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.

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.

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.

In celebration of Wow Air’s fifth anniversary, the ultra-budget airline today announced $55 one-way tickets from three US departures (Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami) to several European cities.

The tickets go on sale today, but there’s a catch: In order to score the cheap seats, you must fly this month — between June 11, 2017 and June 27, 2017.

Furthermore, sale tickets have limited availability and you must book a return journey, making it more difficult to find $55 seats both ways.

Book directly through Wow Air’s website.

Our tests

In our tests this morning, we easily found a $55 seat from Miami to Brussels (as with all Wow flights, via Reykjavik), but the cheapest return we could find for the journey was $249. Still, this brought the base fare up to $304, which is a great deal for summer travel to Europe.

Keep in mind, however, that prices can climb substantially when you add in additional charges, like checked luggage and reserved seats. (Read more about Wow’s extra charges and our guide to flying Wow Air.)

More details from Wow

From Wow Air’s press release today.

For a limited time, $55 tickets will be available from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Amsterdam (AMS), Copenhagen (CPH), Dublin (DUB), London (LGW) and Berlin (SXF).

From Miami, $55 tickets will be available to Bristol (BRS), Brussels (BRU), Dublin (DUB), Edinburgh (EDI), Dusseldorf (DUS), Copenhagen (CPH), Frankfurt (FRA) and Cork (ORK).

WOW air’s California routes are serviced by three new Airbus A330 aircrafts, the first wide-body jets in the WOW air fleet. The airline operates the youngest fleet in Iceland with the lowest emission.

Launched in November 2011, WOW air now connects 32 destinations across the U.S. and Europe with the Icelandic capital. In 2016 WOW air flew with 1,668,773 passengers in total, which is an increase of 130% from 2015.

Fares go on sale today and will be offered for flights between June 11, 2017 and June 28, 2017.

*San Francisco (SFO) to AMS, CPH, DUB, LGW, SXF via Iceland. Based on lowest one-way WOW Basic fare booked on www.wowair.us. Includes all taxes, fees and carrier charges. Available for travel June 11th to June 28th. The offer applies for 200 seats on selected flights, only when booked on a return trip.

*Los Angeles (LAX) to AMS, CPH, DUB, LGW, SXF via Iceland. Based on lowest one-way WOW Basic fare booked on www.wowair.us. Includes all taxes, fees and carrier charges. Available for travel June 19th to June 28th. The offer applies for 150 seats on selected flights, only when booked on a return trip.

*Miami (MIA) to BRS, BRU, CPH, DUB, DUS, EDI, FRA, ORK via Iceland. Based on lowest one-way WOW Basic fare booked on www.wowair.us. Includes all taxes, fees and carrier charges. Available for travel June 18th to June 28th. The offer applies for 100 seats on selected flights, only when booked on a return trip.

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Related: How we scored a cheap flight to London-Gatwick on Norwegian

I recently flew from New York-JFK to London for $168 and Paris to New York-JFK for just $220. Of course, there’s always a catch with such a nice price. And if you’re used to flying established carriers like Air France, Virgin Atlantic, or airberlin, you need to prepare yourself for a different experience, so don’t expect to be welcomed with a glass of Champagne.

However, we’ve enjoyed most of our flights on Norwegian despite the lack of perks. And after flying this low-cost airline a number of times, we’ve discovered a few easy ways to make your trip on Norwegian more comfortable.

Related: Search cheap flights to Europe

1. You don’t need to pay for a seat reservation

Unless you absolutely need an aisle or window seat, there’s no need to pay extra for your exact seat. They’ll assign you one on the day of your departure.  If you really like a window or aisle seat, then you should go ahead and pay the $45 fee to secure your preferred seat, but we’d rather spend that money on our first meal of the trip.

2. Flying with someone? Check in early to (hopefully) nab seats together

If you’re traveling with a companion and don’t already have a seat reservation, it pays to arrive at the check-in counter early. Each time I’ve flown Norwegian with a companion, we’ve been able to get seats together. On sold-out flights from JFK to London and Paris to JFK, I was able to get two seats together without any hassle.

3. If you like views, nab a window seat

If you love gazing out over the landscape like I do (check out this shot of Greenland on a trip back from Iceland), you might want to request a window seat. Boeing 787s have oversize windows that you can control with an electronic shade. It’s a cool feature that may or may not be worth the extra money to reserve your seat.

4. You might want to pay to check your bag

We all know the agony of having to check your bag at the gate. The fees can kick off your trip on the wrong note — say goodbye to $65 when you fly Norwegian (as opposed to $45 if you pay for luggage online; check out all baggage fee details). Although Norwegian does have spacious overhead bins on their long-haul flights, if you have a big piece of luggage, it might be better to pay beforehand rather than getting stuck with a big fee at the counter.

Related: WOW Air $99 to Europe? Yes, but the devil is in the details

5. Buy water before boarding

Unless you purchased a meal online, you won’t be getting any free drinks or snacks — not even a cup of water. They don’t even come around with a drink cart, so grab a couple of bottles of water beforehand if you don’t want to shell out a few bucks. Or go super cheapo and fill up your own bottle at the bathroom water fountain.

6. Maybe skip the meals and bring your own

The food on Norwegian for LowFare tickets won’t win away awards. Expect your typical airline food. If you have time, swing by a bakery in Paris for a sandwich and pastry on your way to the airport. You’ll make your fellow passengers very jealous, especially the ones who paid for the chicken à la mode.

That said, sometimes Norwegian offers online combination specials (called LowFare+) for a three-course meal, drinks, seat reservation, and piece of baggage. I once scored a LowFare+ for an extra $50 on a flight to London. That might be a good time to upgrade your experience.

7. Order drinks and food right from your seat

If you start craving a snack, you can just browse the selections from your seat. Swipe your card, and your order is delivered by the flight attendants. The pricing is pretty standard for airlines ($6 for a beer, $3 for snacks, etc.), and a bottle of sparkling water from Iceland was actually cheaper than at the gate in JFK. I usually use the money I saved on the seat reservation to splurge on a glass of wine.

Related: What’s it like to fly to Europe on Primera Air

8. Free movies, TV shows and interactive maps help pass the time

For a budget airline, the on-board entertainment is surprisingly good. They offer free movies and TV shows but don’t expect the latest blockbusters or live TV (except for flights within Europe). Settle in for a few episodes of Friends or movies like Argo or Finding Nemo.

Also, I’m a huge cartography nerd, so I love Norwegian’s live map feature. You can zoom in on destinations around the globe to learn more about the attractions and choose different views from the plane during your journey.

9. Charge your laptop, tablet or smartphone from your seat

They don’t offer live TV on in-seat screen, but you can charge your mobile devices with ease. Get your smartphone juiced up with the plug just below the screen, so you can start snapping photos from the moment you get off the plane.

10. The 787 Dreamliner is quite comfortable and the crew very friendly

Norwegian flights to Europe all use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner for their routes. Mood lighting, a 3-3-3 seating arrangement across the plane, and several bathrooms make for a nice flight. The crews on all of my Norwegian flights have been quite friendly and enthusiastic at assisting in any way they can (despite the lack of free snacks). This can come in handy on a 6+ hour flight!

Your tips

Have you flown Norwegian? Tell us about your experience in our comments section below. What tips do you have for other travelers?

The post Flying Norwegian: 10 Tips for making your cheap flight to Europe more comfortable appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Searching around for cheap fights from the US to Iceland? You have several choices:

Icelandair

Icelandair flies directly to Reykjavik from New York, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Orlando, Seattle, and several other cities in North America. It can be a challenge to score a cheap seat, but we were able to find a round-trip ticket from JFK to Reykjavik this past June for $550.

The flight is only five hours from the East Coast, so you don’t lose a lot of time on either end of your trip. Service is usually very friendly on Icelandair, and the in-flight entertainment system includes information on Iceland, so you can watch videos about the country before you land. Another big benefit of flying Icelandair? The airline doesn’t mess around with a lot of hidden fees. Your ticket includes two checked bags (yes, two!) per person.

Related: Airline baggage fees for US to Europe carriers

Wow Air

Wow Air offers discount fares for as low as $99 each way from destinations like Baltimore, Boston and several other East Coast points of departures. It also recently launched flights from Newark which has excited budget travel fans in New York. Just note, unlike Icelandair, Wow Air tacks on lots of extra charges for baggage, meals, seats and other fees that can creep up on you. Check out our guide to flying Wow Air for more details.

Other carriers

Delta also has nonstop flights from New York JFK and several airlines offer connecting flights from Europe, including budget-friendly Wizz Air, Norwegian, Scandinavian (SAS), and Air Berlin.

Getting into Reykjavik from the airport

Going from the airport to the city is an easy transition. Skip the taxi and head straight for the FlyBus. It leaves 35-40 minutes after your flight arrival, so you don’t have to stress about missing the last bus. They run even if your flight is delayed or arrives in late at night.

You can choose an option that takes you to the main bus terminal for about $22 located on the edge of Downtown, or for just $5 more, you can get dropped off right at one of the hotels in the central city.

Our guide to budget travel in Iceland

Read more in our guide to saving in Iceland:

• When to go to Iceland
• Budget hotels in Reykjavik
• Renting a car in Iceland
• Bus tours from Reykjavik
• Budget tips for visiting Reykjavik
• Saving on restaurants, bars and nightlife in Reykjavik

The post Cheap Flights from the US to Iceland appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.