One of the easiest ways to find affordable flights is by being flexible with your travel dates. Flying on weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays  – it tends to be more affordable than weekends when demand spikes.

Use fare comparison tools like Google Flights or Skyscanner to view flexible date calendars. Sometimes shifting your trip by just a day or two can save you a significant amount.

Here’s a tip:

Traveling during shoulder seasons, like late spring or early fall, this not only means affordable flights but also fewer crowds at popular destinations like Paris, Vienna, or Barcelona.

Don’t just search once and book the first deal you find. Set up fare alerts using sites like Hopper, Skyscanner, or Kayak. These tools monitor price changes and notify you when fares drop for your desired route.

Starting your search early (at least 2–3 months before your trip) gives you the advantage of spotting price trends and jumping on deals when they appear.

Use budget friendly airlines wisely. 

Europe is home to a huge number of budget airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Vueling. Flying from London to Rome for under $30? Totally possible.

However, be careful with extra fees:

Pack light to avoid checked baggage costs. Print your boarding pass in advance (some budget airlines charge you at the airport!). Check the departure and arrival airports, many budget flights use smaller airports that may require extra transportation time.