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

Related: Tips for traveling to France during Covid-19

How to get a cheap flight to Paris on French bee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flight details

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

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

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

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

New cheap airline routes to Paris

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

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

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

Corsair flights starting in 2020

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

Arriving and departing from Orly Airport

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

Future of budget airlines

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

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