HOW THAT pounds 470 FLIGHT TO OZ CAN COST YOU pounds 1,444

YOU could be paying pounds 1,000 more than you need to for an air ticket - but you could avoid that just by picking up the phone.

A Sunday Mirror investigation has uncovered huge differences in prices, with some airlines offering different quotes for the SAME flight.

We tried a random selection of airlines, travel agents and Internet sites for a standard return fare to different destinations, leaving Gatwick on June 1. The results were astonishing. Would you prefer a flight to Tenerife for pounds 159 from Jetline - or pounds 762 from Lufthansa? Going Down Under? You could be asked to pay pounds 1,444 for a return to Sydney by Lufthansa - or as little as pounds 470 by Flightbookers.

These quotes all come from reputable companies promising their customers the best flight deals they have.

The Consumers Association say there is nothing to stop companies charging vastly differing prices.

Spokesman Roger Lakin from the association's Holiday Which? said: "You have to do your homework. Travel agents have different agreements with airlines. Don't take the first flight you're offered."

But how do British Airways justify a difference of pounds 56 between BA Online, which quoted us a return fare to Malaga for pounds 254.10, and BA Direct, which offered pounds 198?

A BA spokesman said: "Seats can be sold quickly and prices may change."

And what about British Midland's summer sale - we were quoted a steep pounds 384.60 for a return flight to Malaga. Hardly sale prices, but this was due to "a limited number of seats".

Even Bob Geldof hasn't come to the rescue with his Internet-based agency.

His deckchair.com charged pounds 180 return to Malaga - not the cheapest - and getting a fare from the website is sometimes more difficult than finding a deckchair on Blackpool beach.

Thomas Cook offered one tip. "Customers have more access to cut- price flights by phoning Thomas Cook Direct than they do going into a branch," one spokesman admitted.

And an offical at ABTA, which regulates travel agents and tour operators, said: "It's up to airlines what they charge, it's nothing to do with us. The market regulates itself."

In every case but one, when we phoned German airline Lufthansa direct its prices were dearest. "We don't advertise as competitive to European tourist destinations," it said.

Janine Murphy of The Air Transport Users Council warned potential passengers: "The only protection you have is to shop around."

HOW THEY COMPARE

PRICES quoted are for one standard adult return fare, leaving London Gatwick on June 1, returning on June 8 (except Sydney). All flights are direct except to Sydney and where otherwise stated.

LONDON TO MALAGA RETURN

British Midland (Heathrow) pounds 384.60

British Airways Online pounds 254.10

British Airways pounds 198.00

Monarch Airlines pounds 190.10

Lufthansa (Heathrow via Frankfurt) pounds 186.00

deckchair.com pounds 180.00

Lunn Poly pounds 160.55

Thomas Cook Direct pounds 155.00

Jetline pounds 149.00

Virgin Sun pounds 105.00

LONDON TO NEW YORK RETURN

Lufthansa (Heathrow via Frankfurt) pounds 497.00

British Airways pounds 360.00

British Airways Online pounds 360.30

Virgin Atlantic pounds 360.00

Flightbookers pounds 280.00

deckchair.com pounds 249.00

Jetline pounds 247.00

Lunn Poly via Frankfurt pounds 194.30

Thomas Cook Direct via Frankfurt pounds 190.00

LONDON TO SYDNEY RETURN

(All 14 days return prices)

Lufthansa (via Frankfurt/Singapore) pounds 1,444.00

British Airways pounds 763.40

British Airways Online pounds 763.40

Jetline pounds 695.00

deckchair.com pounds 689.00

Lunn Poly pounds 604.30

Thomas Cook Direct pounds 488.00

Flightbookers pounds 470.00

LONDON TO PARIS RETURN

Lufthansa (Heathrow via Frankfurt) pounds 847.50

Jetline pounds 199.00

British Airways pounds 124.80

British Airways Online pounds 122.30

Thomas Cook Direct pounds 109.00

Flightbookers pounds 106.03

British Midland (Heathrow) pounds 58.60

Lunn Poly pounds 57.30

deckchair.com pounds 57.00

LONDON TO TENERIFE RETURN

Lufthansa (Heathrow via Frankfurt) pounds 762.00

Lunn Poly (Stansted) pounds 258.95

Thomas Cook Direct pounds 239.00

Monarch pounds 176.00

Virgin Sun pounds 165.00

Jetline pounds 159.00

LONDON TO MAJORCA RETURN

Lufthansa (Heathrow via Frankfurt) pounds 762.00

British Midland (Heathrow) pounds 311.30

Lunn Poly pounds 227.30

British Airways pounds 208.10

deckchair.com pounds 177.00

Monarch pounds 176.00

Jetline pounds 165.00

Thomas Cook Direct pounds 162.00

Virgin Sun pounds 138.00

LONDON TO AMSTERDAM RETURN

Lufthansa (Heathrow via Frankfurt) pounds 789.50

Jetline pounds 217.00

British Airways Online pounds 149.40

British Airways pounds 138.00

Thomas Cook Direct pounds 96.00

Flightbookers pounds 86.60

easyJet (Luton) pounds 80.55

deckchair.com pounds 62.13

British Midland (Heathrow) pounds 58.50

Lunn Poly pounds 57.30

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