Travel is a big part of Erasmus and studying abroad. If you are coming from overseas, it’s important to make the most of your time here and see as much of Europe as possible. Luckily, travel costs can be very affordable if you know what you’re doing. Here are a few of my personal recommendations for good travel sites and ways to find cheap flights to make your Erasmus or study abroad experience as exciting and affordable as possible.
Turn on private browsing mode
When looking for flights, the first thing to be cautious of is the setting your browser is on. Airlines will track how often you search for specific flights and increase the price if a flight has been searched frequently. They do this to create a sense of urgency. They want you to think that prices are rising fast, so you need to book immediately before they rise again. However, this is just a trick that airlines use and can easily be avoided.
If you turn on “incognito mode” or “private mode,” you can prevent them from tracking the cookies on your browser. It is important to always turn on these settings when searching for flights to avoid artificial price inflation.
Use the right search engine
One of the easiest ways to find cheap flights is to use a flight search engine. These websites scan the web for the most affordable flights for your trip. They search different travel sites and airlines’ websites to find the best deals. Once you find your flight on the search engine, it links you to the website where you purchase the ticket.
Even if you already know which airline you plan to fly with, it is still a good idea to check a search engine first. There have been multiple times where I have found flights through search engines that are cheaper than the airline’s own website.
Here are a few search engines that I recommend.
-Skyscanner (Best overall site – very user friendly and even compares CO2 emissions of flights)
-Momondo (Broad search – good for double checking with skyscanner)
-Priceline (Has price match guarantee feature)
-Hopper (Good for tracking prices over time)
-Google Flights (Not always best price, but quick for comparing flights)
Don’t be afraid of budget airlines
Flying with budget airlines is one of the simplest ways to cut costs when traveling. These airlines are not necessarily the most comfortable way to travel, but are ideal for students traveling with a low budget.
Budget airlines are able to cut costs by avoiding all unnecessary expenses. An example of this is eliminating of the complimentary soft drinks. Some airlines will also require passengers to print off boarding passes before getting to the airport to avoid the cost of printing it for passengers. A few of the most popular budget airlines in Europe are Ryanair, easyjet, and Wiz Air.
Using these airlines is a great way to save money, but it’s important to read the fine print and follow the rules of the airline. It is common for budget airlines to have very specific rules and restrictions. If you do not read these carefully, you could be charged hefty fees.
One example of this is Ryanair, where they charge for overhead storage and require that all carry-on baggage fits in the compartment under the seat. If your bag does not fit under the seat, you are charged a €50 fee (often more than the price of the flight ticket itself).
Another thing to look out for when flying with budget airlines is the airport location. Often budget airlines will only fly to small airports located outside of the city appear to be in. For example, Ryanair does not have flights to any of the major airports in Paris. It only flies to Paris Beauvais airport which is located over an hour away from the city center.
Finding cheap places to fly
Another easy way to save money on flights is by picking the right destination. Certain destinations are going to be more expensive than others, so it’s a good idea to do some browsing to find cheap places to visit. This is a great way to explore some of the less touristy parts of Europe and get a more authentic travel experience.
Skyscanner has a convenient feature for people who do not have a set destination. It helps you find the cheapest place to fly to and is organized by region. Simply select your destination as “Everywhere,” and the website will show you the cheapest flights to each location.
Picking the right dates
As a student in Erasmus or study abroad, you most likely have several months available for travel. This is great because it means you can plan your trips ahead and find the cheapest dates for each destination. This is a great way to find cheap flights for some of those “must visit” cities. For example, if you know you want to go to Rome, but flights are currently too expensive, you can do some searching to find the cheapest weekend for your trip.
Different cities will be more expensive to fly to during certain times of the year. An example of this is flights to Dublin during St. Patrick’s Day. Flights from Paris to Dublin are nearly four times as much during the Tuesday of St. Patrick’s Day than they are for the following Tuesday.
Choosing the cheapest flight times
Another factor that goes in to the pricing of flights is the flight time. Less desirable flight times tend to be sold for lower prices. I have personally found that flights early in the morning or late at night tend to be the cheapest flights. It may be hard to wake up early for that 06:00 flight, but it might be worth it when you consider the money you end up saving. Another benefit of taking the early flight is the fact that you have the full day to spend in your destination.