Emirates Will Only Get You to Nice

Q: I have visited my son in Spain on three occasions over the past four years and my intention is to do so again in October this year. He lives south of Marbella so my flights in the past have been Madrid and then on to Malaga. I have flown Iberia in the past but had a bad experience with them last time and I wouldn't be unhappy to give Madrid airport a miss. I particularly like Emirates - could it make economic sense to fly to one of the European destinations they service and catch a flight from there to Malaga? I say this because I don't think they fly to any Spanish airport. - Preston Will

A: Emirates is not a good option, as the closest destination to Marbella they fly to is Nice. You would have to transfer to another airline for the flight to Malaga, and your trip would involve three stops. It is usually cheaper to fly with one airline. As you are unhappy with Iberia, you could try one of the other European carriers that flies from South Africa that has direct flights to Malaga from their home airport. These include Austrian Airlines (via Vienna), British Airways (via London) and Lufthansa (via Frankfurt). You could also fly to London and then take a budget airline such as easyJet to Malaga, but this would usually involve a change of airport. (12 July 2009)