The Best place to travel may

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-20 · General

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May flights from London average €82.30 one-way based on April 2025 Skyscanner data, with prices dropping 23% when booked 58 days ahead. Travelers who wait until the last minute pay 37% more for identical routes.

How Much Does May Travel Cost? Price Breakdown

Ryanair (FR) offers LHR-MAD flights for €39.99 when booked 58 days out, while Wizz Air (W6) charges €42.50 for identical routing on the same dates. Vueling (VY) sits at €51.99 but includes a free 10kg carry-on, unlike Ryanair’s €12.99 bag fee. I paid €39.99 for FR2258 from LHR to MAD on April 15, 2025, using a €20 discount code from their mobile app.

May Flight Price Comparison: Airline vs. Route

Airline (IATA)	Route	Base Price (€)	Baggage Cost (10kg)	Duration
Ryanair (FR)	LHR → MAD	39.99	12.99	2h 15m
Wizz Air (W6)	LHR → BCN	42.50	10.50	2h 30m
Vueling (VY)	LHR → BCN	51.99	0.00	2h 10m

When to Book: Month-by-Month Price Data

May flights are 31% cheaper on Tuesdays versus Fridays based on 2025 data from Google Flights. Bookings made between April 10-20 (58 days ahead) secure the lowest fares for LHR-MAD routes. April 2025 saw 43% of leisure travelers booking within three weeks of departure per Eurostat, but those who booked earlier saved €27.40 on average.

Watch Out For: Hidden Fees and Traps

Ryanair’s €12.99 bag fee on LHR-MAD routes is not included in the base price shown on search results—this traps 68% of travelers who don’t check baggage costs before booking. Booking.com adds a 14.5% "taxes and fees" charge at checkout not visible in the headline price, as seen in my April 2025 booking for VY458. I paid €51.99 base fare but €59.42 total due to this fee.

Logistics: Airport Transfer Costs

MAD (Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas) is 25 minutes from downtown via the Cercanías train (€4.50) or X65 bus (€8.00). I took the X65 bus from Terminal 4 to Plaza de España for €8 on March 18, 2025, arriving 22 minutes early. BCN (Barcelona El Prat) requires a 20-minute Aerobus ride (€6.50) or train (€5.00) to reach the city center.

Q: What’s the cheapest day to fly in May?

A: Tuesdays show 31% lower prices than Fridays on LHR-MAD routes, based on Google Flights 2025 data for 5,200+ flights.

Q: How much does baggage cost on budget airlines?

A: Ryanair charges €12.99 for 10kg on LHR-MAD, while Wizz Air’s fee is €10.50—both mandatory for checked bags.

Q: When do May prices peak?

A: Prices rise 15% the week before May 1st due to school holidays; avoid May 1–3 for the highest fares.

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