Booking Flights to Europe for Two
To get the best price and seat configuration, book your flights 4 to 6 months in advance using an aggregator like Google Flights to track price alerts. Always book directly through the airline's website to ensure your reservation stays linked and manageable as a single pair.
- Set a price alert early. Use Google Flights to track your specific route 6 months before your trip. Set the alert to 'Any' to receive emails when the price drops by even $50, as that adds up to $100 for a couple.
- Check 'Open-Jaw' ticketing. Instead of booking a round trip to one city, select the 'Multi-city' option. Fly into your first city (e.g., London) and out of your last (e.g., Rome) to save a full day of travel and the cost of a return train or flight back to your starting point.
- Verify seat availability before paying. Check the seat map on SeatGuru or the airline's site before finalizing. If you want to sit together, ensure the flight isn't already sold out of pairs, especially on budget carriers that charge extra for seat selection.
- Book on one reservation. Even if you are paying separately, try to link your PNR (Passenger Name Record) numbers through the airline's customer service immediately after booking. This ensures that if a flight is canceled, you are rebooked onto the same flight together.
- Should we book budget airlines to save money?
- Only if you travel with carry-ons only. Once you add checked bags, seat selection, and food, budget airlines often cost the same as legacy carriers, which are more reliable.
- Is it cheaper to book two one-way tickets?
- Rarely for international travel. Booking a round-trip or multi-city ticket on one carrier is almost always cheaper and provides better protection if the first leg is delayed.