How to think about this route
For a classic long weekend, flying usually gives the widest choice of departure times. Low-cost carriers dominate many schedules, so the useful comparison is total cost — flight plus bags plus getting to your London airport — not the cheapest headline fare alone.
Before choosing, compare the full journey: travel to the airport, security time, baggage costs, transfer into Alicante or the coast and arrival time at your hotel.
London airport choices
Compare Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN) on your dates rather than assuming one will be cheapest; add train or coach costs before choosing. Heathrow (LHR) works well for full-service airlines.
If the fare difference is small, a closer airport with a better arrival time can be better value than the cheapest-looking ticket.
London airports — quick compare
| Airport | Best For | Main Advantage | Main Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heathrow (LHR) | West London; full-service | Frequency / connections | Peak queues; often dearer headlines |
| Gatwick (LGW) | South / south-east | Strong leisure short-haul | Awkward from north of the river |
| Stansted (STN) | North-east / Essex; low headlines | Often cheapest ticket | Express + cross-London time |
| Luton (LTN) | North / M1 corridor | Regular low-cost schedules | Early starts; DART/coach hops |
Airlines on this route
easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and others appear. Most use ALC.
Alicante arrival airports
Alicante–Elche (ALC) is the main airport and suits most travellers. Tram and bus links reach Alicante city centre; coaches serve Benidorm, Torrevieja and wider Costa Blanca resorts. Very frequent non-stops mean you rarely need a connection.
For a first visit, match your arrival time to your hotel area. Late arrivals may make a central Alicante stay more valuable than a coast transfer after dark.
- Airport
- Town / resort
Alicante airports — quick compare
| Airport | Best For | Transfer to centre / resort | Main Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante (ALC) | City + Costa Blanca | Taxi / bus — city often ~20–30 min; Benidorm farther | Resort distance varies widely |
Airport transfers — quick guide
- Heathrow: Elizabeth line or Piccadilly; Express is faster and dearer. Allow peak security time.
- Gatwick: Gatwick Express or Thameslink. Clean from south London; slower if you start north.
- Stansted: Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, then Tube. Price that before a “cheap” fare wins.
- Luton: DART to Parkway, then rail into London. Fine with a cabin bag; slower with two hold cases.
- ALC: City is close; Benidorm and northern Costa Blanca need longer transfers.
Package holidays vs flight-only
Many London → ALC travellers book flight plus hotel together — especially in July, August and Easter school holidays when separate flight and room searches can drift apart in price. Compare standalone flights with bundled options on the package holidays hub or a Spain beach flight + hotel search on the partner site.
If you prefer to build your own trip, lock in flights first, then use the stays guide to pick Alicante city or a coast base before comparing room rates.
When to compare and book
UK school holidays and summer weekends push both flights and hotel demand. Mid-week departures often avoid the busiest Friday–Sunday demand. Shoulder weeks in May, June and September can balance weather and price.
For summer peaks, start comparing roughly six to ten weeks ahead. For routine city breaks outside school holidays, four to eight weeks is often enough if you can shift dates.
Baggage and fare details
European low-cost fares may only include a small personal item. If you need a cabin suitcase, checked bag, seat selection or priority boarding, add those costs before deciding that one option is cheaper.
Also check whether your ticket allows changes. A slightly higher flexible fare can be worth it when hotel dates or car-hire pickup times are not fully fixed.
Alicante planning after you land
If Alicante is your base, choose your area before booking day trips. The city suits museums and tapas; the coast suits beach-focused stays. For a Valencia city day, check train times from Alicante before locking the hotel.
Use the package holidays hub to compare flight + hotel bundles, then add car hire only if you plan multi-resort loops along the coast.