Finding a cheap flight in Europe is easy.

Finding one that is still cheap after baggage, airport transfers and the extras you actually need is the harder part.

A €25 flight can be excellent value for someone travelling with a small backpack. The same flight can become much less attractive for someone who needs an overhead trolley, checked luggage, a specific seat and an inconvenient airport transfer.

That is why I would not rank European budget airlines simply from “cheapest” to “most expensive.”

Instead, this guide looks at a more useful question:

Which airline gives you the best practical deal for the trip you are actually taking?

I compare five airlines using their current baggage rules, fare structure and practical usefulness. I also show how to calculate the real cost yourself instead of relying on the first fare displayed in a search result.

The Short Answer

If you want the quickest takeaway:

Ryanair: particularly interesting for very light packers who can use the free 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag.
easyJet: worth comparing when its larger free under-seat allowance makes a difference to your packing.
Wizz Air: useful when the route is convenient and the 40 × 30 × 20 cm free allowance is enough.
Vueling: especially relevant for Spain and Mediterranean itineraries, but oversized-bag charges at the gate can be significant.
Norwegian: deserves a closer look because its current LowFare ticket includes an overhead cabin bag as well as the small under-seat bag.

There is no universal winner. Your luggage, airport, dates and route can change the result.

What “Cheap” Actually Means

The advertised airfare is only the starting point.

For a realistic comparison, use:

Real trip cost = ticket fare + baggage you actually need + essential extras + airport transfer difference

You do not necessarily need to add every possible extra.

For example, if you are happy with a random seat and can travel with the included bag, do not add a seat-selection fee simply because the airline offers one.

The calculation should reflect your trip, not a hypothetical traveller who buys every available option.

This is particularly important with low-cost airlines because the basic fare and additional services are often priced separately.

For flights departing from airports in the EU, European rules require the final price to include applicable unavoidable and foreseeable taxes and charges, while optional supplements must be presented clearly and accepted on an opt-in basis.

Editorial takeaway: the issue is not that a low-cost airline has optional extras. The useful question is whether those extras are necessary for you.

A Better Way to Compare Budget Airlines

Instead of asking which airline is “the cheapest,” I use five practical questions.

1. What baggage is included?

A free bag measuring 40 × 30 × 20 cm is not equivalent to one measuring 45 × 36 × 20 cm.

The difference can matter on a three- or four-day trip.

2. How much usable space do you get?

Dimensions do not tell you the exact internal capacity of a real backpack or suitcase, but they provide a useful standardized comparison.

3. What does your required fare actually cost?

If you need an overhead bag, compare fares after adding that bag.

4. Is the airport practical?

A €10 airfare saving may not be a saving if the alternative airport requires a long or expensive transfer.

5. Does the fare suit your travel style?

A solo backpacker, family and traveller carrying sports equipment should not necessarily choose the same airline.

1. Ryanair — Best When You Can Travel Very Light

Ryanair's current standard allowance includes one small personal bag measuring 40 × 30 × 20 cm, which must fit under the seat.

Ryanair also offers Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, which allows the small personal bag plus a 10 kg cabin bag measuring 55 × 40 × 20 cm. Checked baggage options include 10 kg, 20 kg and 23 kg bags.

Why Ryanair can work well

The basic allowance is straightforward if your packing style is minimalist.

A short city break can potentially fit into the free bag if you are disciplined about clothing, toiletries and electronics.

The important point is that the bag must actually meet the airline's dimensions.

Ryanair states that bags that do not fit the relevant baggage sizer can be refused at the gate or placed in the hold for a fee.

A useful calculation

The external dimensions of the free bag correspond to:

40 × 30 × 20 = 24,000 cm³ ≈ 24 litres

That does not mean every 40 × 30 × 20 cm backpack has 24 litres of usable internal space. Padding, pockets, frame construction and shape reduce usable capacity.

Still, 24 litres is a useful benchmark when comparing bags.

Best for

Best for: minimalist packers, short trips and travellers who find a convenient Ryanair route.

Think twice if: you already know you need a larger cabin bag or checked luggage. In that situation, compare the complete fare against competitors rather than assuming the low headline fare wins.

2. easyJet — The Free Bag Is More Generous on Paper

easyJet currently allows all customers to bring one small cabin bag measuring up to 45 × 36 × 20 cm, including handles and wheels.

The airline gives that bag a maximum weight of 15 kg, provided the passenger can lift and carry it themselves.

A larger cabin bag measuring up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm is available to passengers who have the relevant entitlement or have paid to add it. That bag also has a 15 kg maximum weight.

Why the dimensions matter

The maximum external volume of easyJet's small bag is:

45 × 36 × 20 = 32,400 cm³ ≈ 32.4 litres

Compare that with the 24-litre dimensional benchmark of a 40 × 30 × 20 cm allowance.

That is approximately:

32.4 ÷ 24 = 1.35

So the external dimensional volume is about 35% larger.

This is not a claim that you can actually pack 35% more clothing. Real bags are not rectangular boxes.

But it illustrates why two airlines that both advertise a “free small bag” can provide noticeably different packing flexibility.

What about the larger bag?

The maximum dimensions of the large cabin bag are:

56 × 45 × 25 = 63,000 cm³ ≈ 63 litres

Again, this is a dimensional comparison rather than guaranteed usable capacity.

easyJet says the price of adding a large cabin bag can vary, so I would not publish a permanent “large cabin bag costs €X” figure in a travel article. Check the price attached to your specific booking.

Best for

Best for: travellers who can make good use of the relatively generous small-bag dimensions, especially on short trips.

Think twice if: your route requires a larger cabin bag and the additional cost removes the initial price advantage.

3. Wizz Air — Worth Comparing on Central and Eastern European Routes

Wizz Air's free carry-on allowance is currently 40 × 30 × 20 cm, with a maximum weight of 10 kg. The bag must fit under the seat.

Passengers who purchase WIZZ Priority can bring an additional trolley bag measuring up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm, also with a 10 kg maximum.

The free bag in numbers

The external dimensional volume is:

40 × 30 × 20 = 24 litres

That makes it directly comparable with Ryanair's standard personal-bag dimensions.

The important difference appears when you need the second cabin bag.

Wizz Air's Priority trolley allowance has an external dimensional volume of:

55 × 40 × 23 = 50,600 cm³ ≈ 50.6 litres

That is more than twice the 24-litre dimensional benchmark.

What does WIZZ Priority cost?

Wizz Air currently lists WIZZ Priority at €10–€60 online or through its call centre, while its published airport price is €65–€75. These are policy figures and should not be treated as the price you will necessarily see for a particular flight.

That distinction matters.

A route-specific booking price can be more relevant to your budget than a generic published range.

Best for

Best for: travellers who find a convenient Wizz Air route and can stay within the free allowance, or whose required luggage makes WIZZ Priority worthwhile.

Think twice if: you are choosing a flight solely because its base fare looks lower before adding the baggage you need.

4. Vueling — Particularly Relevant for Spain and Mediterranean Trips

Vueling's current under-seat cabin-bag allowance is 40 × 30 × 20 cm.

For passengers with the relevant fare or service, the larger cabin-bag allowance is 55 × 40 × 20 cm.

The important warning

Vueling's published boarding-gate charges show why measuring your bag before travelling is worthwhile.

If an under-seat bag exceeds the permitted 40 × 30 × 20 cm, Vueling says it can be checked at the gate for €60–€75 per item and flight.

If a piece exceeds 55 × 40 × 20 cm, the published gate charge is €110–€140 per item and flight.

These are current published policy figures, not prices I would assume will remain unchanged forever.

Why this matters

Suppose your original flight appears to save €30 compared with another airline.

If your bag does not meet the allowance and you face a €60–€75 gate charge, the original saving disappears immediately.

That is why a tape measure can sometimes be more useful than another hour of searching for a cheaper airfare.

Best for

Best for: Spain-focused itineraries and travellers who find a convenient Vueling route and can comply with its baggage rules.

Think twice if: your luggage is close to the maximum dimensions or you are likely to arrive at the airport with an oversized bag.

5. Norwegian — Don't Use the Old Baggage Comparison

Norwegian needs particular attention because its current fare information differs from the simplified comparison that appears in many older travel guides.

Norwegian currently lists one small under-seat cabin bag measuring 30 × 40 × 20 cm on LowFare, with a 10 kg weight limit for that under-seat bag.

Its current LowFare page also lists an overhead cabin bag measuring 55 × 23 × 40 cm as included. Checked baggage and seat reservation are listed as optional add-ons.

That means the older idea that Norwegian LowFare should simply be treated as another “small bag only” option needs updating.

LowFare+

Norwegian's current LowFare+ information lists the same small under-seat bag and overhead cabin bag, plus one checked bag up to 23 kg.

The combined weight of the under-seat and overhead cabin bags is 10 kg.

What does this mean for your comparison?

Norwegian is a good example of why comparing airlines by their brand reputation or headline fare can be misleading.

The better question is:

Which fare gives me the baggage and flexibility I need at the lowest total price?

For some travellers, the fact that the relevant Norwegian fare includes an overhead bag can materially change the comparison.

Best for

Best for: travellers whose route works well with Norwegian and who value an included overhead cabin bag.

Think twice if: the route, timetable or final fare is significantly less convenient than another option.

2026 Budget Airline Comparison

Airline	Free/standard under-seat bag	Larger cabin option	Weight information	Practical advantage
Ryanair	40 × 30 × 20 cm	55 × 40 × 20 cm with Priority	10 kg for larger cabin bag	Strong for very light packers
easyJet	45 × 36 × 20 cm	56 × 45 × 25 cm when entitled/purchased	15 kg	More generous small-bag dimensions
Wizz Air	40 × 30 × 20 cm	55 × 40 × 23 cm with WIZZ Priority	10 kg	Useful on many Central/Eastern European routes
Vueling	40 × 30 × 20 cm	55 × 40 × 20 cm depending on fare/service	Check applicable allowance	Useful for Spain/Mediterranean itineraries
Norwegian	30 × 40 × 20 cm on LowFare	55 × 23 × 40 cm included on current LowFare	10 kg under-seat; LowFare+ combined cabin-bag limit 10 kg	Current fare structure can make overhead space valuable

Sources: current airline baggage/fare documentation from Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling and Norwegian.

A Simple “Bag Space” Comparison

External dimensions are not the same as usable packing capacity, but they are useful for a transparent first comparison.

Allowance	Dimensional calculation	External-volume benchmark
Ryanair free bag	40 × 30 × 20	24 L
Wizz Air free bag	40 × 30 × 20	24 L
Vueling under-seat bag	40 × 30 × 20	24 L
easyJet small bag	45 × 36 × 20	32.4 L
Ryanair larger cabin bag	55 × 40 × 20	44 L
Vueling larger cabin bag	55 × 40 × 20	44 L
Wizz Air larger trolley	55 × 40 × 23	50.6 L
Norwegian overhead bag	55 × 40 × 23	50.6 L
easyJet large cabin bag	56 × 45 × 25	63 L

How I calculated this

The calculation is simply:

length × width × height ÷ 1,000 = litres

For example:

45 × 36 × 20 ÷ 1,000 = 32.4 litres

This is an editorial comparison, not an airline claim about the internal capacity of a particular suitcase.

Real usable space will be lower and will vary by bag design.

Why the Cheapest Flight Can Become the More Expensive Flight

Imagine you find:

Airline A: €30 base fare
Airline B: €45 base fare

At first glance, Airline A saves €15.

But suppose you need:

an overhead bag;
a seat;
a €12 airport transfer instead of a €5 transfer.

Your calculation becomes:

Airline A

€30 airfare

required baggage
required seat, if applicable
€12 airport transfer

Airline B

€45 airfare

required baggage
required seat, if applicable
€5 airport transfer

The €15 headline difference may disappear.

The lesson is not “always choose the more expensive airline.”

It is:

Compare the same travel requirements on both sides.

The Airport Can Change the Calculation

Airport choice is an underrated part of budget flying.

A low-cost carrier may use an airport farther from the city centre, or your chosen flight may arrive at a time when public transportation is limited.

So add this to your comparison:

Flight cost + baggage + airport transfer + time/convenience cost

The last part is harder to express in euros, so I treat it as an editorial consideration rather than pretending there is one objectively correct value.

For example, I might accept a €10 saving for an airport that is 30 minutes farther away.

I might not accept a €10 saving if the cheaper flight arrives after the last convenient public-transport connection.

That is a personal trade-off, not a universal rule.

🌍 Related Reads from The Euro Trail

To make your European journey even cheaper and smoother, check out these related guides from our blog:

How to Find a Cheap Flight Without Guessing

1. Search nearby airports

Google Flights has an Airports feature that can show fares from alternative airports.

This can uncover cheaper combinations, but check the entire journey before booking.

Do not compare:

€40 flight from Airport A

against:

€55 flight from Airport B

without checking how much and how long it takes to reach each airport.

2. Check flexible dates

If your dates are flexible, Google Flights provides a calendar and price-graph tools for exploring different dates.

Its flexible-date search can show lower fares within a broader date window.

Instead of asking:

“What is the cheapest flight on Friday?”

try:

“What is the cheapest practical combination from Thursday to Sunday?”

That small change can produce a much more useful search.

3. Use price tracking

If you are not ready to book, Google Flights allows you to track routes or specific flights.

For flexible dates, Google also offers “Any dates” tracking, which can notify you when the minimum price for a route changes significantly.

This is particularly useful when your trip is months away and you do not need to buy immediately.

4. Use the “Cheapest” result carefully

Google Flights separates results into Best and Cheapest.

The Cheapest results can include additional trade-offs, such as online travel agencies, self-transfers or different airports for different parts of the journey.

A €20 saving is not necessarily a bargain if you have to collect your luggage and check in again during a self-transfer.

For an important trip, I would evaluate the itinerary—not just the number displayed beside it.

When Should You Book Directly With the Airline?

Flight comparison tools are excellent for discovering options.

But once you identify the flight you want, compare the booking conditions carefully.

Check:

who is actually selling the ticket;
baggage terms;
cancellation/change conditions;
final price;
payment conditions;
connection arrangements if there is more than one ticket.

Google itself advises travellers to refer to the airline or online travel agency's terms and conditions for booking information.

My practical rule: use comparison tools to discover the market, then understand exactly what you are buying before paying.

The 5-Minute Pre-Booking Checklist

Before booking a European budget flight, check these five things.

1. Measure your bag

Check the airline's current dimensions and measure your actual bag.

Include wheels and handles where the airline's rules require them.

2. Check the weight

A bag can meet the dimensions and still exceed the permitted weight.

3. Check the airport code

Do not rely only on the city name shown in a search result.

Confirm the actual airport.

4. Check the arrival time

A €20 saving is less useful if the flight arrives when your onward transport is unavailable.

5. Check the final booking price

Do not stop at the first price shown by a comparison tool.

Review the final price and the services you selected before payment.

Do You Really Need Seat Selection?

Not everyone does.

If you are travelling alone and genuinely do not care where you sit, paying extra for a particular seat may provide little value.

But the calculation changes for:

families;
groups;
travellers who need a specific seat;
people with mobility or other practical requirements.

The useful rule is:

Pay for optional services because you need them—not because the booking screen makes them look necessary.

That can make a bigger difference to your budget than obsessing over a €2 difference in the headline fare.

Best Airline by Traveller Type

Best for minimalist backpackers: Ryanair

Choose it when the route is good and everything fits the included 40 × 30 × 20 cm bag.

Think twice if: you already know you need more luggage.

Best for a more generous small bag: easyJet

Its 45 × 36 × 20 cm small cabin bag is dimensionally larger than the 40 × 30 × 20 cm allowance used by several competitors.

Think twice if: you need the larger cabin bag and its added cost makes the total fare uncompetitive.

Best when the Wizz Air route is convenient: Wizz Air

The free bag is compact, but WIZZ Priority provides a significantly larger trolley allowance.

Think twice if: the low base fare only looks attractive before adding the baggage you need.

Best for Spain-focused trips: Vueling

The route network and baggage configuration can make Vueling a sensible choice for Spain and nearby destinations.

Think twice if: your bag is close to or above the permitted dimensions, particularly because Vueling publishes substantial gate charges for oversized luggage.

Best when an overhead bag matters: Norwegian

The current LowFare structure deserves attention because an overhead cabin bag is listed as included alongside the small under-seat bag.

Think twice if: the particular route or final fare does not compete well after considering your entire itinerary.

Realistic Budget Thinking

A useful budget is not:

“My flight costs €30.”

A more realistic budget is:

Flight + required luggage + airport transfer + any essential booking extras

For example, if two options differ by €15 in airfare but one requires €20 more in baggage and €10 more in airport transportation, the apparently cheaper flight is actually:

€15 + €20 + €10 = €45 more expensive in total

That is the kind of calculation worth doing before booking.

You do not need a complicated spreadsheet.

A phone calculator is enough.

My 2026 Takeaway

I would not call any of these airlines “the cheapest airline in Europe.”

That claim is too broad to be useful.

Airfares change. Baggage prices can change. Routes differ. Airports differ. And the cheapest airline for a backpack-only traveller can be completely different from the cheapest airline for someone travelling with a trolley.

Instead, I would use this decision process:

If you travel with only a small bag

Compare the free-bag dimensions first.

If you need an overhead trolley

Add the relevant cabin-bag option before comparing fares.

If you need checked luggage

Compare the fare with the checked bag already included in your calculation.

If airports differ

Add the real transportation cost to the city.

If dates are flexible

Use calendar/price-graph tools and price tracking rather than checking one date repeatedly.

If two options are close in price

Choose the itinerary with the better airport, schedule and booking conditions.

That is often worth more than saving a few euros.

Final Comparison

If your priority is…	Start by comparing…
Smallest possible basic trip	Ryanair / Wizz Air
More generous small bag	easyJet
Spain-focused itinerary	Vueling
Included overhead bag	Norwegian
Lowest total trip cost	All five after adding your actual luggage
Flexible dates	Google Flights calendar + price tracking
Secondary airports	Fare plus airport transfer
Family/group travel	Total fare including any necessary seating

The biggest lesson is simple:

Cheap is not a label. It is a calculation.

The best budget flight is the one that gives you the itinerary, baggage and airport arrangement you need for the lowest practical total cost.

Before payment, check the airline's current baggage and fare conditions for your exact flight. Published policies are useful for comparison, but route-specific prices and availability can change.

Sources and Methodology

This article was updated using current information available from official sources.

Airline baggage and fare information

Ryanair: current baggage policy and cabin-bag allowances.
easyJet: current small and large cabin-bag dimensions and weight rules.
Wizz Air: current free carry-on and WIZZ Priority allowances.
Vueling: current hand-luggage dimensions and published boarding-gate charges.
Norwegian: current LowFare and LowFare+ baggage/fare information.

Flight-search information

Google's current help documentation was used for information about:

flexible dates;
price graphs;
alternative airports;
price tracking;
Best versus Cheapest results;
self-transfer/OTA trade-offs.

Consumer-pricing information

European Union air-fare rules were used for the explanation of final-price presentation and optional supplements.

Price Variability and Exclusions

Airline fares, baggage prices, seat-selection fees, airport-transfer prices and availability can vary by:

route;
travel date;
booking time;
fare type;
demand;
airport;
passenger requirements;
and other booking conditions.

For that reason, this article deliberately avoids presenting dynamic optional fees as permanent prices.

The dimensional “litre” calculations are mathematical comparisons of external dimensions, not claims about the actual internal capacity of individual bags.

No airline is presented as universally cheapest.

Always verify the applicable baggage allowance, fare conditions and final price for your specific booking immediately before payment.

The Euro Trail

Categories

Cheap Flights in Europe: How to Compare Budget Airlines Without Getting Caught by Extra Fees

The Short Answer

What “Cheap” Actually Means

A Better Way to Compare Budget Airlines

1. What baggage is included?

2. How much usable space do you get?

3. What does your required fare actually cost?

4. Is the airport practical?

5. Does the fare suit your travel style?

1. Ryanair — Best When You Can Travel Very Light

Why Ryanair can work well

A useful calculation

Best for

2. easyJet — The Free Bag Is More Generous on Paper

Why the dimensions matter

What about the larger bag?

Best for

3. Wizz Air — Worth Comparing on Central and Eastern European Routes

The free bag in numbers

What does WIZZ Priority cost?

Best for

4. Vueling — Particularly Relevant for Spain and Mediterranean Trips

The important warning

Why this matters

Best for

5. Norwegian — Don't Use the Old Baggage Comparison

LowFare+

What does this mean for your comparison?

Best for

2026 Budget Airline Comparison

A Simple “Bag Space” Comparison

How I calculated this

Why the Cheapest Flight Can Become the More Expensive Flight

Airline A

Airline B

The Airport Can Change the Calculation

🌍 Related Reads from The Euro Trail

How to Find a Cheap Flight Without Guessing

1. Search nearby airports

2. Check flexible dates

3. Use price tracking

4. Use the “Cheapest” result carefully

When Should You Book Directly With the Airline?

The 5-Minute Pre-Booking Checklist

1. Measure your bag

2. Check the weight

3. Check the airport code

4. Check the arrival time

5. Check the final booking price

Do You Really Need Seat Selection?

Best Airline by Traveller Type

Best for minimalist backpackers: Ryanair

Best for a more generous small bag: easyJet

Best when the Wizz Air route is convenient: Wizz Air

Best for Spain-focused trips: Vueling

Best when an overhead bag matters: Norwegian

Realistic Budget Thinking

My 2026 Takeaway

If you travel with only a small bag

If you need an overhead trolley

If you need checked luggage

If airports differ

If dates are flexible

If two options are close in price

Final Comparison

Related Reads From The Euro Trail

Sources and Methodology

Airline baggage and fare information

Flight-search information

Consumer-pricing information

Price Variability and Exclusions

Posted by Saad Shah

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