teej

Help! I am looking for the most economical way to travel from Oslo to Paris (one way only) on September 10. Checked a one way fare on SAS and it was outrageous - $1350 Canadian. Are there any regional carriers or seat sales that anyone can advise me about. Thankyou in advance.

indytravel

It's not exactly Oslo to Paris. It's really Torp to Beauvais. Look at Ryan Air through Glasgow/Prestwick.

www.ryanair.com

WillTravel

Another possibility: www.norwegian.no from the main Oslo airport to London Stansted, airport transfer bus to Heathrow, BMI http://www.flybmi.com for LHR-CDG. Total cost will probably be under $200.

WillTravel

Alternatively, you could take the train from Stansted into London and take the Eurostar to Paris.

teej

Thankyou for the prompt reply and advice. I looked at their website and found separate legs from Torp to GlasgowPrestwick that is a major saving. Thankyou for this info. Can you please also advise where Torp is and I am not sure how far from Paris the airport that Ryanair uses is either.

indytravel

The airports that Ryanair uses are almost always a bit out of the way. In this case both are around 80km from the city they supposedly serve.

Ryanair always has a bus (costs extra) to meet the plane and take you to the city that they are near. I think the info is on their website.

Torp is 45 minutes or so south of Oslo. I spent the night there a couple of years ago (actually in Sandefjord) and took the regular train into Oslo the next morning.

Other gotcha's with Ryanair are very strict weight allowances for luggage. Bring anything you want to eat or drink with you on the plane. They charge for all that stuff.

Other than that the cost savings can be spectacular.

teej

WillTravel, thankyou very much for the two airlines you suggested from Oslo to Stansted and then Heathrow to London. New stuff for me and the combined fare looks like $185 Canadian which is fantastic compared to the direct SAS flight that priced on the net for $1350. Amazing! In looking at this option and planning for the second flight leg, would you kindly suggest how long to allow for the ground connection from Stansted to Heathrow. Thanks again for the excellent information!

teej

Indytravel,
Thank you very much for the info. on RyanAir and the relevant distances from the cities it serves. You're right the savings are amazing. I'll have to see if I can work out an acceptable itinerary with them. Sincere thanks again for the info.

WillTravel

teej, there is an airport bus between Stansted and Heathrow: http://www.nationalexpress.com
The times vary, but it seems it's about 1.5 hours on the bus itself.
Alternatively, some posters have suggested a car service, but it's not that much faster necessarily and is more expensive. It would be easier with lots of luggage.

I read another poster suggesting 6 hours for a transfer between Stansted and Heathrow from touchdown to transfer to takeoff, not necessarily because it will take that long, but because there is always a chance of delay somewhere along the way and the fact that these tickets are nonrefundable. So these times are generous. Say something like 1 hour to get out of Stansted, 2 hours to transfer between airports, 2 hours to check in at Heathrow, and 1 hour for further unexpected delays.

WillTravel

Also consider Maersk Air. http://www.opodo.com has a fare for 122 pounds, which is more expensive but it does not involve having to make an airport transfer, and your bags would be checked all the way through. You do have to change planes in Billund, Denmark.

Andre

teej,

Your cheapest OK option is to fly STERLING from OSLO (not Torp) to Beauvais, connecting in Coppenhagen (6 hour layover, but it's a nice airport). The fare is currently 1003 NOK, so about EUR 125.
www.sterlingticket.com

Otherwise Maersk is a more convenient option if you are ready to pay more.

I would NOT recommend changing airports in London - major hassle and a good chance you'll miss your connection. Also, do NOT book "connecting" flights on Ryanair, as they don't check your luggage through, so it's a major hassle and again if you don't make your onward flight you have to purchase a new ticket.

Hope this helps,
Andre

Andre

Just wanted to add that it's only a 15 min. train ride into Copenhagen from the airport, so you would also have ample time to enjoy a taste of that great city between your 2 flights on Sterling.

Hope this helps,
Andre

Bjorn

Try Air France. Norwegian site www.airfrance.no. They have so called "special offers" and "dream offers" between Norway and Europe. I tested the "dream offers" and found a June 5th direct flight Oslo-Paris at the price of NOK 1490 (some 180 dollars)
Guess the best way is to contact airfrance in Norway by phone or mail, though.
Happy Journey
Bjorn, Oslo

PS: BTW, why do you want to leave Norway?

Andre

Bjorn is absolutely right!

You simply need to book a roundtrip ticket and never take the return flight... can't believe I didn't check that first.

Was able to get a fare of NOK 1753 all in with a fictional return on September 17.

So, more expensive than Sterling or Maersk, but non stop and nowhere near CAN 1350.

Hope this helps,
Andre

Andre

One final post to add that to book these fares online, you should go to AF's norwegian site at:
www.airfrance.com/no

Andre

teej

WillTravel, Andre and Bjorn:
What a great surprise to start the new day and find such additional helpful responses. THANKYOU!! After I return from a round of golf on a rather cool Canadian spring morning, I plan to explore the Maersk Air, Sterling and Air France options that you kindly provided. I feel greatly encouraged that I will be able to make the Oslo-Paris connection much more affordably thanks to your valued insights. Thank you all sincerely!