live in Spain, commute to UK
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 439
live in Spain, commute to UK
Hoe feasible is this to do?
I have the advantage that I can work from home 2 or 3 days a week but need to go into the office occasionally. For the rest, it's all internet or phone meetings.
I've read somewhere that some people do it within 2 hrs but I can't see that being possible. Every time I've been it's been more like 6hrs door to door.
Also, wouldn't it get pricey? I know rents are cheaper in Spain but the flight must be at least £150rtn each time.
I have the advantage that I can work from home 2 or 3 days a week but need to go into the office occasionally. For the rest, it's all internet or phone meetings.
I've read somewhere that some people do it within 2 hrs but I can't see that being possible. Every time I've been it's been more like 6hrs door to door.
Also, wouldn't it get pricey? I know rents are cheaper in Spain but the flight must be at least £150rtn each time.
#2
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
My friend gets to Dublin for €100 return.. but has to book months in advance with Ryan Air..
#3
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
There are posters on here who do this - often they work on rigs apparently. I suspect the problem is you'll always need to book the flight to arrive the night before your meeting, because of possible flight delays and strikes.
#4
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: Here and there
Posts: 378
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
Hoe feasible is this to do?
I have the advantage that I can work from home 2 or 3 days a week but need to go into the office occasionally. For the rest, it's all internet or phone meetings.
I've read somewhere that some people do it within 2 hrs but I can't see that being possible. Every time I've been it's been more like 6hrs door to door.
Also, wouldn't it get pricey? I know rents are cheaper in Spain but the flight must be at least £150rtn each time.
I have the advantage that I can work from home 2 or 3 days a week but need to go into the office occasionally. For the rest, it's all internet or phone meetings.
I've read somewhere that some people do it within 2 hrs but I can't see that being possible. Every time I've been it's been more like 6hrs door to door.
Also, wouldn't it get pricey? I know rents are cheaper in Spain but the flight must be at least £150rtn each time.
#5
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
Which airport in the UK will you be flying to? That could be the real costly part - either leaving your car in the airport car park, or catching a taxi. Either way, sounds very expensive. Unless you can fly to either London City or Heathrow I suppose...
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
Yeh, I knew somebody that did it, wife and family stayed in Spain, hubby worked in UK, popping back weekends to Spain. Wasn't long before the novelty wore off though, gets a bit tiring, a bit boring after a while.
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: Here and there
Posts: 378
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
If you can find any airports that BA still fly too in Spain and locate near them you will be able to collect airmiles & maybe get your flights paid for by your company. My OH used to fly back and forth to Geneva for meetings yonks ago the company paid but then you got the airmiles (think they have a new name now?) on your own account. You need to make sure you are located near a decent airport, if not the novelty of a commute will soon wear off, and it doesn't look great arriving late for meetings etc. Obviously Spain is a bit further to fly but the real pain is all the check in and out stuff, and any delays.
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: Here and there
Posts: 378
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
Just remembered something else, if you enrol on frequent flyer programmes you get perks like being able to use the lounges etc which you will need if you commute. If you need to fly budget I would imagine Robbin Air and EJet also have some form of Frequent Flyer programmes, maybe not as good as BA but better than nothing and the flights will cost less with them if you end up paying out of your own pocket, and you can cope with flying on them multiple times a month.
#9
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 439
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
Not sure if EasyAir have any frequent flyer programme.
Jul, Aug, Sep are not cheap for flights either thoug I guess the rest of the year is.
Based on £64 a week rtn that's
64 x 48 weeks = £3072 a year
+ parking
+ taxis
+ petrol
I guess it can be balanced against cheaper houses, cheaper electricity, etc.
But I suspect that £3k per year is much higher given missed flights, cancellations, extras.
So, more like £6-10k total?
Jul, Aug, Sep are not cheap for flights either thoug I guess the rest of the year is.
Based on £64 a week rtn that's
64 x 48 weeks = £3072 a year
+ parking
+ taxis
+ petrol
I guess it can be balanced against cheaper houses, cheaper electricity, etc.
But I suspect that £3k per year is much higher given missed flights, cancellations, extras.
So, more like £6-10k total?
#10
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
Hoe feasible is this to do?
I have the advantage that I can work from home 2 or 3 days a week but need to go into the office occasionally. For the rest, it's all internet or phone meetings.
I've read somewhere that some people do it within 2 hrs but I can't see that being possible. Every time I've been it's been more like 6hrs door to door.
Also, wouldn't it get pricey? I know rents are cheaper in Spain but the flight must be at least £150rtn each time.
I have the advantage that I can work from home 2 or 3 days a week but need to go into the office occasionally. For the rest, it's all internet or phone meetings.
I've read somewhere that some people do it within 2 hrs but I can't see that being possible. Every time I've been it's been more like 6hrs door to door.
Also, wouldn't it get pricey? I know rents are cheaper in Spain but the flight must be at least £150rtn each time.
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 196
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
my husband does this, it can be stressful and you need to plan ahead. Summer can be expensive for flights and you have to book as soon as they are released. Winter problem is a reduced flight timetable meaning flying in at horrendous times, if its very early or late it can put the cost of car rental up and maybe a stay at the airport the night before a flight. We have found that using the big airports such as gatwick keeps flight options more realistic in the winter. We pay for annual airport parking in spain at 300 euros a year to include pick up and drop off. You also need holiday insurance. Yes it gets boring and gutty, however in 4 years only 3 flight cancellations and not too many delays. Another option we use is airport buses and trains in the UK if he does not need a car for work. Average door to door is 6 hours but we live an hour from alicante. He says the worse thing is the hen and stag parties flying on fridays and sunday!!
#12
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 439
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
I've done sone sums on this and I can;t see it costing any less than around EUR 11,000 per year:
Tube /Train on arrival in London 140.40 € (£30 rtn once a week per month)
BNB to stay overnight in London 160.00 € (£50 a night 4 nights+ per month)
Flights 520.00 € (average of around 100EUR rtn to Gatwick plus 30% contingency for missed flights, delays, etc.)
Airport parking in Malaga 25.00 € per month
Petrol to airport in Spain 50.00 € min
Seems unaffordable I know the rents are cheaper but still.
Tube /Train on arrival in London 140.40 € (£30 rtn once a week per month)
BNB to stay overnight in London 160.00 € (£50 a night 4 nights+ per month)
Flights 520.00 € (average of around 100EUR rtn to Gatwick plus 30% contingency for missed flights, delays, etc.)
Airport parking in Malaga 25.00 € per month
Petrol to airport in Spain 50.00 € min
Seems unaffordable I know the rents are cheaper but still.
#13
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
It's not the cost ...... it's the hassle and stress which would be prohibitive for me.
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2013
Location: Here and there
Posts: 378
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
Exactly, to be honest if this is supposed to be about improving the quality of your life, then it doesn't really get off the starting blocks, even though its doable.
#15
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 439
Re: live in Spain, commute to UK
I was planning on a once per week just staying 2 days in London, 5 days in Spain. I think I could probably deal with the flight stress for 5 days in the peace and sunshine. I'm just not sure if my flight costs are realistic.
Some people say you can get flights for £50rtn or less but looking on the year view on Easyjet, there is nothing under £100rtn.