When planning family holidays, many of us focus on the cost of flights — but the airport you fly from can make a bigger difference than you think.
We live in the Midlands, and our nearest airport offered one-stop flights to our destination. Meanwhile, a two-stop flight from Heathrow was 33% cheaper. At first, it seemed like an obvious saving.
However, we decided to fly from our local airport on a three-stop option. The price was a little more than a two-stop flight from Heathrow, but the benefits were clear:
- Shorter drive home: After arriving back, we only had a short taxi ride, rather than a long journey from Heathrow. This avoids driving while tired.
- Less hassle: No worrying about petrol, parking, or traffic.
- Time saved overall: The extra flight actually saved us travel time compared to driving to Heathrow.
Key Takeaway for Families
When choosing your departure airport, consider more than just the ticket price:
- How far will you drive to get there?
- Will you need to pay for parking or a taxi?
- How much time are you adding to your journey?
Being flexible about which airport you fly from can save money, reduce stress, and make your holiday start and end more smoothly. Sometimes, the closest airport — even with an extra stop — is the smarter choice for family travel.
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