Most visitors to Europe from the America’s or Asia Pacific normally try to see at least a few different cities or countries during there stay – it makes sense after you have spent a lot of time and money getting there via your long haul flight. If you are planning to fly within Europe, whether it’s from Edinburgh to Paris, or Munich to Rome – don’t be tempted to book the flights direct with your travel agent – check out what is available first from one of Europe’s many low cost cost airlines and your wallet may be in for a pleasent surprise.

How cheap?
Some of the airlines in Europe do indead have some legendary sales – Ryanair is famous for it and tickets can be purchased for just a few dollars, often inclusive of all taxes! Don’t think everyone is going to get these incredibly cheap prices though – you have to book well in advance availability is normally very limited. If you are booking close to when you need to fly, you might also find with a lot of these budget carriers that their pricing is no different to traditional airlines – be warned, and make sure you shop around.

What, no free coffee?
Most people know how low cost airlines work – their onboard service is not included in the ticket price, and they charge you extra for everything they can think of! There is a fee for checking in, taking a suitcase, food and drink on board, pre-booking your seats, etc. We recommend bringing some food with you, packing as light as possible (cabin baggage only!) and using the online checkin services to ensure you get the lowest price. If you took up all of the offers for things that low cost carriers try to charge you for, in many instances you would pay more than a full service airline! So if you plan to do this, it’s probably better to pay the charges up front and book with airlines like Lufthansa or British Airways.

Which airlines?
It’s hard to keep track of all of the different airlines in Europe, and their routes change frequently due to seasons and popularity of destinations. Low Cost Airline Guide has a great tool for searching for available routes, as well as a list of Low Cost Airlines so you can check their websites for the latest deals. All of the airlines flying within Europe must adhere to European safety standards, so you fly with confidence knowing that it’s only the cost of your sandwich that has been cut, not the maintenance of the aircraft. Have a great journey!