Airlines

You have many choices when it come airlines that provide services to Europe from the USA. You will find a wide selection of airlines and services as well as those carriers who operate just with Europe regionally. 

Airlines offer several levels of service and comfort when flying. Economy tickets are the lowest cost with First Class the most expensive. So what are the differences for each class? While the level of services may vary a little from one airline to the next, the breakout below is a general comparison. This is for International flights only, as these vary in levels of service from their counterparts on US domestic flights.

To confirm exact benefits for each class, contact the operating airline directly. To look at a complete seat map for a particular airline and flight go to » SEAT GURU.com. There you can see the cabin and seat arrangements for all airline flights.

It always a good idea to find a non-stop flight because getting connecting flights could lead to delays and long layovers. While non-stop flights are longer, the combine time spent traveling to your final destination with stops & connections will be longer. Connections can easily lead to delays, your plane could arrive late missing your connecting plane or the connecting plane may be cancelled. Any of these delays could be from bad weather, strong head wind, equipment or air traffic controls problems. Your bags get handled one more time adding  more wear and tear, not to say that your bags may not get to your final destination when you do or, the other way around. The small additional cost is worth every extra penny. 

Why spend your time waiting in an airport for hours when you can be spending more time at your Europe destination.  The largest airport hub in Europe is London, followed by Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid, Brussels and Amsterdam which have connections to almost everywhere in Europe.

For a good portion of your travel time within Europe you will most likely find using the trains or buses a better choice. However, if your locations are more than 5 hours apart you may want to ultimately use an airline. This may also be the only choice when traveling over bodies of water. As in the US, low cost airlines are prevalent in Europe and smaller regional that have good services with a particular country or area. Only airlines with scheduled services are listed. Charter airlines used primarily by the tour travel industry are excluded.

Low Cost Carriers with extended coverage across Europe: Normally have the lowest priced fares without the perks. Some airlines do not fly into the major airports. Some of these alternative airports are usually farther away from the city center. Because of their distance from the city centers, they may lack public transportation, higher cost into the city and more time consuming. As with discount carriers there are more charges for basics services like baggage, seat reservations and tickets may be strictly non-refundable. There may be no food or drink for purchase. Read their policies closely so you are not taken by surprise.  Additional expenses may offset the prices difference of major airlines.

Airline	Frequent Flyer Club	Alliance	Destinations	Hubs
Loganair	Clan Loganair		Regional UK	Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Derry, Inverness, Isle of Man, Newcastle upon Tyne, Teesside
Eastern Airways			Regional – UK, Ireland	Aberdeen, Humberside, Newquay, Southampton
Pegasus	Pegasus BolBol		Europe Low-cost	Adana, Ankara, Antalya Ercan, Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen, İzmir
Air Europa	Suma	SkyTeam	Intl. Low-cost	Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas
Iberia Airlines	Iberia Plus (Avios)	One World	Intl. Worldwide – Spain Flag	Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas
Plus Ultra	Premier Plus		Europe Low-cost	Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
Iberia Express	Club Express	One World	Europe Low-cost	Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
Air Europa Express	Suma	SkyTeam	Europe Low-cost	Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport
Air Corsica	Flying Blue		Europe	Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport
Norlandair			Regional- Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard	Akureyri Airport, Reykjavik Airport
Cabo Verde			Intl.	Amílcar Cabral Intl. Airport
KLM Cityhopper	Flying Blue	Sky Team	Intl. – Europe	Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Corendon Dutch Airlines	Corendon		Intl. – Europe, Middle East	Amsterdam Schiphol, Maastricht Aachen Airport
KLM Royal Dutch	Flying Blue	Sky Team	Intl. Worldwide, Netherlands Flag	Amsterdam Schipol
Transavia	Flying Blue		Europe Low-cost	Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam/The Hague
Anadolujet	Star Alliance	Star Alliance	Europe, Western Asia, North Cyprus	Ankara, Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen
Corendon Airlines	Corendon		Intl. – Europe, Middle East	Antalya Airport, İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport
Volotea	Megavolotea		Europe Low-cost	Asturias Airport,
Sky Express			Regional – Greece	Athens Intl., Heraklion Intl., Makedonia Intl.
Delta Airlines	SkyMiles	Sky Team	Intl. Worldwide	Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson, New York-JFK, Detroit, Minneapolis, Seattle Tacoma
Air New Zealand	Airpoints	Star Alliance	International-National Flag Carrier	Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington
Blue Air	My Blue		Europe Low-cost	Bacău Intl. Airport, Cluj Intl. Airport, Turin Airport
Air Serbia	Etihad Guest		Intl. Worldwide – Serbia Flag	Belgrade
Neos			Intl. – Europe, Africa, Asia	Bergamo, Bologna, Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino, Verona
Widerøe	EuroBonus		Regional – Norway	Bergen, Bodø, Oslo, Sandefjord, Tromsø
Condor Flugdeinst	Mileage Plan		Intl. Worldwide	Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig/Halle, Munich, Stuttgart, Zürich
Helvetic Airways			Intl. – Europe	Bern, Zürich
Sun-Air	Executive Club	One world	Regional Scandinavia	Billund Airport
jet Blue	TrueBlue		Intl. – N. America, Europe	Boston-Logan, New York-JFK, Orlando
Brussels Airlines	Miles & More	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide – Belgium Flag	Brussels
Air Belgium			Europe –	Brussels Airport, Brussels South-Charleroi Airport
Wizz Air	Wizz Privilege Pass, Wizz Discount Club		Europe Low-cost	Budapest
Chalair Aviation	Flying Blue		Regional – France	Caen – Carpiquet Airport
Sevenair			Regional – Portugal	Cascais Aerodrome Lisbon
United Airlines	Mileage Plus	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide	Chicago-O’Hare, Denver, Houston-Bush, Newark, San Francisco, Washington-Dulles
Air Moldova	Air Moldova Club		Europe-National Flag Carrier	Chișinău International Airport
FlyOne			Europe Low-cost	Chișinău Intl. Airport
DAT			Regional – Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway	Copenhagen Airport
SAS Scandinavian	Euro Bonus	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide -Denmark, Norway, Sweden Falg	Copenhagen, Oslo-Gardermoen, Stockholm Aranda
American Airlines	AAdvantage	One World	Intl. Worldwide	Dallas-Ft. Worth, Chicago-O’Hare, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, Philadelphia, Phoenix
Emirates	Emirates Skywards		Intl. Worldwide – UAE Flag	Dubai Intl. Airport
Aer Lingus	AerClub/Avios		Int. Worldwide -Ireland Flag	Dublin
Ryanair			Europe Low-cost	Dublin, London-Stanstead
Eurowings Discover	Miles & More		Intl. Worldwide Low-cost	Düsseldorf
Vueling	Vueling Club (part of Avios)		Europe Low-cost	El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona
OFD			Regional – Germany	Emden Airport
Air Tahiti Nui	Club Tiare		Intl.	Faa’a Intl. Airport
Lufthansa CityLine	Miles & More	Star Alliance	Intl. – Europe	Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport
Lufthansa	Miles & More	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide, Germany Flag	Frankfurt, Munich
Canaryfly			Regional – Canary Islands	Gran Canaria Airport
Binter Canarias	Bintermás		Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal, Morcco	Gran Canaria Airport, Tenerife North Airport
Blue Islands	Blue Skies Club		Regional-Channel Islands, UK & Europe	Guernsey Airport Jersey Airport
Finnair	Finnair Plus	One World	Intl. Worldwide – Finland Flag	Helsinki
Nºrra	Finnair Plus	One World	Regional – FInland	Helsinki Airport
TAROM	Flying Blue	Sky Team	Intl. – Europe, North Africa, Asia, Romania Flag	Henri Coandă Intl. Airport
Blue Bird Airways			Regional East Mediterranean	Heraklion International Airport
Turkish Airlines	Miles & Smiles	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide	Istanbul Airport
SunExpress	SunExpress Bonus		Intl. – Europe, North Africa	İzmir Adnan Menderes, Antalya Airport
Azores Airlines	SATA Imagine		Intl. – Europe, N. America	João Paulo II Airport
Level	Avios	One World	Europe Low-cost	Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport
Play			Europe Low-cost	Keflavík Intl. Airport
Icelandair	Saga Club		Intl. Worldwide, Iceland Flag	Keflavík Intl. Airport
Ukraine Intl. Airlines	Panorama Club		Intl. Worldwide – Ukraine Flag	Kyiv
Yanair			Intl. – Europe- Middle East	Kyiv Intl. Airport (Zhuliany)
Bravo Airways			Intl. – Ukraine, Middle East	Kyiv-Boryspil Airport
SkyUp			Intl. Low-cost Europe, N. Africa, Middle East	Kyiv–Boryspil, Kharkiv, Lviv
TUS Airways	Tus & Plus		Intl. – Europe, Middle East	Larnaca International
Cyprus Airways			Intl. – Europe-Middle East-National Flag Carrier	Larnaca Intl. Airport
Jet2.com			Europe Low-cost	Leeds Bradford Airport
TAP Air Portugal	TAP Miles & Go	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide Low-cost, Portugal Flag	Lisbon
Iberojet			Intl. -Spain, Portugal, Caribbean	Lisbon, Madrid
BA City Flyr	Executive Club	One World	Intl. Europe	London City Airport
Virgin Atlantic	Flying Club	Sky Team	Intl. Worldwide	London Heathrow, Manchester
British Airways	Executive Club/Avios	One World	Intl. Worldwide – UK Flag	London-Heathrow, London Gatwick
easyJet			Europe Low-cost	London-Luton
Luxair	Miles & More		Intl. – Europe, N.Africa, Middle East	Luxembourg Airport
HOP!	Flying Blue	Sky Team	Intl. – Europe	Lyon, Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Air Malta	Flypass, KMiles		Europe, Middle East, North Africa	Malta International Airport
Malta Air			Europe Low-cost	Malta Intl. Airport
Twin Jet	Flying Blue		Regional- France	Marseille Provence, Metz-Nancy-Lorraine, Paris-Orly Airport
Belavia			Intl. – Europe, Middle East, Belarus Flag	Minsk National Airport
FLN Frisia Luftverkehr			Domestic – Germany	Norden, Germany
Norse Atlantic			Intl.- Europe. N. America	Oslo, London-Gatwick
Flyr			Europe Low-cost	Oslo-Gardermoen
Norwegian	Norwegian Reward		Europe Low-cost	Oslo-Gardermoen, Stockholm-Arlanda
Air France	Flying Blue	Sky Team	Intl. Worldwide, France Flag	Paris De Gaulle, Paris Orly
French Bee			Intl. Worldwide Low-cost	Paris Orly
La Compagnie	My Compagnie		Intl. Business	Paris Orly
Corsair	Club Corsair		Regional – France	Paris-Orly
Air Montenegro	Vision Team		Intl. – Europe	Podgorica Airport, Tivat Airport
Eagle Air			Domestic – Iceland	Reykjavik Airport
Air Iceland Connect	Icelandair Saga Club		Regional, Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands	Reykjavík Airport
air Baltic	airBaltic Club		Europe- Latvia National Flag Carrier	Riga Intl. Airport, Tallinn Airport, Vilnius Airport, Tampere Airport
ITA Airways	Volare	Sky Team	Intl. Worldwide – Itlay Flag	Rome-Fiummincino
FlyBosnia			Domestic – Bosnia, Switzerland	Sarajevo Intl. Airport
Singapore Airlines	KrisFlyer, PPS Club	Star Alliance	Intl.	Singapore
Bulgaria Air	Fly More		Intl. – Europe, N. Africa Bulgaria Flag	Sofia Airport
Alsie Express			Regional – Denmark	Sønderborg Airport
Peoples			Regional – Switzerland	St. Gallen–Altenrhein Airport
BRA Braathens			Regional -Sweden, Finland, Denmark	Stockholm-Bromma Airport
Sylt Air			Regional – Germany	Sylt Airport
Nordica	Miles & More		Intl. – Europe	Tallinn Airport
Olympic Air	Miles+Bonus	Star Alliance	Regional – Greece	Thessaloniki Intl., Athens Intl., Rhodes Intl.
Air Albania			Intl.- Europe Albania Flag	Tirana Intl. Airport Nënë
Albawings			Europe Low-cost	Tirana Intl. Airport Nënë
AIS Airlines			Regional – Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden	Torsby Airport
Jonair			Regional – Sweden	Umeå Airport
CSA Czech Airlines	OK Plus	Sky Team	Intl. Europe – Czechia Flag	Václav Havel Airport Prague
SmartWings			Europe Low-cost	Václav Havel Airport Prague
Air Dolomiti			Regional Italy, Germany	Verona Villafranca Airport, Frankfurt, Munich
Austrian Airlines	Miles & More	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide, Austria Flag	Vienna
LOT Polish	Miles & More	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide, Poland Flag	Warsaw
Croatia Airlines	Miles & More	Star Alliance	Intl.- Europe – Croatia Flag	Zagreb Airport
Motorsich			Regional – Ukraine, Saudi Arabia	Zaporizhzhia Intl. Airport
Edelweiss			Intl. Worldwide	Zürich
Swiss Airlines	Miles & More	Star Alliance	Intl. Worldwide, Switzerland Flag	Zürich
Chair			Intl. – Europe, N. Africa	Zürich Airport
Eurowings Europe	Boomerang Club, Miles & More		Intl. – Europe	Palma de Mallorca, Prague, Pristina, Salzburg, Stockholm–Arlanda, Vienna
TUI fly Group [1]			Intl. – Africa, Asia, Europe, Caribbean
Emerald Airlines			Regional – Ireland, UK	Dublin Airport, George Best Belfast City
Air Nostrum	Avios	One World	Intl. _ Europe, N. Africa	Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas, Valencia
AlbaStar.es			Intl. _ Europe, Africa	Milan–Malpensa, Orio al Serio Intl., Trapani–Birgi

National Flag Carriers: Have preferential rights and privileges in their home countries over other airline companies. In some instances carriers may be state owned and operated, while others may be public or private companies. Flag carrying airlines are noted with the country flag before the country name.

[1] TUIfly Group consist of several different airlines operating under the TUI Group tourism company. TUIfly – Belgium has scheduled passenger services while TUIfly – Deutschland, TUIfly – Netherlands, TUIfly – Nordic, TUI Airways – UK are only currently operating charter services.

If you are flying into a European Union country’s airport you do have air passenger rights under the law. If you are denied boarding or your flight is cancelled, overbooked, you are entitled to either;

If you are delayed more than 5 hours you may also be entitled to a refund if no forwarding transportation is furnished.

For more detailed information read the link below at the European Union passenger rights.

When flying to Europe you’ll find not only domestic airlines with services to major European cities but, International carriers as well. Many are non-stop flights that depart from US airports to major cities in Europe every day. Traveling to and from Europe can be a very long flight so you may take a look at upgrading to, what they call premium economy. For a little more, without paying as much as first class or business, you can have a larger and more comfortable seat with better perks. These seats are very limited so they’ll sell out fast.

Airlines have created alliances that may add benefits to travelers, especially those who prefer to use a particular airline. Airlines will codeshare flights so travelers can fly on routes their preferred carrier doesn’t fly. You want to fly on a route your normal airline doesn’t fly you may book that flight on your airlines web site. You want to book a flight on American Airlines that has no scheduled flights to your destination but, British Airways in their alliance does. You book the ticket on the American Airlines web site but, you will be flying on a British Airways operated plane.

Common in the airline industry is the codeshare agreement between airlines. This allows two or more airlines to publish and sell the same flight under their own airline designator and flight number on their schedule. Code-sharing in the airline industry gives you a wider selection of flights while traveling in different areas of the globe. This also allows you to earn or use your regular airlines points with any other partner airline within the alliance.