Cheap flights to The Gambia

Flights to The Gambia from London Gatwick

Banjul (BJL), The Gambia

Gatwick flights to Banjul, The Gambia are available throughout the year on a Tuesday. During the high season from November 2011 to April 2012 you have considerably more choice with flights on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (2 flights) and for a limited time in November / December 2011 also on a Saturday and Sunday. These Gambia flights are operated by 2 airlines:

Thomas Cook operate Gatwick-Banjul flights on a Monday, Thursday and Friday throughout the November 2011 - April 2012 season. They also operate some additional flights from Gatwick on a Saturday and Sunday during November and December. Outbound flights from Gatwick to Banjul are priced separately to inbound flights from Banjul to Gatwick, so you're not restricted to multiples of 7 nights e.g. you can fly out to The Gambia on a Friday and return 10 nights later on a Monday. You will often find Thomas Cook offers the cheapest flights from London to the Gambia and if you avoid the peak periods, you may find yourself a real bargain!
Monarch Airlines operate weekly flights to The Gambia from Gatwick throughout the year on a Tuesday. From 14th October 2011 to the end of April 2012 they also fly to The Gambia on a Friday. As with Thomas Cook, this opens up the possibility for durations other than 7 or 14 nights e.g. you can fly to The Gambia on a Tuesday for 10 nights (and return to London on a Friday) or fly to The Gambia on a Friday for 11 nights and return to London on a Tuesday. Monarch Airlines have recently started to sell flights to The Gambia directly through their www.avro.co.uk web site, however, other online travel agencies also offer their Gambia flights and may sometimes be cheaper.

Important! When comparing Monarch flights with Thomas Cook flights to the Gambia be careful to ensure that you have included all extra costs. Whilst Monarch include in-flight meals in their headline price, they will charge you an extra £40 per person for 20kg of baggage allowance and they will try to add on an extra £18 pp for "pre-booked seats"... whatever they are? According to their web site it doesn't mean you'll have actual seat numbers, nor seats with extra legroom and you may be separated by the aisle! Thomas Cook also charge an extra £24 per person for 20kg of luggage, £15 for in-flight meals and £15 to choose your seat (provided this is 62 days before your departure). However you can buy all 3 items for £40 per person as part of a "super saver deal" which saves you £20.

Note: Gatwick flights to The Gambia over the summer (May to October) are only available through www.gambiaflights.co.uk. These tend to be more expensive than other winter flights to The Gambia, except for the peak periods. You might compare these with scheduled flights to The Gambia from London Heathrow which operate throughout the year.