Tips for traveling on a budget airline in Europe.

If you’ve ever traveled between European countries, then chances are you’ve flown on a budget airline.  What’s not to like about flying from Amsterdam to Barcelona for less than 100 bucks? Here are a few tips for your ultimate convenience traveling on a budget airline in Europe. Spend more time enjoying the travel.

My biggest problem is I never want to check a bag, but I want to bring the most shit as possible.  Weight limit? Over the limit for sure.  I am used to leniency afforded to me on domestic flights in the U.S. that usually involve an army of people to help me lift my carry-on into the overhead bin with liquids in every corner.  For those with the same problem, here we go.

Never check a bag. 

• Europeans tend to have smaller carry-on luggage in general, so be very cognizant of the size of your carry-on. My favorite carry-on for overseas is my Calpak bag.  Be prepared to place your carry-on in the sizer if your bag looks the slightest bit bigger than allowed.   

• Make sure to place all of your liquids in a clear bag. 3-1-1 rule applies in Europe and is much stricter than in the US.
• Get creative and find smaller bottles so you can pack as many different liquids as possible for your trip. I try to keep each liquid at around 1 oz. I like to reuse the old hand sanitizer bottles for shampoo and conditioner. I’ll bring single-use packets of coconut oil to use for teeth-pulling and as lotion and shaving cream. 
• Remember that liquid medicine/prescriptions and baby food are excluded from the 3-1-1- rule.  Have those in another separate bag.  Try your best to keep the Rx information in tact in case they check.  I keep all of my contacts and eye drops in that “medicine” bag, too.
• Stick deodorant can be separate from liquids.  I usually keep mine somewhere in my carry-on bag away from the two liquid bags.  For this reason, I wouldn’t suggest using aerosol or gel roll-on deodorant. You have to place these in your liquids bag. But please, make sure you use deodorant. 🙂

• In the likely event that you exceed the weight limit, avoid being near the check-out counter or the gate counter at all costs.  Even if your bag meets the size requirements and it looks heavy, you may be asked to weigh your carry-on and pay the overweight fees.  Or worse, you might need to check your bag and go back through security again.   
• If your airline requests that you check-in at the front before security, whether or not you have to check a bag, ask your travel companion to check-in separate from you so he or she can hold onto your carry-on bag.  Don’t bring that heavy carry-on to the gate!

Security

There is no “TSA Pre-Check” or “Clear”. Unless you have priority boarding (“Fast Track”), you won’t be able to enjoy expedited security lines. 

• Have your boarding pass and passport readily available for another check in the security line.  If you’re not connected to cellular service, screenshot the boarding pass; add to your passbook, or print out your boarding pass before you get to the airport.  In fact, have a boarding pass printed at all times.  I’ve run into instances where they will not accept an electronic boarding pass.  Don’t rely on the Wi-Fi at the airport.
• Have your laptop, camera and 2 liquid bags outside of the carry-on and personal item.  If you can help it, place each liquid bag into a separate bin to avoid more scrutiny as to whether you’ve appropriately followed the carry-on rules for liquids. 
• Keep your shoes on.
• Stand in your designated lane and use a bin for everything, including your suitcase.

Boarding

• Board in the middle of the group before you (i.e. if you are group 3, board after a gaggle of group 2 has boarded).  There’s a solid chance the agent won’t turn you away and others from your boarding group have already gotten on.  Do NOT board with the last group because you may not have overhead space.  Best option is to pay for advance boarding.
• Board behind someone with a similar size bag as you.  I’m only stressing this because I’ve been stopped before I boarded the plane and was asked to check my bag.  You are NOT safe until you’ve gotten on the plane and are in your seat!
• Hold your carry-on and personal item separate from each other.  The goal is to avoid checking a bag, so the less bulky you look getting on the plane, the better. I suggest a backpack as your personal item.

Other Tips – not specific to budget airlines!

• Pack a few snacks to avoid hanger.  This is self-explanatory.
• Wear layers on the plane. It’s tough to predict how comfortable the temperature will be, so layering will help you keep your options open.
• Keep a small perfume/cologne/lotion readily available.  It’s also tough to predict what you’re going to smell on or around the plane.  For that reason, having your favorite fragrance handy is a life saver. 
• Wear a baseball cap.  This may sound weird, but you the hat will help shutter the bright lights on the plane (especially if your neighbor wants to leave his or her reading light on when you want to sleep).  Also, you can certainly avoid wearing make-up and any awkward eye contact.  It’s an essential item to pack.
• Check out some more travel hacks from me here!

Hope these tips for traveling on a budget airline in Europe was helpful. Enjoy the trip!