How I Found a $39 Flight to Europe (And You Can Too)

Europe has never seemed more expensive to fly to—until I discovered a $39 flight. Yes, just $39 from my city to a major European destination.

It felt almost unreal. But after analyzing the process, I realized anyone can find these hidden deals if you know where to look and how to act. Here’s the exact strategy I used—and how you can replicate it.

Understanding Why These Deals Exist

Airline pricing isn’t random. Low fares like $39 happen because of a combination of:

Flash sales: Airlines occasionally release heavily discounted fares for a short window.
Competition: Routes with multiple airlines often have steep discounts to attract passengers.
Secondary airports: Flying to smaller airports reduces landing fees, which airlines pass on to travelers.
Mistake fares: Rare pricing errors sometimes result in unbelievably low prices.

Recognizing these factors is key to finding cheap transatlantic flights.

Step 1: Start With Flight Search Engines

I used multiple flight comparison tools to track prices:

Google Flights – Excellent for date flexibility and alerts
Skyscanner – Great for worldwide fare comparisons
Momondo – Tracks historical low fares

Secret tip: Never rely on just one platform. Different search engines pull different airline data.

Step 2: Be Flexible With Dates

The $39 flight wasn’t on a peak weekend—it was midweek.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays often have the lowest fares.
Early morning or late-night departures are cheaper.
Avoid holidays and major events; demand spikes drive prices up.

Flexibility with dates can cut hundreds off transatlantic tickets.

Step 3: Check Secondary Airports

Flying to a smaller airport rather than the main hub often saves money:

Instead of Paris Charles de Gaulle, consider Beauvais or Orly.
London Gatwick or London Stansted are usually cheaper than Heathrow.
Rome Ciampino is often less expensive than Fiumicino.

Secret tip: Combine budget airlines for arrival and departure to save even more.

Step 4: Sign Up for Airline Alerts

The $39 deal appeared through an email alert from a low-cost European carrier.

Sign up for airline newsletters and fare alerts.
Follow airlines on social media for flash sales.
Use apps like Hopper or Airfarewatchdog to receive notifications.

Act quickly—these deals rarely last more than 24 hours.

Step 5: Know How to Book Without Extra Fees

Many budget carriers add fees for baggage, seat selection, or payment methods.

Book directly on the airline’s website for transparency.
Pack light to avoid checked baggage fees.
Skip premium seat selection unless necessary.
Use credit cards without foreign transaction fees to avoid extra costs.

Total price including fees was $47—still unbelievably cheap.

Step 6: Consider One-Way or Multi-Airline Tickets

Sometimes booking separate outbound and return flights with different airlines saves money:

Outbound: Budget carrier with flash sale
Return: Different airline offering midweek discount

This strategy increases flexibility and can reduce total costs dramatically.

Real Life Example

My $39 flight example:

Departure: Boston → Lisbon, Tuesday morning
Airline: Low-cost European carrier
Base fare: $39
Baggage and seat selection: $8 total
Final cost: $47 round-trip

By comparing dates and airports, the round-trip total was under $50—less than most domestic flights in the U.S.

Common Mistakes Travelers Make

Only searching one airline or aggregator
Ignoring secondary airports
Booking only on weekends
Paying attention to base fare without adding fees
Missing email alerts or flash sales

Avoid these mistakes, and you can replicate the strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can everyone find flights this cheap?

Yes, but it requires flexibility, monitoring alerts, and acting fast. Deals like this are rare but happen regularly.

Are budget carriers safe?

Absolutely. All reputable low-cost European carriers meet international safety standards.

Should I worry about hidden fees?

Yes. Always check baggage, seat, and payment fees before booking. Even after fees, the deal can be worth it.

Final Thoughts

A $39 flight to Europe isn’t a fantasy—it’s a strategy. The key is:

Flexibility with dates and airports
Using multiple flight search engines
Signing up for alerts and newsletters
Booking smartly to avoid extra fees
Combining flights strategically if needed

With patience and planning, you can find airfare that seems impossible—but isn’t.

Europe is closer than you think, and for under $50, it’s attainable.