Often, a scheduled flight is no more expensive - and sometimes cheaper - than a charter.
The only scheduled flights direct to Crete from the UK are from Gatwick and Manchester to Heraklion, operated by GB Airways, (a British Airways franchised airline) and Glasgow to Heraklion by flyglobespan.
Other scheduled flights go via Athens where you transfer to a domestic flight to Crete. There are about 10 flights a day to Chania and Heraklion.
Athens/Hania is about £80* (€120) return. With some airlines it’s possible to book through so there’s no need to reclaim baggage at Athens. You don't normally need to change terminal buildings but do check when booking your flights.
* There are special offers reducing the cost to about £60, occasionally less.
Sample Itineraries
* Tuesday is UK tour operators’ main “changeover day” for charters when it can be extremely busy as flights tend to be bunched together. By checking charter flights and picking a scheduled flight that avoids their times you can miss the worst of any crush. Passage through the airport and car hire procedure should also be quicker.
Flying via Athens gives the greatest flexibility because of the choice of domestic flights to Crete. It also means that you can always fly to Hania which is more convenient when coming to the apartment).
Alternatively, you could fly on a different day but, of course, charter flights from other countries are concentrated on different days.
† Maximise Time in Greece
It can take a thorough search on the Internet (or a good travel agent) but it is possible to find reasonably priced flights that maximise your holiday time. An over-night flight leaving Heathrow at 22:00 booked through to Hania via Athens arrives in Crete at 06:40. The return leaves Hania at 10:25 arriving Athens at 11:20. The Athens/Gatwick leg leaves at 19:15, which allows five to six hours in Athens city centre. Last time we did this the return fare pp was £249.00.
There’s an excellent bus service from the airport to the city three times per hour at a cost of only €2.90 but that allows unlimited travel on all Athens public transport for 24 hours. The only limit is that the ticket is valid for only one trip to or from the airport so you’ll need to buy one each way. (Bags can be booked through or use Left Luggage at the airport).
Minimise cost
Easyjet 06:45 from Gatwick on Tuesday 07 March 2006, returning on 21 March 2006, arrives Athens 12:25. Aegean from Athens 15:00 arrives Hania 15:50. Return leaving Hania at 07:50 and Athens at 12:55. Total return cost pp: Easyjet £80:00, Aegean £58 (Total £138:00 pp).
This could have been booked on the Internet on 19/10/05
Travel
Two carriers operate scheduled flights directly between the UK and Crete, GB Airways, a BA franchisee. During the summer they fly from London Gatwick/Heraklion every weekday except Wednesday, starting Tuesday 28 March. A new Manchester/Heraklion service starts in 2006.
flyglobespan fly from Glasgow to Heraklion every Saturday from 27 May 2006 until 28 October. The last flight from Heraklion is Sunday 29 October.
from Manchester via Heathrow or Gatwick.
flyglobespan start a daily London Stansted to Athens service from 24 June 2006 until the end of October.
Scheduled flights UK / Athens
It is possible to book tickets and luggage through to Crete with some carriers. e.g. BA to Athens then Olympic or Aegean for the domestic flight (or fly Olympic all the way) which avoids reclaiming luggage in Athens (or Thessaloniki) and checking it back in for the domestic flight. Note that currently Olympic and Aegean have no arrangement with Easyjet.
Aegean Airways and Olympic Airways operate between Athens (or Thessaloniki) and Crete, both having several daily flights to Chania and Heraklion. The ‘normal’ fare is about €120 return but there are frequent promotions with substantial discounts.
Scheduled flights UK / Thessaloniki / Crete
Olympic Airways from London Gatwick.
Greater flexibility of flight times and dates.
Sometimes cheaper than charter flights.
Meals included
Often more leg room so slightly less crowded flights.
Often better in-flight service.
Less likely to suffer long delays.
Year round availability.
Avoid crush. *
Maximise your holiday time. †
http://www.apartment.creteforyou.com
Margarita’s, Tsivaras 5, Kalives 73003, Xania, Crete, Greece.
Tel: +30 28250 32562 Mob:+30 6947 236 529
e-mail: enquiries@apartment.creteforyou.com
Fax: Not currently available