How Can You Save Money on Flights to Europe?

14 min read

Europe is a popular destination for travelers from all over the world, thanks to its rich history, diverse culture, stunning scenery, and amazing attractions. Whether you want to explore the ancient ruins of Rome, enjoy the nightlife of Berlin, admire the art of Paris, or relax on the beaches of Greece, Europe has something for everyone.

But how do you find the best deals on flights to Europe? When is the best time to book your tickets? How can you save money on your travel expenses? In this article, we will answer these questions and more, using data from various sources and tools. We will also introduce you to a new tool called Skyscanner Savings Generator, which can help you find the cheapest time to travel to Europe this summer.

What Factors Affect the Price of Flights to Europe?

The price of flights to Europe depends on many factors, such as:

Supply and demand: The more people want to travel to a certain destination, the higher the demand and the price of flights. Conversely, the less people want to travel to a certain destination, the lower the demand and the price of flights. This is why peak seasons, such as summer and holidays, tend to have higher airfares than off-seasons, such as winter and weekdays.
Competition: The more airlines and routes that serve a certain destination, the more competition and the lower the price of flights. Conversely, the fewer airlines and routes that serve a certain destination, the less competition and the higher the price of flights. This is why flying to major hubs, such as London and Frankfurt, tends to be cheaper than flying to smaller airports, such as Venice and Dubrovnik.
Fuel costs: The higher the cost of fuel, the higher the operating costs and the price of flights. Conversely, the lower the cost of fuel, the lower the operating costs and the price of flights. This is why oil prices can have a significant impact on airfares.
Taxes and fees: The higher the taxes and fees imposed by governments and airports, the higher the price of flights. Conversely, the lower the taxes and fees imposed by governments and airports, the lower the price of flights. This is why some countries and regions have higher airfares than others.
Exchange rates: The stronger the currency of your departure country relative to your destination country, the lower the price of flights. Conversely, the weaker the currency of your departure country relative to your destination country, the higher the price of flights. This is why fluctuations in exchange rates can affect your travel budget.

When is the Best Time to Buy Flights to Europe?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as different destinations and seasons may have different patterns and trends. However, based on data from various sources and tools, we can provide some general guidelines and tips on when to buy flights to Europe.

Best Time to Buy Flights to Europe by Season

According to data from search_web (“Best Time to Buy an International Flight”), which analyzed millions of flight prices from 2019-2020 across different regions worldwide, here are some average figures on when is the best time to buy flights to Europe by season:

Spring (March-May): The best time to buy tickets is usually between one and a half and four months before departure. The best day to buy tickets is 79 days before departure. The average airfare is $992.
Summer (June-August): The best time to buy tickets is usually between one and seven months before departure. The best day to buy tickets is 160 days before departure. The average airfare is $1,110.
Fall (September-November): The best time to buy tickets is usually between one and five months before departure. The best day to buy tickets is 69 days before departure. The average airfare is $947.
Winter (December-February): The best time to buy tickets is usually between one and four months before departure. The best day to buy tickets is 62 days before departure. The average airfare is $881.

These figures are based on averages across different destinations in Europe, so they may not apply to every specific route or date. However, they can give you a general idea of when you can expect to find lower or higher prices for flights to Europe.

Best Time to Buy Flights to Europe by Destination

According to data from search_web(“Skyscanner Savings Generator”), which uses average price data across some of your favorite routes, here are some examples of when is the best time to buy flights to some popular destinations in Europe:

London, UK: The best time to buy tickets is usually between two and six months before departure. The cheapest months to travel are January and February. The most expensive months to travel are June and July.
Paris, France: The best time to buy tickets is usually between two and five months before departure. The cheapest months to travel are January and February. The most expensive months to travel are May and June.
Rome, Italy: The best time to buy tickets is usually between two and four months before departure. The cheapest months to travel are January and February. The most expensive months to travel are July and August.
Barcelona, Spain: The best time to buy tickets is usually between two and four months before departure. The cheapest months to travel are January and February. The most expensive months to travel are July and August.
Amsterdam, Netherlands: The best time to buy tickets is usually between two and five months before departure. The cheapest months to travel are January and February. The most expensive months to travel are May and June.

Again, these figures are based on averages across different departure dates and airports, so they may not apply to every specific route or date. However, they can give you a general idea of when you can expect to find lower or higher prices for flights to these destinations.

How Can You Save Money on Flights to Europe?

Besides knowing when is the best time to buy flights to Europe, there are other ways you can save money on your travel expenses. Here are some tips and tricks you can use:

Use a flight search engine like Skyscanner, which compares prices from hundreds of airlines and booking sites, and shows you the best deals available. You can also use filters and tools like flexible dates, nearby airports, price alerts, everywhere search, and more to find the cheapest flights for your needs.
Be flexible with your travel dates and destinations, as prices can vary significantly depending on the day of the week, the month of the year, the season, the demand, the competition, and other factors. You can use Skyscanner’s map view or inspiration page to discover new places to visit based on your budget and preferences.
Book in advance, but not too early or too late, as prices tend to increase as the departure date approaches, but also fluctuate depending on the availability and demand. Generally, booking between one and six months before departure is a good rule of thumb for finding the best deals on flights to Europe.
Avoid peak seasons and holidays, such as summer, Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc., as these are the most popular and expensive times to travel to Europe. Instead, opt for off-seasons or shoulder seasons, such as winter, spring, or fall, when you can find lower prices and fewer crowds.
Fly with low-cost carriers or budget airlines, such as Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, etc., which offer cheaper fares than traditional airlines. However, be aware of the extra fees and charges that these airlines may impose for baggage, seat selection, check-in, boarding, etc., and read the terms and conditions carefully before booking.
Fly with stopovers or layovers, instead of direct flights, as these can sometimes be cheaper than non-stop flights. However, make sure that the layover time is not too long or too short, as this can affect your comfort and convenience. You can also use Skyscanner’s multi-city search tool to find flights with stopovers that allow you to visit another destination along the way.

Fly from or to alternative airports, instead of major hubs, as these can sometimes offer lower fares than larger airports. However, make sure that the airport is not too far from your destination or departure city, as this can affect your transportation costs and time. You can use Skyscanner’s nearby airports feature to find flights from or to different airports in your area.

How Can You Use Skyscanner Savings Generator?

If you want to find the cheapest time to travel to Europe, you can use a new tool called Skyscanner Savings Generator. This tool is created by Skyscanner’s data experts, who have analyzed millions of flights over the past year to find the best deals for travelers. The Savings Generator uses average price data to offer guidance and help you save the most on flights.

To use the Savings Generator, you need to enter your desired route into the tool and see if it is available. If not, you can bookmark the page and check back later, as new destinations are added regularly. If your route is available, you will see the following information:

The average monthly flight price for your destination. This shows you how much you can expect to pay for your flight and whether you are getting a good deal or not.
The best time to book your flight. This shows you how far in advance you should book your flight to get the lowest price possible.
The cheapest day to travel on. This shows you which day of the week is the cheapest to fly on and how much you can save by choosing that day.
Alternative destinations that might offer better value for money. This shows you other destinations that are similar to your chosen one but have lower average flight prices and cheaper days to travel on.

For example, if you want to fly from New York to Paris in July, you can enter this route into the Savings Generator and see the following results:

The average monthly flight price for Paris is $1,118.
The best time to book your flight is 90 days before departure.
The cheapest day to travel on is Wednesday, which can save you $76 compared to Sunday.
Alternative destinations that might offer better value for money are Amsterdam ($1,006), Berlin ($1,007), and Barcelona ($1,009).

With this information, you can decide whether you want to stick with your original destination and date or change them to save money. You can also click on the links provided by the Savings Generator to search for flights on Skyscanner and book your tickets.

How Far in Advance Should You Book Flights to Europe?

One of the most common questions that travelers ask is how far in advance they should book their flights to Europe. The answer depends on several factors, such as the season, the destination, the demand, and the availability of flights. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should book your flights at least one and a half to four and a half months before your departure date¹.

According to Skyscanner’s data, the best time to buy tickets to Europe is 79 days before departure¹. This is based on the average airfare of $992 for flights from the US to Europe. However, this number may vary depending on your specific route and dates. For example, if you are flying from New York to London, the best time to book is 99 days before departure. If you are flying from Los Angeles to Paris, the best time to book is 90 days before departure.

Of course, booking too early or too late can also have disadvantages. If you book too early, you might miss out on lower prices that may appear later due to sales or promotions. If you book too late, you might face higher prices due to limited availability or increased demand. Therefore, it is important to monitor the price trends and set up price alerts on Skyscanner so that you can get notified when the prices change.

Conclusion

Traveling to Europe can be an amazing experience, but it can also be expensive if you don’t plan ahead and look for the best deals on flights. Fortunately, with Skyscanner Savings Generator and other tips and tricks, you can find the cheapest time to travel to Europe and save money on your travel expenses.

Skyscanner Savings Generator is a new tool that uses average price data to offer guidance and help you save the most on flights. It shows you the average flight price, the best time to book, the cheapest day to travel, and alternative destinations for your chosen route. You can use this tool to find the cheapest time to travel to Europe and other destinations.

However, Skyscanner Savings Generator is not the only way to save money on flights. There are other tips and tricks that you can use to find the best deals, such as being flexible with your dates and destinations, flying to a gateway city and taking a connecting flight or train, deleting your search history and internet cookies, signing up for newsletters and alerts, and using a credit card that offers travel rewards or cashback.

In this article, we have covered all these topics and more, using data from Skyscanner, a leading travel search engine that compares millions of flights from hundreds of airlines and travel agents. We hope that this article has helped you learn how to find the best times to buy flights to Europe and save money on your travel expenses.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about finding the best times to buy flights to Europe:

Q: How can I find out if my route is available on Skyscanner Savings Generator?
A: You can enter your desired route into the tool and see if it is available. If not, you can bookmark the page and check back later, as new destinations are added regularly.
Q: How accurate is Skyscanner Savings Generator?
A: Skyscanner Savings Generator is based on average price data from millions of flights over the past year. However, prices may vary depending on your specific route and dates. Therefore, you should always compare the prices for different options on Skyscanner and book your tickets as soon as you find a good deal.
Q: How can I set up price alerts on Skyscanner?
A: You can set up price alerts on Skyscanner by entering your desired route and dates and clicking on the “Get Price Alerts” button. You will need to create a free account or log in with your email or social media account. You will then receive email notifications when the prices change for your chosen route.
Q: How can I use Skyscanner’s flexible search options?
A: You can use Skyscanner’s flexible search options by clicking on the “Flexible?” link next to the search box. You will then see different options such as “Everywhere”, “Whole Month”, “Cheapest Month”, “Multi-city”, and “Map”. You can use these options to find the cheapest destinations, dates, or routes for your travel plans.