Right at the moment Frank there are still flights with easyJet and some of the other charters. However, they finish at the end of October (or easyJet on 2nd November).
During the winter months Olympic and Aegean both fly Corfu-Athens, and also both have flights into Athens from the UK (Heathrow and Stanstead departures I believe). There are various other carriers who fly from the UK to Athens - including easyJet - but their times of arrival are rarely matched into the onward leg to Corfu. Some people make a "twin centre break" taking the opportunity to spend a couple of days in Athens en route.
There are a few other routes. In previous years there has been talk on these boards of travelling via Munich and also via Malta, but whether these or any others are still available, and who the carrier is, I don't know.
I looked at the Olympic Heathrow-Athens-Corfu route prices last week and they started at 105 euros each way for non flexible flights.
You could also consider taking a flight with the one of the budget carriers such as Ryanair or easyJet to Venice or Ancona and then catching a ferry to Corfu.
Other alternatives, if you're not in a hurry, are driving down or even taking the train! Drive overland via either France or Germany-Austria and into Italy where you can pick up the weekly ferry to Corfu from Venice, or via Ancona to Igomentesa (spelling!) and the the domestic ferry to Corfu. The ferry prices out of season can be relatively inexpensive, and you would already have a vehicle with you, saving the cost of car hire once here.
Finally the trains. There is a train from Waterloo to Paris, change there and pick up the Paris to Venice express - an overnight trip but quite a leisurely way to see some of Europe! Last time I checked the rail fare was around £150 per head one way, but it's probably a bit more now! Then from Venice by ferry, which as a foot passenger (if you don't have a cabin) is only a few euros a head!
This site: www.viaremare.com normally has all the ferry timetables and prices available.
Phew... anyone know of a winter job going at a travel agency? I didn't realise I knew that much about out of season travel to Corfu!
Bill
Message posted by kerkyra on 23 October 2008 at 12:26pm - IP Logged
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Bill,
You'd make a good travel agent!!
We are thinking of heading to Corfu next winter maybe over Xmas & New Year, depending if we have bought a property on the island.
Will probably go the Stanstead route with Aegean, but still have the drive from South Shields to Stanstead.
Cheers.
Andy.
Message posted by Graham T-A on 23 October 2008 at 2:07pm - IP Logged
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We've always been with Olympic via Athens as their timetable meant that you weren't hanging around too long waiting for the transfer fligfht in Athens. Other airlines might have been a bit cheaper but had 4 hour stopovers.
Message posted by MartynG on 23 October 2008 at 3:15pm - IP Logged
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If you can, it is well worth booking a "through flight" from the UK to Corfu, if you are travelling via Athens. This way, if you get delayed in Athens for any reason, not only will the airline find you accomodation if necessary, but you will have priority on the next available flight.
There is also the added advantage of checking your baggage in at the begining of your journey and picking it up at the other (without having to go through the whole rigmarole in Athens).
Martyn
Message posted by mistert on 23 October 2008 at 5:59pm - IP Logged
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I was looking at Air Aegean out of Stansted recently - 2 hour stopover in Athens on the way out and just over an hour on the way back (which could be a bit tight) - GBP260 pp for a week in January. Main thing was that it was AA on both legs so they should be more helpful if a delay causes a missed connection
Brent
Message posted by kerkyra on 24 October 2008 at 1:09pm - IP Logged
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Message posted by Brian Charnley on 24 October 2008 at 6:33pm - IP Logged
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Brian Charnley
Hi Frank, We get a cheap flight to Athens and then a hire car from the airport. The drive across north Peloponnese and over the Corinth Bridge at Patras, up to Igoumenitsa is a 5 hour drive (not including stops), then the one and a half hour ferry across to Corfu Port. We have a trip booked at the end of November, easyJet from Gatwick for two return and a VW Polo cost £476. We need a hire car at Corfu anyway and the Olympic connection form Athens to Corfu is not cheap and is a 6 hour wait - you can drive it in the time you wait and save the cost of the connecting flight. The ferry for 2 with car is about 16 euros one way if I remember correctly. If you can get a cheap, early morning flight to Athens, the overland part is during daylight hours and is very scenic if you can face the drive. Good luck and enjoy! Brian.
Message posted by Brian Charnley on 25 October 2008 at 12:35pm - IP Logged
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Brian Charnley
Hi Frank, The cost given includes car hire for 12 days! Brian.
Message posted by fqoe on 25 October 2008 at 2:22pm - IP Logged
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I'd be interested to know if anyone has taken their own car down to Italy using the train and then onwards to Corfu on the ferry.
This company book seats on the European car carrying rail network.
http://www.seat61.com/Motorail.htm#Italy
A private car carrying Dutch company do run from Nederlands to Italy but only June to September.
http://www.autoslaaptrein.nl/nl/index.html
The website is in Dutch but you could phone them or translate with Yahoo Babel Fish.
Steve
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