Shocking hikes in airline fares for Euro 2012

[MARTIN3030]

As English fans cheer securing a victory over their Ukrainian hosts on Tuesday night,any fans making a late decision to fly out and follow England will have little to cheer when they see the prices of flights which have increased massively from usual fares.

I decided to take a look at 4 leading carriers with regular routes to Kiev from London.

Boryspil is still the biggest airport and is serviced by all the majors except Wizz Air,who have made the smaller Zhulani their Ukraine hub.

Boryspil is approximately 40 minutes ride from the centre of Kiev,whils Zhulani is only around 15 minutes.

 

A typical return flight from London Luton to Kiev at this time of the year can usually be booked for between £140-£180 including 32kg baggage.In fact holders of a Wizz Air membership which costs £24.99 can get up to 20% discount on flights booked online.

 

So here is the online price found after England secured their victory,based on staying for the duration of the tournament.

 

 

Going Out

London Luton (LTN) >>

Kyiv Zhulyany (IEV)

06/22/12 W6 6001

Depart LTN 4:30 PM

Return Flight

 

Coming Back

Kyiv Zhulyany (IEV) >>

London Luton (LTN)

07/02/12 W6 6002

Depart IEV 10:10 PM

Price Summary

Service fees

Going Out

LTN >> IEV (Web)

1 Adult @ 319.49 319.49 GBP

Taxes / Fees [details] 20.50 GBP

Coming Back

IEV >> LTN (Web)

1 Adult @ 329.32 329.32 GBP

Taxes / Fees [details] 10.67 GBP

Services and Fees

Baggage fee 42.00 GBP

Taxes 0.00 GBP

price excluding

booking fee 721.98 GBP

Booking fee 14 GBP

total price 735.98 GBP

[MARTIN3030]

Next I checked KLM who I know usually do this return flight from London to Boryspil at this time of year for around £180-£220

 

Flights

GBP 790.98

per adult

London (Heathrow Airport) - Kiev (Borispol Airport) - Return

Departure: Fri 22 Jun 12 06:40 London - 14:20 Kiev

 

Return: Tue 3 Jul 12 14:10 Kiev - 17:10 London

[MARTIN3030]

What about trusty Lufthansa ?

 

Their usual prices for this flight can be bought for between £170-£230

 

London (LON) to Kiev (IEV): Departing: Fri 22 Jun - Returning: Tue 3 Jul

 

Date Departure Arrival Flight Duration Cabin

Fri 22 Jun 08:05London, Heathrow 10:25 Duesseldorf LH3381 5h00 Economy (M)

Fri 22 Jun 11:30Duesseldorf 15:05 Kiev , Boryspil International LH3004 Economy (M)

 

 

Return

 

Tue 3 Jul 17:15Kiev, Boryspil International 18:40 Munich LH2545 5h05 Economy (M)

Tue 3 Jul 19:15Munich 20:20 London , Heathrow LH2482 Economy (M)

 

 

Total Price £ 765.27

[MARTIN3030]

The biggest shocker is saved until last have a guess who it is ?

[MARTIN3030]

British Airways

 

 

Check your flight itinerary details

Outbound - Friday 22 Jun, 2012

 

£ 1,238.39

Email price quote

 

 

Currency calculator

Change flights

 

Flight 07:00

22 Jun 12:15

22 Jun Heathrow (London) Kiev (Borispol) BA0840

British Airways Euro Traveller

 

 

 

Inbound - Tuesday 3 Jul, 2012

Flight 15:55

3 Jul 17:25

3 Jul Kiev (Borispol) Heathrow (London) BA0883

British Airways Euro Traveller

[MARTIN3030]

Nalivi ......after those prices you would certainly need one.

[the_shadow]

Footie fans have always paid a premium to get normal flights to away games but this is taking it to another level.

 

I wonder if other countries are experiencing the same for flights into the UK for the Olympics? Unfortunately I suspect they are.

 

S.

[MaxxPower]

There's literally no excuse for it beyond sheer profiteering. There's no increase in the costs involved in providing the flight at all.

Then again it's always been the same with holidays during the summer. The price of the actual service doesn't increase, yet the price charged skyrockets during school holidays.

[the_shadow]

MaxxPower,

 

I think its slightly different with school holiday pricing, the dates are known and its factored into the budgeting/costing the airlines do so that people who travel outside of those times probably get a subsidised ride on the back of the families that have to travel on those dates.

 

With the footie/Olympics its a one off or a moving date/time so probably not subsidising the other weeks as the school holiday travel does but rather pure profiteering.

 

Thats my take on it anyway... would be good to find someone in the industry who could confirm/deny the school holidays costs help subsidise the other weeks/months travel

 

S.

[MARTIN3030]

Paying a premium is one thing but these prices are treble what they usually are.

Yanukovitch had done a deal with Ryanair to shame Hoteliers.

Ryanair were offering 3x return flights for the 3 group stage games for $900.

 

Airline companies have jacked up the prices as England have continued their wins.

How can it be anything to do with supply and demand,when the ticket allocations were not even sold.

There are 22 Airlines doing flights to Kiev from the UK so there is certainly no shortage of seats !

[assisted blonde]

It may be greedy of the airline companies but I bet if England get any further there wont be a plane ticket to be had anywhere.

[MARTIN3030]

True..and the same will go for a pint.

I heard they have struggled to keep up demand as the English lads clean them out.

In the last few years,the youngsters have moved well away from their Russian reputation of being a nation of vodka swillers..you are more likely to see them drinking beer including Carling which was launched there last year.

Vodka of course is now Englands biggest selling spirit but it costs a lot more than the 25-30 uah a bottle there (about £2.20)..and it is far superior to Smirnoff.