Cheap flights in Europe

Fly Cheap in Europe — how to save, what to expect, who flies, and top tips so you don’t get burned.

Why flights are relatively cheap in Europe

Europe is kind of spoiled with budget airlines. Lots of competition + many short routes = airlines squeezing costs and offering stripped-down fares. Some reasons why flights within Europe can be really affordable:

• Many point-to-point short hops, so fuel/time/crew costs are lower compared to long haul.
• Secondary airports are used (cheaper landing fees, less congestion).
• Low-cost carriers don’t bundle many extras: you only pay for what you use (luggage, seat choice, priority boarding, food onboard).
• Strong regulation of air travel in the EU, open skies etc., which makes competition freer.

Because of all that, if you plan smart (book early, fly light, be flexible), you can snag fares that are cheaper than a train ride between some cities!

Examples of cheap ticket prices between major European cities

Here are a few sample fares to give you an idea (these reflect promotional fares or early-booking low-cost options; actual prices vary depending on season, time of booking, etc.):

These are approximate; if you wait too long or try peak times, fares can easily multiply with baggage and other fees. Discount fares may be even lower.

List of budget/low-cost airlines in Europe (with links)

Here are many of the well-known budget / low-cost carriers in Europe. Clicking through to their sites helps you see exact routes, baggage rules, seat fees, etc.

(This is not exhaustive, but gives a strong list of who to check.)

I have personally flown with Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Pegasus Airlines, airBaltic, and Norwegian — without any problems..

How budget airlines work — what to expect & what costs extra

Budget airlines survive by stripping out “extras.” That means you get the basics: a seat, get you from A to B, but many comfort or convenience items are optional (and charged separately). Here are the common trade-offs & extra costs:

• Secondary airports — cheaper to use, but sometimes far from city centers. That adds ground-transport cost/time.
• No free baggage — often only a small personal item included. Anything larger (carry-on, checked bag) costs extra.
• Seat selection is usually optional (if you want a window, aisle, or sit with friends, pay more).
• Priority boarding / fast lanes cost extra. Want to board early or skip the queue? That’s premium.
• In-flight food, drinks almost always extra. Expect to pay unlike legacy carriers.
• Change / cancellation fees tend to be steep. Budget fares often are non-refundable or heavily penalized for changes.

Using Skyscanner (and similar tools) to find deals

Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) is one of the best tools for figuring out cheap flights because:

• It lets you compare many airlines, including low-cost ones and legacy carriers.
• You can search with “whole month” or “cheapest month” options to see when the cheapest times to fly are.
• You can set up price alerts, so you get notified when fares drop.
• Shows “nearby airports” so you might discover flying into a secondary airport + ground transport could still be cheaper overall.

Other useful tools: Google Flights, Kayak, Momondo, and some regional budget-airline aggregators.

Top Tips for Flying Cheap in Europe

Here’s your cheat sheet:

1. Book as early as you reasonably can — promo fares often released many weeks in advance.
2. Be flexible with dates and airports — flying mid-week (Tues/Wed) is often cheaper; consider flying into a less popular airport.
3. Travel light — limit to a personal item only when possible; skip checked baggage.
4. Don’t let extras add up — seat selection, priority boarding etc. add up; only pay if you really need it.
5. Watch out for hidden fees — printing boarding passes at airport, airport fees, credit card fees. Read terms.
6. Subscribe to airline newsletters / fare alerts so you hear about sales.
7. Consider one-way tickets + mixing airlines — sometimes booking two one-way flights is cheaper than round-trip.
8. Use secondary airports when practical — but factor in transport time+cost so you aren’t “saving money” by arriving super far out.
9. Check low-cost vs train or bus — for shorter legs (2-3 hours), sometimes high-speed train or bus may compete well when you add in airport transfers and luggage fees.
10. Check baggage & weight limits ahead of time — sometimes what seems to be a “cheap” fare becomes expensive with just one small extra bag.
11. Check airline pages and specialised site for last minute discounts.