A looming price of fuel, a staggering number of European budget airline carriers coupled with a few unforgiving reservation policies requires consumers to be more due diligent than finding a cheap flight. Despite the affordability of travel in the continent of Europe, the bargain minded traveler can take advantage of cheap flights from a number of affordable airlines. But it requires a little more work than meets the promoted travel deal.

While a Eurail pass is optimal for consecutive travel for country hopping, vacationers with limited time benefit from budget airlines. For example, if one is traveling from London to Madrid, it can take more than 10 hours. With airlines such as easyJet, Jet2 and RyanAir (to name a few) a cheap flight is a matter of proper planning and astute research. Use the following strategies to ensure the best travel deal:

Compare travel search engines sites to the charges of low cost airlines. Sometimes the best deals are not found on sites like Expedia.com, Orbitz.com or Travelocity. Check the following airlines to compare flight costs. Also compare travel packages to separate hotel and airfare bookings. Sometimes vacations packages are over-priced. Don’t let the ‘free tour” mislead you into believing you have a deal.  

Thwart being duped. Before you get excited over those flight bargains, review the Terms of Service on any budget airline carrier. It is in this area of a travel site that consumers can review the “fine-print” to determine whether the flight is really “cheap flight” or not. On Jet2.com, the terms of service detail that an extra credit card fee maybe added after the traveler has booked their travel.

Remember to review the site’s terms of service. Quite often, bargain airlines add extra surcharges that may not be disclosed at the time of purchase. For instance if you visit Jet2.com, their terms clearly state the following: “The taxes, fees and charges imposed on air travel are constantly changing and can be imposed after the date of issue of your itinerary/receipt.”  

Book at least two months in advance. The best airfare deals come in limited seating. If you plan to take advantage of affordable airfare during peak travel seasons (June though August), advance-advance booking is recommended to claim the best deal. As seats are reserved, the cost of seat booking increases.

Snatch up bargains fast. Certain sites such as Jet2 will offer a good deal one minute and if another person books the same reservation before your transaction is completed, the cost of the flight will go up. As a result, be sure to confirm and compare the original quoted price of your flight. If you catch the change in price after your check-out, immediately contact the airline carrier to cancel your reservation.

On the contrary, easyJet uses another marketing approach to compel travelers to book with their airline. If a consumer books a flight and then finds a
less expensive flight, easyJet will issue a credit to compensate for the price of the lower fare. However, the nifty consumer travel incentive comes with several qualification requirements:

1)      The lower air fare cannot be part of a promotional offer

2)     The refund fare must be still available for sale

3)     The lower priced flight must be scheduled for the same departure date, and destination

Check the taxes. Because most fare quotes exclude taxes and their fees, be sure to review the added charges. Many discount airlines, such as RyanAir.com, charge additional charges for the following items for travel in Europe: UK air duty, government tax, passenger service charge/airport tax, aviation insurance levy. Not to mention, you may be charged for the transaction fee of processing your credit card.

Thoroughly, review your travel confirmation and read the fine print. While many airlines will allow a flight switch if you miss your flight, RyanAir, easyJet and Jet2 issue non-refundable tickets. If someone in your group requires travel insurance, book their flight separately. For instance, easyJet will charge all parties flying together travel   insurance, if one person needs it.

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