How to Get Cheap Airline Tickets to Europe

Get in the air and on your way for less. (Photo: airplane image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com )

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Items you will need

• Debit or credit card Travel agent

Step 1

Search online for flights to Europe as far in advance as possible to lock in the lowest fares. If you re planning to take your European vacation during busy travel seasons, like from May to September or during the holidays, planning ahead is even more essential to beat the sky-high prices.

Step 2

Go to student travel agencies to get excellent deals on flights to Europe, even if you re not a student. Probably the most well-known student travel agency, STA Travel, can be found throughout the United States and typically in almost any big college town. It offers cheap U.S.-Europe airfare to the general public (see Resources).

Step 3

Look into charter flights to Europe. Smaller airline carriers offer round-trip flights on certain dates and from particular destinations. These flights can be significantly cheaper than those of commercial airlines, but they also can be canceled if there aren t enough passengers. Make sure to purchase a ticket with a refund policy.

Ask a travel agent about buying a consolidator ticket to your European destination. Consolidator tickets are discount airline fares sold by wholesale vendors who buy up large numbers of airline tickets and resell them at lower prices than airline companies can offer. These tickets are cheaper, but they also come with a couple of drawbacks. Frequent-flier miles aren t always valid with these types of tickets, and if your flight is canceled, another carrier isn t obligated to accept you on another flight (although many airlines often provide this service for consolidator ticket holders).

Fly stand-by to Europe if you have some leeway with your travel dates, since this can be much cheaper than booking a regular flight. (See Resources for a leading website on stand-by fares). While you won t be guaranteed a seat on a particular flight, you should be able to fly on the next plane with empty seats.