Is it cheaper to fly budget airlines or take trains between European cities?

It depends on distance and how far in advance you book. For routes under 500 km (London to Paris, Berlin to Prague), trains are often cheaper or equal when you factor in airport transfers. For longer routes (Rome to Barcelona, London to Berlin), budget flights win if booked 4-8 weeks out. Check both before deciding. Trains are more predictable; flights are faster.

What happens if my flight is delayed and I miss my connection?

If you booked separate tickets (not a through-ticket), the airline has no obligation to rebook you. You've lost the money on the missed flight. This is why you should never book flights with less than 3-4 hours between them unless you're willing to lose that money. EU261 compensation applies if the airline's delay caused you to miss the connection, but you'll need to fight for it.

Can I really fit everything I need for 2 weeks in a carry-on bag?

Yes, if you pack strategically and do laundry every 4-5 days. Bring 5-6 lightweight tops (merino or synthetic), 2 pairs of pants, underwear for 5 days, socks for 5 days, and minimal toiletries. This fits in a 40×20×25 cm bag. Plan cities with laundry facilities (hostels have them, as do most Airbnbs). You'll rewear items—this is normal and expected.

Which budget airline is actually the cheapest?

It varies by route and season. Ryanair is often cheapest on Western European routes, Wizz Air on Eastern Europe, EasyJet on UK-France routes. Prices shift constantly. Always compare all four on your specific routes before booking. The cheapest isn't always the best—factor in airport location and baggage policy too.

Should I buy travel insurance for budget airline trips?

Yes, but buy it specifically for missed connections and flight delays, not standard trip insurance. Budget airlines don't rebook passengers, so missing a connection means losing the flight. Insurance that covers missed connections costs €15-30 and protects you if your incoming flight delays. Skip unnecessary coverage—you don't need cancel-for-any-reason protection, but connection protection is worth it.

How do I avoid paying fees for everything?

Pack only a carry-on bag (40×20×25 cm), don't buy seat selection, don't order food onboard, and book direct on airline websites rather than third-party sites (which sometimes add booking fees). Most fees are avoidable if you're disciplined. Accept that the base €15 fare becomes €50-70 with realistic airport transfers and taxes—that's still cheaper than traditional airlines on European routes.

How to Use Budget Airlines for City Hopping in Europe

Book flights 4-8 weeks in advance on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings, compare prices across Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, and Vueling, and factor in seat fees, baggage charges, and airport transfers to understand true cost. Plan routes that minimize backtracking and allow 3-4 days per city.

Map your route before booking anything. Write down the cities you want to visit in logical order. Trace them on a map. Backtracking costs money and time. A loop (London → Paris → Amsterdam → Berlin → back to London) works better than ping-ponging (London → Barcelona → Berlin → Rome). Count how many flights you actually need. City hopping works best with 4-6 stops over 2-3 weeks.
Understand the real cost of budget flights. Budget airlines advertise €15 flights, then add: seat selection (€3-8 per seat), carry-on bag (sometimes free, sometimes €5-10), checked bag (€15-40 depending on airline and weight), airport transfers (€5-15 each way), and meals onboard (€8-15). A €15 flight often costs €60-90 total per person when you add it up. Build a spreadsheet with these numbers before comparing airlines.
Compare prices across the main European budget carriers. Check Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling, and Norwegian. Use Google Flights or Skyscanner to compare, but then visit each airline's website directly—they sometimes show lower fares on their own site. Don't just book the first cheap price you see. Check at least 3 carriers for the same route. Prices vary wildly by €20-30 between airlines on identical routes.
Book in the right time window. Book 4-8 weeks before departure, not 12 weeks out and not 2 weeks out. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (between 9 AM and noon, European time) show the lowest fares. Avoid Sunday nights and Friday afternoons when prices spike. Set a price alert on Google Flights or Skyscanner and book within 24 hours of a drop if you're within your ideal window.
Choose flights that actually fit your schedule. Budget airlines serve secondary airports outside city centers (Rome Ciampino instead of Fiumicino, Paris Beauvais instead of Charles de Gaulle). Add 2-3 hours to your journey time for getting to the airport, waiting, flying to an airport 40 km outside your destination, and transferring into the city. A €30 flight can mean 5 hours of travel. Choose departure times that don't force you to lose a full day—morning flights (6-9 AM) or evening flights (6 PM onward) work best.
Master seat selection strategy. Don't pay for seat selection. Sit wherever the airline assigns you for free. On budget airlines, paying €8 for an aisle seat is wasteful. The only exception: families with small children on longer routes (over 2 hours) where an exit-row or aisle seat genuinely helps. For city hopping flights under 2 hours, skip it entirely.
Pack deliberately to avoid baggage fees. Most budget airlines allow 1 small carry-on bag (40×20×25 cm) for free. Pack that only. If you need more, buy a larger carry-on (55×40×20 cm) as an add-on for €5-10 rather than checking a bag (€15-40). For 2-3 week trips, this means laundry every 4-5 days, not massive baggage. Weigh your carry-on at home before you leave.
Plan your airport transfers in advance. Budget airlines use outlying airports. Research how to get from each airport to your city center before you fly. Rome Ciampino has a €4 bus to the city (45 minutes). Paris Beauvais has a €15 shuttle (90 minutes). London Stansted has a €12 train (45 minutes). These transfers add €8-30 per airport. Book airport buses or trains in advance when possible for slightly lower prices than buying at the airport.
Build in layover time and buffer days. Don't book flights that land at 11 PM and depart at 7 AM the next morning. You'll spend the night at the airport or pay for a hotel. Allow at least 24 hours between arrival and departure in each city—ideally 3-4 days. A lost flight costs far more than the savings from tight scheduling. Build in one buffer day every 8-10 days for delays or changes.
Handle rebooking and refunds correctly. Budget airlines don't automatically rebook you on other flights if you miss a connection. Buy separate tickets for each flight (not a through-ticket) so a delay doesn't cascade. If you miss a flight, you've lost your money—no automatic rebooking, no refund. EU261 compensation applies if the airline cancels or significantly delays a flight, but not for passenger-caused issues. Travel insurance that covers missed connections costs €20-50 for a trip and is worth it if you're booking tight connections.

Is it cheaper to fly budget airlines or take trains between European cities?: It depends on distance and how far in advance you book. For routes under 500 km (London to Paris, Berlin to Prague), trains are often cheaper or equal when you factor in airport transfers. For longer routes (Rome to Barcelona, London to Berlin), budget flights win if booked 4-8 weeks out. Check both before deciding. Trains are more predictable; flights are faster.
What happens if my flight is delayed and I miss my connection?: If you booked separate tickets (not a through-ticket), the airline has no obligation to rebook you. You've lost the money on the missed flight. This is why you should never book flights with less than 3-4 hours between them unless you're willing to lose that money. EU261 compensation applies if the airline's delay caused you to miss the connection, but you'll need to fight for it.
Can I really fit everything I need for 2 weeks in a carry-on bag?: Yes, if you pack strategically and do laundry every 4-5 days. Bring 5-6 lightweight tops (merino or synthetic), 2 pairs of pants, underwear for 5 days, socks for 5 days, and minimal toiletries. This fits in a 40×20×25 cm bag. Plan cities with laundry facilities (hostels have them, as do most Airbnbs). You'll rewear items—this is normal and expected.
Which budget airline is actually the cheapest?: It varies by route and season. Ryanair is often cheapest on Western European routes, Wizz Air on Eastern Europe, EasyJet on UK-France routes. Prices shift constantly. Always compare all four on your specific routes before booking. The cheapest isn't always the best—factor in airport location and baggage policy too.
Should I buy travel insurance for budget airline trips?: Yes, but buy it specifically for missed connections and flight delays, not standard trip insurance. Budget airlines don't rebook passengers, so missing a connection means losing the flight. Insurance that covers missed connections costs €15-30 and protects you if your incoming flight delays. Skip unnecessary coverage—you don't need cancel-for-any-reason protection, but connection protection is worth it.
How do I avoid paying fees for everything?: Pack only a carry-on bag (40×20×25 cm), don't buy seat selection, don't order food onboard, and book direct on airline websites rather than third-party sites (which sometimes add booking fees). Most fees are avoidable if you're disciplined. Accept that the base €15 fare becomes €50-70 with realistic airport transfers and taxes—that's still cheaper than traditional airlines on European routes.