The original cheap fare from BHD had to be the lunchtime 'farecraacker' to LPL with Manx back in 86 - £25 o/w. Very popular with the ladies for some reason
Oh I here you say but FR flew for free.
Maybe they did but back in 86 you could pay with a credit card, check in 2 bags, chose your seat and arrive at the airport 15 minutes before departure and we'd try and get you on board cos we enjoyed our work and putting smiles on peoples faces. Oh and we were proud of the 'Harbour' in the local community.
To top it off you even got a cup of tea and biscuit on board.
What price progress?
Doing a quick online calculation, I see the relative value of GBP£25 in 1986 is approximately GBP£74 now based on average earnings. That means I can currently get myself a BHD-LPL flight for £6, pay with credit card (£5), check-in 2 bags (£15+£35), opt for priority boarding (£4), buy a cup of tea (£3) and some biscuits (£1.50) and still save myself some cash over 1986! What the 'farecracker' to LPL with Manx didn't offer is the option to fly for £6 all in if I wanted to. Blame the modern world we live in for not being able to arrive 15mins before departure.