As you know, John, we've used Jet2 for various destinations over the last decade or so as, living just a 20 minute drive from Leeds Bradford Airport, they are so convenient for us compared to the likes of Manchester or Newcastle. However, Jet2 are definitely no longer the low cost airline that they used to be and Leeds Bradford, the airline's home base, seems to suffer more than their other UK departure points.
With our Heraklion flights for this September booked as early as last September, I've checked out September '12 flights, but, even at this early stage, the pricing is not attractive. The online price quoted today for the same two weeks in 2012 represents a 13.5% increase on this September. Similar bookings from Manchester are a bit cheaper and Newcastle a bit cheaper again. It's no surprise either that the flights we might be interested in aren't available for using some of our accrued Jet2 reward points.
Easyjet from Manchester for September next year will probably be a cheaper option although bookings for then are not currently available. Interestingly I see that Jet2's last Heraklion-Newcastle flight next year is as late as November 6th, with flights throughout October.
I intend to hold fire re next year for a while, but suspect we will end up deciding to pay a premium for the convenience of flying from just down the road at LBA. Going on a package may well be a cheaper option, but as visitors to Plakias most years since the early 1990s and staying virtually every time at Stellas we feel loyalty towards Markos and family and love the warm greeting we receive every year as well as preferring the freedom a self booked self drive trip gives us. BTW, as non-far enders, we had visited Plakias at least a couple of times before we even knew there was a far end!
