Here are four discount European airlines U.S. travelers should know about.
Europe has many budget airlines that make it easy to jet among destinations around the continent without breaking the bank. Several now offer discount airfare between many American and European destinations. Here are four European low-cost airlines that should be on your radar when you’re planning your next transatlantic trip.
Play
Iceland-based Play lives up to its name. For example, when you select your departure date, an “It’s a date!” message pops up. Launched in 2019, the airline’s A320neo and A321neo fleet currently serves four East Coast airports: Baltimore/Washington International, Washington Dulles, Boston Logan, and New York Stewart. It also offers North American flights from Toronto.
All flights go through Iceland’s capital Reykjavik before offering connections to nearly two dozen European destinations, including Aalborg, Aarhus, Alicante, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Billund, Bologna, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Gothenburg, Gran Canaria, Hamburg, Lisbon, Liverpool, London, Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, Paris, Porto, Prague, Salzburg, Stockholm, Tenerife, and Warsaw.
Fares include one personal item; add-ons include carry-ons ($66 to $80 with priority boarding), checked bags ($99 to $120), additional legroom, food, and beverages.
French Bee
The French carrier French Bee, which runs flights out of Paris-Orly Airport, specializes in what it calls “smart-cost” long-haul flights. U.S. routes include Paris to San Francisco (continuing on to Tahiti), Newark Liberty International, Los Angeles, and Miami. Connections to U.S. departure cities can be booked via an interline partnership with Alaska Airlines. And those looking to go beyond Paris can connect through train packages via a collaboration with France’s rail operator SNCF.
French Bee’s U.S. routes are served by A350-900s. With a total of 411 seats on every flight, three classes are available. The 35 premium economy customers on each flight enjoy upgraded services across the board, including seat choice, priority boarding, luggage delivery, meal services, and complimentary beverages. They also can check two 50-pound bags in addition to a 26-pound carry-on. The premium cabin has seven seats across, with a 36-inch pitch, 18-inch wide seat, 16-degree recline, and a 12-inch touchscreen.
The economy section has 376 Eco Blue seats, configured 10 seats across. They feature 31- to 32-inch pitch, are 16 inches wide, have 12-degree recline, and 10-inch touch screens. The most popular tier is Smart Economy, which includes an in-flight meal, a carry-on, and a single checked bag. The most cost-conscious level is Basic Economy, which only allows a carry-on. Every seat onboard has an adjustable headrest, USB and electrical ports, headphone plugs, and unlimited in-flight entertainment. The cabin is also equipped with mood lighting that mimics the sunrise and sunset.
Fares from Paris start at $217 to Miami, $227 to Newark, $301 to Los Angeles, and $437 to San Francisco. The carrier also offers a range of add-ons to enhance your trip. A travel kit, with a blanket, socks, neck pillow, eye masks, and headphones costs $12, while Maxi Leg seats with more space start at $45. Additional luggage can be checked for $45 to $90, depending on time of booking, while priority luggage delivery is available for between $20 and $25. On-board meals from a menu designed by two-time Michelin-starred chef Jean-Michel Lorain are for sale to Basic Economy passengers for $35 to $55. Onboard Wi-Fi is also an additional charge.
Norse Atlantic
Norway-based carrier Norse Atlantic first took flight from Oslo to New York in June, 2022. With a fleet of 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the company puts fare deals at the forefront.
A recent promo included select one-way Oslo flights from New York’s JFK from $129, Fort Lauderdale/Miami from $129, and Los Angeles from $179, as well as New York to London Gatwick flights from $129, plus New York to Berlin, Fort Lauderdale/Miami to Berlin, and New York to Paris Charles de Gaulle all from $149 in Economy Light class. (Additional U.S. routes are available seasonally.)
Norse offers two cabins, Economy and Premium (featuring 35 percent more legroom with a 43-inch seat pitch) with Light, Classic, or Plus fares in each cabin so that passengers can choose exactly what services they want. The highest-end Premium Plus comes with two meal services, the maximum baggage allowance depending on the flight, and upgraded airport and in-flight services, as well as more flexible ticketing options. The most budget-friendly, Economy Lite, is bare-bones service, including just an underseat bag.
Fly Atlantic
Scheduled to launch in June 2024, Fly Atlantic will link much of the northeast quadrant of the U.S. and eastern Canada to Europe with flights through Belfast, Ireland. The fleet will consist of Airbus A321neo planes with 199 seats. Bookings are expected to open in spring of 2024.
Twist’s Take: If you’re looking for a cheap hop across the pond, don’t forget to check out airfares on these four European carriers.
