Last-ditch sun holiday deals soar despite Aer Lingus flights disruption

Low-price holiday flights and packages are still available to last minute holidaymakers, despite the uncertainty the Aer Lingus dispute is having on summer travel. 

For passengers who need to change their Aer Lingus booking, or those who haven’t booked anything at all yet, many airlines are showing prices dropping as departure dates loom.

As of yesterday, a one-week holiday in Spain departing next Saturday was available for €269 per person including accommodation and flights.

Seven-night packages to Alvor in the Algarve, Portugal, for €500 per person in July and August are also still available.

Holiday makers can avail of return fares to the Algarve for €294, with Ryanair flying out at peak time next Saturday and returning the following Saturday. A similar saver fare on Aer Lingus is priced at €336. 

Flights to European capital cities have been impacted most by the Aer Lingus dispute with the airline opting to cancel flights on the routes where it has multiple flights each day, such as Paris, Amsterdam and London.

This perhaps explains why return fares of €166 to Paris are available with Aer Lingus next Saturday, returning the same day the following week. 

For peak holiday time and just before the city hosts the Olympic Games, this sort of value would not usually be available at this time of year. 

A similar trip with Air France currently costs €180. Ryanair does not fly to Paris, but a trip to the nearby airport of Beauvais 90kms away costs €104 for a return trip on the same dates. 

And there is still also plenty of good value for guaranteed sun holidays. A two-week package holiday to Athens, Greece, in an apartment with flights leaving next Saturday is priced at €780 per person with Budget Travel. 

But probably the best value on offer for next weekend is a one-week break for two people in Cordoba in Andalucia, Spain, departing next Saturday morning.

The packages – which includes Ryanair flights and accommodation at the Arc House guesthouse – is available for €269 per person on love holidays.ie

The late availability of bargains this summer will come as welcome news for holidaymakers fed up with the so far disappointing Irish weather and those concerned about the impact of the Aer Lingus industrial action.

Our sample findings come as research published by Click&Go Holidays found half of the Irish people surveyed this week have still not booked their holiday for 2024. And 80% said they will book their holiday in July, August or September. 

Click&Go CEO Paul Hackett said: ‘September is likely to see an uptake in bookings and be a busy month for travel.’ 

‘Forty-seven per cent of those who have yet to book a holiday are likely to book in September. The most popular period for those who have not yet booked is for travel in September and October, with 52% of holidaymakers who have held out on booking their getaway opting to travel then.’

According to Mr Hackett, sun holidays top the list for the type of holiday respondents plan to book.

Of those who have not yet booked their holiday, almost three-in-four (73%) say they plan on catching some autumn sun. 

‘Although autumn means the return of schools, 60% of those surveyed who travel with children would consider taking their children out of school to save on holiday prices,’ Mr Hackett added.

‘July and August still remain a popular time with 32% of respondents that have not yet booked expected to travel in that period.’

Ferry companies are also reporting strong bookings this summer.

Irish Ferries said its SailRail offering between the UK and Ireland is in high demand.

‘And for those who had not yet finalised their travel plans, its Dublin to Cherbourg route to France is also proving very popular, helped by its Kids Go Free Offer.’

This offer is also available on the Irish Sea, with lots of people combining this with a theme park visit to Legoland or Alton Towers, both of which are offered as part of a package with ferry travel. 

The company said many people are travelling to France for the Olympic Games, either for ticketed events or just to soak up the atmosphere with many events in public areas. 

But the company warned people may find accommodation pricey in Paris.