How to Save Money With Low Cost Flights to Barcelona
In the days before the low cost airlines air travel was prohibitively expensive for many people.
However, the advent of airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair - and the others that have followed in their wake - mean that today it is possible to travel to Barcelona for prices that previously would have appeared to be absurdly cheap.
It is possible to find a budget flight if you know where to look.
Part of Barcelona's success as a tourist destination is the number of low-cost flights to the city.
One of the first routes that EasyJet flew was from Luton to Barcelona.
The low cost of living in Barcelona was one huge attraction as it meant that people could live it up for a few days without breaking the bank and the city was undergoing a change for the better largely due investment in infrastructure and modernisation due to the 1992 Olympics.
Established in 1995, EasyJet has 166 airplanes that fly the friendly skies from 20 spots across Europe.
The figures speak for themselves.
In 2008 alone, Easy Jet transported 44.
5 million people aboard their airlines.
Ryanair was founded in 1985 and when in 1991 the airline needed restructuring it was modelled after a Southwest Airlines, a US airline that offered a low cost, no-frills service, which was hugely successful.
By scheduling flights into regional airports, the company was able to cut overheads to the bone and by 1995, on the 10th anniversary of Ryanair's debut, the airline carried 2.
25 million passengers.
Today a huge part of th airlines cost advantages are due to the way in which they embraced the internet as a sales channel early on.
In order to get the best price possible you need to book online and as early as possible and neither airline pays commission to travel agents, thereby cutting out any other costs - you can only book direct with these airlines.
Generally you'll find that travelling mid week gives the best deals, although flights very early or late can also prove to be cheaper than at peak hours.
While Easyjet flights direct to Barcelona airport, you should be aware that Ryanair's flights to Girona Airport - one hour and twenty minutes north of Barcelona - can save you money, but you need to budget the time and expense of travelling to and from Barcelona.
The budget airlines may not have all the frills - onboard movies, drinks, snacks or other luxuries - but they will allow you to enjoy your destination by allowing you to save on the flight and therefore splash out a little when you get there.
One of the ways in which Easyjet saves money is by not allocating seats, so there is a bit of a scrum on boarding.
Ryanair does allocate seats, but on many flights they do not recline.
Getting a good seat therefore is rather hit or miss, but get to the airport early to check in as Easyjet do give passengers who check in earlier priority boarding.
However, the advent of airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair - and the others that have followed in their wake - mean that today it is possible to travel to Barcelona for prices that previously would have appeared to be absurdly cheap.
It is possible to find a budget flight if you know where to look.
Part of Barcelona's success as a tourist destination is the number of low-cost flights to the city.
One of the first routes that EasyJet flew was from Luton to Barcelona.
The low cost of living in Barcelona was one huge attraction as it meant that people could live it up for a few days without breaking the bank and the city was undergoing a change for the better largely due investment in infrastructure and modernisation due to the 1992 Olympics.
Established in 1995, EasyJet has 166 airplanes that fly the friendly skies from 20 spots across Europe.
The figures speak for themselves.
In 2008 alone, Easy Jet transported 44.
5 million people aboard their airlines.
Ryanair was founded in 1985 and when in 1991 the airline needed restructuring it was modelled after a Southwest Airlines, a US airline that offered a low cost, no-frills service, which was hugely successful.
By scheduling flights into regional airports, the company was able to cut overheads to the bone and by 1995, on the 10th anniversary of Ryanair's debut, the airline carried 2.
25 million passengers.
Today a huge part of th airlines cost advantages are due to the way in which they embraced the internet as a sales channel early on.
In order to get the best price possible you need to book online and as early as possible and neither airline pays commission to travel agents, thereby cutting out any other costs - you can only book direct with these airlines.
Generally you'll find that travelling mid week gives the best deals, although flights very early or late can also prove to be cheaper than at peak hours.
While Easyjet flights direct to Barcelona airport, you should be aware that Ryanair's flights to Girona Airport - one hour and twenty minutes north of Barcelona - can save you money, but you need to budget the time and expense of travelling to and from Barcelona.
The budget airlines may not have all the frills - onboard movies, drinks, snacks or other luxuries - but they will allow you to enjoy your destination by allowing you to save on the flight and therefore splash out a little when you get there.
One of the ways in which Easyjet saves money is by not allocating seats, so there is a bit of a scrum on boarding.
Ryanair does allocate seats, but on many flights they do not recline.
Getting a good seat therefore is rather hit or miss, but get to the airport early to check in as Easyjet do give passengers who check in earlier priority boarding.
