Cheap flights to Alicante

Flights to Alicante

Alicante is a Mediterranean port city situated on the coast of Spain overlooking the Balearic Sea. Its location on the Costa Blanca makes it a popular destination for summer travellers who enjoy its beaches and many tourist attractions. If you live in the London metro area there are flights to Alicante departing from several airports including London Gatwick Airport (LGW), London Stansted Airport (STN), and London Heathrow Airport (LHR). These flights involve direct and one-stop service to Alicante Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport (ALC) otherwise known as Alicante Elche Airport. Direct flights are more common during the summer season from June to September due to the presence of low-cost operators such as easyJet, Vueling, and Ryanair, some of which also offer flight service to Alicante from other UK cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Birmingham.

Flights to Alicante: Overview

Flights to Alicante are available from most major UK and European cities and cheap flights to Alicante are available all year round. There are also flights to Alicante with one change en route from cities such as London, Paris, Rome and Berlin. Direct flights to Alicante from London take approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. See below for further information on how to get to and from the airport and the best way to book cheap tickets.

Air Europa to Alicante

Air Europa operates intermittent one-stop flights from London Gatwick Airport with transfers at Madrid Barajas Airport (MAN) before continuing on to Alicante. This airline also provides occasional flights in conjunction with KLM from London’s Heathrow Airport and London City Airport (LCY) to Alicante Elche Airport, but these involve two stopovers and transfers: once at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) and again at Madrid Barajas Airport. Stopovers for individual Air Europa and combined Air Europa/KLM flights vary from a few hours to as many as 21h including overnight stays in Madrid.

Vueling to Alicante

You can travel by flight to Alicante via Vueling which operates flight service out of London Gatwick Airport to Alicante Elche Airport and maintains air hubs at both points of origin and destination. Some of the flights are direct while others involve one stopover with a transfer at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) before continuing on to Alicante. Generally speaking, the airline offers at least one direct flight and one connecting flight daily from London Gatwick, with direct flights lasting just over 2.5h. Stopovers at Barcelona El Prat Airport can last anywhere from about 6h to more than 14h in some cases so be advised.

Ryanair to Alicante

Ryanair is another of the low-budget carriers operating flights service from its hub of operations at London Stansted Airport to its hub of operations at Alicante Elche Airport with at least one or more direct flights daily between the two cities. Ryanair offers the most affordable ticket prices along this route due to its immense popularity as a premier low-cost airline. These flights typically last about 2h 35min in duration.

Alicante Aerial View. Source: Shutterstock

Main flight stations in Alicante: closer to city centre; better facilities

Alicante Elche Airport is the sole international airport in the city and is actually located in Elche which is about 6 miles (9 km) from central Alicante. This facility is an important transfer point for passengers from the UK and Northern Europe to the popular Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca which lie just off the eastern coast of Alicante. Passengers headed to Alicante by flight should know that the airport has a single Terminal Building N which is divided roughly into two sections: B for non-Schengen zone flights and C for Schengen zone flights (Schengen flights can actually use both sections). Due to its heavy passenger traffic, Alicante Elche Airport offers a good range of facilities and services such as ATM/currency exchange offices; car hire centre, medical services and pharmacy (chemists), free unlimited Wi-Fi, duty-free shopping and restaurants, WC and an Information Desk as well as several hotels within close proximity to its premises.

Onboard facilities

When you fly onboard Air Europa flights to Alicante you will be treated to meals and hot or cold beverages and there will be some form of in-flight entertainment on most short haul trips depending on the length of the flight. Free Wi-Fi service will be available for you to use your tablet, laptop computer or most other electronic devices provided you employ headphones in consideration of the comfort of your fellow passengers. Pillows and blankets are not included but may be requested from flight staff if you are feeling poorly. Business Class clientele typically enjoy more generous benefits in terms of in-flight refreshments, entertainment and seating comfort on Air Europa flights in case you’re considering an upgrade.

If you choose Vueling for your flight to Alicante be advised that this airline does not provide complimentary means as part of your ticket price which means you will have to pay form any meals consumed onboard unless you travel with your own food. In-flight entertainment may not be available on certain types of aircraft so you should pack your own entertainment media just in case. Vueling does provide a selection of print media in the form of magazines and newspapers if you prefer to pass your time reading. There are no Business or First Class cabin spaces on Vueling flights however premium ticket holders do get to enjoy a few additional benefits like choice seating arrangements over Economy Class passengers.

If you prefer Ryanair as your airline of choice to Alicante you should know that hot and cold beverages along with a selection of sandwiches will be served on your flight. That said, the airline does not discourage you from bringing your own meals on board for consumption if you prefer this option. While the airline does not provide in-flight entertainment there is no prohibition against you travelling with your own electronic device(s) to make your trip more enjoyable provided you use headphones so as not to bother any nearby passengers.

Flight tickets to Alicante: useful to know

Air Europa offers two types of ticket classes on its flights from the UK to Alicante: Economy Class and Business Class. Short range Economy flights carry three classifications: Lite, Standard And Flex with escalating benefits in terms of pieces of luggage and flexibility regarding changes and cancellations. Busyness Class has two classifications: Standard and Flex but these carry more benefits such as priority boarding, Fast Track and much improved flexibility with changes and cancellations.

Although you can purchase tickets online via the Omio website you should still printout a hardcopy of your boarding pass at London Gatwick Airport with your online confirmation receipt and the debit/credit card used for the purchase. Since this is an international flight you should also have the proper ID or valid passport with you to avoid any delays at check-in. On Omio purchasing flight tickets to Alicante is fast and easy and can be stored in your Omio account. Vueling offers four fare classes to its passengers: Basic, Optima, Family and TimeFlex with escalating benefits regarding luggage, refunds and cancellations as well as priority boarding and Fast Track services. There is no Business or First Class cabin on Vueling flights however premium ticket holders to enjoy certain perks over regular economy class passengers.

It is always recommended that you print a copy of your boarding pass even if you purchased your tickets online. You can do this at one of the kiosks at London Gatwick Airport as long as you have your mobile confirmation number and the debit/credit card used to purchase the tickets. Also, you should be sure to have your valid ID and unexpired passport with you since Alicante is an international destination. On Omio purchasing flight tickets to Alicante is fast and easy and they can be stored in your Omio account. Ryanair passengers flying from the UK to Alicante can fly Economy Class using Value, Regular, Plus or FamilyPlus tickets or Business Class using a FlexiPlus ticket.

To avoid having to pay the check-in fee at London Stansted Airport it is highly recommended that you use the Advance check-in service online which is active from about 60 days to 2 days prior to your departure date. E-tickets are valid for travel on Ryanair flights from London to Berlin so you won’t need to travel with a hardcopy as long as you have your confirmation receipt however you must produce a valid passport or ID for international travel. On Omio purchasing flight tickets to Alicante is fast and easy and you can store them in your Omio account.

Alicante Selfie. Source: Shutterstock

To Alicante by flight: travel tips

The Valencian city of Alicante has a long and ancient history stretching back several thousand years and has been a focal point of political struggles due to its geographical location along the east coast of Spain and its proximity to North Africa. If you’re looking for a few special reasons to visit Alicante the imposing Castle of Santa Barbara certain ranks as one of them. Perched nearly 550 ft (some 166 m) above the city’s port it is one of the iconic landmarks in all of Spain and has been declared a national treasure.

The Principal Theatre with its neoclassical main façade and unique horseshoe-shaped interior is a visual marvel and an architectural wonder while Santa Maria Basilica still stands as the city’s oldest church tracing its origins back to the 14th century. Alicante boasts a vibrant and impressive public transportation system for a city of its size.

Aside from its international airport it also provides local commuter rail services in addition to InterCity high speed trains operated by RENFE and AVE from Alicante Terminal linking it to several important regions in the interior including Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona.

Aside from its medieval and modern architectural buildings, Alicante is best known for its number of long beaches which is a major draw for tourists the world over. Albufereta Beach to the north of the city and San Juan Beach with its fine white sand rank as two of the most popular places to swim and work on your tan while the coves at Cabo de la Huerta and La Almadraba Beach offer respite from the crowds if you’re looking to enjoy a bit of seclusion.

Another main attraction in Alicante is Tabarca Island, a small inhabited island just off the coast which has been declared a marine reserve. A boat trip there takes about 1h and you can spend the day there if the pleasure takes you. Alicante is known throughout the region as the city of rice and many of its restaurants offer a sumptuous array of rice dishes, many of them featuring locally grown vegetable and seafood. La Taverna del Raco del Pla is a traditional restaurant where you can sample some of these dishes as is Restaurante Darsena which is famed for its paella-the most distinctive rice dish of them all.

Main Airlines and routes flying to Alicante from within the UK

Airline

Route

Price

• Flight London-Alicante
• Flight Glasgow-Alicante

• From £15
• From £9

• Flight Birmingham-Alicante
• Flight London-Alicante

• From £26
• From £67

• Flight London-Alicante
• Flight Edinburgh-Alicante

• From £44
• From £96

 

 

Flights to Alicante from the UK: Airlines & Departure Airports

Tips for booking cheap flights to Alicante

Airport info and getting to the city centre

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How to Get to Alicante by Plane

Flights from the UK to Alicante usually take around two and the half hours. The city's major airport, Alicante Airport, is located about 16 km from the centre of Alicante, while Murcia-San Javier Airport is situated 101 km from the city. easyJet operates from 10 UK airports including Bristol and Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Gatwick, Southend and Newcastle, while Flyglobespan, Flybe, Flythomascook, Ryanair and Aer Lingus also offer services from a number of airports located around the UK. Alicante Airport offers a shuttle bus service run by Shuttledirect, Tui and Resorthoppa which connect the airport with the city. There are also various car hire companies operating out of the airport, and taxis are available from Radiotaxi Elchie.

Alicante

Alicante is a historic Mediterranean port city famous for its sun, sea and sand. One of its most delightful beaches is the Costa Blanca - its beautiful waters and fine white sand stretch over 200 km along the coast of the province. Alicante is also home to one of the largest medieval fortresses in the country, a fortification that was built as far back as the 9th century. Other interesting sites include the seat Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante, which was erected in the 1600s, and the Concatedral de San Nicolas de Bari - a prime example of baroque civic architecture.