Club Class! Grandfather takes £23 Ryanair flight from Newcastle to Ibiza for a night of partying in Pacha… because there was nothing to watch on TV

• EXCLUSIVE: Andy Armstrong from North Yorkshire,raved through night on island
• He met up with his friends in San Antonio and kipped on a sun bed 

A dance music-loving grandfather paid Ryanair £23 to fly 1,500 miles to the party island of Ibiza to go clubbing with friends before returning home in under 24 hours.

Andy Armstrong, 63, said there was nothing on the television and he couldn’t think of anything better to do – so hatched the madcap plan to visit the White Island in double quick time.

He booked a flight with Ryanair, jetting out from Newcastle at 5.20pm on Monday and landing three hours later.

He met friends in San Antonio, before heading to dance club Pacha in Ibiza Town, raving through the night, sleeping on a sun bed and heading to outdoor club Ushuaia for breakfast.

He then caught a 1pm return flight and was back on his own sofa 24 hours later having spent about £300.

Andy Armstrong, 63, booked a £23 Ryanair flight from Newcastle to the party island of Ibiza where he met up with friends 

The steel worker drew admiration from fellow clubbers when he detailed his escapade on Facebook, saying ‘YOLO’ and adding: ’63 and growing old disgracefully!’

STEEL WORKER’S ROUND-THE-CLOCK PARTY 

5.20pm – leaves Newcastle Airport bound for Ibiza

8.20pm – arrives in Ibiza

9pm – Gets taxi to San Antonio

9.15pm – Arrives in San Antonio

10.45pm – Gets ‘disco bus’ to Ibiza Town

11pm – Goes to Flower Power at Pacha

6am – Leaves Pacha and heads to Playa d’En Bossa

7am – Arrives at Ushuaia where he has a kip on the beach and then breakfast

11am – Returns to Ibiza Airport

1pm – Gets flight back to Newcastle

4pm – Arrives back in Newcastle

5.45pm – Arrives back at home in Yarm

Many said he was an inspiration.

Andy, a widower, said he first visited Ibiza with his friends in 1981 and has loved it ever since, going there on family holidays with his wife and daughters Tiffany, 33, and Ellie, 24, when they were little.

it ever since, going there on family holidays with his wife and daughters Tiffany, 33, and Ellie, 24, when they were little.

In fact, it was Tiffany who got him hooked on the island again recently when she took him to Ushuaia at the age of 58, telling him she’d seen plenty of older tourists there and he shouldn’t feel self-conscious about his age.

Andy, of Yarm, North Yorkshire, said he first hatched the plan to visit in under 24 hours with mates on his oil rig, where he works offshore as a steelworker for weeks at a time.

He explained: ‘I’ve been to Ibiza three or four times this year already, it’s my happy place.

‘I was there a month ago and did three nights in Pikes and four in Ushuaia.

‘I love all types of music and saw Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta and Fat Boy Slim.

‘I went back to work and was chatting with the lads, they were asking me how my holiday was, and I just said “You know what, I could just go for a night if I wanted to”.

‘They all laughed and said “No, you couldn’t do that”. But I thought “Yes I could”.

‘It started as a bit of banter, but then there was nothing on TV one night so I thought I’d just do it.’

Andy packed his passport, wallet and a spare shirt into an Asda carrier bag before heading for the airport for his £23 flight out of Newcastle.

Mr Armstong packed his passport, wallet and a spare shirt into an Asda carrier bag before embarking on his wild 24 hour trip

Mr Armstrong stands on the runway holding up his Asda carrier before boarding his 5.20pm Ryanair flight from Newcastle to Ibiza

On board the ‘disco bus’ to Ibiza Town before he went into the superclub’s Flower Power night, spending £26 on two beers and £23 on a gin and tonic

The steel worker drew admiration from fellow clubbers when he detailed his escapade on Facebook, saying ‘YOLO’ and adding: ’63 and growing old disgracefully!’

The clubber stands outside Flower Power at Pacha, Ibiza Town. He first visited Ibiza with his mates in 1981 and has loved it ever since

The widower met up with his friends at the club and danced the night away only leaving when the doors shut at 6am

On landing, he hitched a cheap cab to San Antonio with some people he had met on the plane, then had a few hours to kill before Pacha opened so went to meet some friends.

From there he got the ‘disco bus’ to Ibiza Town and went into the superclub’s Flower Power night, spending £26 on two beers and £23 on a gin and tonic.

He danced the night away, leaving the club when it shut at 6am and walking to Playa d’en Bossa, where he waited for beach hotel Ushuaia to open.

He then grabbed a £50 breakfast from there and sat on a sun lounger before making his way back to the airport, where he had booked a £130 return with Jet2 at 1pm.

He has already been to Ibiza three or four times this year and says it is his ‘happy place’. His most recent trip was a month ago when he spent three nights in Pikes and four in Ushuaia

He walked to Playa d’en Bossa, where he waited for beach hotel Ushuaia to open. He then grabbed a £50 breakfast 

Mr Armstrong sat on a sun lounger before making his way back to the airport, where he had booked a £130 return with Jet2

Outside Ibiza Airport’s famous Burger King before Mr Armstrong headed home on his 1pm Jet2 flight to Newcastle

The clubber first visited the island in 1981 (pictured left). He has been going there on family holidays with his wife and daughters Tiffany, 33, and Ellie, 24, when they were little

He even asked a passerby to take a picture of him at the famous airport Burger King – known as a haunt of knackered returning clubbers – before boarding.

Three hours later, he was back in Newcastle – and an hour’s drive took him home.

The whole mini break lasted a staggering 24 hours almost exactly.

‘It was more of a challenge than anything else. I’d definitely do it again,’ Andy added.

Back down to earth: Andy Armstrong back in Blighty after his 24-hour party trip to Ibiza  

One person who saw his exploits said ‘Excellent work sir’.

Another added: ‘Pure class.’

One added: ‘On the island and inspired by this post this morning, changed some admittedly loose plans and headed into Flower Power at Pacha. It did not disappoint!

‘Salute to you sir as I head back to the floor for one last boogie!’

And another fan said: ‘This is how you do it. I’m jealous, my friend. Maybe we need to start taking a leaf out of your book. Be more random and spontaneous.’

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