A trip to Europe can be the stuff of dreams. Airfare to Europe can be the stuff of nightmares. For the unwary, booking a flight at the wrong time of year or departing or arriving in the wrong city can mean the difference between paying hundreds or thousands of dollars more than you have to. But with a little bit of groundwork, travelers can find the flight that will cost them the least as well as get them to their desired destination.
Choose the right season. Seasons will play a large part in the price of airfare. During the early summer months, especially, tourists can expect prices to be at their highest on not only airfare, but accommodations as well. Further, this means big crowds at the most famous sites. During the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn, generally airfare will be cheaper. But for those seeking the cheapest flights, by far the best season is winter. Heading to places like the Cyclades in Greece during this time might not be ideal, but northern European cities like London, Paris, Berlin and even Rome would be choices where many options are still available to choose from activity-wise. Tourist sites during this time, such as museums and monuments, will be empty by comparison.
Depart from the East Coast. Flights are cheaper to Europe if departing from New York City, Newark, Boston, Washington D.C. or Miami. The main reason is because these cities are simply closer to Europe and this means it takes less fuel for the plane to get there. If your home is in the Midwest there is a way around this, however. Instead of booking through one major airline, book a flight from home to one of the east coast hubs, like New York City. Next, book onward travel from any of the three area airports to your final destination in Europe. This will almost always be less expensive.
Book an arrival city on the western edge of Europe. Choosing to book a flight arriving west of the Rhine will also lower ticket prices because less fuel is consumed to get there. The closest large European city to the United States is London. London is a flight hub for Europe and has the added bonus of being the home of two major British airlines, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, so prices are somewhat competitive. From there, travelers can board the Eurostar, a high-speed train that shuttles passengers under the English Channel, and head to Paris. London to Paris takes just over two hours and is affordably priced. Another option from London would be to catch a flight with famously inexpensive Ryan Air. Paris and Madrid will be your cheapest options if flying to the mainland is a must.
Contact a travel agency that specializes in international travel. There are not many of these types of travel agencies in the United States, but they can offer huge savings over major airlines and even consolidators. Multi-stop, because international travel is a bit of a niche market so not many of these agencies are around. Unlike domestic travel in the United States, which is heavily regulated, international travel has much more room for variation and as a result prices can be lowered considerably, compared to U.S. carriers. Uniglobe Democracy Travel, based in Washington D.C., is one such company and although they do not have a web site you can reach them at (866) 557-9968.
Search price comparison sites. There are many airline price comparison sites online that you can use to find the cheapest available flight. Companies such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity allow visitors to type in their requirements for a flight and then search thousands of scheduled flights to determine the flights that best suit their needs. You can find less expensive flights through these sites if you are willing to be flexible in your flight times. This means being open to the possibility of flying at less convenient times or on flights with multiple stops or longer layovers between flights.
