Cheap flights from the USA to Europe: seasons, gateways and smart routing
A trip to Europe does not have to start with an eye-watering airfare. Transatlantic prices vary enormously depending on when you go, which city you fly into and how you plan the rest of your route. With a little flexibility, many travelers can visit the places they want for noticeably less than the first fare they see. Here is how to approach it.
Choose your season carefully
From a US perspective, Europe's travel calendar has three broad seasons:
- Peak season (roughly June through August): long days, school vacations on both sides of the Atlantic and the highest fares. Popular cities and beach destinations are crowded, and accommodation is expensive too.
- Shoulder seasons (roughly April to May and September to October): often the sweet spot. The weather is pleasant in much of Europe, crowds are thinner and transatlantic fares are frequently lower than in summer.
- Off-season (November through March, outside the holidays): typically the cheapest time to fly, with the exception of the Christmas and New Year period. It suits city breaks, museums and the Christmas markets of late November and early December.
Easter, major festivals and big sporting or cultural events can cause local price spikes even in shoulder months, so check what is happening at your destination before you commit to dates.
Fly into a cheaper gateway city
You do not have to fly directly to your final destination. Some European cities consistently have more transatlantic competition, more airlines and lower fares, which makes them good entry points:
- London has several airports and a huge number of flights from the US, so competitive fares are common, though UK departure taxes can raise the cost of itineraries that begin there.
- Dublin is well connected to many US cities, and travelers flying back to the US from Dublin can usually clear US preclearance before departure, which makes arriving home simpler.
- Lisbon has become a popular entry point, with good onward links to Spain, Morocco and the rest of Europe.
- Reykjavik is served by Icelandic carriers that have long offered the option of a stopover in Iceland on the way to mainland Europe without adding to the airfare.
- Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid and Rome are major hubs with many nonstop options from US cities and onward connections throughout the continent.
On the US side, large East Coast hubs like New York, Boston, Washington and Miami generally offer the most transatlantic choice, but Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and several West Coast airports also have plenty of competition. If you live near a smaller airport, compare a connecting itinerary from home with a separate flight to a big hub. Aeroport compares fares from multiple sites, and its 14-day price strip makes it easy to spot cheaper departure dates for each gateway.
Use open-jaw tickets
An open-jaw ticket lets you fly into one city and home from another, such as arriving in London and departing from Rome. You search for it as a multi-city trip. On transatlantic routes, open-jaw fares are often priced close to a standard round trip, and they spare you the time and cost of backtracking to your arrival city at the end of your trip.
Open-jaw itineraries work especially well with Europe's trains and short-haul flights. You can plan a route that moves in one direction, such as Amsterdam to Paris to Barcelona, and fly home from the last stop. Compare the open-jaw price with a simple round trip plus the cost of getting back to your starting city to see which comes out ahead.
Low-cost connections inside Europe
Once you are in Europe, low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling and others can link cities for very little, particularly when booked in advance. They are a great tool, but their rules are strict and often different from what US travelers expect:
- Bags: the cheapest fares commonly include only a small under-seat bag. A larger cabin bag and checked luggage are usually paid extras, and size and weight limits are enforced at the gate.
- Airports: some low-cost flights use secondary airports that can be a long way from the city center. Factor in the cost and time of the transfer.
- Check-in: several carriers expect you to check in online and may charge for checking in or printing a boarding pass at the airport.
- Seats and extras: seat selection, priority boarding and other add-ons cost more, so price them in if you need them.
Most importantly, a separate low-cost ticket is not connected to your transatlantic flight. If your flight from the US arrives late and you miss the onward low-cost flight, that airline is not obliged to rebook you. Leave a generous buffer, ideally an overnight stay, between arriving from the US and any separately booked flight.
Consider trains for shorter hops
For many routes in Western Europe, high-speed and intercity trains compete well with flights once you include airport transfers and security lines. Trains typically run between city centers and have more relaxed luggage rules than low-cost airlines. Popular routes, such as London to Paris or between major cities in Spain, Italy, France and Germany, are often cheaper when booked ahead. Compare door-to-door time and the true cost, including bags, before choosing.
When to book and how to save
For transatlantic flights, starting your search three to six months ahead is a reasonable plan, and earlier still for summer or holiday travel. Shoulder and off-season trips can find good fares closer in, but waiting until the last few weeks is risky. Departing mid-week, staying flexible by a few days and comparing several gateways are usually more effective than trying to guess a perfect booking day.
If your trip is months away, a price alert saves you from checking every day. Set a realistic target based on recent fares for your route and book when the price fits your budget.
Check entry requirements
US citizens can generally visit many European countries for short stays without a visa, but the rules are changing. The UK now requires many visitors, including US citizens, to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before traveling. The European Union has been rolling out its Entry/Exit System at external borders and plans to require an ETIAS travel authorization for visa-exempt visitors to the Schengen area. Make sure your passport meets the validity rules of every country on your itinerary. Always confirm the current requirements on official government websites, such as the US State Department, the UK government and the EU's official travel pages, before you book.
