Leipzig via Gran Canaria – Rangers fans’ crazy journeys to beat price hikes and get to Europa semi-final in Germany
RANGERS fans are taking crazy journeys to Leipzig in an effort to beat price hikes - including flying via GRAN CANARIA.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men face off against RB Leipzig in Germany for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final today.
And they'll aim to pick up another big result as they eye a spot in next month's final in Seville, Spain.
However, airlines massively hiked prices on many routes between Scotland, Ireland and England once the Rangers qualified for this round.
Suddenly, direct flights that could previously be bought for under £100 were being priced at four times that, due to demand.
But canny Rangers fans have been scouring the internet to plan cheap diversions which involve making connections through remote airports in Scandinavia, the Balearic Islands and Eastern Europe.
A supporter, using the name ‘Rab Bear’ revealed on the Follow Follow fans forum: "I was in the company of a few Bears last night, who are buzzing that they were going and had match tickets.
“They are flying from Edinburgh via Gran Canaria, with a two hour stop over on Wednesday and arrive in Leipzig at 11pm.”
Another Gers fan replied: "Respect to these guys. That is some journey. I have just worked it out.
"Edinburgh to Leipzig is 710 miles. Their journey from Edinburgh to Gran Canaria and then to Leipzig is 4,200 miles. Nuts.”
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Another going through a circuitous route discovered he would have less than an hour to spend in the airport lounge.
He was quickly nicknamed ‘One Can Dan’.
Another fan heading to Leipzig on a supporters bus wrote: "Boy on our bus just posted his flight home is from Berlin, Lithuania and Leeds. Mental case.”
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Another, called Falkirk Bear, added: "One of my mates gets off his rig in Norway at 9am, then going Stavanger – Oslo – Berlin – Leipzig!”
German airline Lufthansa sent passengers an email last night, informing them that ‘due to staff shortages’ there would be no trolley service of food or drink on today's flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Frankfurt.
One fan, called ‘Leopold’ added: "Me thinks Lufthansa are pulling a fast one and are well aware the flights are full of football supporters.”
Up to 8,000 Rangers fans are expected to make the trip for the game against RB Leipzig.
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Many have been impressed by the way the Bundesliga have been able to issue tickets, beyond the official allocation awarded to the Ibrox club under Uefa rules.
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