Prague’s Budget Airlines

Dying to come to Prague and the cheap fares just aren’t there? Getting a direct flight from the US is difficult unless you are on the East Coast. Finding a cheap flight to Europe can be a bit easier, and once on the continent, budget airlines are eagerly waiting to zip your around. Here’s a round-up of budget airlines that fly in and out of Prague’s Ruzyně Airport.

Hungarian airline Wizz Air offers the most flights to and from Prague, including Rome, Barcelona, Venice and Paris. SmartWings is the airline to choose if you are looking for southern European flights. They’ll hit Corfu, Ibiza, Malta, Rhodes and Naples, to just name a few. Many of the flights are “in season” only, which usually means May through September. GermanWings is a good option, offering flights to places in Germany and the UK as well as Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik.

EasyJet is a UK-based airline that offers four flights from there (Stanstead,Gatwick, Doncaster and Bristol) as well as to Milan Malpensa, Amsterdam Schipol and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Jet2 is a bit more limited, offering flights from the north of the UK. Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh can all be reached from Prague. Bmibaby is similar, offering Prague flights to Birmingham and the East Midlands only.

Some tips on traveling with budget airlines. Many of them use alternative airports. While in Prague, they all fly in and out of the “major” airport; many can keep their fares low by going to a nearby smaller airport. With EasyJet, for example, Milan Malpensa is a roughly 45 minute bus ride from Milan. Be sure to factor in extra transport costs when figuring out how cost-effective the flight may be. Food and drink is almost never complimentary. Also, if you’ve come from far away and have a big trip planned, budget airlines have very restrictive luggage rules. All checked luggage usually has to be paid for and only one small carry-on is allowed. Read the fine print before booking your ticket.

Photos Courtesy of Ruzyně Airport