Related: 10 tips for packing for a two-week European trip

For Cheapos, there’s one more obvious reason to keep the amount of luggage to a minimum: checked-baggage charges. They can add up fast!

More than a decade ago, many transatlantic carriers allowed you to check two bags for free on international flights. Those were the days… After years of financial turbulence in the airline industry, most airlines implemented new complicated baggage policies, which we’ve constantly monitored in the chart below since 2011.

As you can see, many airlines still permit one free checked-in bag in economy. However, that is often not the case if you’ve booked in a “basic economy” class on certain airlines.

The chart below has been updated to reflect baggage policies and charges as of April 2024.

US to Europe Flights: Baggage fees

Here’s a quick overview of baggage policies for the major airlines flying between the United States and Europe. Prices have gone up quite a bit since we last updated this list, and they keep increasing by the day, even with oil prices now dropping.

Some airlines have also made it come complicated to calculate baggage charges, so you might have to dig deep into their websites for the information. But we discovered that in some cases fees have doubled or more in just a couple of years!

Please note that the following charges are one-way.

Note that the prices below are for standard tickets purchased on the airline. Many of these airlines offer a checked bag for free for qualifying members of their frequent flyer programs, for tickets purchased with an airline-connected credit card, or those booking in a class higher than economy. See notes below, and check with your airline or credit card for details.

Click the airline names for more details about their policies.

Winners and losers

We’ve highlighted what we think are the airlines with the best “Cheapo-friendly” baggage policies. This is assuming that most US-based travelers to Europe will be checking in at least one suitcase. Policies that we feel are a good deal are highlighted in green, while those that aren’t budget-friendly are in red.

Most big-name and legacy carriers used to permit one free checked bag for US to Europe passengers with any Economy fare. However, those days are long gone. Although most fare types will give you one bag for free, the cheapest option on almost all airlines (usually called Light or Basic Economy, etc) now charge for checked baggage. Our advice: Read the fine print and check the baggage policy twice. Things can change at a moments notice.

Aer Lingus

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is Saver fare which will cost $49.99-$64.99
• Second checked bag: $100, €75 or £65
• Third checked bag: $100, €75 or £65
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23 kg-32 kg): $100, €75 or £65
• More information on Aer Lingus’ checked baggage policy.
• Carry-on: One piece, up to 22 lbs (10 kg), along with one small personal item.
• More information on Aer Lingus’ carry-on policy.

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Aeroflot

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is if you have a Light fare ticket
• Second checked bag: $100 or €94 (20% off if you pay in advance online)
• Third checked bag: $200 or €188 (20% off if you pay in advance online)
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): Up to $200 or €200 (more information on excess baggage fees)
• More information on Aeroflot’s checked baggage policy
• Carry-on: 1 piece, weighing up to 22 lbs (10 kg), plus a small personal item.
• More information on Aeroflot’s carry-on policy.

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Air Canada

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: $75 CAD up to 50 lbs (23 kg) with an Economy Basic fare
• Second checked bag: $100 CAD
• Third checked bag: $225
• Excess baggage: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $100 (more information on excess baggage fees)
• More information on Air Canada’s checked baggage policy.
• Carry-on: 1 piece (no weight limit, but you must be able to store it in the overhead bins yourself), plus one smaller personal item
• More information on Air Canada’s carry-on policy.

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Air France

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg), unless you have a Light Fare tickets, then it costs $80 (online) or $100 (at the airport)
• Second checked bag: $100
• Third checked bag: $285
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): Varies based on destination
• Tip: Pay for additional bags online in advance and pay up to 20% less.
• More information on Air France’s checked baggage policy.
• Carry-on: 1 bag and one personal item. Total weight for the two items must not exceed 26.5 lbs (12 kg).
• More information on Air France’s carry-on baggage policy.

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American Airlines

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, Basic Economy class.

• First checked bag: Free in Main Cabin, Basic Economy: $75 up to 50 lbs (23 kg)
• Second checked bag: $100
• Third checked bag: $200
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $100
• Carry-on: One piece and one personal item are allowed.
• More information on American Airlines checked and carry-on baggage policy.

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Austrian Airlines

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is Economy Light fare
• Second checked bag: $90 online; $180 at the airport
• Third checked bag: $185 online; $240 at the airport
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $140 to $370
• More information on Austrian Airlines’ checked-baggage policy, or use the luggage fee calculator.
• Carry-on: One piece weighing up to 17.5 lbs (8 kg), plus one personal item.
• More information on Austrian Airlines’ carry-on baggage policy.

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British Airways

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kgs); the exception is Basic fare ticket
• Second checked bags: prices range from $90 – 100 (depending on ticket type, destination and when you purchase)
• Third checked bag: $170-200
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $100
• Carry-on: One piece no more than 50 lbs (23kg), plus one laptop-sized bag or handbag.
• More information on British Airway’s checked and carry-on baggage policies.

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Delta

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, Basic Economy class.

• First checked bag: Free in Main Cabin, Basic Economy $75, up to 50 lbs (23 kg)
• Second checked bag: $100
• Third checked bag: $200
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $100 (more information on Delta’s excess weight policy)
• Carry-on: One piece, plus one small personal item.
• More information on Delta’s checked and carry-on bag policies.

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Finnair

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is a Light fare ticket which is €65/$70 when paid online
• Second checked bag: €90/$100
• Third checked bag: €180/$200
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): €110/$121 online or €80/$90 at the airport (more information on Finnair’s excess weight policy)
• More information on Finnair’s checked-baggage policy.
• Carry-on: One bag, up to 17.5 lbs plus a small personal item for a combined weight of 8 kg.
• More information on Finnair’s carry-on baggage policy.

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Iberia

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is Basic fare
• Second checked bag: usually about $90 at the airport ($80 online in advance), but varies by destination and ticket purchase date
• Third checked bag: $180 at the airport ($150 online in advance), but varies by destination and ticket purchase date
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): €75/$100 or €12 to €15/kilo
• More information on Iberia’s checked-baggage policy.
• Carry-on: One item, plus one personal item.
• More information on Iberia’s carry-on baggage policy.

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Icelandair

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is an Economy Light ticket
• Second checked bag: $130 per extra bag (depending on destination) up to 50 lbs (23 kg)
• Third checked bag: $130 per extra bag (depending on destination) up to 50 lbs (23 kg)
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $110/€85 (more information on Icelandair’s excess weight policy)
• Carry-on: One piece, weighing up to 22 lbs (10 kg), plus one small personal item.
• More information on Icelandair’s checked and carry-on baggage policies.

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ITA Airways

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is a Light fare ticket which costs $75 to $170 or €60 to €150
• Second checked bag: $85 to $250 or €75 to €230
• Third checked bag: $200 to $280 or €180 to €250
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $75 to $125 or €60 to €100
• Note: Save more when purchasing extra baggage allowance online more than 8 days before your trip.
• More information on ITA’s checked-baggage policy.
• Carry-on bag: One piece, up to 17.6 lbs (8 kg).

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KLM

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is a Light fare ticket
• Second checked bag: €85/$100
• Third checked bag: €240/$285
• Note: Save 20-50% on additional bags when you pay for them in advance online. Details.
• More information on KLM’s checked-baggage policy.
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): €85-€250 or $100-$300
• More information on KLM’s excess weight policy.
• Carry-on: One piece and one small personal item, with a combined weight up to 26 lbs (12 kg).
• More information on KLM’s carry-on baggage policy.

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LOT

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg), except for Economy Saver tickets
• Second checked bag: $55 to $380 per extra bag, depending on travel dates
• Third checked bag: $55 to $380 per extra bag, depending on travel dates
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): $120-$240
• Tip: Pay online early to save up to 20%
• Carry-on: One piece up to 17.5 lbs (8 kg), along with one small personal item.
• More information on LOT’s checked and carry-on baggage policies.

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Lufthansa

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg)
• Second checked bag: $90
• Third checked bag: $185 to $230 online, $230 to $285 at the airport
• More information on Lufthansa’s checked-baggage policy
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg) $140-$505
• Tip: You can opt to take your ski bag as part of your free baggage allowance
• Carry-on: One piece up to 17.5 lbs (8 kg), along with one small personal item.
• More information on Lufthansa’s baggage policies.

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Olympic Air

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is Economy Light, Flex & Family fares
• Second checked bag: €20-€60 (pre-purchase) or €30-€70 at the airport
• Third checked bag: €20-€60 (pre-purchase) or €30-€70 at the airport
• Excess weight: 46-70 lbs (21-32 kg): €20-€65 (pre-purchase) or €30-€65 at the airport
• Carry-on: One piece up to 17.5 lbs (8 kg).
• More information on Olympic Air’s baggage policies.

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Swiss Airlines

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is a Light fare ticket
• Second checked bag: €80-€90 online or €160-€170 at the airport
• Third checked bag: €160-170 online or €210-€220 at the airport
• More information on Swiss Air’s checked-baggage policy.
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg): €120-€440
• Carry-on: One piece, up to 17.5 lbs (8 kg), and a small personal item.
• More information on Swiss Air’s carry-on baggage policy.

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TAP Portugal

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is Discount fare
• Second checked bag: $70-$225, depending on travel dates and destination
• Third checked bag: $80-$300
• Excess weight: $70-$440
• More information on TAP’s checked-baggage policy.
• Carry-on: One item, weighing up to 17.5 lbs (8 kg).
• More information on TAP’s carry-on policy.

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United Airlines

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg); the exception is Basic Economy which costs $60
• Second checked bag: $100
• Third checked bag: $200
• More information on United Airline’s checked-baggage policy.
• Excess weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg) $200
• Carry-on: One bag, plus one personal item.
• More information on United Airline’s carry-on baggage policy.

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Virgin Atlantic

Notes: All information is for US to Europe flights, economy class.

• First checked bag: Free, up to 50 lbs (23 kg), except for Economy Light which costs $75/£65
• Second checked bag: $100 / £65 at the airport
• Third checked bag: $200 / £140 at the airpor
• More information on Virgin Atlantic’s checked-baggage policy.
• Excess-weight: 50-70 lbs (23-32 kg) $100 to $300/£65 to £200
• Carry-on: One piece, up to 22 lbs (10 kg), along with one personal item.
• More information on Virgin Atlantic’s carry-on baggage policy.

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Want more info on airline baggage fees and policies?

To view even more information on airline baggage policies among domestic carriers, have a look at this handy baggage fee guide from airfarewatchdog.com. Or if you’re looking to research airline fees beyond the world of luggage, try this comprehensive airline fee guide from SmarterTravel.com.

Once you’re ready to research airlines routes within Europe, try our guide to cheap flights in Europe and also be sure to use WhichBudget.com’s helpful cheap flights search engine.

The post Airline baggage fees for US to Europe carriers appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

There are a number of websites that will flag interesting flight sales for you (including our flights blog!), but sometimes going straight to the source is the most effective way to score a great round-trip fare, especially when airlines announce flash sales. After all, being the first to book is almost always the key to scoring flash sale fares.

Related: Airline baggage fees for US to Europe carriers

Below, we’ve listed 15 airlines that fly from the US to Europe, with links to their newsletters. Signing up for all of them might be a little overwhelming (although it’s not too much for serious budget travelers to handle!). We’d recommend at least signing up for some of the airlines that serve the destinations you routinely visit.

Good luck scoring some cheapo flights!

Airline newsletter signup pages

Here are the top airline newsletters serving Europe from the United States.

Aer Lingus

Best for: Flying to Ireland and Britain

Sometimes “the luck of the Irish” can help you score a good deal. If you love traveling to Ireland or Britain, Aer Lingus should be near the top of your list when looking for deals. You can choose your departure airport when you sign up to customize the deals you receive.

Sign up for the Aer Lingus newsletter here.

Air France

Best for: Flying to Paris, Air France frequent flyers

Although it seems harder to find a great deal on Air France these days than it used to, it’s still worth subscribing to keep on top of their deals. They occasionally offer cheapo-friendly fares and often blast out frequent flyer specials (even as low as 12,500 miles one-way from the US to Paris).

Sign up for Air France newsletter.

Alitalia

Best for: Flying to Italy

Is your idea of the perfect vacation include sipping an espresso in Rome or drifting along the canals of Venice? Learn about the latest services and promotions when you sign up for the Alitalia newsletter.

Sign up for the Alitalia newsletter.

American

Best for: AAdvantage members

In order to hear about American’s deals to Europe, you must signup for their AAdvantage program, which is free to join.

Sign up for AAdvantage.

British Airways

Best for: Flying to London

Are you looking for deals to London and the UK? You should sign up for British Airways’ Executive Club to help save a few pounds on your next visit. If the name sounds too fancy, don’t fret. Anyone can register, and they’ll send frequent deals even to Cheapos like us!

Sign up for British Airways newsletter.

Delta

Best for: Europe-wide discounts, SkyMiles members

Sign up for their SkyMiles frequent flyer program to learn about their latest Europe-wide deals by email. Along with keeping track of your miles and Delta flights, you can also be the first to learn about vacation specials and promotions.

Sign up for the Delta newsletter.

Emirates

Best for: European flash sales and top-rated service

For one of the world’s highest-rated airlines, Emirates offers a surprising number of flash sales throughout the year. Remember that an Emirates flight, even in economy, includes fancy perks, like four-course meals (with wine), free Wi-Fi, and over 2,500 channels on the in-flight entertainment system.

Sign up for the Emirates newsletter.

Iberia

Best for: Flights to Spain

Be the first to know about flight deals to Madrid and beyond when you sign up for deals from Iberia.

Sign up for the Iberia newsletter.

Icelandair

Best for: Stop-over visits to Iceland

Well known for their fabulous stop-over policy that allows you to visit Reykjavik for no additional cost on your way to major European hubs, Icelandair often offers enticing deals and last-minute ticket sales. Be the first to find out about these deals when you sign up for the Saga Club.

Sign up for the Icelandair newsletter.

KLM

Best for: Flights to Amsterdam, connections throughout Europe

Be among the first to know about special offers from this airline based out of the Netherlands. With Amsterdam as their hub, you can find some excellent prices for connecting flights across Europe.

Sign up for the KLM newsletter.

Lufthansa

Best for: Flights to Germany

This German airline flies all over Europe, and they announce major sales to top destinations 4-5 times a year. Sign up to receive their general newsletter or their country-specific newsletters.

Sign up for the Lufthansa newsletter.

Norwegian

Best for: Low-cost budget flights (with minimal perks) to Europe

Norwegian has rolled out several cheap flights since it launched their trans-Atlantic service in 2013. In recent years, they’ve featured $175 flights to Paris on their newsletter, as well as other deals to Stockholm, London, and beyond.

Sign up for the Norwegian newsletter here.

Tap Portugal

Best for: Flights to Portugal

Fancy a holiday in beautiful Lisbon or Porto? Subscribe to TAP’s newsletter to stay informed about deals, including direct flights to Portugal from the US.

Sign up for the TAP newsletter here.

United Airlines

Best for: Mileage Plus members

Like American and Delta, you must join United’s frequent flyer program (Mileage Plus) in order to hear about flight sales. Anyone can join for free.

Join Mileage Plus.

Virgin Atlantic

Best for: Flights to London

Based in London and Manchester, this British airline is well-known for its famous founder Richard Branson and cheeky service. Join the Flying Club to receive exclusive offers and last-minute promotions.

Sign up for the Virgin Atlantic newsletter here.

Other airlines?

Do you have any favorite airline email deals that we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Sign up for these airline newsletters to find cheap flights to Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Norse Atlantic Airways flights

Budget travelers can fly out from JFK to Berlin daily. Flights leave LAX to Berlin three times per week. With newly established partnerships with easyJet, Norwegian and Spirit Airlines, Norse Atlantic Airways will also be expanding its offerings to provide over 600 weekly connections at key hubs worldwide, including New York City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Berlin, Oslo and London.

The easyJet partnership expands access to European destinations with flights that then connect to Norse flights from London Gatwick to JFK, Berlin to JFK, and Berlin to LAX.

In Oslo, the Norwegian partnership allows flyers to travel domestically and throughout Scandinavia and Europe. Then, passengers can connect to Norse flights to JFK, LAX, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.

The new airline’s partnership with Spirit Airlines will also allow customers to book low-fare tickets between Europe and the U.S. as well as flights to Las Vegas, Dallas, Nashville, and Salt Lake City via LAX, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando.

Cabins and fares

Cheapos will want to book in the economy cabin. But you can also choose from a variety of fares: Light, Classic or Plus. You can also “splurge” for the Premium cabin. Light fares have the lowest price tags, but Plus fares offer a lot of bang for the buck, too. “Plus” includes maximum baggage allowance, two meal services, enhanced onboarding experience, and the most ticket flexibility.

How to book a flight

You can book through Norse’s own website. In the U.K. and Europe, you can also connect to easyJet flights through Norse’s website or easyJet.

Is Norse a good deal?

We decided to search for sample fare prices on the new Norse airline and compare it to other major carriers. We selected a flight from JFK to Berlin on November 11, 2022 and from Berlin back to JFK for November 19, 2022.

Norse offers six different cabin fares, from Economy Light to Premium Plus.

Below are the one-way costs for each cabin on a Norse flight from JFK to Berlin in late fall. Major bonus? These are the costs for a non-stop flight!

• Economy Light: $179
• Economy Classic: $269
• Economy Plus: $449
• Premium Light: $315 (That’s right — for this particular flight, some of the Premium seats were priced even better than Economy!)
• Premium Classic: $405
• Premium Plus: $585

The Economy Light includes an underseat carry-on only (and a standard checked bag is an additional $70), so we’d recommend the Economy Classic as a good value. This cabin fare includes the underseat carry-on, an overhead carry-on, and even one checked bag plus meal service.

If you decide to choose your seat, you can expect the following costs:

• Standard middle seat: $5 – $35
• Standard window or aisle seat: $7 – $45
• Preferred seat: $15 – $75
• Extra legroom: $20 – $120

So, for Economy Classic (which includes one checked bag, one underseat and one overhead carry-on, and one meal) with no extras (like choosing a seat or paying for carbon offsets), this trip would come to $577.23.

Premium Tip: As you can see, for some flights, the Premium fares are an especially good deal. Make sure to look closely, as you may be able to score an upgrade for cheaper than a basic seat! Upgrades include more meals and better positions for check-in and boarding.

Other airlines also offer great deals, but you may be paying more for baggage and meals.

How do these fares compare with other major airlines?

Comparatively, the cheapest round-trip we could find for the same route and dates on other major carriers through Google Flights was $558 on Finnair. However, each way included one layover, with the longest layover being 1 hour, 10 minutes. This fare included one free carry-on, but checked luggage is an additional fee (baggage for flights to/from the U.S. cost €60/$65 online or €70/$75 at the airport for the first checked bag). This trip, which includes layovers each way, would cost a total of $623 for the standard ticket, no seat selection, and one checked bag paid for in advance online.

Bottom line

As you can see, Norse does offer a great deal for nonstop flights to Berlin. As always, rates will vary depend when you’re traveling and any extras you choose, but we like that Norse offers a lot of different cabin fares to fit your needs.

Once you’ve booked that budget flight to Berlin, make sure to score a major deal by booking a cheapo Berlin hotel, too. Happy travels!

The post New Budget Airline Norse Atlantic Offers Cheapo Flights to Berlin appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As we reported in the fall of 2019, French bee was supposed to start flying this route in June of 2020. We all know how 2020 worked out for all travel companies. But with more countries ramping up vaccinations and borders carefully re-opening across Europe (France opened up to US travelers in June), French bee is re-launching their affordable fares this summer.

Related: Tips for traveling to France during Covid-19

How to get a cheap flight to Paris on French bee

Right now,  you can find one-way fares for $154 to Paris for fall travel. For example, we did a search and found a $154 fare to Paris on October 31st with a return flight on November 7th for $224. The total cost is $378 for the round-trip fare, an excellent deal for a non-stop flight to Paris.

Be aware that with the lowest fare, you get a Basic ticket with no perks. If you want to check a bag, you might want to upgrade for a little more to get a Smart ticket.

French bee offers three types of tickets between Newark and Paris:

Basic: This option offers very few perks. For example, you won’t get checked baggage or food, and seat assignments cost an extra $20. However, you can change your flight for free (plus the fare difference).

Smart: For an extra $70 on the flight we searched, you get a checked bag and one meal with a Smart ticket. You still have to pay for a seat assignment if you want one, though ($20).

Premium: This option is a little out of our budget. But for $438, Premium gives you a more comfortable seat, two checked bags, and one meal.

Seats include USB ports and unlimited in-flight entertainment. Photo: French bee

Flight details

From Newark, the departure time is 10:55 pm. The flight gets you into Paris Orly at 12:20 pm. This gives you plenty of time to hit the ground running on your first day in The City of Light. On the way back, the flight leaves Paris at 6:45 pm.

If you’re worried about planning travel now, all flights on French bee are 100% refundable or exchangeable. Non-refundable tickets earn you a voucher if you have to change your plans. French bee uses the health passport through the TousAntiCovid application. See their website for more details on COVID-19, vaccination and testing regulations.

The post French bee airline launches budget flights to Paris from Newark appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

I remember being a student and hoping I could book a flight on Air India between Newark and Paris, which was among the cheapest ways to get to and from France back then. Today, it seems like budget options are the norm whether it’s scoring a low-cost flight on Norwegian or Level or waiting for a flash sale from your favorite airline.

New cheap airline routes to Paris

First, French bee, an airline that lays over in San Francisco on the way to Tahiti, announced it will begin brand-new service between Paris (ORY) and Newark (EWR), and the prices are pretty incredible. Almost unbelievable!

A one-way ticket begins at just $138 — no typo there! We played around with the website and landed a round trip ticket for under $300. Who’s ready to go? The flights begin on June 10, 2020, but bookings are available right now.

There are catches, of course, but budget travelers are likely used to these constraints by now. The “Basic” fare only includes a carry-on bag, but the weight is very generous at 26 pounds for your bag. If you want a little more for your money, you can upgrade to “Smart” which includes a checked bag (up to 50 pounds) and meals. Both classes include in-flight entertainment, PC and USB sockets at every seat, headrests with four positions, and LED ambient lighting in the cabin.

Corsair flights starting in 2020

Starting at the same time, in June 2020, Corsair, the French low-cost carrier to the Caribbean, will also fly between Newark and Paris. Prices and baggage allowances are comparable to French bee, though meals are included. Corsair already flies to Paris from Miami and Montreal, so this will expand the transatlantic routes that they offer.

Arriving and departing from Orly Airport

Also, it’s important to note that both airlines arrive to and depart from Orly, Paris’s smaller airport located south of the city. Don’t let this tiny detail deter you because there are plenty of budget options to get into the city. You can take the RER train in less than 40 minutes for €12.05.

Future of budget airlines

With so many options between Paris and Newark, it seems too good to be true, but time will tell. Will French bee and Corsair stick around and help keep the market competitive and prices low? Or will it go the way of my beloved Air India leg or more recently, Primera Air, which have both ceased to exist?

The post New routes to Paris: French bee and Corsair launch cheap flights appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Flying to Europe is expensive — in fact, it’s probably the largest expense facing many American travelers heading abroad. How can you actually find great deals on airfare to Europe? Here are some tips to help you fly the cheapo skies.

For most of us traveling from North America, the flight to Europe is our biggest budget obstacle. While it can be easy to find great bargains on hotels, it takes a bit of effort and research to uncover cheap flights across the Atlantic.

There are airfare flash sales that come and go, but those are hard to nab if you don’t act quickly. However, before you give up hope on finding a good price for your next flight, try some of the tips below.

Example flight

For the tips that follow, we’ll use a sample itinerary. We’ll say that we’re based in Chicago and want to visit London, Amsterdam, and Paris. We’re looking for a flight from Chicago to London. After spending a few days in London, we plan to take the train to Amsterdam (via Lille) and wind up in Paris. Then we’ll head back to London to fly home to Chicago.

So how can we save on this flight?

1. Set up an airfare alert.

If you know the exact route that you want to fly, you should set up airfare alerts to be notified of flight deals immediately. Websites like Kayak.com and Airfarewatchdog.com will email you when they notice a deal on the route that you’re planning to fly.

In this example, we can go to these websites and create a flight alert for Chicago to London. But wait…

2. Don’t forget about “open jaw” flights.

“Open jaw” flights (into and out of different cities) can help you save time and money, as they’re often about the same price as flights into and out of the same city. Furthermore, you can save lots of money on transportation (trains, buses, ferries, etc), as you won’t need to circle back to your city of arrival. This tip can not only save you money but allows you to save time, so you can see more of Europe.

In our example above, instead of a round-trip to London, you could fly into London and home from Paris. It’s a good idea to also research the round-trip fares from London (after all, you might snag a cheap deal), but we would certainly focus on flights from Chicago -> London, and then Paris -> Chicago.

Even if that flight turned out to be a bit more expensive, chances are it would be less expensive than paying for a trip on the Eurostar (or a flight!) back from Paris to London (and probably an extra overnight in London, too).

3. Be flexible with your dates.

Flexibility is a budget traveler’s best friend (in so, so many ways!). In terms of snagging a good deal on flights, if you can bump your travel dates around a bit, you may end up saving a lot on airfare.

If you have the possibility, try pushing the trip back a week or up a week to see if you can find a deal on airfare. You might be surprised—there might be something happening (a big convention, sporting event, Madonna concert…) in one of your cities that is throwing off the airfare.

In our example, say that we find that our flight seems strangely expensive. In fact, the hotel prices also seem quite high—but only for Paris for our dates. This could indicate that Paris is booked up with some special event (such as a giant conference or the annual Fashion Weeks). If you have some flexibility, push your trip dates around and see if airfare drops. Hunt for a deal–you might just find it.

4. Avoid weekends, if possible.

Flights tend to be more popular and more expensive for weekend travelers. If you’re able to travel midweek, chances are you’ll be able to snag a better deal. Play around with your dates — you’ll probably see cheaper airfare on Tuesday and Wednesday.

5. Be flexible with your destinations or itinerary.

Conversely, you can play around with your destinations. Is there another airport nearby that you haven’t included in your search? Could you add another leg to your trip that includes a less expensive airport to fly into? Can you juggle your itinerary a bit to avoid a momentarily expensive city?

Back to our example, if Paris is booked up (and flights expensive) because of the fashion show, perhaps we could invert the trip, landing in Paris (the week before the fashion show), visiting Amsterdam and then departing from London. This would allow us to avoid not only more expensive flight costs, but higher hotel rates, as well.

You should also double-check and make sure that you’re including “all area airports” in your search. In our example, don’t just search for Heathrow (LHR) and Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Make sure to search for the city code, “LON” and “PAR”, to see all area airports. A lot of European cities, even smaller ones, have secondary airports that might be new to you.

A final option is to “hub it.” For example, say you find an incredible flight deal from Chicago to Dublin on Aer Lingus. It might be worth booking the flight to Dublin and then searching Europeans budget airlines (like Ryanair and easyJet) to get a fare from Dublin to London.

6. If at all possible, avoid the peak travel season.

We know, for many travelers, the timing of the trip has been established long in advance (often dictated by academic schedules, holidays, or growling bosses). However, if you do have a bit more flexibility and are looking for ways to save, consider pushing your trip away from peak summer months and major holidays, and into “shoulder season” or even low season.

For spring travel, instead of June, try early May or late April. Looking for a fall visit to Europe? Push your plans back from September to October to save a bit more. If you’re able to travel to Europe in the early spring or late fall, you will almost certainly be rewarded with lower airfares, shorter lines at top attractions, and lower hotel rates. (Read more about the best time to visit Europe.)

7. Book it when you see a deal.

According to a study by the airline experts at Kayak.com, the ideal time to book airfare to Europe is six months in advance. That said, these days you should snag a deal whenever you spot one!

8. Don’t forget about “budget” international airlines.

In the past few years, a number of new budget-conscious airlines have started flying between North America and Europe. These airlines have made it possible to find one-way tickets for jaw-dropping prices, and their fare calendars make it easy to browse prices over the course of a few months.

While some of these airlines have gone out of business (including Wow Air in 2019), Norwegian is a budget option that has been offering super cheap fares from North American to Europe for years. They fly non-stop from New York to London, and we’ve found some excellent deals on Norwegian in the past. Read our guide to making your trip on Norwegian more comfortable.

Will you score a $99 one-way flight to Europe? Probably not, but it’s still worth it for budget travelers to look for deals on Norwegian Air and Westjet (from Canada).

9. Subscribe to airline newsletters.

You can’t take advantage of fare sales if you never hear about them. I suggest signing up for airline email newsletters that fly to your area. If you’re afraid of spammy airline emails clogging up your inbox, you can unsubscribe once you’ve booked your trip!

Here’s a list of newsletters we recommend subscribing to.

10. Points, credit cards, and rewards travel.

And then there’s the world of rewards travel. Redeeming frequent flier miles for “free flights” to Europe or using miles to upgrade to business class is another matter unto itself. In fact, it’s spawned a world of experts who give advice on the best credit cards to use for miles, strategies for accumulating miles, etc.

A word of caution: Don’t put yourself in debt signing up for new credit cards in order to accumulate frequent flyer miles. Those “free” flights will end up costing you far more than paying full price.

However, done the right way, transfering credit card “points” to frequent flyer miles can help you snag free or discounted flights. If nothing else, double check that your credit card is working for you. Are you accumulating points? Check out this post I wrote a few years ago about mistakes to avoid with your frequent flyer program.

Your tips

How do you keep it cheap when searching for airfare to and around Europe? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post How to find cheap airfare to Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Attention Cheapos! 2019 is getting off to a good start with the latest fare announcement from Wow Air. Starting today, you can book a flight to Europe for only $49.

If you’ve been waiting for a good deal on a trip to Iceland, Ireland, London, Germany, or Belgium, now is the time to go.

These flights are sure to sell out fast, so we’ve put together the details on how to get this amazing deal before they’re gone.

How to score a $49 flight

To find this rock bottom fare, you need to book from certain cities.

From the US:
Boston (BOS)
Washington, DC (BWI)
New York (EWR)
Detroit (DTW)

Into Europe:
Reykjavik (REK)
Dublin (DUB)
Brussels (BRU)
Frankfurt (FRA)
London (LGW)

The deal is for available for travel between the dates of January 21 and March 11, 2019.

For example, we found a flight from Boston to Reykjavik on January 22nd for $49 that leaves at 6:20 pm and New York to Dublin (via REK) on January 21st at 6:05 pm.

Of course, you need to be wary of any add-ons from seat reservations fees to checked baggage charges. They can add up quickly and double or triple the price of your flight in no time. But for those looking for the cheapest price possible, it will be hard to top this Wow Air deal.

Search for the latest fares on Wow Air. 

Before you book your flight, read our tips for flying Wow Air to get all the inside information on how to keep your cost down.

Most Wow Air flights fly through Reykjavik, so you’ll have to factor in a stop in this Icelandic city. If you want to make Reykjavik your vacation stop, read through our budget guide to Iceland. It’s not the cheapest destination, but with a little bit of planning, you can save on your trip with the right hotel and tour. And in January, you might be able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights!

Note: Even though Wow Air is no longer operating, you can still book direct flights on Icelandair to Reykjavik.

The post Wow Air launches $49 fares, their cheapest flights ever to Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

The budget options for flying between Europe and the US just keep getting better and better. Primera is the latest airline to join the swell of low-cost carriers (like Norwegian, XL, and Wow) charging fares as low as $99 for a one-way ticket.

But is flying Primera worth it to save a few bucks?

We booked a ticket recently between Paris and Newark (EWR) to find out how this new budget carrier stacks up.

Read more about budget airlines:
• Tips for making your flight on Norwegian Air more comfortable
• Wow for $99? Yes, but the devil is in the details
• Our guide to flying the cheapo skies on Wow

Tips for flying Primera Air to Europe

Are you thinking about booking a ticket with Primera? You can read about the pros and cons of my recent experience before you make a final decision.

The price

When I was planning a trip to Paris to see the French Open, I started searching for affordable tickets. I had written about Primera Air a few months earlier, so I really wanted to give it a shot.

After buying a cheap one-way ticket to Paris on Norwegian, I found a return ticket from Paris to Newark on Primera for only €169. I purchased it two months before my flight, and to keep my costs low, I didn’t reserve a seat, pre-order food or purchase checked baggage.

Search for cheap flights to Europe

Pre-flight issues

After I bought my ticket, I received a confirmation email right away and counted down the days until my trip. When it was time to come back from Paris, things didn’t get off to a good start. I received only one email before my flight five days before it was scheduled to take off. There was no communication from Primera by email or text the day before or day of my flight.

In fact, I was trying to check the flight status of my trip at my hotel in Paris before I got on the RER to the airport. After searching the Primera Air website, I quickly realized there is no place to check for your flight status! I thought maybe it was my afternoon glass of wine that was clouding my vision but it turned out to be true.

I checked Google Flights, and it said the information was “unavailable”, so I went on the Charles de Gaulle Aiport (CDG) website and saw that my flight was listed as “canceled.” When I saw that,  I decided to leave right away to get to the terminal and see what was going on. Needless to say, it was not a good start to my trip home.

The line to check in at CDG Airport.

At the airport

After stressing out on my ride RER train ride out to the airport, I finally arrived at Terminal 3. From the train station (stop 1 at CDG), it’s about a 10-minute walk to the terminal.

I asked the information desk where Primera Air was, and they pointed me to a very long line. The moment I put my bag down and got in line, I received a text that the flight was actually NOT canceled. This was very confusing to everyone because most people had no idea that there were any problems with the flight.

However, the Primera staff quickly went down the line to let us know that the flight was indeed scheduled to leave two hours later than originally planned. Not the best news, but that’s a lot better than having your flight canceled!

Baggage fees

Like other budget airlines (and most carriers now), Primera Air charges for any checked baggage. You’ll save if you pay in advance instead of at the gate. You can read more about baggage fees on Primera’s website.

On my many experiences on Norwegian, I have been able to bring my bags on board without getting hit with a fee, so I decided to take a chance on Primera. At check-in at the airport, I had to show the Primera attendant my backpack (a North Face Overhaul Backpack) and a smaller backpack that I was carrying. After an inquisitive look, they let me go without making me check any bags. I couldn’t tell if this was the official policy or just sympathy because our flight was delayed.

Related: Baggage fees for US to Europe airlines

Onboard

Most of Primera’s transatlantic flights are on the Airbus A321neo. These new planes have excellent fuel efficiency for long-haul flight helping to keep fares down. The plane that I was on for my Paris to Newark journey was less than two weeks old!

Just note, that even though the plane was brand new, they didn’t offer Wi-Fi or in-flight entertainment. Make sure to download podcasts or movies to your laptop or phone before getting on board. The good news? There was a USB port at every seat so you can easily charge your device.

The faux leather seats were definitely not luxurious, but they were not as cramped as I expected. I even managed to get a few hours of shut-eye on my way home.

Service

The London-based crew was very friendly and helpful during the flight. Before we took off, they even explained in great detail why the flight was delayed for two hours.

They did come around to offer drinks, sandwiches, and snacks for purchase three times during the trip. You can also just push the flight attendant button and place your order with them directly. I sipped a €5.50 cognac (not a bad price at all) as I read a book and looked over my notes from my Parisian adventure. Nothing is included unless you pre-paid for a meal, so I would suggest bringing food with you. The prices are a little on the high side but not completely outrageous.

The verdict

If you don’t mind forgoing the perks that come with legacy carriers, you can’t beat the price of Primera. I’ll have to fly it a few more times to get a full picture of how Primera Air is holding up against the competition, but I would definitely give it another chance despite the delay and communication issues. The onboard flight crew was extremely friendly and helpful and the brand-new plane was quite nice.

Primera did send a follow-up survey a few days after my flight, so I’m hoping they take note of my biggest complaints that could easily make the experience a little less stressful. Getting the flight status up on the website would be a good start!

To check fares, you can search the Primera Air website.

Your thoughts on Primera

Have you flown Primera? Share your experience with us in the comments section.

Note: Soon after we took our flight on Primera, the company announced they were canceling flights on a new Birmingham to North American route. They blamed the delay in the delivery of new Airbus planes, but it left a lot of travelers in limbo. Double check with Primera to make sure your flight is still on schedule.

The post What’s it like to take a Primera Air transatlantic flight appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Do you have plans to take off to Europe this year? You might after learning about Wow Air’s latest deal. Known for super cheap flights with frequent sales (like the $55 flights to Europe last year and $69 flights from California), Wow Air is at it again.

The deal

For a limited time, this budget airline is offering $69 one-way flights to Europe. Based in Iceland, Wow Air’s $69 fares go directly to Reykjavik from 13 cities in the US.

Even better, a lot of the dates are in the early or late summer (June or September) and early fall (October), making this an excellent deal for that time of year.

For a little bit more than $69, you can go through Reykjavik and connect to London, Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin and several other European destinations. For example, with a $149 one-way flight, you can fly from Boston to Berlin, Chicago to London, or Detroit to Dublin. For more information where they fly, you can check their online route map.

This flexibility gives you the option to either enjoy a holiday to Iceland, one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world right now, or continue on to Europe to your favorite cities.

Iceland Tips: A Budget guide to Iceland | Cheap hotels in Reykjavik | Renting a car in Iceland | Saving on dining out in Reykjavik | Best bus tours in Iceland

As with any deal like this, if you really want the cheapest price, act fast. Once the seats are booked on each flight, the $69 fares will disappear.

Wow Air destinations in Europe

As we mentioned, these flights are not just leaving from big hubs like New York and Los Angeles. Here are the 13 departure cities for this deal:

• Baltimore/Washington, D.C. (BWI)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Cleveland (CLE)
• Cincinnati (CVG)
• Detroit (DTW)
• New York (JFK)
• Newark (EWR)
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
• St. Louis (STL)
• Pittsburgh (PIT)
• Boston (BOS)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Los Angeles (LAX)

Deals we found

Searching on Wow Air, we found several $69 flights still available. For example, we found cheap fares from Dallas to Reykjavik on June 9th, New York (JFK) to Reykjavik on June 20th, Boston to Reykjavik on September 25th, Chicago to Reykjavik on September 3rd, Washington, DC to Reykjavik on September 8th, and Cleveland to Reykjavik on September 23rd.

Tips for flying Wow Air

Before you book that cheap ticket, read through our tips for flying Wow Air and our guide to flying the Cheapo skies on Wow. Like most budget airlines, Wow Air doesn’t include any perks with the basic fare, so you’ll have to pony up extra for everything from checked baggage to a seat reservation.

Remember, the devil — or in this case, the cheap fare — is always in the details!

Now, it’s time for the fun part to find a good deal! Check wowair.us to search for fares.

The post Flash Sale: $69 Flights to Europe on Wow Air appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We always get a little giddy here at EuroCheapo every time a new budget airline enters the transatlantic market. Along with booking an affordable place to stay, securing a low-cost flight to Europe is key to keeping your vacation expenses in check.

So we’re excited to see a brand-new player bringing cheap flights between the US and Europe. Primera Air will be kicking off its transatlantic service in April with non-stop flights from New York to London with more routes rolling out later in 2018 to Paris and Birmingham.

Primera is an Icelandic-owned and Latvia-based company that already operates a number of routes across Europe. Now they’re ready to expand their service with a brand-new fleet of planes, the Airbus A321neo. Launching with a similar concept like Norwegian and WOW Air,  Primera will be offering several tiers of tickets from super cheap with no frills to more expensive with a number of perks.

Flying the cheapo skies: A guide to flying Wow Air | Tips for making your flight on Norwegian comfier

Introductory fares on Primera Air

Right now, Primera is only offering service from three destinations: Boston (BOS), New York – Newark (EWR), and Washington, DC (Dulles Airport). They have been advertising rock-bottom fares of $99 each way, and although a lot of those tickets have sold out, we are still able to find incredible deals including several tickets under $200. For example, a flight from Newark to London in late April is only $179.

Primera breaks their tickets down into Light (the cheapest option with no perks), Comfort (includes seat reservation, a checked bag, and meals), or Flex (all of the Comfort perks but the fare is refundable).  If you choose a “Light” ticket, you can add on extras one at a time. For example, a seat reservation starts at $39.99 and a checked bag costs $44.99. They also offer a Premium Cabin, but the prices are way out of cheapo budget for us to even consider this option.

The transatlantic experience on Primera

I’ll be flying Primera in a few months from Paris back to New York City. I was able to find a €169 ($207) one-way flight direct from Paris (CDG) to Newark (EWR) in early June, an amazing deal for this time of year. Combined with a one-way ticket from Norwegian at $170, the final cost for a round-trip ticket to Paris was just $378. That’s a very nice price for a trip to Paris over Memorial Day weekend and during the French Open.

We’re looking forward to flying on Primera Air, and we’ll be reporting back about our experience. Right now you can read about transatlantic flights on the Primera website, but until we climb aboard, it’s hard to predict what the flights will be like. As we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way), these budget airlines can be fantastic deals, but the devil is always in the details.

Have you bought a ticket on Primera Air? Let us know how your experience in the comments below!

The post Primera Air launches new discount flights to Europe from $99 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.