Europe’s Best Discount Airlines

Traveling around Europe by plane is almost as inexpensive (if not more so) than taking one of Europe’s well-connected train lines. Independent brands have fought with the big names over the highly traveled airspace above the continent, while some have even ventured further abroad with routes to North and South America, as well as Asia. There are a few well-known low-cost carriers in Europe, but they’re also well known for poor service and questionable facilities. When booking a cross-continental flight during your next Euro trip, here are the top players in the affordable airfare game. Just keep in mind these low fares may require basic services to be paid for as add-ons (luggage, meals, in-flight entertainment, etc.).

Norwegian

This Oslo-based airline is one that expanded exponentially within the past few years. With direct flights to places typically only reachable by connecting flights (such as Alicante, Spain; Grenoble, France; and Dubrovnik, Croatia), Norwegian sees little competition in terms of its direct routes. The discount airline also is slowly rolling out insanely cheap fares between Europe and major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago and Denver.

Wow air

The bright purple airline connects satellite U.S. airports with mainland Europe, with a brief stopover at its hub city of Reykjavik, Iceland. Fly from cities like Toronto, Boston or Baltimore to hot spots such as Brussels, Milan or Barcelona. Stay as long (or as briefly) as you would like in the Icelandic capital.

Vueling

Although this airline does not offer direct trans-Atlantic flights like its counterparts above, the Spain-based carrier flies to nearly 40 cities across Europe and North Africa, including harder-to-reach spots like Bergen, Norway; Fez, Morocco; and Zakynthos, Greece.