Arsenal fans are facing exorbitant costs to travel to this year's Champions League final in Budapest, with direct flights from London already priced at more than £1,100 return and hotels near the stadium costing over £1,000 a night.
Soaring Travel Costs
The Gunners will face the winner of the other semi-final between Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain at the Puskas Arena on May 30. However, fans hoping to attend are being hit with massive price hikes. Direct flights from London to Budapest for the day before and after the match have doubled in price since just hours before Arsenal's semi-final victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
Accommodation Prices Skyrocket
Hotels in the city are being touted at more than £1,000 a night close to the stadium, up to four times the average weekend rate. As of Wednesday morning, the cheapest available three-star hotel room on Booking.com for the Friday and Saturday night of the final was priced at £1,426, while five-star hotels start at £11,879.
Ticket Prices Add to the Burden
On top of travel and accommodation, match tickets go on sale Thursday, ranging from £60 to £820 for category 1 passes. Restricted view tickets will cost £656 face value. Arsenal have been allocated just 16,824 tickets inside the 67,215 capacity stadium.
Fan Reactions
Fans have taken to social media to express their shock. One fan messaged Prime Minister Keir Starmer, an Arsenal supporter, asking him to intervene over airline profiteering. Another joked about needing a bank loan for hotel prices. Some fans are exploring alternative routes, such as flying via Slovakia or taking the train from London through France, Germany, and Austria.
Arsenal's Charter Flight Offer
Arsenal are chartering a flight for supporters from London Luton to Budapest, costing £859. The club stated: "To recognise the commitment and passion from our supporters, we are excited to offer a dedicated charter flight exclusively for those who have secured a Champions League Final ticket through Arsenal." The flight includes complimentary bus transfers to and from the airport.
Ticket Details
Announcing ticket details, Arsenal said: "We thank all our supporters for their interest in travelling to Budapest. We are working with UEFA and our travel partners to ensure as many supporters as possible can attend." Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis via the UEFA Ticket Portal, with some restricted view seating available. Disability Access Members may receive a complimentary Personal Assistant ticket, and under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
