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.

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.

In retrospect, I was making quite a few mistakes. I was a member of every frequent flyer program that would take me, I usually booked the cheapest or most convenient flight I could find, and my credit cards weren’t working very aggressively to help me score free flights.

All the frequent flyer details and small print seemed like a big headache, something to sort out on some rainy day when I had nothing better to do.

If you can relate, read on. Over the past few months, I’ve taken straightforward steps to identify the biggest mistakes I was making with my frequent flyer program and have corrected them. Because of these rather simple switches, it’s now much easier for me to earn free tickets, upgrade seats, and hang out in business lounges around the world. I just wish I had done it earlier!

There are, of course, entire websites dedicated to the intricacies of airline loyalty programs, credit card offers, and ways to master (and sometimes game) the system. (The Points Guy and Boarding Area are excellent example.) This article, however, is apologetically more basic and attempts to give an overview of common mistakes travelers make when dealing with their airline loyalty programs. I was making these mistakes, so I’m assuming others are, as well.

Ready to be a smarter frequent flyer? Here’s where I had been going wrong…

Eeny meeny miny moe… Choose one! Photo: ajw1970

1. I wasn’t focusing on one airline.

One of my biggest problems was that I lacked any sort of focus when purchasing flights. I would fly United to visit my family in Ohio, American to see my sister in Tennessee, and Air France to head to Paris to review hotels. Oh, and American to head to California.

Well, usually… because I’d also be willing to spring for another airline if I could find a cheaper ticket.

This “whichever way the wind blows” strategy makes achieving airline status and accruing miles a very slow process. Getting free tickets and upgrades will only happen to those with enough miles (garnered either by actually flying or by using a credit card linked to your frequent flyer account) — and, unless you’re a high-powered frequent flyer guru (expertly maintaining multiple rewards programs), you’re only stalling the rewards process by bouncing around between competing airlines.

How can you choose the right airline and right loyalty program?

Whoa, it’s a big subject, much larger than the scope of this article. That decision depends on many factors, but take a good look at who offers the most convenient and affordable service to your immediate area, who offers the best deals for cashing in miles for flights, and who partners with other airlines you might want to take.

Many people already have a preferred airline and are members of a program. If you’re shopping around, however, there’s a lot of guidance out there to help you choose. Check out:

• Consumer Reports chart of how many miles it usually takes for a free ride on various airlines
• US News and World Report’s ranking of the best US airline loyalty programs
• A handy overview of airline alliances (Wikipedia)
• Travel & Leisure’s How to pick the best frequent flyer program

In my case, I focused on United for my domestic and international travel. I do miss the Air France dining experience, but achieving status on United makes up for it.

2. My credit card’s “rewards points” couldn’t be transferred to my frequent flyer program.

Imagine my frustration last year when I tried to cash in the 75,000 points I had accrued on my Chase Ink card only to realize that the points were not transferable to miles in my United frequent flyer program. For years I had been accruing these points — one for every dollar spent — assuming that they would be able to transfer point-for-mile to my frequent flyer program. (That’s how it worked on my Chase Mileage Plus Explorer card — why wouldn’t it be the same on the Ink card?)

Nope. The type of Ink card I had, it turned out, counted these as awards “points”, which could be redeemed for travel (flights and hotels) when booked through the Chase awards website. While these points could lower the cost of my trip (or, if I had enough, provide free travel), the “deal” was far less attractive than a 1-to-1 points to miles transfer into my United program.

Fortunately, there was a fix. I got on the phone with Chase and found out that they could close this old card and transfer it (including all points) to another, the Ink Business Plus. This new card permits me to transfer the points to my existing United Mileage Plus card (which counts them as miles). The new card had a slightly higher annual fee, but the switch was worth it for me, and I was able to cash in the points immediately for a business class flight to France.

So many tempting offers out there…

3. I stuck to the same credit card for years, missing out on “bonus points” from new cards.

I kept the same business credit card and personal credit card for nearly a decade. While that showed a certain loyalty toward my bank, it certainly didn’t do much to help out my airline loyalty program. I’d been missing out on incredible bonus point offers for many, many years.

I hang out with a lot of travel writers, many of whom are expert frequent flyers. The most common way that most of them get free tickets and upgrades is to sign up for a new credit card with a great sign-on points bonus, meet the minimum payment for the free miles, and then, when they’re ready to do it again, close the card and open another, raking in another jackpot of miles.

For example, Michael Cargian, who runs the airline rewards news website Upgrd.com, recently told me about the new Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, which offers a whopping 100,000 miles if you spend $4,000 on the card within the first three months of opening it. (It comes with a bunch of other extras, as well, including three times the points on travel-related services around the world, no foreign transaction fees, and access to airline lounges around the world.)

Note that the card has an annual fee of $450 — although they’ll rebate the first $300 you spend on travel (hotels, restaurants, fights), ultimately lowering the annual fee to $150 (as long as you spend at least $300 on travel). It also carries a rather hefty APR that ranges from 16.24% to 23.24%, so it’s important to try to pay it off in full each month.

This card offers a much more enticing range of travel-related perks — and 100,000 bonus miles! — than my old card. So I made the switch. I’ll keep it for a year or so, and might do it again in a year or so if I hear about an incredible offer that makes the effort worth it.

A frequent flyer pro, however, would most likely have a more aggressive strategy. They’d probably sign up for the card, accrue the 100,000 points (which could be enough for a round-trip business flight to Europe), and then immediately start looking for another card once the minimum spend is met. Some would be working several of these offers at the same time. In this way, these pros “churn” through cards to get bonus points, leading to a windfall of free tickets and elite status.

However, all this “churning” could also impact your credit rating. Are you planning to apply for a mortgage? You probably don’t want to go around opening and closing a bunch of credit cards. And will opening credit cards with some frequency negatively impact your credit score? It depends on several factors, as this conversation illustrates, as does this breakdown of credit criteria on Boarding Area.

Important note: While it can be really fun to score free tickets and upgrades through credit card bonuses, none of it is fun if it leads you to being irresponsible or reckless with your finances. Every “pro” on the subject makes the point loud and clear: You should only be playing this game if you pay off your card in full each month.

If you’re currently carrying large balances on a credit card, you should pay it off first, and then focus on new cards with awesome bonuses. The amount you’re wasting on interest payments, after all, can be far more expensive than the value of free travel granted by a new card.

Stick to names you trust for guidance.

4. I wasn’t sure where to look for credit card advice.

Note that in my previous point, I mentioned the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card — and even linked to it. I should add that we did not get paid for that link, nor will we receive a commission if you click through and sign up. It’s included here for informational purposes only.

However, there are plenty of websites that offer credit card “guidance” that get kickbacks and commissions from banks when their visitors click through to sign up for credit cards. And those commissions are big. Let’s just say that this could possibly create a conflict of interest when writing about the merits of the cards.

When researching offers and looking for advice, stick to names and publications that you trust. If reading reviews of cards online, try to ascertain whether or not the advice is truly unbiased. But also, read the terms and conditions of the cards — don’t just focus on the great bonuses, but check out the annual fees and APR that will be assessed for any balance you maintain.

5. I was wasting automatic monthly payments on my debit card.

For years I had an entire list of payments that were being deducted automatically from my debit card. Electricity, gas, garbage… garage… car payments… these just came straight out of my checking account. It was convenient.

However, I was missing out on some serious points here. Almost all of these same payments could just as easily be made from my credit card, and, in the case of my new card, would work against the minimum spend necessary to get those 100,000 awards points.

But wait, it gets better: With my new Chase Ink Business card, I can get five points for every $1 spent on certain utilities (including telephone, internet and cable bills) and on office supplies. So, I’ve gone from not getting any points for those purchases to getting five times the points. (It’s not, of course, just this Ink card. Check your credit card for similar bonus categories.)

One big risk of moving payments from debit to credit, of course, is that you’ll choose to not pay off the entire amount, and will retain a balance — on which you’ll end up paying interest and creating debt. Again, this takes discipline to pay it off just as you would with a debit card.

Final thoughts

In the end, by focusing on one airline, closing one credit card and opening another, and switching around some automatic payments, I’ve been able to put myself on a fast-track for faster rewards trips and elite perks.

If you’re planning to do the same, good luck. Just remember to move forward responsibly.

Your advice and questions

Have some advice for others looking to more easily accrue frequent flyer points? Have a question about your program? Ask away in the comments section below!

The post 5 common frequent flyer program mistakes – and how to fix them appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Thinking about taking a flight with Iceland’s Wow Air? Well then, halló from the other side!

This year, I’ve taken multiple flights along the budget airline’s Paris (CDG) – Baltimore (BWI) route, always with a brief layover at the Keflavík International Airport (KEF). My airfare has hovered around $400 to $600 round-trip, or roughly half the cost the other airlines are currently charging.

Like all global expeditions, there have been highs and lows, because, well, turbulence happens. Based on my experience, here are tips on how to make the most of a Wow flight.

Related: $99 to Europe? Yes, but… | 8 tips for finding cheap flights to Europe

On a Wow flight, only the airline’s sassy wit, the view, and the air you breathe are free. Photo by T. Brack

Here’s the deal

Founded by Skúli Mogensen in 2011, Wow’s small fleet of planes cruises between Europe and North America (Baltimore, Boston, Montreal and Toronto). In 2016, Wow will begin to offer flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles, too. Fees typically start at $300 if you chart your plans (and book your seats) far enough in advance.

The planes are purple. The carpeting is purple. The flight attendants sport “Mad Men”-era uniforms in purple. Cheeky wordplay also reigns here, from the “Vomit-Meter” motion sickness bags and the “Rolling, Rolling, Rolling” food cart, to the “Honk if you’re hungry” service buzzer, and the “Sip it, Sip it good!” beverage cups.

Cheeky wordplay always flies on Wow. Photo by T. Brack

That said…

On a Wow flight, only the airline’s sassy wit, the view, and the air you breathe are free. Food, luggage, and extra legroom are additional. The list of additional charges includes the H2O, BTW, and I am not JKG.

Divas need not fly here. Still, even with the added charges, it’s a lot cheaper than any other flight deals out there.

Related: Creative and cheap ways to fly to Europe

On the flip side…

Just because it’s a low cost carrier doesn’t mean you have to lower expectations (said not in a Polly Anna sort of way!). Instead, change your approach. Try to leave behind your preconceptions of what makes a great flight great. In this new world of bare-bones budget flights, you are actually the master of your Airbus destiny.

Cheapo tip: Go with the flow, and embrace the opportunity to customize your flight.

• Mad shopper? Pay for a larger luggage allowance.
• Long gams? Buy extra legroom.
• Fancy brews or wines from afar? Supplement the snacks you brought from home with a glass of the house white. I did! Rocking a cat on its label, I couldn’t resist. Iceland’s own Gulle beer is often discounted, the perfect gift for one of your row mates.

As Bob Dylan once strummed, “For the times, they are a-changing.”

After selecting travel dates, you’ll be asked to purchase a seat. (Photo by T. Brack)

Booking your flight

After selecting travel dates, you’ll be asked to purchase a seat. Depending on the size of the plane, here’s the lay of the land:

Upper right section: XXL (35 to 40 inches of legroom), $57 to $67
Upper left section: XL (32 inches), $38 to $48
Middle section: (30 to 31 inches), $10 to $15
Back of the plane: (30 to 31 inches), $6

Tip: Like the theater, everyone has a sweet spot. I recommend following designer Elsa Schiaparelli’s mantra on this one: “Buy only the best or the cheapest.” I’d either splurge on a roomy XXL for $67, or book one in the back for a lean $6. Doing the math, it doesn’t make sense to pay extra for an upper left XL seat unless you’re going after location.

Here’s something else to consider: Restrooms. They’re located in the front and the back of the plane. So if you’re the kind that needs to skip to the loo often, pick your seat accordingly. Or if you’re fond of stretching the legs during the flight, perhaps a seat in the middle has your name on it.

You’re permitted one free carry-on item up to 11 pounds—and this includes your personal item. Image: Courtesy Wow Airlines

Luggage

You’re permitted one free carry-on item up to 11 pounds—and this includes your personal item (i.e., stylish handbag or backpack).

But don’t panic: You have options. For an additional $48, it’s possible to add 15 more pounds to your carry-on bag. Or do like I do: just pay the piper, and check one bag (maximum weight of 44 pounds) for $67.

Tip: Skirting around Wow’s one free little carry-on bag policy, I also wear a wafer-thin nylon cross-body bag in black, and because it matches my customary manteau noir, it rarely raises an eyebrow or a scale, for that matter.

Related: A Guide to airline baggage fees for US carriers to Europe

Don’t forget to pack a small blanket or wearing a large sweater and an eye mask. (Image by T. Brack’s archives, 1953)

Packing List

I recommend packing a small blanket (or wearing a large sweater) and an eye mask because Wow keeps the lights on throughout the entire flight.

Reading material should also be on your list, because Wow offers no in-flight entertainment, and they’ve stopping renting iPads. There are outlets for recharging your own electronic devices, but they’re not always in working order, but books and magazines are the good old green alternative.

Related: Packing for a two-week trip to Europe

Tip: On a recent flight I devoured Amy Poehler’s “Yes, Amy”. Heads-up: The book weighs a whopping 1.8 pounds, so consider purchasing it after checking in, in case they decide to weigh your carry-on. Or else pack Tina Fey’s relatively slim 12.8 ounce “Bossy Pants”. Time flew during both reads.

If you’re hungry, don’t hesitate to honk at anytime during the flight. (Image: Courtesy Wow Airlines)

The Flight

“Bon Appétit!” is what I always say whenever I hear the rumble of the meal cart in the distance, shortly after takeoff. Making no bones about it, dining is one of my favorite flight rituals. On Wow, there’s a meal truck, but everything comes at a price. Coffee, tea and chips cost about $2.65; juice, soda, candy bars, and Skyr cost $2.27; beer and soup cost about $5.30; and sandwiches and wine cost $7.57.

Tip: I usually pack beaucoup bags of trail mix in my pockets, and then score some soda pops at the airport. I’ve splurged on the wine, the soup, and the coffee, of course. Because fueled with caffeine is how I like to roll upon arrival.

Waiting for takeoff at the Keflavík International Airport (Photo by T. Brack)

The layover

Wow now prints out tickets for both legs of your trip at the start of your journey, so the layover at the Keflavík International Airport is easier and breezier. Need more reading material? Make a beeline to the Penninn Eymundsson bookshop, not far from the Wow gates. The other shops at KEF airport don’t stock books and magazines.

However, be quick on your feet because the layover is only an hour and a half, even if “Iceland’s most punctual airline” occasionally runs a bit behind schedule. Granted, I haven’t missed any of my connections yet, but it’s something to keep in mind if you’re tacking on another flight at the end of your trip.

Lastly, keep your eyes peeled for Wow’s over-sized inflight magazine. Thanks to one fascinating article, I now no longer have to ponder how the flight attendants manage to fix their flawless topknots prior to a 4 a.m. flight. They don’t wake up that way, but can whip up their signature dos in a matter of seconds. Impressive!

Questions about Wow?

Feel free to ask away below. And if you have any more tips on how to make the most of a Wow flight, do spill.

Bon Voyage!

The post Wow Air: Our guide to flying the Cheapo skies appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

From plane tickets to trains tickets, cars and hotels, here’s a quick cheapo checklist of some simple things you can do now to find real savings later.

Note: Don’t feel like booking everything on your own? Check out the current EuroCheapo package deals for pretty incredible savings for US travelers heading to Europe. We book your airfare, hotel, and rental car all at once, and pass along the discounts.

1. Set up airfare alerts.

Know your dates and desired destinations? Create an airfare alert on websites like Kayak, Airfarewatchdog, and Skyscanner for your routes. They’ll send you email alerts when your routes go on sale.

2. Sign up for email newsletters from your preferred airline.

Similarly, make sure that you’re receiving emails from your favorite airlines about fare sales. The airlines will usually blast these off to their lists faster than the airfare alert websites–and with airfare sales, timing is everything.

Note: When setting up alerts, also consider “hubbing it”, by flying into secondary airports from which you can catch a cheap flight on one of Europe’s budget airlines to your destination. For example, if Chicago to Rome is your route, also consider flying Chicago to Dublin or Chicago to London, and then booking a cheap connecting flight from Dublin or London to Rome.

Airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and many others offer some shockingly cheap fares. (Search cheap airfare on EuroCheapo)

Set up alerts and get miles bonuses to score cheap flights to Europe. Photo: phinalanji

3. Consider switching credit cards to get frequent flyer bonuses.

These days, the fastest way for most people to use credit cards to get awards tickets is by taking advantage of sign-on frequent flyer bonuses.

If your mailbox is filled with credit card offers that promote big miles bonuses (up to 50,000 miles) for signing onto a new card, you might want to take advantage of these now. Most miles bonuses won’t be granted until you’ve spent a minimum amount on your new card, so now is the time to get a card, pass that minimum threshold, and cash in your reward miles on a flight to Europe.

All aboard… a Trenitalia train near Genova. Photo: mauboi

4. Buy your train tickets four months in advance.

You may have already read our articles about saving on European high-speed train tickets by booking them yourself through the official railway websites. (Like this one on German trains or this one on French trains. See more.)

Remember that the earlier you purchase them, the better the deals you’ll find. However, in most cases, you won’t be able to purchase these high-speed rail tickets until four months prior to the date of the train travel. You can look on the websites now to see times and routes, but you won’t be given an option to buy.

Here’s an overview of the most popular national railway websites:

• Bahn (Germany): Four months in advance
• Eurostar – (London / Paris / Brussels): Six months in advance
• Renfe (Spain): Four months in advance
• SNCF (France): Four months in advance
• Trenitalia (Italy): Four months in advance

Note that this is only for longer-distance and high-speed trains. Slower regional trains don’t need to be booked in advance.

Driving a car through the streets of Paris can make one nervous. Photo: chezdom

5. Book your car now. Make changes later.

Booking your rental car far in advance is a can’t-lose situation. Unlike with the railways, booking your car many months off is possible, and can result in substantial savings. (I just found week-long car rental in Paris next summer for $175!)

Then, check again as you get closer to travel time. If you do your search through EuroCheapo’s car search, you can cancel or modify your reservation without penalty. Find a better deal later? Cancel and re-book it!

The Hotel Esmeralda is located across the Seine from Notre Dame. Book it well in advance. Photo: EuroChepo

6. When should you book your hotels? It depends.

Knowing when to book your hotels is a wee bit trickier. Here are some general tips:

• Have your dates locked in and have a favorite hotel? Book it now, especially if it’s a popular hotel (such as the Esmeralda or Tiquetonne in Paris or the Celtic in London) and you’re traveling during peak travel season (late spring through late summer). The rates probably won’t get any cheaper — but the rooms will fill up.

• Don’t have your travel itinerary locked down? If your schedule is still in flux, you can go ahead and book hotels to lock in cheaper far-off rates, but stick to refundable rates that you can cancel if your plans change. You don’t want to be locked into visiting a city just because you booked non-refundable hotel rates.

• Flexible about your hotel? You could play the “last minute” game and try to score a great hotel deal. This might reward you with an amazing hotel deal, or it might penalize you with an overpriced hotel in a far-flung neighborhood. It all depends on how many other people are traveling to the same destination at the same time.

For much more on this topic, read my article on the best time to book a hotel. Click here to search hotels in Europe.

See these runners in Amsterdam’s marathon? They almost all needed a hotel room. Photo: archeon

7. Hotel prices too high? Play with your itinerary.

If your hotel searches are coming back with frightful rates, you might be trying to book during a convention or special event. This happened to me last year when I tried to find a hotel in Amsterdam during the city’s marathon. (It wasn’t pretty — and I ended up sleeping in nearby Utrecht.)

If rates seem wacky, do a little research and see if something else is happening during your planned visit. Then, play around with your itinerary, and see if you can visit the city during a less expensive period. Now is the time to tweak your trip.

Go ahead and watch “Amelie” again if it’s going to get you excited about Paris! Photo: petergerdes

Finally…

With all of these logistics, it’s easy to forget that this moment isn’t just about saving money on your trip. This is also the time to start getting in the mood! Your trip starts now! Some suggestions:

• Watch movies and read books about your destination.
• Pick up some travel guides and see which destinations really speak to you.
• Practice the language. Learn to say the basics.
• Seek out restaurants with the cuisines of the regions you’ll be visiting.
• Become familiar with the wines of the area you’re heading to. (It’s tough research, but shouldn’t be overlooked!)

Your tips

Have any “far off” tips to add to our list of ways to save far in advance on your trip to Europe? Share with us in the comments section below.

The post 7 ways to save now on next year’s trip to Europe appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Travel blogs have been abuzz in the last few weeks in the wake of Iceland-based WOW Air’s announcement that they will be offering summer 2015 transatlantic flights starting at $99.

How is this possible? Is it really possible? There must be a catch, right?

Before we dive into the analysis of these deals, let’s take a moment to review Iceland’s recent and rather exciting low-cost passenger airline history.

Related: Creative and cheap ways to fly from the US to Europe

A little bit of history

Before there was WOW Air there was Iceland Express (2003-2012), which also flew transatlantic routes. The airline flew from Iceland’s Keflavík Airport (near the capital, Reykjavík, and the country’s main international airport) to Chicago, Boston, Orlando, Newark and Winnipeg.

Iceland Express ran the most irreverent in-house airline blog around and was a generally very appealing airline. The airline encountered serious logistics turbulence in 2011 when its operator abruptly terminated flight operations, and it turned to a Czech Airlines charter flight subsidiary for replacement aircraft. I flew the airline once after this shift occurred, and the experience was very uneven. The safety information on seats was in Czech, and the experience felt drained of any kind of branded Icelandic personality. It sort of felt as if the airline was in freefall; a few months later, Iceland Express was absorbed by WOW Air.

WOW Air was established in 2011. Like Iceland Express, it’s been cheeky from the start, though its brand has been more self-consciously stylish (just check out those flight attendant uniforms) and flashy than the older low-cost airline.

The transatlantic low-cost mini-boom

This year two airlines—Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet and Norway’s Norwegian—began selling inexpensive no-frills flights across the big pond for as low as $240 roundtrip. Let’s take a quick look at what the two airlines offer.

WestJet flew a seasonal route from Toronto via St. John’s, Newfoundland to Dublin this past summer, which it will reintroduce in 2015. This fall, deepening its reach into Europe, WestJet announced a Halifax-Glasgow route for 2015.

Norwegian’s assault was a bit broader from the get-go. The airline launched direct flights between four European gateways (Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and London Gatwick) and several US destinations: New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Oakland and Los Angeles. (Note that Oakland can only be reached from the three Scandinavian hubs as of yet.) As this investigative piece by Patrick Collinson in The Guardian shows, a return journey at the lowest advertised fare is all but impossible to snag.

WestJet and Norwegian’s forays provide a context for understanding WOW Air’s new routes. All three airlines’ lowest fares are incredibly cheap, though they also go quickly. In the established tradition of low-cost airlines, they’re also perk-free.

So what’s the WOW all about?

WOW Air will operate flights between Baltimore and Keflavík (with connections on to Copenhagen and London sold as single fares) from May through October 2015; flights between Boston and Keflavík (and also on to Copenhagen and London) begin in March 2015. Starting outbound single fares are advertised at $99, while fares returning from Europe will start at $125.

Availability is the kicker. I searched about a dozen dates on WOW’s website to find available flights from Baltimore and Boston in the US and Keflavík, London, and Copenhagen. Every April itinerary I looked for was fully booked, and itineraries into the summer and autumn were all well over the lowest $99/$125 per-sector fare advertised.

The best alternative that I came up with: a $327 roundtrip from Boston to Keflavík. This is, it must be said, a very good fare, even with additional charges of $100 or so roundtrip. (It is also plainly over the lowest $224 return fare.) WOW’s lowest fares clearly went very quickly, so the early birds scored the best deals.

Last month, Jaunted published an exhaustively detailed report on nabbing a $99 fare, which came to $164 once additional charges and “perks” were taken into account, and did not include in-flight costs like food and beverages.

Speaking of perks and fees… 

Flying on today’s transcontinental low-cost airlines require a shift in attitude. For many major carriers, from Air France to American Airlines, everything—meals, snacks, water and a seat reservation—is included. So if you don’t consider it acceptable to shell out $4 for a bottle of water, then you might not be ready for the low-cost air experience, where everything extra will cost you.

Want to bring a checked bag? Expect a steep fee. Want to choose your seat so you can grab a window view? Be prepared to have your credit card ready. These fees can quickly add $25, $50 or even $100 to a one-way ticket. On the flip side, if you don’t need many comfort amenities and are just looking for a seat, airlines like WOW and Norwegian could be just up your alley.

Is it worth it?

Yes. Well, probably—with two big caveats. First, research actual (as opposed to advertised) costs. What other add-ons (checked luggage, meals, reserved seats, seats with extra legroom) will be charged on top of your base fare? How heavily will these charges add up? Will they transform an apparent bargain into an average fare?

Secondly, do you want to end up in one of the destinations these airlines serve? If not, price out your connection onwards. Is the resultant fare less expensive than a direct fare on a conventional airline? Do your research and think seriously about your goals and intentions as a traveler.

WOW Air, Norwegian and WestJet’s routes provide new ways to chart out budget-friendly transportation to Europe. For most potential customers, the resultant bargain will be higher than the lowest advertised fare, though it will probably still be less expensive than a legacy carrier fare.

View these fares as tools. They might work swimmingly; they might not quite cut it. But they’re now part of your cost-cutting arsenal, budget warrior.

The post WOW, $99 to Europe? Yes, but the devil is in the details appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Matthew Kepnes, author of the Nomadic Matt travel blog, has recently published a new ebook, The Ultimate Guide to Travel Hacking, in which he demonstrates ways to “hack” your way to free or discounted international airline tickets.

We sat down with him recently to discuss his new book and glean some tips on finding cheaper tickets.

So, what, exactly is “travel hacking”?

A travel hacker is a person who uses loyalty rewards systems to gain hundreds of thousands of miles per year without traveling. It’s the art of using the airline or hotel programs to your favor by taking advantage of the loopholes and cracks in their program.

Travel hacking has saved me a ton of money from free hotel rooms to free flights. I’ve stayed at W hotels around the country for free, Hilton hotels, a week at a Courtyard Marriott in Hong Kong for free. With flights, I’ve flown first class to London, Hong Kong, and more with them. I have a lot of examples of using points for free travel.

When did you realize you were a travel hacker?

When I started spending Friday nights looking for flight deals and points.

Right… that’s pretty hardcore. You say you can remove money from the equation by using points. But don’t you really need money to rack up points?

Yes, but no more than you normally spend anyways. I use my everyday spending to meet the minimum spending requirements for the credit card bonuses. I time my sign-ups with big purchases. But there are a lot of ways to “fake” spending from using Amazon payments to Vanilla Reload cards. I explain it in detail in my book, but you can use these methods to fake the spending requirements.

Plus, airlines always have contest, promotions, and deals that allow you to earn miles.

This all sounds great, but won’t taking out more credit cards affect your credit score?

There is always a temporary ding in your credit whenever someone makes an inquiry, but the ding is only temporary and is gone after a few months. Having a lot of credit cards can help your credit score because it increases your debt to credit ratio. So, if you have $100,000 in available credit, but are only using 5% of that, that increases your score. I have a credit score of 791 despite constantly opening new cards.

I wouldn’t go open a bunch of new cards right before you apply for a mortgage, but if you aren’t doing that, why not use your credit score to your advantage?

Are there ways to be a travel hacker without using credit cards?

There are a few things you can do besides signing up for lots of credit cards: airlines have online shopping portals where you can earn up to 20 miles per dollar spent (on average, it’s 3-4) instead of just one when shopping in person; sign up for airline newsletters to watch for special promotions; and take part in every survey or contest, since companies give away miles a lot.

Have you ever taken a crazy mileage run?

I was going to take an overnight flight to Hawaii and then come right back, but Hurricane Sandy happened and cancelled that plan. I fly enough each year I don’t really need a “top up” for miles. I usually plan it out so I’m right over the wire for the highest level I need.

Can non-Americans “hack” their trip?

Yes, but it’s a lot harder. Canada is a good market and the UK is starting to have some really good deals and bonuses, but outside those two, there’s not a lot for people. What makes these countries good are the huge sign-up bonuses the credit cards offer, but you don’t get that in other countries because of tighter credit laws.

What’s the single most important piece of advice you’d offer to a reader in the process of booking a flight for an upcoming trip to Europe?

When it comes to booking flights to Europe on miles, I’d travel off-peak, because you can get rewards for as little as 40,000 miles. Plus, when you travel in the off season, every move on the ground is cheaper. It’s win-win.

Thanks for the tips, Matt.

Readers, what do you think? Is “travel hacking” for you? Do you use these methods to regularly score free or discounted flights to Europe? Do you recommend a particular loyalty program? Please leave a comment below.

The post Tips for hacking your way to free airline tickets from Nomadic Matt appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Our new search tool, which is powered by Momondo.com, quickly shows you the cheapest short- and long-haul flights between major European cities, and between North America and Europe.

What’s new?

EuroCheapo’s new flights channel has several new features that we’re excited about:

• Ticket prices for low-cost carriers: We’re now able to show prices and times for flights from carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet and others.

Our new flights search also includes Eurostar trains, when they compare favorably to flights. In this example, the Eurostar costs almost the same as the Air France and easyJet flights.

• Easy booking: Once you’ve found the carrier that works for your trip, we’ll pass you off to make your booking directly with the carrier (such as Ryanair, easyJet and Vueling) or with one of our reservation partners, including cheapOair, Bravofly and others.

• Flights vs trains: EuroCheapo’s new flights search also includes Eurostar train results alongside flights, when the train offers an affordable and convenient option. For example, when you search for London to Paris, results for the Eurostar high-speed trains appear next to flights from Air France, easyJet, British Airways, and others.

Check out our budget flights search for yourself!

Keep up in the air

In addition to launching our new flight search tool, we’re happy to be bringing on Hilary Bown, a Berlin-based travel writer, to regularly cover European budget airline news for us. Hilary will be posting weekly about the latest trends and developments with Europe’s discount airlines and most important airports.

Last week, for example, Hilary covered easyJet’s carry-on baggage guarantee (if you can call it a “guarantee,” that is!), and this week she examined the often overlooked and “hidden” costs of certain budget airlines.

Thanks, as always, for reading and using EuroCheapo. Together, we can afford to go anywhere!

The post EuroCheapo’s new budget flights search takes off! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

First, the good — yes, you really can book flights regularly for less than €30 each way, if you pay attention to sales (even just two weeks before your flight) or book a couple months in advance. And if you carry on your luggage, obey the weight restrictions, and are flying between major airports, you will most likely feel that you have scored an unbelievable bargain.

Low-cost carriers are shaking up the airline industry for good reason — they deliver virtually the same product as the big players at a fraction of the price. EuroCheapo’s new and improved flight search makes these tickets even easier to find.

Yet as this video (warning: they use grown-up language) makes hilariously clear, there are plenty of opportunities to make expensive missteps when flying with a low-cost carrier.

Here are some of the additional costs you need to consider when weighing your travel options:

Ryanair charges €7 for “Web check in” and another €7 as an “Administration fee.”

1. Cost (in money and time) of traveling to/from the airport

Do not assume that your ticket to “Paris” lands you at well-connected Charles de Gaulle. Many smaller airports used by low-cost carriers name themselves after major metropolitan areas that can be over 90 minutes away. Your options may be limited to charter buses to/from your actual destination, and, if you book a very early departure or very late arrival, you may be looking at a hotel stay and taxi ride to/from somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

A little due diligence here is necessary to make sure you will not be stuck literally or financially.

2. Additional baggage fees

Every low-cost carrier allows you one carry-on bag at no additional cost. If you can fit all of your things into their space/weight constraints (be sure to check your airline’s website for exact specifications!), you can take it on board and save yourself quite a bit of money. (Although, as I mentioned in my last column, some airlines might push you to check your carry-on at the gate.)

If you must check a bag, book the option in advance online. You can generally add this to an existing booking later at no additional cost, but it will often cost double to add the same suitcase at the airport. If you’re traveling with a partner, consider checking just one bag for the two of you and splitting the cost.

Note that you are regularly limited to no more than 20 kg total in checked luggage per person, no matter how many bags you have paid to check. If you exceed this limit, you can expect it to cost you dearly on a per-kilo basis.

3. Online check-in

Do not show up to the airport without checking in online and printing your boarding passes beforehand. At the time of publication, easyJet will allow reprints of boarding cards from its machines at the airport no later than 40 minutes before the flight at no additional cost, while Ryanair charges €70 for this privilege. And despite the fact that it’s their standard, Ryanair’s non-sale flights also regularly include a €7 charge for web check-in.

4. Booking fees, including credit card fees

Low-cost airlines pass these costs of business directly onto the customer.

• Ryanair charges a €7 administrative fee per flight, plus 2% of the total if booked using a credit card
• easyJet charges €12.50 per order, regardless of the number of tickets, and an additional 2.5% of the entire purchase on cards

On both airlines, you can forgo the additional credit card fee if you use a debit card (or, in Germany only, ELV bank transfers), though travelers should note that debit cards may not grant the same protections as credit cards in the case of airline bankruptcy.

Now what’s cheaper?

Carefully examining these very real additional costs may make it clear that the major carrier who doesn’t charge through the nose for luggage isn’t actually more expensive after all, or that taking the train isn’t any longer door-to-door and in fact a better option for your trip given the pleasant scenery, variety of departure options, and lack of airport security hassles.

The real magic of frugal travel is in finding the option that is truly best for you, and for that, the only “special powers” needed are a little knowledge and the application of reason.

The post How much does that budget airline ticket really cost? appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

So it seems like a good time for a travel tune-up—a refresher course on keeping it cheap in Europe.

I put together this list of the easiest ways to save on the most expensive and essential aspects of European travel: the flights, hotels and transportation. (For more in-depth advice about specific destinations, be sure to check out the cities we cover on EuroCheapo.)

Some of these tips will be “old hat,” of course, for seasoned travelers. However, if even one of these tips comes in handy you could save a bundle.

Click on “Multi-City” to find airfare into one city and home from another.

Saving on airfare

1. Book “open jaw” tickets.

Many North American travelers start their trips in one European city and wind things up in another city hundreds of miles away. If you fall into this group, for example starting in Paris and finishing in Rome, don’t assume that round-trip tickets to Paris (with a mad dash back to Paris from Rome at the end of your trip) is your only option. Look into “open jaw” tickets that will let you fly into Paris and home through Rome (usually bypassing Paris completely). These tickets will quite often be about the same price as the round-trip ticket into your initial city.

For example, consider a flight from New York to Paris on July 22, 2013 and returning August 5, 2013:

The lowest price I found on Kayak is for $1,178 on Aer Lingus. However, if your trip winds up in Rome, it would be much easier to simply fly home from Rome. A flight on Aer Lingus into Paris but back to New York from Rome is available for $1,196—only $18 more than the round-trip ticket to Paris. (Search done on 3/13/13 on Kayak.com.)

2. Get a “free” flight when you sign up for a new credit card.

Many credit card companies offer tens of thousands of frequent flier miles as sign-up incentives. (Several popular cards offer 50,000 miles.) There are often spending requirements (a minimum amount charged to your card within a set number of months). However, if you time it right, you could wind up with nearly enough miles for a free round-trip ticket from North America to Europe.

Do note, however, that taxes are not included, and vary by airline. (Most major US carriers will tack on at least $90 in taxes for a flight to Europe from the States. Some, such as British Airways and Air France, have much higher taxes.)

Here’s a list of popular cards and their offers.

Summer brings higher prices… and more tourists. Photo: StewDean

3. Avoid peak travel dates.

The peak travel season for most European destinations, with the highest hotel rates and airline tickets, is mid-May through mid-September. This makes sense, as the weather is usually at its best and travelers (and their school-aged children) have vacation time.

Have a little flexibility with your schedule? Head over a wee bit before or after—early May or late September travel is not only less expensive, but it can be far less stressful, with fewer tourists, shorter lines, and more locals.

4. Pack lightly

If you haven’t flown to Europe in several years, you might be unpleasantly surprised to find that airlines have cut way back on the amount of luggage passengers in economy are permitted to check for free. Most carriers now only allow one carry-on bag, one “personal item” and one checked bag (usually up to 50 lbs.). Warning: A second checked bag can set you back about $100!

Here’s luggage information for American Airlines, Delta, and United.

The Hotel Jeanne d’Arc in Paris’ fashionable Marais neighborhood, is another budget pick that fills up fast. Photo: EuroCheapo

Saving on hotels

5. Book your preferred hotels early.

Have a favorite hotel in mind for your trip? Don’t put off booking it—if it’s popular, it will fill up, especially in the most popular destinations during peak travel season.

For example, the Hotel Tiquetonne in Paris is one of the most popular hotels on EuroCheapo (and for good reason, as it offers great old-fashioned and clean rooms in central Paris for about €60 a night!). However, I’ve been burned by trying to reserve one month in advance for summer dates at the Tiquetonne. It’s no secret and it will fill up two months in advance during the summer.

6. Flexible and adventurous? Wait to book until the last minute.

Conversely, you can often score great deals by taking the opposite approach and waiting until the last minute to book a place to sleep. Hotels with availability will often cut rates drastically in the days leading up to check-in to fill any vacancies. You can do last-minute searches on sites like EuroCheapo, or check out services that specialize in same-day bookings, such as HotelTonight (available as an app on the iPhone and Android).

This strategy, obviously, has its risks. During the peak season in Paris, for example, you might wind up with very few last-minute options, or those with availability may be in less central locations. Last-minute bookings are also clearly not for those who have a preferred hotel in mind, or for those who like to have everything squared away before take-off. I would recommend waiting until the last minute only if you see lots of availability when searching for your dates further in advance. If you sense that things are filling up, book a place in advance!

7. Consider apartment rentals, but be aware of the risks.

The popularity of apartment rental service like Airbnb and HomeAway is easy to understand—you can often score an apartment in London, New York City, and other expensive cities for about the same price as a hotel room. Throw in a kitchen and renting an apartment makes a lot of sense, especially for long-term stays and for families.

However, staying in apartments and homes does come with some potential downsides. They don’t generally offer any of the services you would expect from a hotel, such as 24-hour reception, help from the front desk, or security. (One of my family members recently lost the key to their apartment rental in Paris while out sightseeing, and wound up booking a room at a nearby hotel until the owner could be contacted the next day. They felt a bit odd checking into the hotel without any luggage…)

Also, this isn’t a great plan for messy travelers. You’ll be responsible for cleaning up after yourself during your stay—and paying for a cleaning service when you check out.

Hit up the nearest grocery store or supermarket for supplies. Above, a “Billa” grocery store in Venice. Photo: EuroCheapo

8. Factor in the extra hotel charges.

When comparing hotel rates, don’t forget that the price you see may not include extras, such as Wi-Fi and breakfast. How about parking?

Tally up all of these charges, and, while you’re at it, consider the hotel’s location. How easy will it be to arrive from the airport or train station by public transit? Will you rack up expensive taxi charges during your stay? Often a truly central hotel with a slightly more expensive nightly rate will end up costing less than a cheaper far-flung hotel.

9. Swing by the nearest supermarket.

You’ve checked into your hotel, and now you’re tired and thirsty. Don’t touch that minibar! Ask at the front desk for the location of the nearest supermarket. Stock up on the essentials, especially bottled water, snacks, toiletries, and anything else you may need (that would cost dearly from the front desk or as the result of a late-night minibar binge). While you’re there, consider the cool and quirky souvenir options available!

Read about popular supermarket chains in Barcelona, Paris, Prague, Rome, and Venice.

In Venice, you can take a “vaporetto” (water bus) from the airport to the center of the city. Photo: EuroCheapo

Getting around

10. Take public transportation in from the airport, whenever possible

Most European airports are well-connected to the center of their cities by trains and/or buses. In the cities we cover on EuroCheapo, you’ll find plenty of public transportation options for getting into town that are far less expensive than taking a taxi. Do a little research before landing—or at the very least swing by the tourist information counter at the airport to hear about your options.

Here’s information about getting into town from the airports in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Florence, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Venice. (See all cities here.)

11. Buying a rail pass? Don’t forget point-to-point tickets and special fares.

Americans love Eurail passes, and for a good reason: They’re convenient and exciting to hold onto before your trip. They are not necessarily, however, a great deal. Before you plunk down a pretty penny for any kind of rail pass, compare the point-to-point ticket prices on the various national rail sites. On most European rail sites, you can book tickets and print them off using your home computer.

For example, heading from Berlin to Munich? Check out Bahn.de, the official site of the German railway to find tickets that are probably quite a bit cheaper than what you would end up paying for a rail pass or through a US-based rail agent.

Here’s a list of national rail sites to check out:

Austria (ÖBB): www.oebb.at
Czech Republic (CD): www.cd.cz
Dutch Railways: www.ns.nl
Finland (VR): www.vr.fi
Germany (Die Bahn): www.bahn.de
Great Britain (all rail operators): www.nationalrail.co.uk
Hungary (MAV): www.mav.hu
Italy (Trenitalia): www.trenitalia.com
Ireland (Iarnród Éireann): www.irishrail.ie
Poland (PKP): www.pkp.pl
Spain (Renfe): www.renfe.com
Switzerland: www.sbb.ch

The Trenitalia high-speed train boards in Florence for Rome. Photo: EuroCheapo

12. Buy your high-speed and long-distance rail tickets in advance

Whenever possible, book your long-distance rail tickets early! To compete with Europe’s low-cost airlines, railways offer some really great deals for those who book in advance. Generally speaking, follow the “three-month rule.”

For example, consider the 90-minute high-speed train from Florence to Rome. I would pay its “base fare” if I bought the ticket same-day (or even a day in advance) for €43. However, when I search on the Trenitalia website for travel dates two months in advance (in my case, May 14, 2013), I can book “Super Economy” seats for €19! Same seat — but less than half-price.

13. Traveling by long-distance train in France? Check out Ouigo!

In April 2013, the SNCF (the French national railways), will start service on “Ouigo,” a low-cost high-speed rail service that currently offers tickets for as low as €10 from the Paris region to southeast France (with more routes scheduled). If you’re planning a trip to France this year, you should definitely do searches on both the SNCF website (and keep it in French) and on Ouigo.

14. How much will that rental car really cost?

When you do a search for a European car rental, you may initially think you’ve found quite a deal (and maybe you have!). However, you’re only seeing the base price. Don’t forget to estimate costs for gas, tolls, parking and insurance. (Read our guide to calculating the real cost of renting a car.) Only then can you really consider whether to book a car, take trains, or book flights on low-cost airlines.

One more (rather obvious) note: When you do book your car, be sure to start your rental on the first day you actually need to leave town. Don’t book it for your first day in a city, like Paris, and then keep it in a garage for three days. Pick it up when you’re leaving the city. And drop it off as soon as you arrive in your final city, not on the day you leave. No need to pay for garages, etc. Just saying…

Related: Search and compare rental cars in Europe

Don’t over-pack your itinerary. Take it easy.

Planning ahead

15. Be careful with your smart phone!

As we’ve discussed in great detail on the site, know how to set up your American smartphone… and know what your carrier will charge you for calls, texts, and data usage from abroad. It’s probably quite a bit more than you’re expecting. Certain travel apps that you think you can’t travel without can be “data hogs” and end up costing hundreds of dollars if you’re not careful!

When I travel, I call AT&T in advance to get a special calling plan, turn off data and all “push” notifications, and keep it in “airplane mode” as much as possible (relying on free Wi-Fi when it’s available).

Here’s info on where to find free Wi-Fi in Barcelona, Madrid, London, and Paris.

16. Don’t over-pack your itinerary.

As a closing thought, I will encourage you to not over-pack your trip. It’s so tempting, I know, especially if it’s been awhile since you’ve visited. During the planning process back home, nothing is more alluring than adding another destination to the itinerary. Why not? Just cut one day off of Florence and add it to Venice! Presto!

However, unless the point of your trip is to leave you completely exhausted, I would caution against piling on additional quick city visits. Slow it down, and take it in.

That will not only save you money, with fewer train trips and mad dashes, but it will make for a far more enjoyable trip for you and your travel companions.

Your tips?

Have something to add to our list? Leave a tip in our comments section below!

The post 16 Easy ways to save on trips to Europe in 2013 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.