Kamis, 26 April 2012

Champions League final: Chelsea fans face steep flight prices as they head to Munich

Champions League final: Chelsea fans face steep flight prices as they head to Munich

PUBLISHED: 08:33 EST, 26 April 2012 | UPDATED: 08:33 EST, 26 April 2012


Airlines have been accused of 'bumping up' the cost of flights to Munich as Chelsea fans head for the German city ahead of the Champions League final next month.

Some 30,000 supporters with a ticket will head to the Bavarian capital for the May 19 clash with Bayern Munich. And many more are expected to travel and simply soak up the atmosphere.

Tuesday's match against Barcelona was one of the most dramatic nights in the tournament's recent history and the win prompted Chelsea fans to start making their travel plans.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard celebrates after the team secures the passage through to the final

On their way: Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard celebrates after the team secures the passage through to the final

But, according to the Evening Standard, return flights with British Airways were 'immediately bumped up' to as much as £700 as they were snapped up.

Ryanair was also accused of charging ten times the normal price of a flight from London to Munich as it laid on extra services costing from £467 return.

At the time of writing, TravelMail found a return flight from London Stansted to Memmingen Munich, leaving on the Friday and coming back on the Sunday, cost a total of £482.88.

A flight for the same days the previous weekend cost £21.98 and the weekend after, £114.46.

Ryanair denied they were profiteering from the huge demand, telling Bloomberg: 'Absolutely not. Ryanair guarantees the lowest fares, every day. I’d imagine this will sell out.'

Munich

Bavaria: Chelsea fans can expect to enjoy a beer or two in Munich

A quick search on BA's website found one-way economy flights from London to Munich from £350 on the Friday and Saturday, allowing enough time to comfortably arrive in time for the match.

Return flights on the Sunday were sold out while flights on the Monday started at £284, bringing the total to a minimum of £634. 

A return trip from Friday to Sunday the weekend before came in at £247.

A BA spokesperson said: 'We offer a range of fares which allow varying degrees of flexibility. Customers can use our low fare finder on ba.com to find the best fares available to Munich.'

Sporting events company Sportoptions is advertising trips, including flights, to see the game from £375 per person, returning on the same day, while a two-night stay is priced from £640 per person.      

Meanwhile, Thomas Cook Sport is offering a return coach trip from Stamford Bridge to Munich via Euro Tunnel from £159 plus match ticket.

Fans on the forum 'Football 365' reacted with anger to the cost of air travel and some vowed to find alternative modes of transport.

One wrote: ‘I've booked up for Munich. Flying via Brussels on the Saturday morning as it was the best balance of cost/time. Got a hotel room for £80 about 5 miles from the city centre. Not the way I'd normally do it, but the packages are ridiculous and the cost of hotels and flights is beyond absurd.’

Another added: ‘Going to get the coach. 22 hours door to door.’

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