Fly in the fall or spring if you can. Summer flights to Europe are always more expensive, and certain destinations are more expensive in winter because of the skiing and snowboarding opportunities. Peak season prices vary from country to country, so research dates in advance.
Choose a less popular destination and then take the train or an internal flight once in Europe. Sought-after destinations such as Paris, Rome and London command high prices. However, flying into Dublin or Madrid might be cheaper.
Fly out of a major airport. Flying from JFK or LAX directly to Europe could be hundreds of dollars cheaper than flying from a smaller airport. If you live close enough to a major airport, you can drive or take the train there. Or look for a separate flight from your city to a major airport. It might be more inconvenient, but it could save you hundreds of dollars.
Buy your ticket as far in advance as possible or at the last minute. You’ll get the best prices if you book four to six months before your flight or if you wait until a couple of days before the trip when people cancel and the airline offers last-minute specials in the hopes of filling the seats. Keep in mind that waiting until the last minute is a risk, as you might not find what you need.
Compare fares using a site such as Orbitz or Farecompare. Try different dates and different times for the same flight to see how prices vary. For example, a flight that arrives in Paris in the morning might cost several hundreds of dollars more expensive than one that arrives in the late night, when the Metro is not working and you’ll have trouble finding a taxi. If you can deal with the inconveniences, it might be worth it in order to get the added savings.
