How to Find €20 Flights on Europe’s Cheapest Budget Airlines

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I’ve explored 40 countries across Europe and flown with all kinds of airlines in the name of a bargain. After digging into 100 routes from 45 major airports, I’ve updated this list for 2026-27 with the 10 cheapest airlines in Europe that keep fares low.

You’ll see the big budget names like Wizz Air, Ryanair, and easyJet, plus a few carriers that can be great value when you match them to the right routes. I’ve written this the way I plan my own trips. Which airports make sense, where prices tend to drop, and which fees are most likely to blow up the total at checkout.

I’m always chasing the same thing. A flight that costs less than a night out, a seat that does the job, and enough left in the budget for the fun part of the trip. If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

How I selected these top 10 cheap European airlines

There are dozens of budget carriers in Europe, but “cheap” means nothing if the flight never takes off or the hidden fees double your ticket price. To make this list for 2026-27, I ranked airlines based on three specific non-negotiables:

• The “True Cost” Ratio: I didn’t just look at the $15 headline fare. I factored in the total price after adding a standard carry-on bag and seat selection. Some airlines (like Ryanair) have low base fares but high extras; others (like Jet2) charge more upfront but include more.
• Operational Reliability: Cheap flights are great, but getting stranded isn’t. I prioritized airlines with consistent on-time performance records and robust networks that can actually get you rebooked if things go wrong.
• Hub Utility: Does the airline fly to major airports (like Paris Orly), or will it dump you 90 minutes outside the city (like Paris Beauvais)? I favored airlines that save you money on the flight and the transfer.

#1 tip to find cheap flights in Europe

If you want cheap airline tickets to Europe, stop searching when you’re ready to book and start tracking prices while you’re still dreaming. That’s how I’ve saved the most money.

For the past 5 years, I’ve used Going (formerly called Scott’s Cheap Flights). You tell them your US departure airports, then they email you when prices drop. That includes sale fares and the occasional mistake fare that disappears fast. You can also set destination alerts, so if you’ve got your heart set on somewhere like Lisbon or Paris, you don’t need to babysit Google Flights.

Last year, I saved $7k using their alerts. That included $300 roundtrips from Boston to Europe, plus a few intra Europe flights that were cheaper than my airport coffee.

Going has a free plan that gives you a taste of deals, and a Premium version if you travel more often. If you want to test it, start with the free trial and see if the emails match how you like to travel. If it does, my code JON25 saves you 25% off Premium.

Note: I personally pay for my Premium subscription and have used it for 4+ years. This recommendation comes from my actual inbox history!

My quick thoughts on the “Bag Tax” reality check

Before booking any of the budget European airlines below, remember that baggage fees are often not included in the fare. In some cases, you may find that higher tier airlines could be the more affordable option when all is said and done. To give you a realistic idea of 2026-27 pricing, here is the average price difference I found across these carriers when adding a standard 10kg overhead cabin bag:

Airline	Avg. Bag Fee (One-Way)
Ryanair / Wizz	$20 – $45 (Dynamic pricing)
easyJet / Vueling	$25 – $55 (Distance based)
Jet2 / British Airways	Often included or lower tier

Note: Fees fluctuate based on route and demand. Always book bags online, never at the airport.

Now, here are the best budget airlines of Europe in 2026/2027 based on my criteria!

1. 🇭🇺 Wizz Air

• 🏠 Base: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
• ✈️ Best For: Ultra low cost hops across Central and Eastern Europe, plus more Western Europe city breaks
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only, with WIZZ Priority as the upgrade that helps
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Small personal item included, everything else costs extra
• 💳 Loyalty Program: WIZZ Discount Club

Wizz Air is one of the cheapest airlines in Europe for short haul flights, as long as you’re traveling light and you’re fine with a no frills experience. I’ve seen base fares drop below €20 on Central and Eastern European routes, and midweek flights tend to price 25–35% lower than weekends. The cheapest tracked route right now is Bratislava to Tuzla at just $7 one way!

Wizz is expanding hard into Spain for late 2026. From November, it’s opening its first ever Spanish bases in Valencia and Madrid, with domestic routes like Madrid–Palma de Mallorca starting from €19.99. More Luton–Spain routes to Málaga, Granada, and Asturias are launching in late October too, all year-round.

The key to keeping Wizz cheap is managing the add ons. WIZZ Priority includes priority boarding plus a larger cabin bag, and if you need more than a small backpack, I’d recommend adding it from the start rather than paying for baggage separately at checkout. It’s one of the easiest ways to avoid the final price jumping on you.

Wizz also runs #LetsGetLost mystery flights where passengers board without knowing the destination, with fares from around £50. Starlink Wi-Fi is coming fleet-wide from 2027, making Wizz the first European ultra-low-cost carrier to offer it. Both are signs the airline is adding value without inflating the base fare.

• Read next: Hidden Gems to Visit in Europe

2. 🇮🇪 Ryanair

• 🏠 Base: Dublin Airport (DUB)
• ✈️ Best For: The lowest fares on popular routes, plus a massive number of city pairs
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: One small under seat bag included, everything else costs extra
• 💳 Loyalty Program: None, it’s all about the price
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Don’t treat Ryanair like a normal airline. Price your bags and seats before you hit pay, or the “cheap” fare disappears fast

Ryanair is the largest low cost airline in Europe by passengers, fleet, and route count, carrying over 208 million passengers last year across more than 235 airports. When Ryanair is cheap, it can be absurdly cheap. I’ve seen one way fares drop as low as $15 on routes like Nador to Toulouse and Alicante to Ibiza.

For winter 2026/27, Ryanair is operating over 1,700 routes with 140+ new additions focused on Italy, Poland, Morocco, and Albania. New bases in Tirana, Rabat, and Trapani are opening up cheap flights that didn’t previously exist, like Rabat to Stockholm and Agadir to Milan. However, Ryanair has also cut over a million seats from regional Spain, Germany, Belgium, and Greece due to rising airport fees.

The base fare is regularly the cheapest available on any European route, but add ons can double the total. For the lowest price, I’d recommend booking midweek flights, packing to personal item only, and skipping seat selection. Buying a cabin bag at checkout instead of during the initial booking is one of the most expensive mistakes I see travelers make with Ryanair.

I’d also recommend always booking bags online and in advance. Ryanair charges significantly more for baggage added at the airport gate, and that single fee can wipe out whatever you saved on the flight. The app runs flash sales on specific routes too, usually midweek, and I’ve found those tend to disappear within hours.

• Read next: Tips to Save Money on Travel
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3. 🇩🇪 Eurowings

• 🏠 Base: Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
• ✈️ Best For: Germany based travellers who want low fares without the ultra budget hassle
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, with Premium BIZ seats (2×2 layout) rolling out on A320neo routes from December 2026
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Small personal item on the cheapest fares, bigger bags cost extra
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Miles and More
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Price it like a real trip first. Add your bag, then decide if it’s actually cheap

Eurowings is the cheapest way to fly out of most major German airports. BASIC fares start from €20.99, and I’ve regularly found routes like Düsseldorf to Barcelona, Stuttgart to Budapest, and Hamburg to Rijeka under €35 one way. It covers 150 destinations across 40 countries, with the heaviest coverage from Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, and Stuttgart.

For winter 2026-27, new routes are launching from five German cities into Southern Europe and North Africa, including Berlin to Lisbon, Porto, Bilbao, and Sarajevo. Mallorca remains the busiest route, with up to 28 weekly flights from Düsseldorf. Eurowings also has a codeshare with SunExpress for cheap Antalya flights from ten European cities.

The BASIC fare only includes a small underseat bag (40 x 30 x 25 cm). A cabin trolley starts from €21 extra, and a 23kg checked bag from around €18. Before paying for BASIC plus add ons, check the SMART fare, which bundles a checked bag, cabin trolley, seat selection, and free airport check-in. I’ve seen SMART come out the same price or cheaper than a loaded BASIC fare on multiple routes.

One bonus over Ryanair and Wizz is that Eurowings earns Lufthansa Miles & More on every fare tier, including BASIC. If you collect miles through the Lufthansa Group, that’s free points on a budget flight. Eurowings’ low-fare calendar is also a good tool for spotting the cheapest travel days on any given route.

4. 🇬🇧 easyJet

• 🏠 Base: London Luton Airport (LTN)
• ✈️ Best For: City breaks and short haul routes where you want low cost without loads of admin
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, with upfront seats and extra legroom seats as paid upgrades
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Small personal item included, cabin bags and hold luggage cost extra depending on fare
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Flight Club (invite-only, fee-free changes and price guarantee). easyJet Plus available for frequent flyers
• 🧠 Pro Tip: If you’re bringing a cabin bag, compare the total price against Ryanair before you book

easyJet flies over 1,000 routes across 35 countries, and fares from the UK regularly start below £20 one way. Right now I’m seeing London to Amsterdam from £15.99, Barcelona from £16.99, and Málaga from £16.99. Naples to Ibiza has been tracked as low as $17.

One big advantage over Ryanair and Wizz is airports. easyJet tends to fly into the main airport in each city, not a secondary one an hour out. I’ve had trips where a cheaper fare on another airline ended up costing more once I added the shuttle or taxi into the city center. Factor that into the total before assuming easyJet is the pricier option.

The network grew again for 2026, with 16 new summer routes from eight UK airports and nine more for winter 2026/27. New connections include Glasgow to Lisbon, Bristol to Seville, Edinburgh to Ljubljana, Birmingham to Agadir, and Belfast to Sharm El Sheikh. If you’re based outside London, easyJet often covers direct routes that Ryanair and Wizz don’t.

The baggage pricing is where easyJet can catch you out. The standard fare only includes a small underseat bag (45 x 36 x 20 cm). A large cabin bag comes bundled with Speedy Boarding, which bumps the price. I’ve found it cheaper on some routes to skip the cabin bag and add a 23kg hold bag instead. easyJet releases fares six to eight months in advance, and the lowest prices tend to show up right when a new schedule drops. Try to book early and fly midweek if you can.

• Read next: 3-Day Barcelona Itinerary
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5. 🇪🇸 Vueling

• 🏠 Base: Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN)
• ✈️ Best For: Spain flights that don’t cost a fortune, especially when you’re routing via Barcelona
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only, sold as different fare bundles depending on what you need
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: A small personal item is included, cabin bags depend on the fare and can get pricey if you add them late
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Vueling Club, uses Avios
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Price the Optima bundle before stacking extras onto Basic. It often comes out cheaper

Vueling is one of the cheapest airlines for flying within Spain and between Spain and the rest of Europe. I’ve seen Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca from €12, Barcelona to Paris from €16, and Barcelona to Rome from €20. Vueling also ran a €13 fare promotion on select routes for winter 2026/27, covering travel from October through March.

The network is built around Barcelona El Prat, and that’s where fares tend to be lowest. If your trip involves the Balearics, the Canaries, or hopping between Spanish cities, Vueling often undercuts Ryanair and easyJet on those specific routes. It’s also strong for connections from Barcelona to places like Seville, Bilbao, Lisbon, and Málaga.

Vueling sells its fares in bundles. The cheapest (Basic) only includes a small personal item, and adding a cabin bag on top individually gets pricey. The next tier up (Optima) includes a cabin bag, checked bag, and seat selection. On shorter routes, I’ve found it comes out cheaper than a Basic fare with extras added one by one.

Vueling Club earns Avios, which you can use across British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus. But the 2026 program update means you won’t start earning Avios until you’ve flown three times or spent €200 in a year. If you’re only flying Vueling once or twice, the points won’t add up to anything. I’d focus on getting the cheapest fare and not worry about the loyalty side.

• Read next: Coolest Airbnbs in Europe
• For more reading: The Body Camp Mallorca Fitness Retreat Review

6. 🇳🇱 Transavia

• 🏠 Base: Paris Orly Airport (ORY) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
• ✈️ Best For: Cheap sun routes from France and the Netherlands without the “tiny airport miles away” problem
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only, with paid seat upgrades if you want more space
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Small personal item included, cabin bags and hold bags cost extra depending on fare
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Flying Blue (Air France-KLM). Miles earned on every fare tier
• 🧠 Pro Tip: If you’re flying with anything more than a backpack, price your baggage upfront because Transavia can look cheap, then creep up fast

Transavia is one of the cheapest airlines in Europe if your trip looks like beaches, old towns, and a late dinner somewhere warm. It’s based at Paris Orly and Amsterdam Schiphol, and it’s best for sun routes from France and the Netherlands into Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Canaries. I’ve seen fares like Lyon to Palma de Mallorca at $56 round trip and Paris Orly to Toulouse from $45 one way.

The big 2026 update is that Transavia now controls around 50% of all slots at Paris Orly after Air France moved its domestic flights to Charles de Gaulle. This is great news if you’re flying through Paris, because Orly is closer to the city center than CDG, and the route network has grown massively. Domestic routes like Paris to Nice, Toulouse, and Marseille are now all Transavia, at budget fares with Flying Blue miles included on every tier.

The fare to watch is Basic versus Plus. Basic includes a 10kg cabin bag but no checked luggage, and adding a hold bag later gets expensive. I’ve found the Plus fare, which bundles a 23kg bag and seat selection, often comes out cheaper on longer routes than loading up a Basic fare one extra at a time. It takes 30 seconds to compare and can save you €20 each way.

• Read next: Cheap Places to Fly Into Europe

7. 🇳🇴 Norwegian Air

• 🏠 Base: Oslo Airport (OSL)
• ✈️ Best For: Scandinavia and Northern Europe flights when you want a decent price without the ultra budget chaos
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, with paid seats and extra legroom options
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: A small personal item is included, cabin bags and hold luggage depend on the fare you choose
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Norwegian Reward
• 🧠 Pro Tip: If you’re flying to Norway, check more than one airport. Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim can price very differently on the same dates

Norwegian Air is the airline that makes Scandinavia feel less like a financial punishment. It’s based at Oslo Gardermoen and it’s best for cheap flights across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, plus budget routes from the Nordics and the UK into Southern Europe. Whenever I’m staring at a shockingly expensive fare to Oslo, Norwegian is the tab I open next.

The 2026 network covers 350 routes across 129 destinations. There’s been 30 new additions this year including Oslo to Cluj, Lamezia Terme, and Zurich, plus a new base in Billund, Denmark with routes to Barcelona, Rome, Naples, and Porto. From the UK, year-round flights run from London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Newcastle into the Nordics.

The cheapest fare is LowFare, which includes only a small personal item. On a Scandinavian round trip, choosing LowFare over LowFare+ and packing light can save you €40 to €80 per person. I’ve found Friday and Sunday fares jump fast on domestic Norwegian routes, but midweek flights often stay surprisingly reasonable. If you’re flying to Norway, I’d suggest checking multiple airports, because Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Trondheim can price very differently on the same dates.

• Keep reading: Best Airlines to Fly to Norway

8. 🇬🇧 Jet2.com

• 🏠 Base: Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
• ✈️ Best For: UK holiday flights to sun destinations when you want good value without travelling light
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only, with extra legroom seats as paid upgrades
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: A small under seat bag plus a 10kg cabin bag are included as standard
• 💳 Loyalty Program: myJet2 and myJet2Perks deals rather than points
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Now flying from London Gatwick with 29 routes. Compare Jet2’s total against Ryanair and easyJet with bags added. Jet2 often wins

Jet2 has a very specific vibe, and I mean that as a compliment. It’s based at Leeds Bradford and built for holidays. If your idea of a trip involves beach clothes, sunscreen, and a bag that definitely isn’t “just a small personal item,” Jet2 can be one of the cheapest airlines in Europe to do it without playing baggage roulette. A 10kg cabin bag and a small under-seat bag are included as standard on every fare.

Jet2 launched its first ever flights from London Gatwick in March with 29 routes to Spain, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Croatia, Malta, and Bulgaria. Six aircraft are based there now, including five A321neos, and the airline is already offering 10% off all winter 2026/27 departures. If you’re in the South East and always wondered what the Jet2 fuss was about, now you can find out.

I compare Jet2 against Ryanair and easyJet all the time by building the same trip on all three with the same bag and dates. Jet2 surprises me more often than I’d expect. I’d also suggest checking flight-only fares against Jet2holidays packages, because the package pricing can come out oddly cheap when flights and hotels are bundled.

9. 🇪🇸 Volotea

• 🏠 Base: Asturias Airport (OVD)
• ✈️ Best For: Cheap flights between smaller European cities, especially around Spain, France, Italy, and Greece
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: A small personal item is included, cabin bags and hold bags cost extra
• 💳 Loyalty Program: Megavolotea
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Volotea is at its cheapest on “awkward” routes. Small city to small city is where it often beats the big names

Volotea is a bit of a cheat code if you’re not trying to fly between the obvious capitals. It’s based at Asturias Airport and connects over 110 destinations across 18 European countries, mostly smaller cities and islands that the big budget airlines don’t serve. Think Santander, Jerez, and Granada on the Spain side, and Brest, Strasbourg, Lille, and Perpignan in France.

The fares can be absurdly low. Bergamo to Olbia has been tracked at $14 one way, Asturias to Lisbon at $35 round trip, and Athens to Venice at $40 round trip. Promotional fares drop to €9 and €19 on certain routes, especially midweek in autumn and spring. If you’re planning a trip to an island, a coastal city, or somewhere that usually needs a connection, Volotea can cut the hassle and the cost at the same time.

Volotea keeps growing heading into winter 2026/27. A new base in Montpellier opens in November with four routes to Spain and France, and a 22nd base is launching in Ancona in December. Florence now has 17 routes after gaining a second aircraft, and new connections from there to Asturias and from Pisa to Toulouse are opening in the fall.

If you fly Volotea more than once, Megavolotea membership includes priority boarding, cabin bag, seat selection, and unlimited free flight changes. The discounts add up quickly when you’re hopping between smaller cities. Up to four companions get the same benefits on your booking.

• Read next: Cheapest Cities to Visit in Europe

10. 🇹🇷 Pegasus Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
• ✈️ Best For: Cheap flights between Europe and Turkey, plus low cost add on flights across Turkey
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only, sold in fare packages
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Light fares can be under seat bag only, cabin and hold bags cost extra depending on package
• 💳 Loyalty Program: BolBol
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Pegasus is a bargain when you travel light. If you need a cabin bag, pick a fare package that includes it up front

Pegasus Airlines is what I point people to when they want to visit Turkey without the prices getting silly. It’s based at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side of the city, and it now serves 39 domestic and 126 international destinations across 55 countries. Ankara to Bodrum has been tracked at $25 one way, Istanbul to Ankara at $39 round trip, and Berlin to Antalya at $62 one way.

I’ve found the cheapest way to use Pegasus is to treat SAW as a launchpad. A few nights in Istanbul, then a cheap hop to Izmir, Antalya, Dalaman, or Bodrum can work out far cheaper than booking a direct flight to the coast from outside Turkey. Domestic fares are consistently low, especially midweek.

New for 2026, Pegasus launched daily London Gatwick to SAW flights in June with fares from £54.99. This makes Gatwick the sixth UK airport in its network alongside Stansted. If you’re looking at visiting Turkey from the UK, Pegasus often undercuts Turkish Airlines and easyJet on the same city pairs.

One thing to be aware of is that SAW is on the Asian side of Istanbul, not the European side where most tourist hotels are. I’d suggest checking your hotel location before celebrating the fare, because a cheap ticket loses its edge if you’re paying for an hour-long transfer across the city. The cheapest Pegasus fares also include very little baggage, so build your total with the bag you’ll bring before booking.

• You’ll also love this: Turkey’s 12 Dreamiest Islands (That Locals Don’t Want You to Know About)