Traveling in Europe sounds crazy, especially if you’ve got a 7-year-old who has to pee every 45 minutes and an 11-year-old who lost their earphones before you even got off the plane. But thousands of Americans visit Europe each year with their families and don’t break the bank.
None of them are travel hackers with spreadsheets and 17 credit cards, they’re just normal families who figured out some unconventional ways to book affordable family flights to Europe, and then they actually booked the flights.
In this post, we break down exactly how they do it. Every tip here works for real families with real budgets, no travel hacking required.
Why Europe Is More Affordable Than American Families Think
You’ll likely feel sticker shock when you research flights to Paris. You’ll Google “flights to Paris” and find $1100 per person. Then you will look at your total bill after multiplying that number by four and decide to shut down the browser tab. It’s perfectly reasonable. And that was the absolutely wrong way to do a search.
Keep this in mind: Where you land matters much more than where you plan to go.
Dublin, Ireland, is always near the bottom of the list of expensive U.S. departure cities in terms of landing in Europe. The reason? Because Aer Lingus and Ryanair both call this place home. So many people come through Dublin looking for cheap transatlantic flights that it creates downward pressure on ticket prices.
If you fly into Dublin, stay for two or three days, and take advantage of the numerous affordable flights connecting to pretty much everywhere else in Europe, you can save big time.
Another good bet? Lisbon, Portugal. This city is usually about 20 % cheaper than all of the top major European destinations. Plus, it’s a great place to bring your family, it’s very kid-friendly.
Madrid and Milan-Malpensa have similar deals. Many times, you can get a better deal on transatlantic fare with these cities than you would booking separate transatlantic tickets. As soon as you arrive in Europe, you can get super-cheap flights using budget airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, and Vueling to get from Dublin to Rome or Lisbon to Barcelona.
The lesson: stop searching for flights to your dream destination first. Search for the cheapest European city to land in, then work backwards.
Best Budget Airlines for Family Flights to Europe
If you know which airline to choose for the transatlantic leg of your journey, you can save a lot of money. Here are the ones to know:
Aer Lingus offers competitive pricing from East Coast Hubs (New York JFK/Boston/Chicago) to Dublin. Family-friendly service and, since Dublin airport has U.S. Pre-Clearance, you won’t have to worry about clearing Customs when you arrive, a huge stress reducer with kids.
Norse Atlantic Airways is a new player in the game, offering low-cost long-haul flights from New York/Los Angeles/Orlando to London Gatwick/Oslo/Paris. In comparison to the traditional legacy carriers, Norse often offers significantly lower fares.
Iberia (Spain’s flag carrier): Iberia flies directly from New York/Miami/Chicago to Madrid at competitive prices for families. They have great connectivity throughout Europe.
Condor Airlines is a German carrier that flies directly from various U.S. cities (including New York/Los Angeles/Seattle) to Frankfurt and other destinations in Europe at competitive prices for families.
French Bee is a low-cost airline operating directly from San Francisco/Newark to Paris Orly. While not glamorous, it’s a hard price-to-destination ratio to beat.
After arriving in Europe, Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and Vueling are your primary transportation methods within the region. Just remember to pack your bags correctly, most of these airlines charge per bag for checked luggage, but for a carry-on-only trip between two nearby locations, these airlines are how families extend their budget across multiple countries.
One honest warning: Budget Airlines are generally inflexible about changing reservations or allowing extra baggage. Plan ahead and add a little wiggle room to your budget for unexpected expenses related to baggage fees, and make sure you understand the airlines’ policies before you finalize your reservation.
When to Book for the Cheapest Price
Timing is one of the easiest things you can control to find inexpensive family flights to Europe. Most families don’t know this, they’re getting it wrong.
For a summer vacation to Europe, start looking at least 3-6 months ahead of time. The cost increases rapidly as summer approaches. Those who don’t purchase their tickets until April (for July) will be charged much higher fees. Use price alert tools such as Google Flights or Skyscanner starting in January/February and then buy when the price drops.
If your kid’s school has the same breaks or allows it, fly during the “shoulder” seasons; late April to mid-June & Sept to Oct. Prices are substantially lower, fewer tourists, and the weather is usually better than peak August. If you can remove your kid from school for a few days during these periods, the savings could be large.
Departure Tuesdays/Wednesdays are generally cheaper than Fridays/Sundays. Take advantage of your ability to be flexible.
Be flexible on your return airport. Flying into Dublin and leaving from Lisbon, an “Open Jaw” ticket is usually going to be cheaper than a round-trip into one city. An open-jaw ticket also allows you to see many different places while avoiding the need to backtrack.
Google Flights’ calendar view and price grid allow you to visually see which days have the lowest airfare. Setting alerts and checking back periodically allows you to take advantage of changes in airfare pricing. For example, a fare that is $950 on Monday can become $780 by Thursday.
Pro Tips for Long Flights With Kids
Flights across the ocean with children ages 4 – 14 are manageable. Thousands of families take cross-ocean flights each year. Here are some tips for making a transatlantic flight easier for kids and you:
Night-time flights are better if available. Children sleep. When you land in Europe in the morning, you can quickly move forward with your day. On arrival, you’ll likely be able to adjust more easily to local time.
Download movies, audiobooks, games, and favourite TV episodes before departing home. Don’t assume that in-flight Wi-Fi will work or that it will be reasonably priced.
Each child should have a designated “Flight Bag.” This small backpack contains your child’s own snacks, headphones, colouring books or pads, etc., and one comfort item. Ownership of the bag decreases complaints about “Are we there yet?” significantly.
Walk down the aisle every 90 minutes with your kids. Children get stiff and restless. A two-minute walk to the rear of the aircraft can help loosen them up. In addition to providing your child relief from stiffness, standing provides you with an acceptable reason to stretch and get out of your seat.
Before boarding, tell your children what your plans are, how long it will take, and what will happen once you arrive at the destination. Children who understand what is happening tend to act better than children who feel like they are being dragged along.
You’re Closer to a European Family Trip Than You Think
There isn’t anything mythical about finding cheap family flights to Europe. Cheap family flights to Europe exist because smart parents book smarter, choose airports that are less expensive, pick airlines that offer cheaper connections, and look at prices sooner than everyone else does.
Dublin, Lisbon, Madrid, and Milan are the primary gateways to Europe for families. The shoulder seasons are when you want to go. Budget airlines connect the dots. And Google Flights is the free tool that helps you see where the opportunities are.
Those families who take these types of vacations are not wealthier than you. They simply stop believing that traveling to Europe is something they cannot afford and begin searching.
Ready to start planning the remainder of your vacation? Read our honest comparison of Expedia vs Travelocity for family package deals to find the best booking platform for your family. Want to combine your European trip with a wellness break? Check our guide to 7 budget family wellness retreats your kids will actually love.
