A Brit was browsing flights one evening when she spotted the incredible deal with British Airways — a flight costing just £1 to Athens, where she could travel to Agistri, a small island in Greece
A savvy globetrotter has revealed how she managed to snag a £1 flight to “paradise”, despite having only five hours to pack and make it to the airport.
Hayley Rubery was casually browsing flights one evening when she stumbled upon an unbelievable deal with British Airways – a flight priced at just £1 to Athens, from where she could journey to Agistri, a quaint island in Greece. The 34-year-old decided to seize the opportunity and book a seat, with the plane scheduled to depart the following morning – giving her a mere five hours to prepare herself before heading to the airport.
In addition to packing, she faced the daunting task of securing accommodation and arranging everything she would need for her impromptu holiday.
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However, content creator Hayley rose to the occasion, and says the spontaneous getaway turned out to be well worth the effort.
“I booked the flight at 8pm the night before and woke up the next day at 2am for my flight,” Hayley, hailing from Norfolk, shared with What’s The Jam. “Since I hadn’t planned for it and didn’t have any holiday savings as such, it was crucial for me to do the trip on a really tight budget.”
She managed to find such a bargain flight using British Airways Avios points, which she had accumulated from other trips. To keep costs as low as possible, Hayley booked a £5 bus to transport her from the airport to the port, then caught a £13 boat from Athens to Agistri.
She had booked a B&B for her week-long solo trip, which cost her £420, and found that £300 was more than enough for spending money in the small location.
Hayley shared: “The island being so undiscovered with tourists meant that it was still so cheap which was a bonus. I decided not to hire a car and just get the bus to the beaches which only cost €2-3 (£1.67-£2.51), and the island was really small so I could walk most places too. It was super cheap there – takeaway coffees were €2 (£1.67) and dinner would cost €10 (£8.37).”
In total, Hayley spent around £800 for the entire week back in July 2024 – and says the location made it worth every penny. She expressed: “It was magical. With a population of only 1,000 people – and approximately 4,000 people on the island during the busy summer months – it really felt like a slice of undiscovered paradise.
“I spent the most blissful week reading, swimming and relaxing. It was heaven. The best part for me was the spontaneity. Having not planned the trip, I realised I could get a flight for £1 and I was off the next day.”
Amazingly, the savvy saver has managed to find an equally cheap deal on flights for an upcoming girls trip to Palma, finding a £1 outward flight from Heathrow with British Airways, and is planning a return trip to Agistri this year.
