Budget Travel - Cheapest way to travel to Gibraltar for an 18 year old

My 18 year old son needs to get to Gibraltar from NY at the end of January. Currently we are planning on flying to London and then taking EasyJet to GIB.
Is there a better way without renting a car? Fly to Madrid, etc? Thanks.

Your itinerary will almost certainly mean a change of airport in London. Have you looked at flying through Madrid?

The only airlines that fly to Gib are Easyjet (Gatwick), BA (Heathrow) & Monarch (Luton & Manchester).

Given the way Spain views Gib and Gib airport being owned and run by the MoD I doubt if they'll be any flights from Spain anytime soon.

Your best option would be to book a flight with BA or AA from home to Gib or book to Gatwick and leave LOTS OF TIME before flying Easyjet. Do not change airports as you need 5 hours to safely do so.

As noted, Manchester is another option. I flew from Manchester to GIB via Monarch. Upon return I flew to Luton to visit family in the area.

My 18 year old son needs to get to Gibraltar from NY at the end of January. Currently we are planning on flying to London and then taking EasyJet to GIB.
Is there a better way without renting a car? Fly to Madrid, etc? Thanks.

I took the bus from Madrid to La Linea, and walked across when I was 23

The only airlines that fly to Gib are Easyjet (Gatwick), BA (Heathrow) & Monarch (Luton & Manchester).

Given the way Spain views Gib and Gib airport being owned and run by the MoD I doubt if they'll be any flights from Spain anytime soon.

I was in MAD some time ago and clearly saw IB flights to GIB on the departure displays and I was as surprised as anyone and thought to myself how times had changed. However, looking at IB's network there appears to be no longer anything there.

I was in MAD some time ago and clearly saw IB flights to GIB on the departure displays

Perhaps like AAs flights to Havana. They do charters, but no regularly scheduled flights, so not on schedule.

And agree that flying close and walking across the border may be the way to go.

EmailKid

I was in MAD some time ago and clearly saw IB flights to GIB on the departure displays and I was as surprised as anyone and thought to myself how times had changed. However, looking at IB's network there appears to be no longer anything there.

IB operated flights to GIB between Dec 2006 and Sept 2008, apparently.

Perhaps like AAs flights to Havana. They do charters, but no regularly scheduled flights, so not on schedule.

And agree that flying close and walking across the border may be the way to go.

EmailKid

Almost like LAN's weekly "ghost" flights to the Falklands: they do exist (and appear in the OW schedule and on ITA) but they are not well promoted by LAN and very well hidden in the website booking engine (though they are there if you know how to find them).

AA has a blob for MPN as a partner destination on the route map in its English-language magazine but not on the one in its Spanish-language one!!!

IB operated flights to GIB between Dec 2006 and Sept 2008, apparently.

That´s correct.
And the reason for discontinuing was not related to politics rather than IB was not able to make a MAD-GIB route work.
I have no idea how hard they tried but the drive on IB´s side was probably not too high ...
When the possibility to operate such a route arised they just tried it - and unfortunately let it fail ...

have you looked at getting a miles credit card and using the bonus to book it?

The only airlines that fly to Gib are Easyjet (Gatwick), BA (Heathrow) & Monarch (Luton & Manchester).

Easyjet also fly GIB to/from Liverpool.
Bmibaby will begin flights GIB to/from East Midlands Airport (but not in time for the OP.

Gib airport being owned and run by the MoD

N.b. The runway and air operations side are operated for the name of the MoD (by the MoD, Nats and other contractors), however the air terminal and ground operations are civilian for civilian.

And the reason for discontinuing was not related to politics rather than IB was not able to make a MAD-GIB route work.
I have no idea how hard they tried but the drive on IB´s side was probably not too high ...

The reason it was a failure was basically stupidity on the part of IB.

As Willie Walsh (former BA CEO and now head of IAG - the merged parent company of BA and Iberia) has said publically a few times, IB are up to 10 years behind where they should be in taking on low cost airlines. Currently IB have some routes where they charge 'sensible' prices, others where they only charge expensive ones to make money from the business market.

IB started operations MAD-GIB but had prices that would only suit business traffic. But there are no historic business ties between GIB and Madrid, so the y drove what demand there was away. Had they operated it with cheaper fares they would have had more than enough bums on seats to make up for the lower fares (rather than empty planes and higher fares). Grow the route, then raise the prices a bit. They get this right on other routes, but wrong on GIB, no existing business market with any ties at all to Madrid.

When they started, the route was operated jointly with GB Airways (who were at the time a BA franchise partner and were originally called Gibraltar Airways many many years ago). GB had long ago moved their base to the UK to exploit growth opportunities as a BA franchise, but kept flying to Gib. They flew GIB-MAD too, and they had sensible fares (yes, promotional to begin with, but even after launch promotion, the fares were sensible) and their flights had good volumes.
But for GB, the flights were really tacked onto LON-GIB-LON movements, making it LON-GIB-MAD-GIB(overnight)-LON, as a result any irregular operations resulted in chaos to their operations.
Owned by the Bland Group (based in Gibraltar) they continued operations on GIB-MAD for a while, but it made no sense for them.
There were attempts to persuade IB to get things into the right place, but IB didn't make any changes, and dropped the route when it (quite naturally) didn't take off.
Completely messed up by IB. Doomed to failure from day 1 if run in that fashion.


Now back to the original question:
My 18 year old son needs to get to Gibraltar from NY at the end of January. Currently we are planning on flying to London and then taking EasyJet to GIB.
Is there a better way without renting a car? Fly to Madrid, etc? Thanks.

Ok, the easiest and least stressfull way would be to get him through ticketed to GIB flying into LHR (London Heathrow) and connecting onto the BA flight LHR-GIB.

If on one ticket it is an official connection and he will be accommodated and put onto the next flight (without having to spend any money) if for any reason his inbound flight is delayed etc.

British Airways (BA) is currently the only airline flying to Gibraltar that supports official connections (so he could fly BA-BA, or AA-BA, or...). Otherwise, it would have to be an unofficial connection if flying to Gibraltar.

Airlines flying to GIB:
BA: LHR (London Heathrow) - Gibraltar
Monarch: LTN (London Luton) - Gibraltar
Monarch: MAN (Manchester) - Gibraltar
Easyjet: LGW (London Gatwick) - Gibraltar
Easyjet: LPL (Liverpool) - Gibraltar
[bmibaby will commence flights shortly, but not in time for your son in January.]

So, perhaps with a cheap airport hotel you could do an overnight unoffical connection and a cheap flight, etc. The overnight keeps things safe for any 'misconnect' delays.

Other options to get to Gibraltar:

If he gets himself to Malaga airport (AGP) in sourthern spain, he can then get a bus+bus or train+bus along the cost in about 2.5/3 hours.
Malaga is a bigger airport, it even has a seasonal Delta service direct to New York (sadly I think the season in question is Summer).
Anyway, you could get to Malaga flying indirectly (doesn't need to be via Madrid).

There are NO other nearby airports that make sense, Jerez (XRY) is very awkward by public transport.

In terms of other overground routes:
Train or bus from Madrid to Algeciars (on the other side of the bay of Gibraltar), then local bus around the bay. But this will result in an entire day being spend traveling (or perhaps overnight by bus).

There is high speed rail from Madrid to Malaga, but you'd then need the same journey from Malaga to Gibraltar, so you might as well fly to Malaga if you can't fly to Gibraltar.

Seriously look for: (in order of sense, and ease):
1. Can you get an official single ticket connection to fly to Gibraltar airport?
2 (a): Can you make your own unofficial connection (perhaps with a cheap overnight in the UK to keep the journey connection safe in case of delays) and then fly to Gibraltar?
2 (b): Can you get to Malaga? Then take train+bus or bus+bus to Gibraltar along the coast. [Don't arrive later than 6pm latest at Malaga or you won't be able to make the journey by public transport]

I'd take 2(a) or 1 ahead of 2(b)

I don't think any other options other than the above would save any money (once the additional expenses are added), and they would add a LOT of hastle and time.

Thanks for all the great advice. I am leaning towards booking him on AA with a connection in LHR. Might do BA to BA from NY.
I'll let you know what I decide. Thanks again.

Sorry just remembered, but I'm sure you've spotted it already, the BA operated flight to GIB is also available under an AA flight number as a codeshare.

Also, the BA flights to Gibraltar is one of a limited number of BA services that depart from Terminal 3 at LHR, not the main BA home of T5.

As a result, if booked on an AA aircraft across the atlantic he will arrive into T3 and not have to change terminal. [If on BA across the atlantic he would come into T5.]

In BOTH cases however (T5>T3 & T3>T3), he would remain in transit (and doesn't need to clear imigration or customs) just follow the flight connections signs. Even with a change of terminal it is painless, but of course the change of terminal does increase the ammount of time required for an offical minimum connection to be valid and ticketed.

A couple comments:

I raised a couple sons. If I were you, I think I'd find some reasonable deal, and then tell him he could keep the difference between that and any better deal he can find. You might be amazed at both his creativity and the effort he puts into the situation. Of course there need to be some guidelines/rules. At least there did for my sons. No hitchhiking, tramp steamers, ??

Gibraltar airport is considered the 5th most dangerous airport in the world, and the most dangerous in Europe. Malaga, Spain (AGP) is only a short bus or train ride away (as mentioned by a previous poster), and Delta has direct flights there from New York (same previous poster thought maybe this was just a summer route).

If you get into Malaga too late for the ground transportation, the Malaga airport hotels appear to be pretty reasonable. I know one can walk from the Holiday Inn to the airport, although it is a little hike.

Romelle

Gibraltar airport is considered the 5th most dangerous airport in the world, and the most dangerous in Europe.

Sorry, I don't mean to be blunt, but this is utter rubbish.
Gibraltar airport is perfectly safe.
It is however, VERY unusual.

If you are basing this on that national geographic series, note they said 'extreme'. Gibraltar got that placing because it is so unusual, NOT because it is dangerous (it isn't). [Although some of the media coverage of the programme got confused about this.]

Please lets not perpetuate nonsense like this. If you want to discuss specifics I'm more than happy to do so, but it is not dangerous. It is a unique airport though, I would fly to it over malaga for precisely that reason!

A different alternative would be to fly to TNG and take the ferry to GIB from there. Not easier, probably not cheaper, but surely different and a heck of a lot more interesting.

To get to TNG, you can do it on mainlines like IB or AT, or you can go to MAD, CDG, BRU and then fly the likes of RyanAir or EasyJet from there.

Sorry, I don't mean to be blunt, but this is utter rubbish.
Gibraltar airport is perfectly safe.
It is however, VERY unusual.

If you are basing this on that national geographic series, note they said 'extreme'. Gibraltar got that placing because it is so unusual, NOT because it is dangerous (it isn't). [Although some of the media coverage of the programme got confused about this.]

Please lets not perpetuate nonsense like this. If you want to discuss specifics I'm more than happy to do so, but it is not dangerous. It is a unique airport though, I would fly to it over malaga for precisely that reason!

I took my comment out of Wikipedia, and I understand it was based on Most Extreme Airports; The History Channel; 26 August 2010. I don't have any personal expertise on the subject. Wikipedia has been a good source of info for me in the past. I'd encourage you to help keep Wiki reliable by discussing specifics with them. I'll avoid quoting my new factoid again until you have a chance to help them sort it out.

As a parent, the OP might appreciate hearing your specifics too.

On the other hand, I do have experience in raising sons, and I stand by my comments about getting OP's son more involved in the situation. Some guidelines, some motivation, and the best possible information, but still getting him to assume more responsibility and control. Now including further research on Gibraltar safety.....

Romelle

Most Extreme Airports; The History Channel; 26 August 2010.

Great show with some amazing footage, including approach and landing at the old HKG airport. Highly recommend seeing this when they rerun it ^

GIB was quite interesting, and they raised some good points about dangers of landing there, though one would think it must be at least somewhat safe if an airport has regularly scheduled flights going there.

Now back on topic about geting to Gibraltar. I for one like the ferry idea :)

EmailKid

I took my comment out of Wikipedia, and I understand it was based on Most Extreme Airports; The History Channel; 26 August 2010.

Thanks for alterting me to Wikipedia, that 'information' has been removed/corrected before! - But someone has put it back in.

Basically the History channel programme in question (it has been shown on Nat Geo in some global markets) listed 'extreme' airports, but the list was based upon a mix of dangerous, bizare features and generally unusual.

Sadly, and to be sensationalist, much of the media coverage (and indeed even some 3rd party adverts for the programme in some markets) changed it to be a 'most dangerous'. The programme does not say this at all. It focuses on the unusual features. [Will outline below.]

I don't have any personal expertise on the subject. Wikipedia has been a good source of info for me in the past.

In the same way as you don't notice 'creative' geography in films unless you know the areas in question, the same is true with wikipedia. When I look at subjects I know a lot about, some of them are accurate in wikipeida, some of them sadly are not.

Further, sadly some of the wikipedia editors put certain things back (even when the edits are supported by (correctly submitted, linked and verified evidence).
Other edits do survive.

Do NOT believe a thing about the 'Gibraltar Pound', the article is wrong from begining to end. Sadly it is soucred from erroneous online content, not the actual legislation.

I'd encourage you to help keep Wiki reliable by discussing specifics with them. I'll avoid quoting my new factoid again until you have a chance to help them sort it out.

I'll have another go with them.

As a parent, the OP might appreciate hearing your specifics too.

Will update with full details later.

Nothing wrong with GIB, I would be far more worried about taking a coach from AGP to La Linea on Spanish motorways than land at GIB. I have always flown BA from LGW and since the change LHR.

Almost like LAN's weekly "ghost" flights to the Falklands: they do exist (and appear in the OW schedule and on ITA) but they are not well promoted by LAN and very well hidden in the website booking engine (though they are there if you know how to find them).

AA has a blob for MPN as a partner destination on the route map in its English-language magazine but not on the one in its Spanish-language one!!!

will be back here for advice next year for booking to MPN (if thats ok)

Just wanted to thank everyone for their imput. I was intrigued with the suggestion of him taking the ferry to Tangiers and possibly flying home from there. My son seemed up for it, but wanted to travel there with someone and his friend did not want to do it. Ultimately, we decided to book him round trip on AA with the connection at Heathrow to BA. I decided to cash in 40,000 miles for the round trip award. The fare would have been between $1100-$1300, so it was worth it to me. Thanks again to all.

The fare would have been between $1100-$1300, so it was worth it to me.

Sounds like good use of miles ^

Glad it worked out, but sorry that your son wasn't able to talk his friend into the more interesting itinerary.

EmailKid