How to Save $300 on Flights to Europe: Tips You Need to Know

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I almost didn’t book it. A $329 roundtrip flight to Barcelona? In peak season? It felt like a glitch. But I’ve been at this game long enough to know: when you spot a deal like that, you grab it. And if you’ve ever stared at flights to Europe and thought, “There’s got to be a way to save,” I’ve got you covered.

Most people overpay for flights because they don’t know where to look, when to book, or which tricks make the biggest difference. That’s where I come in. I’ve spent over a decade hunting down the best deals on flights, and I’ve learned a few things that can easily shave $300 (or more) off your European adventure.

• ✈️ Pro tip: Don’t leave your flight deals to chance. Going is your best friend here. Their Premium membership alerts you to international and domestic flights (including Hawaii and Alaska), while Elite includes all of that, plus premium economy and business class deals. Use my code JON25 to save 25% on either tier!

🚀 1. Set Alerts with Going

There’s a reason Going is my go-to for scoring cheap flight deals to Europe. Just this week, I spotted a $329 roundtrip flight from Boston to Barcelona – normally over $800 – thanks to a Going alert. That’s nearly 60% off, and it’s not some no-frills budget airline – we’re talking a full-service flight on Iberia.

Here’s how it works. You set alerts for your preferred routes, and Going does the hunting for you. Instead of endless price-checking, you get a simple email whenever a deal drops. If you want to fly in style, their Elite tier covers premium economy and business class deals too.

👉 Pro Tip: The more flexible you are with departure cities, the more deals you’ll see. Set alerts for multiple airports (like Boston, New York, and Philly), and let Going work its magic.

📅 2. Be Flexible with Travel Dates

If you’ve got some wiggle room on when you travel, you’ve got a serious advantage. Flight prices can swing by hundreds of dollars depending on the day of the week, the time of year, and even the time of day you book. For Europe, that sweet spot often means midweek flights. From my experience, the best deals are on Tuesday or Wednesday, when fewer travelers are competing for seats.

I once found a $300 roundtrip flight to Lisbon just by shifting my departure by two days. Fewer people fly midweek, so airlines drop prices to fill those seats. The same goes for shoulder seasons, the weeks right before or after peak periods, when prices plummet. Late spring and early fall in Europe are perfect for snagging deals.

✈️ Pro Tip: Use Going’s alerts to track flights a few days before and after your ideal dates. Sometimes, moving your trip by just 24 hours can save you enough for a fancy dinner in Florence.

🌏 3. Explore Multiple Departure Airports

If you’re only checking flights to Europe from your home airport, you’re missing out. Sometimes, the best deals pop up from nearby cities. A few years back, I planned a trip to Amsterdam but found that flights from New York were $200 cheaper than my local airport (Boston Logan). For a small extra train fare, I saved a few hundred dollars.

This trick works even better if you’re in a region with multiple major airports. Los Angeles and San Diego, Boston and Providence, New York and Philadelphia – all close enough to consider if you’re chasing a bargain. Even if you don’t live near a second city, check for cheap domestic flights that could connect you to a cheaper European route.

👉 Pro Tip: If you’re not near a major hub, look into “positioning flights.” Southwest often has cheap domestic hops that could get you to a better international deal. Just leave plenty of time between flights – I’d rather spend a few extra hours at the airport than stress about tight connections.

🌍 4. Pick the Right European Airport

Here’s a money-saving secret most travelers miss: you don’t always have to fly directly to your dream destination. Europe’s cities are so close you can practically city-hop without even trying. Instead of locking in on an expensive flight to your final stop, look for cheaper fares to a nearby major city.

Take this deal I just found on Going: a roundtrip to Rome for $384. If you’re headed to Florence, Venice, or even the Amalfi Coast, starting in Rome could save you hundreds. High-speed trains connect Rome to Florence in 1.5 hours, Venice in 4 hours, and Naples (gateway to the Amalfi Coast) in just over an hour. 

This trick works for almost any major European destination. Want Paris? Check flights to Brussels, Amsterdam, or even London. Planning to explore Greece? Flights to Athens are often far cheaper than Santorini or Mykonos, and a quick ferry can connect you to the islands.

👉 Pro Tip: Going’s Premium and Elite memberships alert you to deals like that $384 Rome fare I just found, and you’ll be the first to know when prices drop for other major European cities. Set alerts for your dream destinations, but keep an eye on nearby cities too. You might score a deal you didn’t even know you were looking for.

🎒 5. Travel Light and Smart

Packing light can save you a ton, especially on transatlantic flights. Budget airlines like Norse Atlantic and PLAY offer cheap flights from the US to Europe, but they make up for it with fees – and baggage is a big one. You might see a $300 roundtrip, but add a checked bag, and suddenly it’s $450.

That’s why I always start by comparing full-service airlines like Delta, Lufthansa, or British Airways. If you know you’ll need a checked bag, these can actually be cheaper. A $450 flight with a free checked bag beats a $300 fare plus $150 in baggage fees. But always be vigilant by checking the fare class – ‘basic economy’ often doesn’t include it anymore, even on long-haul routes. 

Once you’re in Europe, the same rule applies. Low-cost carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air offer incredible deals between cities, but they charge for anything beyond a basic carry-on (usually 40 x 20 x 25 cm). 

If you plan to city-hop, pack light. Stick to a carry-on with essentials: versatile clothes, comfortable shoes, and a foldable tote for anything you pick up.

👉 Pro Tip: European budget airlines weigh carry-ons (usually 7-10kg limit). Pack your heaviest items (camera, laptop, chargers) in your “personal item” since these rarely get weighed. A lightweight packable daypack like the Matador 18L works perfectly for this and doubles as a day bag at your destination.

🌐 6. Use Budget Airlines

Here’s a trick that can save you hundreds on flights to Europe: fly into a budget-friendly gateway city, then connect to your final destination. 

Right now on Going, I’m looking at flights to Reykjavik for just $317 roundtrip from Boston, New York, and Newark (that’s 59% off the usual $780+ fare!). Iceland has become a perfect gateway to Europe, with budget carriers like PLAY making it one of the cheapest ways to cross the Atlantic.

Once you’re in Reykjavik, Europe opens up with budget flights. EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air run regular routes from KEF to major European cities, often for under $100. The math works: that $317 to Iceland plus a $90 flight to London or Paris still comes in hundreds less than flying direct. 

Just remember those baggage fees we talked about. Budget carriers charge for both checked bags and larger carry-ons, so factor those into your total cost.

👉 Pro Tip: Some budget carriers like PLAY allow Iceland stopovers when booking roundtrip flights, though multi-leg itineraries may require separate tickets. You could fly Boston to Paris with an Iceland stopover for less than a direct flight – plus you get to see the Northern Lights along the way!

💫 7. Take Advantage of Stopovers

Speaking of Iceland stopovers, there’s an art to turning layovers into bonus trips that actually save you money. 

Icelandair and PLAY both build their business model around this: making Iceland a cheap gateway to Europe while letting you explore a bucket-list destination. With flights like that $317 Boston-Reykjavik deal I just spotted on Going, you can spend a few days seeing the Northern Lights before catching a budget flight to mainland Europe, often for less total cost than flying direct.

It’s not just Iceland, though. TAP Air Portugal offers free multi-day stops in Lisbon or Porto, regularly beating direct fares by $200-300. Turkish Airlines does the same with Istanbul, and KLM with Amsterdam. Instead of seeing these longer connections as an inconvenience, you’re getting a free city break while saving money on your total fare.

👉 Pro Tip: I’ve found Lisbon to be the perfect stopover city. It’s compact enough to explore in 2-3 days, the airport is just 20 minutes from downtown, and flights to other European cities rarely top $100. 

🍂 8. Pick Your Season Smart

I’ve learned that timing is everything for saving on flights to Europe. Summer is chaos – crowded cities, packed beaches, and sky-high ticket prices. But travel during shoulder seasons, and it’s a whole different story.

Late spring, from April to early June, is one of my favorites. The weather is perfect, everything is open, but the summer crush hasn’t hit yet. I once found a flight to Paris in May for half the summer price, and the gardens were in full bloom. Early fall, especially September, is another sweet spot. You get that perfect golden light, and most of the tourists have gone home.

Winter can be a secret weapon too. Sure, it’s cold, but that’s part of the charm. I loved wandering the quiet, snow-dusted streets of Prague in January, with flights and hotels at a fraction of the usual cost. Christmas markets in Germany are another favorite – low fares, mulled wine, and fairy lights everywhere.

👉 Pro Tip: Going makes it easy to spot off-peak deals. You can see fares for every month of the year, and Going Premium is perfect for Europe. It’s how I always know when to book.

💳 9. Get Smart with Points and Miles

If you’re serious about saving on flights to Europe, you need a points and miles strategy. It’s not just for frequent flyers – even a few smart moves can save you hundreds. I’ve booked $800 flights for under $100 in taxes just by using points right.

Start with flexible points programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Points. These are the real game-changers because you’re not locked into one airline. I’ve used Chase points to book with both United and Air France, depending on which had the better deal.

Know your transfer partners. If you’re sitting on Amex points, you can transfer them to Virgin Atlantic for cheap Delta flights to Europe. Got Chase points? They transfer to Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), which often runs promo awards to Europe. I once snagged a roundtrip to Amsterdam for just 21,000 points.

But points are just part of the puzzle. Timing matters too. European flights are often cheapest when booked 2-3 months out. But for award flights, book as early as possible…ideally 9–12 months out.

Looking to travel to Europe in 2025? Use my discount code JON25 to save 25% on a Going Premium membership. You’ll thank yourself later!