Budget Travel

When Is Are The Cheapest Months To Fly To Europe?

Searching for when flights to Europe are the cheapest? Discover which months are the cheapest, and most expensive to help you plan when to visit.

Cheapest Months to Fly to Europe

The cheapest time to fly to Europe is usually in the winter months—especially January, February, and March. You can also find solid deals in November and the first half of December before holiday travel kicks in. These off-season months often bring flights that are 40% to 60% cheaper than summer fares.

January 2 onward is one of the very best times to book. Once the New Year rush ends, airlines slash prices to fill planes during this quiet travel stretch.
February keeps the bargains coming, often with last-minute sales and plenty of seat options.
March remains affordable, though prices may start inching up near the end of the month as spring trips get booked.
November and early December are also great for low fares until around December 15, when holiday pricing takes over.

Summary of cheapest travel times

January 2 through March is usually the cheapest stretch of the year
November and early December are low-priced before holiday spikes
Flights can be 40% to 60% cheaper than summer

Most Expensive Months to Fly to Europe

The most expensive time to fly to Europe is during the summer months when schools are out, and again during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Airlines know demand is high, so sales are rare and prices almost always stay elevated.

June and July are the priciest months of all. Families are traveling, schools are on break, and flights sell at full fare without discounts.
August is still part of peak season. Fares might dip slightly toward the end of the month, but they’re still much higher than off-season prices.
December 15 through January 1 brings another surge. Holiday travel pushes fares to levels that can rival—or even beat—summer highs.

Summary of expensive months to fly to Europe

June and July are the most expensive months of the year
August remains pricey, with limited deals until late in the month
December 15 to January 1 has holiday pricing that rivals summer

Europe’s Shoulder Season Flight Costs

Sitting between peak and off-season, April, May, September, and October make up Europe’s shoulder season. These months can offer the best balance—airfare is always cheaper than summer, and sometimes nearly as low as winter rates if sales pop up.

April and May bring improving weather and lighter crowds. When airlines run promotions, fares can be close to off-season prices. Without a sale, expect them to be 15% to 25% higher than January or February flights.
September and October are similar. The summer rush is over, but pleasant weather keeps demand steady, so deals aren’t guaranteed. Still, these months often strike a nice middle ground between cost and comfort.

Monthly Demand On Flights To Europe

Month	Price Trend	Demand	Notes
January	Lowest	Low	Prices drop sharply after the holidays
February	Lowest	Low	One of the best months for cheap flights
March	Low	Low	Prices may rise slightly near the end of the month
April	Low to Moderate	Shoulder	Can be as cheap as winter if sales are running
May	Low to Moderate	Shoulder	Often cheaper than summer, but not always on sale
June	Highest	Peak	Summer pricing kicks in, no discounts
July	Highest	Peak	Usually the most expensive month of the year
August	High	Peak	Still peak season, slight drops late in the month possible
September	Low to Moderate	Shoulder	Sometimes matches winter pricing with a good deal
October	Low to Moderate	Shoulder	Lower crowds, good chance of flight deals
November	Lowest	Low	Cheap flights early in the month, avoid Thanksgiving week
December 1–14	Low	Low	Great prices if flying before holiday travel starts
December 15–31	Highest	Peak	Holiday travel surge makes this one of the priciest times

Seasonal Cost On Flights To Europe Overview

Most expensive times to fly to Europe
- Summer months (June, July, August) when school is out
- Holiday season (mid-December through New Year’s)
Cheapest times to fly to Europe
- Early January through March (after the holidays)
- November through mid-December (before the holiday rush)

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