Most people dream of traveling to Europe, where there is so much history, culture and beauty. But flying in high season is too expensive for your budget. The good news is that, if you plan well and have a few tips, you can afford flights to Europe even in the peak travel periods. Below, you will find an overview of everything you need to know before booking your flight to Europe during the high season.
1. Don’t Be Afraid of Changing Your Travel Dates.
Flexibleness is your best friend when it comes to finding cheap flights. Flights are priced on demand so flying midweek, early in the morning or late at night can save you a ton of money. Navigate fare comparison sites to find the cheapest days within your travel window.
Warning: Don’t go during the holidays or weekends. Flying on Tuesday or Wednesday is less expensive than other days of the week.
2. Book Soon but not too Soon.
Last-minute sales may work for some but you’ll rarely find them in the busy season. The best time to book a flight is about 2-4 months before departure. It’s usually a time of high competition before demand starts rising near the travel date.
Pro tip: Use fares predictors such as Hopper or Google Flights to keep tabs on ticket prices and get notified when it drops.
3. Use Budget Airlines
Budget airlines, such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air exist in Europe. The airfares of these airlines are way lower than regular airlines. Though the amenities are spartan, it’s ideal for budget-conscious travelers.
Advice: Checked bags, seat options, and onboard food are expensive on budget airlines. Take it easy and don’t take any kickbacks by reading the fine print.
4. Consider Alternate Airports
Travelling into major airports, such as London Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulle, is costly during the peak season. Rather, search for alternative airports close to your destination. For instance, London Gatwick or Paris Orly have less expensive flights than their hubs.
Recommendation: Travel on the ground via trains or buses to your final destination from these other airports. It’s typically cheaper, and a trip in itself.
5. Embrace Stopovers
Direct flights are convenient but generally more expensive. Flying with a layover can save you hundreds of dollars. Some airlines even provide free stopovers, so that you can visit another city while you’re in the air.
For instance, Icelandair’s Stopover Program lets you spend up to 7 days in Reykjavik for free which adds value to your journey.
6. Take Advantage of Flight Aggregators and Comparison Websites.
You must visit Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights to compare fares between multiple carriers. Such apps help you check for the cheapest prices and sort options by flexibility, layovers, and time.
Recommendation: Clear your browser cache or search in the dark when searching for flights to evade dynamic pricing, which is when airlines increase prices according to your previous searches.
7. Redeem Credit Card Rewards and Points.
Travel credit cards often come with signing bonuses, point-based purchases, and benefits such as free checked bags or priority boarding. Save up miles to cover your flights to Europe.
Note: Look for cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees so you can reduce your trip costs.
8. Get fare alerts and Newsletters Sign Up Now
Flight and travel websites frequently provide special discounts and flash sales to their subscribers. You can subscribe to fare alerts from websites such as Scott’s Cheap Flights, Airfarewatchdog or Secret Flying to be notified when special fares to Europe are available.
Hint: If you find a deal, don’t wait to purchase it, because the offer might not last long, and it goes quickly.
9. Explore Multi-City and Open-Jaw Tickets
Travelers should consider multi-city or open-jaw tickets rather than a one-way ticket. With this plan, you can arrive in one city and depart from another, often saving money and giving you more flexibility when it comes to travel.
Example: Take a plane to Rome, cross Europe, and fly out of Amsterdam. Multi-city searches also reveal discounts that you might not expect.
10. Pack Light To Prevent Surcharges
Checked bags are charged by most airlines — particularly budget carriers. Use a carry-on to avoid these charges and streamline your trip. Invest in lightweight, practical clothing that can make packing easier.
Pro-tip: Make sure to check airline baggage policy so that your carry-on doesn’t exceed any size and weight limits.
11. Use Incognito Mode for Searches
Airlines use cookies to keep tabs on how you search and will bump up the price if they experience more searches for the same flight. To prevent this, look up flights in incognito or private mode.
12. Take Advantage of Student and Youth Savings.
Students under 26 — airlines and travel agencies, such as StudentUniverse or STA Travel, have discounted deals and coupons. These programmes usually cut down on international airfare quite a bit.
Note: Make sure you have a valid student ID or proof of age when booking these cheap tickets.
13. Use Social Media for Deals
Follow airlines, travel bloggers, and bargain sites on Twitter and Instagram. Airlines post flash sales and deals on their social media pages.
Example: Googling hashtags such as #TravelDeals or #CheapFlights shows posts that offer discounts.
14. Be Open to Alternative Destinations
Europe has so many wonderful places to visit, and if you’re willing to check out lesser-known cities, you can also score cheaper flights. For instance, it might be cheaper to fly into Budapest or Warsaw than Paris or Rome.
Pro tip: Once you are there, take advantage of Europe’s superb rail infrastructure or cheap airlines to visit other parts of the continent at your own price.
15. Consider Traveling in Shoulder Season
Make sure to take your trip in the middle or the beginning of the busy season, if you can. It is also fine for late spring (May) and early fall (September) but the airfares are cheaper and the tourist numbers are lower.
Tips: Try to travel at the tail end of peak season to get cheap flights and see Europe at its best.
16. Negotiate with Travel Agents
And, at times, travel agents might have exclusive offers or group fares that aren’t online. Try to contact them and see how their prices compare with your searches.
Advice: Know your budget and what you want when bargaining with agents for the best price.
Conclusion
Finding cheap flights to Europe in the summer takes some planning, adaptation, and research. Use the suggestions given above to cut down your expenses when traveling and use the rest of your money to explore Europe’s wonders. Get in the zone now and prepare for an unforgettable experience!
