EasyJet issue statement as Arsenal fans face soaring hotel and flight prices for Champions League final

Arsenal supporters booking hotel rooms for the Champions League final in Hungary are facing fees more than 18 times higher than normal.

Thousands of the north London club’s supporters will descend on Budapest for the match on May 30, following the team’s semi-final victory on Tuesday.

Most hotels in Budapest are already fully booked and those with availability are charging high prices.

Analysis by the Press Association found a twin or double room for two people at the Expo Tower Hotel on the night of the match costs €1,458 (£1,259).

This is more than 18 times the price of €73 (£63) for arriving a day later.

At Bohem Art Hotel, the cost is €1,618 (£1,396) for staying on May 30, and €113 (£98) the following day.

Hotel President is charging £886 on May 30, and £104 on May 31.

Accommodation website Booking.com is warning consumers searching for a hotel room in Budapest on May 30 that “99% of places to stay are unavailable for your dates on our site”.

Akhil Vyas of the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust said: “You’re talking a lot of money.”
Asked if he thought the price of hotel rooms was fair, he replied: “I wouldn’t say so.

It’s cheeky.

“I get it, it’s business, (but) how great is it for Budapest to have a Champions League final there, with all the tourism?

It might put people off.”
Mr Vyas called for company bosses to be “a bit more sensible” about pricing, but said: “There’s no regulation or anything like that, so people can ultimately do what they want.”
He predicted that prices may fall slightly after rooms are cancelled by supporters of whichever team loses the second semi-final on Wednesday night between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal supporters booking flights to Budapest are also facing high prices.

The cheapest easyJet flight from Gatwick to the city costs £519 on the day of the match, compared with £58 on May 31.

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Wizz Air has a flight from Luton to Budapest costing from £462, whereas flying a day later is possible for £46.

Supporters wanting to fly with British Airways and arrive in time to get to the match must travel two days early, on May 28.

A flight on that day costs from £740, compared with £96 on May 31.

Mr Vyas said: “It’s the Champions League final at the end of the day so people will do it, including me.”
Like other airlines, easyJet’s pricing is demand-led which means that our fares start low and increase as fewer seats are available
EasyJet said in a statement: “This fare is for the last few seats left on this flight.

“Many fans will have been able to book earlier when there were more seats available and therefore fares were lower from around £45 when they first went on sale.

“To cater for more demand for flights to Hungary, we have also added over 750 additional seats each way between the UK and Budapest to provide more choice for fans travelling to support their team.”
Coach operator Coach Innovations is offering return trips from London to Budapest for £339, leaving on the evening of May 28 and arriving by 10am on May 30.

This involves a cross-Channel ferry sailing from Dover to Calais, and travelling through France, Belgium, Germany and Austria.

The Coach Innovations website suggests passengers will “sleep for a week” after the return journey.

Arsenal said they have received an allocation of 16,824 general admission tickets for the match at the Puskas Arena, which has a capacity of more than 67,000.

Tickets will be made available based on supporters’ previous attendance at matches, costing from 70 euros (£60).

Reselling website ticombo is offering tickets for the match from £5,177.

Other English football supporters also face high bills for European finals in the current weeks.

Thousands of fans of Aston Villa or Nottingham Forest – whichever team wins their semi-final clash – will travel to Istanbul, Turkey, for the Europa League final on May 20.

Many Crystal Palace supporters will travel to Leipzig, Germany for the Conference League final on May 27 if the team makes it through their semi-final.