Flights under €20 in Europe exist — and they are more common than most people think. Budget airlines sell seats at these prices every single week, on dozens of routes. The problem is they disappear fast. PirateFly scans prices continuously and shows you the ones worth booking before they are gone.
How flights under €20 in Europe actually work
Airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and EasyJet price their seats dynamically. Early in the booking window — typically 4 to 10 weeks before departure — unsold seats on low-demand routes get pushed to very low prices to fill the plane. That is where the €5, €9, and €15 fares come from. They are not error fares or promotions. They are standard inventory pricing.
These prices are for cabin baggage only. No checked luggage, no seat selection, no meal. For a weekend trip with a small bag, that is all you need — and at €12 for a flight, it is hard to argue otherwise.
Where you can fly for under €20
The cheapest routes tend to connect mid-size European cities on high-frequency corridors. From Italy, the most common under-€20 destinations are Spain, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, and Germany. From the UK, France, and Germany the options expand further.
A selection of routes we have tracked recently:
Prices change constantly. These are examples from recent scans — use the search above for live availability.
Which airports have the most cheap flights
Not all airports are equal when it comes to budget fares. Secondary airports — Milan Bergamo (BGY), Rome Ciampino (CIA), London Stansted (STN), Paris Beauvais (BVA) — are where Ryanair and Wizz Air concentrate their cheapest routes. If you are willing to take a bus or train to a secondary airport, your chances of finding flights under €20 increase significantly.
Main hub airports like Milan Malpensa, Rome Fiumicino, or London Heathrow rarely dip this low — the demand is too consistent. The sweet spot is mid-size origin airports with high budget airline traffic.
When to book to get the lowest prices
The best window for flights under €20 in Europe is typically 4 to 8 weeks before departure, on weekday travel dates (Tuesday, Wednesday, early Thursday). Weekends and school holidays are almost always more expensive regardless of how early you book.
Last-minute deals under €20 do exist but are rare and unpredictable. Planning a few weeks ahead gives you the best combination of price and availability.
Tips to actually get these prices
Be flexible on dates. The €9 flight is on a Tuesday morning, not Saturday afternoon. PirateFly shows you the cheapest available date automatically — use that as your starting point.
Cabin bag only. A checked bag on a budget airline can cost more than the flight itself. For a weekend trip, a 40×20×25cm personal item is enough and is included free on most carriers.
Book immediately. Under-€15 seats sell out in hours, sometimes less. If you see a deal on PirateFly that works for you, book it. It will not be there tomorrow.
Keep the total cost in mind. A €12 flight makes no sense if you spend €80 on roaming charges or €60 on a taxi from the airport. Get an eSIM from €4.50, pre-book an airport transfer, and if something goes wrong, know your compensation rights.
Frequently asked questions
Are flights under €20 real or are there hidden fees?
They are real fares, but the €20 is typically the base price for a cabin bag only. Taxes are usually included. Checked luggage, seat selection, and priority boarding are always extra. Budget accordingly.
Which airlines offer the most flights under €20 in Europe?
Ryanair and Wizz Air are by far the most consistent sources of sub-€20 fares. EasyJet and Vueling occasionally offer them too, mainly on shorter routes. Full-service carriers almost never reach this price point.
How does PirateFly find these deals?
We pull live pricing from booking partner APIs multiple times a day and surface routes where the fare drops below our defined thresholds. No manual curation — if it is cheap enough, it shows up.
Can I fly with just a personal item on budget airlines?
Yes. Ryanair allows a 40×20×25cm bag free of charge. Wizz Air allows a 40×30×20cm bag. Both fit under the seat in front of you. For a short trip this is entirely sufficient.