Flight home - discount myth?

[bethbear]

Hello again!
I am wondering about the return flight from Santiago and have heard mixed accounts. SOme people say that Iberia offer 50% discounts to all pilgrims whereas others say they saw no evidence of this and were landed with huge 'on-the-spot' fares. If this is the case, it would seem cheapest to book a Ryan air return flight before I leave but I am not sure how long the walk will take me so dates are a problem. Any wise words?
Thanks!

[Leslie]

I have never seen any evidence of this discount, heard the myth quite a bit though. It may have been the case many years ago - but not now.

Computer access is quite easy along the route which makes booking a flight online easy - though not so easy for printing out ticket.

[Covey]

I have never even heard the rumour of a discount on flights!!

Booking return flights is a matter of planning. Assuming that a pilgrim is doing St Jean to Santiago then the "standard plan" they give you at the pilgrim office at St Jean will get you to Santiago in 32 days.

You need a day to get to St Jean and a day to fly home from Santiago. (34 days). A couple of rest days along the trail and a couple of days in Santiago takes you to 38 days. Walk to Finesterre, 48 hours there to see the sun set and a day getting back to Santiago adds 5 or 6 days.

Assuming you are reasonably fit and do not suffer lost time from injuries you should do St Jean to Santiago in 38 - 40 days, so if you book a return flight 40 days from the date you leave home, you should be OK.

By the time you get to Burgos you will know if your plan is on track. You could book a flight home from there, but the likes of Ryanair start increasing the prices within 30 days of the flight and you could find the return leg very expensive.

Two years ago I spent time walking with a lady who had an artificial leg and she could only manage 10 - 15kms a day instead of my usual 30kms. The time I spent walking with her took me a week over my return date and instead of the ?35 flight home with Ryanair I booked some 8 months before, I had to pay ?195 for a flight booked 5 days before takeoff.

So, my rough rule of thumb for St Jean to Santiago is:

For the reasonably fit 5 weeks
Not so fit and not so young 6 weeks
The Amblers 7 weeks
Oh God, do I really have to go home!! Who knows

Add a week if you want to walk to Finesterre and bus back to Santiago.

If you want to walk to Finesterre and walk back to Santiago, consult your Shrink!!