Get off the rock

In a 'bored' moment I decided to conduct an experiment and see how cheaply I could get off Jersey for a week, the only criteria was that the flight needed to be for two Adults, one child one infant. Dates had to be from 9 June to the 16 June but it could be to ANY UK airport.

Where Gatwick was available I selected it by default, where it wasn't I took the first choice offered to me by the airline, the golden rule throughout was 'First Answer Only'.

I started my search on the Jersey Airport Website, selecting their destinations page and going through each of the airlines one at a time, looking for Jersey in their booking menu.

VLM

The first few airlines I tried didn't include Jersey anywhere until I came to VLM, they gave me the option of Flying to London City and the price was incredible £179 for a family of four in June to fly from Jersey to London City return - I nearly booked it, but managed to keep my cool and remember my mission.

Next up BMI was able to take me to Leeds Bradford, unfortunatly they wanted to charge me £490, after being offered four to London City for £179 I was shocked and appalled.

BMI

BMI's budget version BMI Baby gave me an error on their website when I tried to book so I couldn't get a price from them, and if you remember the golden rule 'First Answer Only' I couldn't go back and try again.

I was so disgusted with the price I left immediatly vowing never to return, the next site I was taken to by Jersey Airport was Air Southwest, I used their Cheap Airfare Generator, I was slightly concerned this was cheating at first but decided in the end that it was a grey area and that I could get away with, although my consciounce kept making me feel bad.

Air Southwest, BA and FlyBe

When it gave me a price of £205 to Bristol I felt slightly better, it's amazing how a good price can ease your consciounce.

Next up was the big gun BA, I had a bad feeling about BA, the kind that makes your stomach churn, I just knew they would give me a massive price ... NO ... I was pleasantly suprised when it came up as £260, anything under £300 is good, not £500 like BMI.

I had a good feeling about the next choice on the menu, I have had some very cheap flights from FlyBe before and this was no exception, they beat the brilliant VLM by £3, that's the price of a roll on the airplane, FlyBe wanted me to pay £176, and in return I say - Thank you FlyBe, and it was to Gatwick.

Thomson

My final destination was low cost, low thrills carrier Thomson Fly, part of the TUI group, I knew they would be cheap, I have had flight from them that worked out cheaper than the train ride afterward but not as cheap as it ACTUALLY came out, Thomson quoted me happy at £113, ok this is to Coventry but the train fare from Coventry to my final destination in Hertfordshire is about the same as the trainfare from Gatwick so it was still an incredible price.

I cheated a little bit for Thomson, I checked Doncaster first not Coventry as it was the first option offered to me, Coventry was my preffered option as I know the trains in the area but the Golden Rule states ' First Answer Only' so I have to go with Doncast but, and this is the good bit, Doncaster was CHEAPER at just £108.

Trains

Unfortunatly as this is the cheapest option and I don't know the trains it meant a visit to The Trainline Website to find out how much the train would cost me to get a good idea of the final price and whether it was still cheaper than FlyBe (add £40 to Gatwick price for trains).

But that doesn't matter, the challenge was to find the cheapest price from JERSEY to ENGLAND taking the 'First Answer Only' and I found it, Thomson Fly to Doncaster for £108 return for a family of four.

Oh and just incase your interested the train from Doncaster to my final destination was .. I haven't a clue as the trainline website was down.