What To Expect With Budget European Airlines

Ciao Reader,

We hope you are enjoying the start of fall. September went by so fast; we’ve been working hard to update our blog. We have been planning trips for some lovely clients. Excited to help a couple take their first trip to Italy, and another couple finally make it to the tulip fields in Holland. We have a family that is taking a multi-city trip in Spain to visit their son who is studying abroad there. Lots of fun trips!

Personally, we are enjoying the weather finally becoming more bearable. We visited our 60th Italian city, Prato, early in the month and had a beach day in Viareggio in mid-September. Most exciting is that we went to a paint and wine night and made actual friends! We have a standing invitation to meet up every Friday evening. Making friends in Italy is hard, and Italians will tell you that too.

Mussels for lunch at Bagno Irene in Viareggio, Italy. Booked the beds and umbrella with the Spiagge.it app.

The Truth About European Budget Airlines

If you’ve been to Europe or are planning a trip, you may have felt confused about the budget airlines and what the fare, seat, and luggage options are. We have loads of experience with this and want to share some quick tips so you can book those budget carriers with confidence. We’ll go over who the main players are, what fare types to expect, and what is and isn’t included in the ticket price. We’ll also go over how much space you have, as you may have heard the seats are smaller.

First up: Who exactly are the main budget airlines in Europe?

Budget airlines are generally smaller airlines that the majority of Europeans use to get around rather than using carriers like Air France, British Airways, Delta, American Airlines, etc. The most common airlines we see used are Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Transavia, Eurowings, Iberia, and ITA Airways. We tend to use Ryanair, EasyJet, and Transavia the most, as they all go through our nearest airport, Pisa. Which one you use is going to depend on where you are flying from and to.

What is the benefit of using these airlines over the ones you are most familiar with?

Price and flight routes are the top reasons to fly these carriers. When you fly the bigger international carriers, they are typically only going to the biggest cities in any country. This means if you fly with them, you may end up with more legs to your flight than is necessary. The price of these flights can be (but isn’t always) quite inexpensive; we’re talking under €100 per flight.

Fare types are slightly different than the US airlines you are used to.

You’re probably used to the idea of economy, economy plus, business, & first class (with variations in what the fare is called). Generally, as you go up in fare type and the price increases, you’ll have the ability to change or cancel your flight for free. You’ll also get to choose your seat, have a checked-bag fee waived, enjoy more space, and maybe get food and beverages included, depending on the fare you select. The price chart on a European budget airline will usually have 3 general buckets: basic, mid, and premium. See below for what that means for each of the top budget airlines in Europe.

Airline Baggage & Fare Breakdown

*Note that when it says standard seat selection, you will be presented with options; some are free, most are not.

Some airlines require you to check in online or with the app. Some, such as Ryanair, will charge you a fee if you don’t. Airport check-in can be €30-55.

So when you take a flight that is only €60 (or even Ryanair's €19 deals), you can see how the flight quickly becomes €180+ per person. You want to bring things with you? Fee. You want a seat? Fee. You want to be able to make changes? Fee. What’s nice about this is that if you travel light, you aren’t paying for space you aren’t using. These airlines are not in the business of selling flights; they are in the business of selling space and convenience.

How much luggage can you bring on European budget airlines?

Ha! By now this might not surprise you, but the space is quite limited. First, let's talk about the luggage. The size limit for the personal item and carry-on is smaller than what you see in the US. Below is a table of luggage size restrictions for the top European budget airlines. If your bag does not fit, you will be forced to check it, and it will not be free by any means; it will feel like a penalty fee.

European Budget Airline Baggage Size Restrictions

*Note that Ryanair and Eurowings do not have a weight limit on the personal item.

Transavia's personal item and carry-on weight limit is combined (10kg between the two).

The checked bag size and weight shown for EasyJet, Transavia, Wizz Air, & Eurowings are the largest size; the weight limit is lower for smaller bags.

How much space can you expect once you sit down?

From what you’ve read so far, you are probably thinking the seats must be small too. You’re right. Particularly the pitch (space between the seat and the one in front) can be a bit narrow. In general, any airline using an Airbus is going to have wider seats than those using a Boeing 737.

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European Budget Airline Seat & Legroom

All in all, if you pack right, a budget European airline is a great way to save money on your flights for a multi-country European trip.

Thinking About Sicily… And Wine The perfect way to pair Sicily and exclusive wine tastings is on a 10-day/9-night culinary and wine experience through Sicily to Mt. Etna, with a side of sightseeing. Effortless - all you have to do is pack your bags and board the flight; everything else is handled for you. Typically, we wouldn’t recommend a multi-day tour, but this is something different from the big multi-day tours you’ve heard of.

This Sicily Tour Includes:

• 9 nights in boutique properties and wine estates with breakfast. City tax is included; you pay nothing on arrival
• All private transfers: individual airport arrival and departure transfers, and a private minibus with driver for the whole itinerary!
• Meals: 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 8 dinners — including the welcome dinner, the Michelin-starred dinner on day 8 and the producer’s private table at Etnella on day 9. Local wine is included and served at meals.
• 9 wine producers visited, with tastings throughout, including a high-altitude tasting on the volcano itself!
• Licensed local guides: two full days (Siracusa, Noto) and three half days (Modica, Bronte, Taormina).
• Entrance fees to the sites in the program, including both Greek theaters.
• A Tour Leader — a wine specialist — with the group for all ten days. Separate from the tour guides; your tour leader is there for all of your questions and needs throughout the trip. Think of them like the friend on the trip who planned everything, knows what’s next, and made the dinner reservation.
• A Winedering welcome box in the room on arrival, including a bottle of wine to take home.
• Third-party liability insurance and insolvency guarantee, as required by EU package travel law.

This tour can only be booked by your travel advisor, and there are still openings for 2 dates in the spring of 2027 and 1 date in October 2027 (harvest season). For groups of 8 or more, we may be able to get you a private tour (only your group) and custom dates. Reach out to us for more information (or reply to this email).

*This is a small group tour for a minimum of 8 travelers, with a maximum of 16.

New Direct Flights To Europe From the United States in 2027

Alaska Airlines is adding a direct flight from Seattle to London! We already know a few clients who will definitely take advantage of this.

From Seattle-Tacoma International (SEATAC)

• London Heathrow
• Paris France
• Athens Greece

Delta Airlines is adding 3 new routes, including Austin, Texas’ first nonstop flight to Europe, taking Texans to Paris (France).

From Austin-Bergstrom International, Texas (AUS)

• Paris France

From Boston Logan International, Massachusetts (BOS)

• Venice, Italy

From Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan (DTW)

• Athens, Greece

United Airlines recently announced 9 new direct routes to Europe. If you aren’t in their originating cities, you might be able to take advantage of them with a flight that connects you to them.

From Newark Liberty International (EWR):

• Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
• Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Olbia, Italy (Sardinia)
• Catania, Italy (Sicily)
• Ibiza, Spain
• Valencia (Spain)
• Marseille, France
• Terceira, Portugal

From Washington Dulles International (IAD):

• Toulouse, France
• Milan, Italy

From Denver International (DEN):

• Paris, France

American Airlines has 6 new direct routes to Europe taking off in 2027.

From Philadelphia International (PHL):

• Porto, Portugal
• Viena, Austria
• Reykjavik, Iceland

From New York (JFK):

• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Nice, France

From Charlotte Douglas International (CLT):

• Barcelona, Spain

While our travel planning services don’t include flight booking, we are happy to point our clients in the right direction to find the right flight for them. If you're planning a trip for 2027, check out our custom trip planning services. And if you prefer to do the planning on your own, but need help with a starting point, consider our rough itinerary services.

We want to hear from you. If you have any questions about travel, please send us an email or reply directly to this newsletter. We’re happy to help.

New/Updated Posts On The Blog

In case you missed it last month, we have new topic-specific guides for Florence, Italy, including a neighborhood guide, the best hotels to stay at, the best things to do, the best restaurants, 7 excellent day trips from Florence, and more!

​Where To Stay In Florence: A Neighborhood Guide​

​The Best Hotels To Stay In Florence, By Neighborhood​

​The Best Things To Do In Florence (And How To Do Them)​

​The Best Restaurants In Florence, By Neighborhood​

​7 Excellent Day Trips From Florence, And How To Get There

​When Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Tuscany​

​Florence Travel Guide

​Florence Travel Guides Page​ View all of the guides above on this page.

Tips to help you plan your next trip:

• ​Flight booking like a pro​
• ​Navigating Italy by train​
• ​What to do if there is a train strike in Italy​
• ​How to plan an international trip​
• ​Have us plan your next trip​

Get inspired by our city guides to plan your time in Italy:

• ​What you need to know about Cinque Terre​
• ​Visiting Tuscany in the spring​
• ​Experience the slow life in Calabria​
• ​Best things to do in Rome​
• ​Best things to do in Florence​
• ​Best things to do in Lucca​
• ​Your hub to the Veneto region is Padua​
• ​One day in Milan​

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