Airline carriers between European cities?

[gt40]

My family is planning a trip to Italy this year - with the ultimate destination being the Lamezia airport.
Direct flights are incredibly expensive (1400 - 2000 return x4), so someone suggested flying into London or Paris and jumping on a smaller intra-europe carrier.
I've found a flight through Zoom airlines (recommended by someone that flew through them) for 700 return to either London Gatwick or Paris De Galle.
Iv'e tried online to find flights from either to Lamazia, but am finding these flights about the same price as from Toronto to London.
My question is : what are my chances of being able to find a smaller carrier that I can book for a flight once I get to either London (so I can collect my beers from GNEP ) or Paris.
Is either stopover more favourable than the other - we don't plan on doing any sight seeing at either city.
flight would be early August with end of August return.

[GNEP]

Try http://www.easyjet.com/

or http://www.ryanair.com/

or http://www.flybmi.com/

These are the equivalents to Southwest in the states. Be aware however that to go from e.g. Heathrow to e.g. Stanstead (both London airports) can get a bit pricey (because they are on opposite sides of a great big city ) unless you have a lot of time on your hands. Or come and claim your beer and make a night of it in London. And beware that "London" Luton airport is nowhere near London at all...

[VJ]

No luck with Alitalia? Virgin Express?


Jörg

[gt40]

@ Gnep
Thanks, but unfortunetly none of those seem to fly to Lamezia

[gt40]

Originally posted by VJ
No luck with Alitalia? Virgin Express?


Jörg

Alitalia seems to be one of the most expensive - It will cost me close to $8000 to fly the family there

I don't think Virgin flys to Lamezia, but I'll give it a try

[VJ]

This is the homepage of Lamezia airport:

http://www.sacal.it/

And this is the list of companies that fly there:
http://www.sacal.it/voli/encompagnie.html

• Airone flies to Frankfurt, Milan and Athens (and a number of Italian airports), but not from Lamezia.
• VolareWeb seems to have ceased their operations.
• AirAlps doesn't seem to fly international from/to Lamezia.
• And I don't know about HolaAirlines (website is limited)

Jörg

[GNEP]

Have you tried searching on http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/ to give you an idea of which airlines do go there?

[GNEP]

Yup digging through cheapflights, it would seem Alitalia are the one's you'll end up with. Have you alternatively thought about flying somewhere else and getting the train for the last bit of the journey?

[VJ]

I'm wondering where you got that $8000 for Alitalia, according to the link GNEP posted, it is much less:

http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Lamezia/London-Area/

(great link, GNEP!)


Jörg

[GNEP]

Trains from Naples to Lamezia should take around 3 and a half hours I reckon. Should cost around EUR 25 each. And you should be able to find some cheaper flights to Naples

http://www.trenitalia.com/home/en/

[gt40]

Originally posted by VJ
I'm wondering where you got that $8000 for Alitalia, according to the link GNEP posted, it is much less:

http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/flights/Lamezia/London-Area/

(great link, GNEP!)


Jörg

the 8000 is from Toronto direct.

@GNEP, the train is an option, but having 2 smaller children, and having rid on that train previously, I'd like to avoid it.

I've still got's lots of time, thanks for all the input!!

[gt40]

Looks like I might save about 400 per person using zoom/British airways, but my flight times will be more than double a direct flight

[gt40]

found Skyservice - direct flights from TO to Lamezia 1400 /person through a charter company.
or Zoom/british airways for about 1000.
also 9 hours vs 16 hrs + stopover.