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Europe Summer 2016

Since it's come up a few times in the past couple weeks about getting to Europe being expensive, I've decided to start this thread were we can update on flights, miles and anything else that will get you across the pond on a budget.

I'll start first.

If you're looking for flight May to July 2016 you should be looking at Norwegian right now as they are running some amazing specials that get you over dirt cheap. Norwegian has a great fleet of planes. I flew them twice during my trip in 2014.

Norwegian Cheap Flights from FT. Lauderdale

Another quick travel tip. If you fly miles a lot (like I do) make sure when booking your miles flights you DO NOT touch down in the UK or you will be hit with their UK Gas Tax so it ends up being about $375 on each miles ticket. Say you fly into Dusseldorf like I did this year it will cost you same number of miles but only $5.60 in taxes.

Even with cheap flights on airlines try to avoid the UK because they will always be higher.

People forget once you're over there it's really pretty cheap on airline flights. You could fly into a place like Oslo and then hop a $65 ticket to Berlin for example.

great info!

They dont advertise this but some airlines offer free booze on transatlantic flights. I had at least 5 Woodford Reserves on both my flights to and from Europe this summer. The downside: sitting in the middle of the cabin and having to pester the big African lady so you can use the bathroom again.

Another great way to save money on flights is by using AirFareWatchdog.

Just set up an alert for the route you want to take an they will send you daily emails with the lowest flights. It's a good way to not worry about looking everyday or without getting your IP number tracked so you don't see the lowest fares.

Airfare Watchdog

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Originally posted by ucforange They dont advertise this but some airlines offer free booze on transatlantic flights. I had at least 5 Woodford Reserves on both my flights to and from Europe this summer. The downside: sitting in the middle of the cabin and having to pester the big African lady so you can use the bathroom again.

Fly European airlines for complimentary (read: all you can drink) booze.

I had been so used to flying American that when I took my first eurotrip flying British Airways, I was confused when the flight attendant didn't ask for a credit card. I (obviously) proceeded to get absolutely smashed over the Atlantic without napping. Not a great feeling a few hours later but still a fun memory.

When I crossed the pond flying American, no free booze. I also flew United once and at least they offered a complimentary wine with dinner but on the way back.. Nope!

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Originally posted by bdr222 Fly European airlines for complimentary (read: all you can drink) booze. I had been so used to flying American that when I took my first eurotrip flying British Airways, I was confused when the flight attendant didn't ask for a credit card. I (obviously) proceeded to get absolutely smashed over the Atlantic without napping. Not a great feeling a few hours later but still a fun memory. When I crossed the pond flying American, no free booze. I also flew United once and at least they offered a complimentary wine with dinner but on the way back.. Nope!

I actually flew Delta. It was actually a good experience with them, I was surprised.

Also depending what CC you have, you can gain access to the lounges and all that. A great way to kill layovers or delays. Check with your credit card company. Honestly, sometimes it's worth it to buy a day pass since everything is free in the lounges. Day passes run about $50

wait theres no unlimited booze on oversees flights with us airlines??? i always fly german and get hammered each time.

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Originally posted by PatMcGroin wait theres no unlimited booze on oversees flights with us airlines??? i always fly german and get hammered each time.

I couldn't tell you! I've only flown international brands overseas

quote:

Originally posted by ucforange They dont advertise this but some airlines offer free booze on transatlantic flights. I had at least 5 Woodford Reserves on both my flights to and from Europe this summer. The downside: sitting in the middle of the cabin and having to pester the big African lady so you can use the bathroom again.

years ago when i went to amsterdam KLM offered free mini wine bottles. best airline ive ever used. loved them.

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Originally posted by PatMcGroin wait theres no unlimited booze on oversees flights with us airlines??? i always fly german and get hammered each time.

Certain ones, like Delta (see above) offer free booze.

I can't wait until my southeast Asia trip, whenever that may be. I hear those airlines really go all out with creature comforts.

Most of the airlines that offer free booze are significantly more expensive than the ones that don't. If you plan on drinking $2-300+ worth of alcohol then it pays off to get an airline that offers free drinks. I personally would rather spend $500-$700 max round trip from LA to Europe(for me, not sure how that's compared to FL), than spend $1000+ to get an airline that offers free drinks. I've flown most major and budget airlines in Europe, and for me, they're all the same. Sit down, put headphones on, and play games or watch movies. I get to my destination, simple as that. I don't need customer service or free junk sandwiches, I need transportation, and if it allows me to travel to more destinations on the same budget, then I'll take it.

When flying around Europe, you can get dirt cheap flights for $50, but it's on budget airlines that offer no incentives, while for the same flight you could also buy KLM for instance, which offers some free stuff, starting around $120 ish. In the end it really just weighs out to what you prefer. I take my cheap flights and travel for months at a time and just survive in air off of snacks from the terminal and usually skip getting drunk on the plane unless the flight is under two hours on the way to a location like Ibiza or right into a party night, then I get hammered in the terminal and will buy one or two beers max in flight.

In the end, it really all depends where you're flying out of and what days. I get dirt cheap tickets from LAX to Berlin, round trip at low as $450 flying Wed to Wed, but that's not the case in lots of other places and if your days are more specific.

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Originally posted by iLLiE586 Most of the airlines that offer free booze are significantly more expensive than the ones that don't. If you plan on drinking $2-300+ worth of alcohol then it pays off to get an airline that offers free drinks. I personally would rather spend $500-$700 max round trip from LA to Europe(for me, not sure how that's compared to FL), than spend $1000+ to get an airline that offers free drinks. I've flown most major and budget airlines in Europe, and for me, they're all the same. Sit down, put headphones on, and play games or watch movies. I get to my destination, simple as that. I don't need customer service or free junk sandwiches, I need transportation, and if it allows me to travel to more destinations on the same budget, then I'll take it.

Not true at all. Some of the more expensive airlines for my flight were also the shittiest. I paid 870 roundtrip from Orlando (not a major European hub like NYC, Miami, or LA) to Stockholm using Delta. Keep in mind I searched for the cheapest fare, period. Never saw anything less than the price I paid and I looked for 3 months before I finally pulled the trigger (as the departure date was 17 days away at the time I bought it!).

I definitely understand your point about just wanting cheap transportation but the cheapest flight correlating to no-frills airlines does not hold water. At least not on international flights. Hell it doesn't really hold up in the states either...free bags on Jetblue and Southwest and they are usually some of the cheapest options.

OP , whats your take on Google Flights.

Good resource or not

https://www.google.com/flights/

Also for frequent miles plans and cards. Any recommendations based on your experience ?

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Originally posted by ucforange Not true at all. Some of the more expensive airlines for my flight were also the shittiest. I paid 870 roundtrip from Orlando (not a major European hub like NYC, Miami, or LA) to Stockholm using Delta. Keep in mind I searched for the cheapest fare, period. Never saw anything less than the price I paid and I looked for 3 months before I finally pulled the trigger (as the departure date was 17 days away at the time I bought it!).

This is why I point out searching your flights in a private browser. There possibly could've been lower prices but if you don't have private turned on your ip address is flagged and sent to the online travel agents.

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Originally posted by Godking5 OP , whats your take on Google Flights. Good resource or not https://www.google.com/flights/ Also for frequent miles plans and cards. Any recommendations based on your experience ?

I honestly don't use Google flights. I only fly with miles these days so don't use a lot of search engines. I like using airfarewatchdog.com though because it covers the internet and sends you the cheapest flights daily depending on how you set it up. taking a quick look at it, it looks solid but search using private windows.

For frequent flying I would pick up a Citi AAdvantage card but only when they offer you the 50k in bonus points for 1k in spending in the first 30 days. I pick up most airline cards as well when they offer big bonus because with 50k that's a europe roundtrip. If you want more info you can visit www.travelwithmiles.com

The cards I swear by and use daily though are all Chase.. The Freedom, Ink Plus and Sapphire. These 3 cards earn so many miles for me it's not even right. I think I'm hoovering around the 500k in points on chase.

Good thing with chase ultimate rewards you can transfer your points to airlines for a 1:1 transfer. Partner airlines like Singapore, British, Southwest

Possibly looking book another trip in summer time next year. Have few things planned already why not a summer Euro vacation

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Originally posted by chillenandy321 Possibly looking book another trip in summer time next year. Have few things planned already why not a summer Euro vacation

What's your plan?

We are doing AMS on Easter again, then going to journey back in the summer for Garden Festival in Croatia possibly Ibiza just because I want to show the girl the magical side of that island.

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