Cheap flights from Warsaw to Santa Maria

January is the cheapest month to fly this route, and the price calendar shows fares for September, October, November, May and July as well. Winter is quiet on Santa Maria, so January suits anyone who does not mind wind and rain and wants the lowest fare. Summer and the school holidays push prices up, and the weeks around Christmas and New Year fill quickly at the Warsaw end. Compare midweek departures with weekend ones before you book, and book early if you want July.

No low-cost carrier flies from Warsaw to Santa Maria, so every ticket here is full-service and involves a connection. TAP Portugal, LOT Polish Airlines, Swiss and Lufthansa all sell this route. Each is a network airline, so a checked bag is usually part of the fare, but the allowance depends on the fare family rather than the airline name. Swiss and Lufthansa sell connections through their own hubs, and the two flag carriers at either end of the route are TAP Portugal and LOT Polish Airlines. Compare what is included, not just the headline fare: seat selection and bags change the total.

Every flight into Santa Maria lands at Vila Do Porto, the island's only airport, so there is no second arrival point to weigh up. The airport serves the whole island, and arrivals there are quick and low-key after a long connecting day from Warsaw. Ground transport on Santa Maria is limited, so arrange a transfer or a hire car with your accommodation before you fly instead of sorting it out on the ground. If your connection lands late in the day, confirm that your transfer still runs at that hour, and keep your airline's baggage reference to hand in case a bag misses the change.

Currency

EUR (€)

Power sockets

Type C, F · 230 V

Language

Portuguese

Emergency number

112

Driving side

right

Calling code

+351

Internet domain

.pt

EU / Schengen

EU member, Schengen area

Population of Santa Maria

5,552 (2011)

Time zone

UTC+01 (Europe/Lisbon)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Decide between F. Chopin and Modlin before you search, because Warsaw's two airports are not interchangeable.
• Check what your fare includes, since a full-service ticket on this route can still exclude a checked bag.
• If you book the legs on separate tickets, leave a long connection, because the airline will not wait for you.
• Confirm your passport or ID is valid for Portugal and that your transfer on Santa Maria is booked.
• Compare January fares with September, October, November, May and July before you commit.
• Look at total journey time, not just the departure hour, because a short first leg can hide a long wait.