduled service from Manchester to Naples. Jet2.com operates from Manchester to Rome FCO. There are no flights from Liverpool to Naples. Ryanair fly to Rome, from Liverpool, but they use Ciampino airport.

Jet2com are currently only accepting bookings up 25th Oct but, based upon the fare for 20th Oct, they'll fly you to Rome FCO for �19.99 (That's including taxes!). Air One have several flights per day from Rome to Genoa, at �72.56 (about �50) per person. So, I recommend flying Manchester-Rome-Genoa, with Jet2.com and Air One, for a total of about �70 per person, including taxes. Why not have a few days in Rome, if time allows? (Genoa is also a great city to explore. The Old Town is really lovely).

I'll post this lot, then I'll take a look at flights from Cape Town.

Chris

[Buenchico]

It would probably be best to return via Heathrow.

BA's prices from Cape Town to Heathrow, including taxes, in early December are in the range �360 to �450.

Virgin Atlantic are slightly dearer, with prices between �385 and �507, including taxes.

South African Airways offer an inclusive fare of �499.

Getting back from Heathrow to Manchester means using either BA or BmiBaby.

BmiBaby are currently quoting between �32 and �72, including taxes, for flights between LHR and MAN, in early December.

BA are currently offering a �38 fare (including taxes) on this route in early December. (Purchasing a through fare from Cape Town doesn't save you anything. It might even cost a little more. However, it would offer the considerable advantage of not having to collect all your baggage and then check it back in. It should be transferred between the aircraft automatically).

So, I recommend booking Cape Town-Heathrow-Manchester, with BA

Chris

[dzug]

If you don't turn up for the outward flight the airline will cancel the return.