A trip to London will now cost you less. Yes!
A COMBINATION of bargain airfares and a much-improved exchange rate have made the United Kingdom Australians’ unlikely new budget travel destination.
Formerly considered a “premium” place to visit due to the strength of the pound and considerable cost in getting there, much has changed in the last 12-months as a result of Brexit and the ongoing international airfare war.
Buckingham Palace in London is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK. Picture: iStockSource:istock
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Flight Centre Managing Director Graham Turner said a trip to the UK with about 5000 pounds in spending money was now more than $1700 cheaper than a year ago.
“Twelve months ago, our cheapest return fare from Sydney to London cost $1324,” said Mr Turner.
“Today, it’s almost 25 per cent cheaper at $1009, a saving of $315, as a result of the unprecedented discounting we have seen on international airfares.”
He said secondly, the exchange rate had shifted in the Australian dollar’s favour, since last year’s Brexit referendum, giving us more buying power in the UK.
“At current exchange rates, a traveller taking GBP5000 in spending money only needs to exchange $AU8065, compared with $AU9490 this time last year,” Mr Turner said.
“Together with the airfare saving, this means that the hypothetical Aussie traveller is about $1740 better off, compared with 12-months ago.”
Not your typical budget holiday destination — London. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
The airfare discounting had led to a resurgence in European bookings this year, with fares from Sydney to Paris or Rome slipping below $1000 return.
“Based on what we have seen in-store and at our Travel Expos throughout Australia in recent weeks, Europe looks set to have a busy year,” said Mr Turner.
“Travellers are capitalising on the incredible deals that are currently available, which is a sensible approach given that it’s impossible to predict how long the good times will last.”
Among the most extraordinary was Scoot’s one-way fare from Perth to Athens for $339, and $399 for Sydney to Athens.
“The discounting we have seen in recent months has again highlighted the trend of airfares becoming more affordable and accessible to everyone,” Mr Turner said.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce recently made the point that a fare to London from Australia used to cost the equivalent of 122-weeks salary.
“If that was the case today it would cost $180,000 plus for a ticket to London. Airfares have come down considerably,” said Mr Joyce, at the half-year results announcement last month.
More fuel-efficient jets, and cheaper jet fuel had contributed to the plunge in fares as well as fierce competition among airlines.
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