Upstart European Airlines Appeal to Thrifty Fliers

Travel within Europe is looking more affordable for penny-pinching Americans.

The trend began a few years ago when low-cost airlines began cropping up to challenge the usual players in Europe’s airline industry, some of which is government subsidized.

As the European Union eases restrictions on business competition on the Continent, prices have fallen and options for Americans abroad are multiplying. Apart from individual upstart airlines, the choices also include “air pass” programs offered by airline consortiums.

Like Southwest Airlines, many of these carriers do without meals and simplify operations by flying only Boeing 737s. Many offer Internet booking and rely solely on electronic ticketing, giving passengers confirmation numbers instead of printed tickets.

Though many of these carriers try to avoid paying agent commissions by dealing directly with travelers, an up-to-date travel agent should be able to help consumers sort through the possibilities and help with bookings.

First, the air passes.

EuropeByAir.com, telephone (888) 387-2479 or (888) 321-4737, Internet https://www.europebyair.com, a group of 16 European carriers with a U.S. office in Phoenix, sells “flight passes” good for flights among nearly 130 European cities in 27 countries. Its participating carriers range from Brussels-based Virgin Express, a subsidiary of Virgin Atlantic, to Crete-based Air Greece.

The coupons are similar to Eurailpasses: They’re sold only outside Europe to non-Europeans. They cost $99 per flight segment (plus tax), and travelers must buy at least three. The passes are good for 120 days, usually beginning the day you arrive in Europe. Though you must purchase the passes before leaving the U.S., you can wait until arrival in Europe to book specific flights.

Among the participating carriers, besides Air Greece and Virgin Express, are Air Liberte (Paris), Air One (Rome), Alpi Eagles Airlines (Venice, Italy), Augsburg Airways (Augsburg airport in Germany), Croatia Airlines (Zagreb), European Air Express (Dusseldorf, Germany), Estonian Airlines (Tallinn), TransTravel Airlines (Copenhagen) and VLM (London). The EuropeByAir Web site includes more information on each carrier.

In a move to fend off this challenge, some major European carriers have set up similar air-pass programs. Under the Discover Europe Fare by Lufthansa, tel. (800) 645-3880, Internet https://www.lufthansa.com, segments within Europe on Lufthansa or partner SAS Scandinavian Airlines, tel. (800) 221-2350, Internet https://www.scandinavian.net, are priced at $119. But to get that $119 price, travelers must also buy their transatlantic ticket from Lufthansa or one of its Star Alliance partners. Air France, tel. (800) AF-PARIS (237-2747), Internet https://www.airfrance.com, has a similar program, with coupons priced at $120 from April through October, $99 the rest of the year.

Less familiar to American travelers are the many smaller carriers offering low-fare intra-Europe travel. Some have toll-free numbers; others require an international long-distance call. Among the low-fare carriers:

Air Europa, tel. (800) 327-1225, Internet https://www.easyspain.com, based in Majorca, Spain, flies to more than two dozen destinations in mainland Spain, Portugal and the Balearic and Canary islands, along with London, Paris, Havana and New York.

British Midland, tel. (800) 788-0555, Internet https://www.iflybritishmidland.com, based in London, dates to 1938 but has expanded notably in the last few years. Using London’s Heathrow as its principal hub, the carrier offers flights to 29 British and European cities. Under its Discover Europe Airpass program, one-way fares run $109 or $159, plus tax. On May 2, the carrier will add Rome, Milan, Italy, and Madrid to its list.

Buzz, tel. 011-44-870-240-7070, Internet https://www.buzzaway.com, is a low-cost London-based carrier that started flying Jan. 4. It flies to 14 cities in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Britain. (It’s a subsidiary of KLM, and its flights replace KLM’s Britain schedule.) Round-trip sale fares from London recently were $95 for Paris and $129 for Berlin.

EasyJet, tel. 011-44-870-600- 0000, Internet https://www.easyjet.com, flies 28 European routes, including Athens, Barcelona, Madrid and Nice, France, from London (Luton airport); Liverpool, England; and Geneva. Looking for a one-way London-Athens flight in June, I found fares as low as $91.

Go, tel. 011-44-845-605-4321, Internet https://www.gofly.com, is a British Airways low-cost subsidiary based in London. From London’s Stansted Airport (a 40-minute train ride outside the city), it flies to 17 European cities, including Madrid; Lisbon; Rome; Zurich, Switzerland; Lyons, France; and Prague, Czech Republic. In February, Go announced summer flights from London to Naples, Italy (beginning April 19; $140), and Reykjavik, Iceland (beginning May 24; $192).

PGA Portugalia Airlines, tel. 011-351-21-843-7030, Internet https://www.pga.pt/uk/index.html, has been flying since 1990. The Lisbon-based carrier offers 23 destinations in eight nations, including Portugal, Spain, France, Germany and England.

Ryanair, tel. 011-35-316-097- 800, Internet https://www.ryanair.com, is based in Ireland and flies two dozen 737s. Founded in 1985, the airline expects to carry more than 6 million passengers in 2000 on its 34 routes in Ireland, England and 15 cities in continental Europe. It offers 25 flights daily between London and Dublin, Ireland. In March, sale fares (with limited availability) included Glasgow, Scotland, to London round trip for $30 (including taxes) and a London-Dublin round trip for $31.60, excluding taxes.

Virgin Express, tel. 011-32-2- 752-0505, Internet https://www.virgin-express.com, flies to Barcelona; Berlin; Brussels (its base); Copenhagen; Madrid; Milan; Nice; Rome; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Shannon, Ireland, from three London airports. I found a promotional one-way fare, from Brussels to Rome in June, for $71.

Christopher Reynolds welcomes comments and suggestions, but cannot respond individually to letters and calls. Write Travel Insider, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, or send e-mail to chris.reynolds@latimes.com.