Cheapest airlines for popular destinations

Now that no-frills carriers, including Norwegian and Wow Air are launching new routes across the Pond and beyond, it’s essential to weigh up the differences between the budget airlines and their more traditional rivals. Can you actually get your hands on those headline-grabbing prices or are they as rare as hen’s teeth?

To find out whether budget carriers really offer the best fares year round, we used 12 months of Skyscanner data to check the average return fares on 16 popular routes from the UK. We then compared these prices with the average airfare of the cheapest carrier on each route.

Cheapest airlines' average vs overall annual average

Our conclusion? In most cases, it’s possible to save a packet on the basic fare by opting for a budget airline, but what do you cut out when you pay well below the average?

Do you get more when you pay more?

From cabin baggage to seat selection, things we once took for granted now cost extra on many carriers, even the ‘full-service’ operators. Many airlines, including BA and Virgin Atlantic, now charge for advance seat selection. So if traditional carriers are emulating the budget airlines, why bother to pay them more?  

On short-haul routes, the budget airlines often beat their low-cost rivals not only on cost but also on comfort. It’s less clear-cut on long haul, where you might have to weigh up whether you’re willing to squeeze into smaller seats or face a four-hour layover, for example. But even here we found instances where there isn’t much difference between low-cost and full-service options. Well, apart from the price.

Find out more: Best and worst airlines

Comparison tables

So you know what to expect, we’ve gathered information from the cheapest airlines on three key routes and compared them with full-service carriers on the same routes. You may be surprised by how little difference there is between them.

VERDICT On this route, we’d choose Norwegian. Seats are roomier, wi-fi is free and food prices are almost identical.

VERDICT Even when you factor in the cost of luggage and seat selection, you should still save with Thomson. After 12 hours, you’ll also be grateful for the extra seat pitch. 

VERDICT Upfront prices are not as cheap as they seem: hold luggage, seat selection and meals could easily add £150. Travel light and pack a lunch box and you can still save.