Stag Do Flights: How to Book the Best Deals

Are you in the process of booking your stag weekend abroad and need to arrange your flights? Well we’re going to explain everything you need to know beforehand, what you should arrange alongside the flights and why you shouldn’t book your flights and accommodation together.

Do Stag Do Packages Include Flights?

No, when you book a stag do package, you’re booking the accommodation and the activities. You may also get other aspects included if you like, such as restaurants or airport transfers.

Really, it’s every aspect other than travel. Just the same as in the UK, we wouldn’t handle buying the train tickets. 

The reason for this is because you’re simply better off going direct with the flights. It will be cheaper, while groups often want to fly from all different airports, which makes it quite a messy thing to arrange. People are better off booking their own flights separately, this is the one aspect which people should do completely independently, albeit it’s worth messaging people about flight times so they can potentially be on the same plane with you.

Booking Flights For A Stag Do - What To Consider

Well you first need to work out where you’re flying from. This is especially hard to arrange in London when there are so many airports and people might prefer their local.

At the end of the day, the groom is the most important, so you should focus on his flights and his local airport, then offer this option to others. If they don’t want to fly from the same airport, that’s on them, but they miss out on the pre-drinks in the airport which is always a good laugh.

Following this, you need to then focus on flight times. When does your first activity take place? How long will it take to get to the airport? We’ve spoken to people who are looking at flights at 7pm, so it’s after work, but we then have to explain that realistically this means they might arrive about 9-10pm, if there are no delays, then have to collect bags and get in a transfer to the hotel. By the time they leave for town, they’re starving hungry and it’s close to midnight.

One recommendation is often to take the Friday off and go first thing in the morning, as early as people are willing to, so you can make the most of the day. Remember, this first day is the day people aren’t hungover, so they’re more up for some wild activities like bubble football or an inflatable assault course.

Next consideration is whether you book a direct flight or connecting flights. My strong recommendation would be to get a direct flight. You don’t want to take the risk of issues with connecting flights, not on a stag weekend. Also, for a small money saving, it isn’t worth the time delay and stress.

Finally, you should consider your budget. In general, we’re talking about a 2-3 hour flight, so you don’t need anything fancy, but some might want to opt for the cheapest airline possible on the cheapest package, while others would prefer something a bit nicer and less likely to cancel. This is something the best man and groom should discuss.

Which Airlines Fly To Popular Stag Do Destinations?

It’s important to know which airlines are flying to your preferred destination, so you can compare prices and see what works best for you.

• Albufeira (via Faro): easyJet, Ryanair, BA Euroflyer, TAP Portugal, Jet2, TUI
   
• Amsterdam: KLM, British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair
   
• Barcelona: Vueling, easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Jet2
   
• Belfast: Aer Lingus, easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways
   
• Benidorm (via Alicante): easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, Vueling, BA Euroflyer, TUI
   
• Berlin: Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, Eurowings
   
• Bratislava: Ryanair (main low-cost option from UK)
   
• Brussels: Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, British Airways, easyJet
   
• Bucharest: Ryanair, Wizz Air, British Airways, TAROM
   
• Budapest: Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, British Airways
   
• Cologne: Eurowings, Ryanair
   
• Dublin: Ryanair, Aer Lingus, British Airways, easyJet
   
• Düsseldorf: Eurowings, British Airways, Ryanair
   
• Edinburgh: easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Aer Lingus (regional UK & Ireland routes)
   
• Glasgow: easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Aer Lingus
   
• Hamburg: Ryanair, Eurowings, British Airways, easyJet
   
• Ibiza: Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, British Airways, TUI (seasonal)
   
• Krakow: Ryanair, Wizz Air, Jet2, easyJet, British Airways
   
• Lisbon: TAP Portugal, easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways
   
• Madrid: Iberia, Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, Air Europa
   
• Magaluf (via Palma de Mallorca): Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI, Vueling, British Airways
   
• Munich: Lufthansa, British Airways, easyJet
   
• Prague: Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Jet2, British Airways
   
• Riga: Ryanair, airBaltic, Wizz Air
   
• Tenerife: Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, TUI, British Airways, Wizz Air

You should also be aware that there are seasonal flights, therefore if you’re looking to go to Albufeira (Faro), Ibiza, Magaluf or Tenerife, then you’ll find cheap flights Apr-Oct, but might struggle with limited flights in the winter months.

Tips For Getting The Best Deal

So let’s start with how long before you should book your tickets. In an ideal world, you would book before the January peak, as they tend to go up in price. But in general, as long as you haven’t left it until the month, the price shouldn’t vary too much in Europe.

It is based on booking numbers, so whoever waits to book, as the other 16 lads book their flights, it might go up in price for the late bookers, but this doesn’t always work out that way.

You can save money by avoiding peak times, e.g. Friday to Sunday, instead heading there on a Thursday or flying back on a Monday. Of course, you need to know the rest of the group are ok with taking off these extra days for holiday.

You can use price comparison websites like Skyscanner in order to find a good deal, but don’t just settle for whatever is cheapest. Make sure they’re ATOL protected! This will mean your money is protected when you book in case of a cancellation or issues.

On top of that, always book with a credit card instead of a debit card. Section 75 in the UK Protection Law means that, if the airline goes bust (which has happened a few times such as with Monarch), your money is protected and you’ll receive a refund. You simply don’t have the same legal protection with a debit card.

You also have greater fraud protection if someone uses your credit card details, not to mention if the airline refused to refund you, you could do a chargeback directly with your card holder.

Critical Travel Essentials

This is just a mini list beforehand so you don’t forget anything:

• Pack your passport, check it twice, treat it like santa and his list, just keep checking it’s there. In fact, if you’re wearing shorts, be even more cautious as they often slip out on the train journey to the airport.
• Arrange travel insurance on the day you book your flights. This will ensure you have everything covered. This is an aspect many people leave off their list when heading on a stag do, then regret it when something happens. Whether it’s your bag going missing or an injury while go-karting, you don’t want to be caught out without insurance when abroad.
• Hold Luggage Or Not. With a stag do, you most likely only need a rucksack. This isn’t a hen do, you don’t need ten changes of outfit. But, if you plan on bringing a fancy dress costume for the groom and maybe some accessories then you might need hold luggage, at which point you want to consider this early.
• Airport Transfers. This might sound like I’m highlighting this purely as we offer this, but this is one of the most useful things to book in advance. So many groups turn up at an airport, unsure of the hotel they’re staying at, trying to look outside for a cab or looking for connection so they can use Uber, where a few people pay up and others get away with it. But an airport transfer means everyone has paid in advance, you can get a minibus so everyone stays together and they can collect you straight from your flight, meaning no waiting around.

What The Stag Company Sorts For You

The first key aspect is your stag do accommodation. We can book this for your whole group, working purely with hotels, apartments and hostels that are stag friendly, so you don’t have to worry about being turned away as a group of 16 rowdy lads.

We work closely with our partners to ensure the facilities are up to scratch and suitable, meaning we don’t pick ones that are miles from nightlife or haven’t passed certain standards.

We can also help with booking your activities, whether that’s airsoft or a stripper, we can arrange it all. We can also book your meals as well, so you’re not left wandering around at lunch time looking for somewhere suitable to eat that will let you all in on a big table.

If you want entry into a nightclub, with a queue jump and a VIP package of drinks on a reserved table, we have these deals and packages arranged with a large number of venues across the UK and Europe.

We allow for monthly payment installments, meaning you don’t have to worry about paying all your costs in one go. In fact, we take just a £1 deposit to secure your stag do booking. On top of this, if you go direct, you have to cover the cost for everyone in the group, which sends shivers down the spine.