Cheap Flight Tactics

Just getting there can be the most expensive part of your trip. Here are some strategies to help you get the lowest airfares to Europe.

Consolidator Fares
Some travel agencies have access to fare classes with airlines that allow them to pass along additional savings to the customer. Only a handful of travel agencies are first-hand consolidators. Many online travel sellers, and local travel agencies claiming to be “consolidators” are actually re-sellers. It pays to shop around.

• flights.com
• allcheapfares.com
• justfares.com
• airdeals.com
• economytravel.com
• cheapair.com
• flycheapabroad.com
• airfare.com

Low Cost Transatlantic Airlines
Some airlines can always be counted on to have the lowest transatlantic fares. There are exceptions, especially in summer, when the low-cost airlines work the law of supply and demand just like everyone else.

• Aer Lingus: Cheap flights to Ireland.
• LTU: Good rates to Germany and Central Europe.
• Iceland Air: Great rates to Europe with a free stopover in Iceland. Check the website for frequent specials.

No Frills Flights
Find dramatically low fares by flying the airlines that cut the passenger perks. While you may not get a free cup of coffee on your flight, you will be happy knowing that you are paying the least amount possible to get from point A to point B. There are number of these airlines within Europe, and you can search most of them at one time with the Eurotrip No Frills Booking Engine.

Consider When You Are Going
Airlines base their fares on a hi-low system which means high season is in the summer when MOST people travel, then comes fall shoulder season and then winter season is from Nov 1 to march 31 (except for the week before & after Christmas). Lowest fares means lowest amount of travelers.
plane

Airline Sales
Sometimes it’s better to buy directly from the airline itself. Keep an eye out — many times airlines post web-only fares that are a significant savings over online travel brokers. Stay informed with:

• Eurotrip Cheap Flights Forum: Keep up to date on airline trends, sales, and fares
• Airfare Watchdog: One of the most comprehensive websites for hidden fare reductions
• Travelzoo: Not airfare specific, but it can be a great source of information on airline sales.

Gateway Cities
Find the cheapest airfare to Europe by flying into a hub like London or Dublin then transferring to a flight on a no frills airline to your ultimate destination. This can give you the flexibility of stopping over in the hub city for no additional cost and save you a considerable amount of money over flying direct, but you will be responsible if one airline causes you to miss a connection with a different airline.

Book With Eurotrip
Book with Eurotrip and save! Our booking engine will search a variety of sources to help you find the best possible airfare.
Book Now!

Updated 10/7/08
Special Contribution by Don
Image provided by freedigitalphotos.net