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Brits are paying a lot more for winter holiday flights now than before the pandemic, according to new data. The Mirror's analysis of plane ticket prices, carried out by comparison site Hopper, shows where holidaymakers are not getting value for their money and where prices are actually beating inflation.

Comparing flights from over 200 airlines to and from European holiday hotspots now and in January 2020 reveals that some routes have soared in price while others have become cheaper. Spain and Greece saw the biggest rise in prices as tourists are warned that these areas are now becoming increasingly expensive to visit.

This is happening at a time when inflation is high globally and in the UK, with the cost of goods and services having risen by 30.4% in the past four years, says Hargreaves Lansdown. The prices shown below are not based on all available flights but give the average 'good deal price' - what a typical leisure traveller should expect to pay - available at the end of January 2020 and the end of January 2024.

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It will be possible to find cheaper flights than the prices shown on some budget carriers, but the trend across the four years remains. The biggest increase was seen for return flights from the UK to Menorca in Spain.

Average flight prices have rocketed from £178 in 2020 to £291 now - a 63% increase. If the price of journeys to the Balearic Island had followed inflation, it would cost £232 now. Trips to Barcelona have also seen a 30% increase, from £143 to £187, while flights to Malaga have risen from £192 to £246, a 28% hike.

People heading to Greece will face a new tax from March (Image: Getty Images)

Although most of the routes that are now more expensive have seen smaller increases than the UK's 30% inflation since 2020, it doesn't mean holidaymakers won't feel the pinch. This is especially true if their wages haven't kept up with these rises - as is the case for many people.

Biggest price hikes

(Location, price in January 2020, price in January 2024, percentage difference, price in 2024 if inflation followed)

Minorca Island, Spain: £178, £291, 63%, £232
Barcelona, Spain: £143, £187, 30%, £186
Malaga, Spain: £192, £246, 28%, £250
Athens, Greece: £182, £223, 23%, £237
Mykonos, Greece: £278, £340, 22%, £362
Faro, Portugal: £196, £234,19%, £250
Porto, Portugal:£155, £182, 17%, £202
Ibiza Town, Spain: £182, £213, 17%, £237
Izmir, Turkey: £216, £244, 13%, £282
Bodrum, Turkey: £276, £311, 12%, £360

However, there are still plenty of destinations that are cheaper now than they were in 2020, even when taking inflation into account.

The biggest bargain is Funchal in Portugal, with flight prices dropping by 20% over the past four years. Those heading to this city in Madeira would've paid £259 in January 2020, compared to £207 now - that's £121 less than the cost if it had followed inflation, which would be £338.

Lesbos in Greece is another destination where prices have fallen. A return ticket four years ago was £379, but it's now £321 - a whopping £173 less than if the tickets had increased by the average rate of inflation.