La Croix du Reh bed and breakfast Limousin ROUTE BY AIR

THE LOW FARES AIRLINE

The low-cost airline RYANAIR operates daily direct flights to Limoges Airport, about a 40-minute drive from La Croix du Reh. Flights can cost from as little as £35 return. There are daily flights from London Stansted airport and 3 flights a week from Liverpool airport, The tickets are very much cheaper if you book via the Internet and as far in advance as possible. Leave it until the last minute and the cost can sky-rocket. Flights to Limoges, currently using new and spacious Boeing 737-800s.

STANSTED - LIMOGES

daily flights are

departing Stansted 3.25 pm

Arriving to Limoges 5.00pm

LIVERPOOL - LIMOGES

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday flights are departing Liverpool 12.25 pm

Arriving to Limoges 3.35pm

flight time and number of the flights are changing depending on the season.

Worth knowing: One of the most important things to know about Ryanair - and it's only in their small print - is that the checked-baggage free allowance is only 15 kilos - not the 20 kilos common with most airlines in economy class and which used to be operated by Buzz, which Ryanair has replaced. If the aircraft is heavily booked you may well be charged for any excess (6 euros per kilo). The policy is quite strictly enforced when checking in at Limoges, so if your bags are heavy be prepared to pay up. There is often a long queue of passengers caught unawares. But you might get away with it if you are only a kilo or two above the allowance - there appears to be some discretion, but certainly not much.

Stansted is a very busy airport and long queues are common at the departures and security check. So allow plenty of time "airside" (after passport control area) for your shopping and to get to the gate for your flight.
Ryanair operates a free-seating policy, but those who check in earliest are offered preferential boarding at the gate. Boarding cards issued at check-in carry a code number which determines your priority.
You have to pay for any drinks and snacks served on board and you might find it quicker and cheaper (and there is a wider range) to buy these at the terminal, although all alcohol consumed on board must be bought on board.
Due to the airline's exchange rate, at present we advise you to pay in sterling rather than euros (we keep a continual watch on the exchange rate and will amend this advice if necessary).
It appears that you are likely to be among the first to be served if you are seated near the front or rear of the plane. Most passengers seem to head for the door nearest the front, simply because it's the nearest to the terminal building. But if you take the trouble to walk to the rear door you will find less of a logjam and a wider choice of seats. And don't forget, like just about every other airline these days, all Ryanair flights are non-smoking.

AIR FRANCE operates daily services to Limoges from Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly, both of which take approx. one hour. Connecting Air France flights from the UK arrive at Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2F and depart for Limoges from 2D. BRITISH AIRWAYS flights from the UK arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1. Transfer buses will take you from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2F to Terminal 2D for the flight to Limoges. If you are travelling via Paris your baggage will be checked through for you - but make sure you allow enough time for the transfer. If your transfer time is about an hour or less then your bags might not make it - ours didn't four times in the space of 12 months. And because there is only one flight per day from Paris Charles de Gaulle, your delayed baggage will take at least 24 hours to catch up with you. This happened to a guest of ours who was going to a wedding - panic stations, as you can most probably understand. The Air France flights from Paris to Limoges are served by a small but comfortable jet and all seats are allocated when you check in, which you can do in advance at the UK airport. And there is more legroom in Row 8, so it's worth asking if a seat in that row is available.

From 27 March 2005 Flybe has opened a new route:

SOUTHAMPTON - LIMOGES.

There are 3 flights a week: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday.

Tickets from 84 Euros return, including all taxes.

From 27 March to 23 October

SUNDAY flights are departing from Southampton 8.30 am

Arriving to Limoges 10.30 am

From 29 March to 27 October TUESDAY and THURSDAY

flights are departing from Southampton 10.35 am

Arriving Limoges 1.00pm

From 07 May to 24 September ADDITIONAL SATURDAY

flights are departing from Southampton 10.45 am

Arriving to Limoges 1.10pm

flight time and number of the flights are changing depending on the season.

On your return to the UK, you will need to check in promptly at Limoges for your flight. Immigration officials appear to be in short supply, so the gate will be closed by the time the Ryanair direct flight from London arrives to enable the officials to deal with the disembarking passengers. If it is closed and you have not yet passed through the security check you may be denied boarding, even though the other passengers have yet to board and are only a meter or two away from you.
Check-in staff issue different colour boarding cards for the Ryanair flight, depending on the time you arrive at the desk. At present they start with green cards, changing to yellow half-way through the operation. Passengers with green cards and anyone with small children will be asked to board first.
The café at Limoges airport is tiny, with only a few tables, although the works to expand the terminal building have already started.
Once you have passed immigration, there are currently no refreshment facilities at all at either of the two departure gates, nowhere near enough seats if the flight is full (which it often is) and no lavatory, so it's best to be forewarned.
Amazingly, parking - even long-term - at Limoges airport is totally free, which is good news if you are being picked up or dropped off by friends.

Our general experience of Ryanair, and we have personally used the service is extremely good. Biggest "plus" are the low fares. Biggest "minus" is the 15 kilos allowance. Air France is good too. Biggest "plus" is the connections network to other UK and world-wide airports. Biggest "minus" is the distinct chance of your bags not making the Paris transfer if not enough time is allowed.