The Best Budget Airlines in Europe, Australia, and the US Ranked

Flying cheap used to mean showing up late, sitting in a middle seat with no legroom, and paying extra for a cup of water. That reputation is mostly outdated now. Budget airlines have grown up, and in 2025, many of them are giving full-service carriers a real run for their money — sometimes literally.

Whether you are hopping between European cities on a weekend trip, crossing the Australian outback to visit family, or looking for a domestic flight deal in the US, low-cost carriers have made affordable travel more accessible than ever. The global budget airline market is now worth over $221 billion and is projected to nearly double by 2033, according to industry analysts. That kind of growth tells you everything about where air travel is heading.

But not all budget airlines are created equal. Some nail the price but bury you in fees. Others offer a surprisingly decent experience for the cost. A few are genuinely great airlines that happen to be cheap. Knowing which ones to book — and which ones to approach carefully — can make or break your travel budget.

This guide ranks the best budget airlines in Europe, Australia, and the US based on pricing, route networks, reliability, and overall value. Whether you are a seasoned backpacker or a first-time budget traveler, this is your roadmap to flying smart without spending big.

What Makes a Good Budget Airline?

Before getting into the rankings, it is worth knowing what separates a genuinely good low-cost carrier from one that just looks cheap on the surface.

The best budget airlines tend to score well across a few key areas:

• Base fare pricing — How cheap are the tickets before extras are added?
• Ancillary fees — What do they charge for baggage, seat selection, and onboarding priority?
• Route coverage — Do they fly where you want to go?
• On-time performance — Do they actually take off and land when scheduled?
• Safety record — Are they operating under the same aviation authority oversight as full-service carriers? (Spoiler: yes, they are.)

Keep these in mind as you read through the rankings below.

The Best Budget Airlines in Europe

Europe has the most competitive low-cost carrier market in the world. The density of cities, short flying distances, and a huge tourist economy have made it a breeding ground for cheap airlines that constantly undercut each other on price.

1. Ryanair — The King of Cheap Fares

If there is one name synonymous with cheap flights in Europe, it is Ryanair. The Irish carrier consistently offers some of the lowest base fares on the continent, with average ticket prices hovering around €27 on popular routes. It operates one of the largest route networks in Europe, connecting over 200 destinations across 40+ countries.

Ryanair is not trying to be your favorite airline. It is trying to get you from point A to point B for as little money as possible. The tradeoffs are real — strict carry-on rules, fees for checked baggage, no free seat selection — but if you travel light and book early, it is genuinely hard to beat on price.

Key advantages:

• Enormous route network across Europe
• Some of the lowest airfares in Europe
• Large fleet with modern Boeing 737 aircraft
• Consistent on-time performance for a budget carrier

2. easyJet — Best Balance of Price and Experience

easyJet is the choice for travelers who want low fares without the friction that sometimes comes with ultra-budget carriers. It strikes a better balance than most — reasonable base prices, a wider seat pitch than Ryanair, and a loyalty program (easyJet Plus) worth considering if you fly regularly.

It is particularly strong on routes connecting the UK with Western Europe. London Gatwick to Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Paris are among its busiest and most competitively priced routes.

• Strong presence at major airports (not just secondary ones)
• Affordable flights with fewer gotcha fees
• Rated consistently well for customer experience among European budget airlines

3. Wizz Air — Best for Eastern Europe

Wizz Air is the fastest-growing low-cost carrier in Europe and the overall cheapest EU-based airline by revenue per seat kilometre (RASK), according to research by AirAdvisor. If you are traveling to or within Eastern Europe — Hungary, Romania, Poland, the Balkans — Wizz Air is often your best option by a wide margin.

Its discount club membership, Wizz Discount Club, can shave a meaningful amount off your fares if you fly with them frequently.

• Cheapest RASK among EU-based carriers
• Strong Eastern European network
• Budget-friendly international flights into the Middle East and North Africa

4. Volotea — Best for Smaller European Cities

Volotea is worth knowing about if you want to reach smaller regional destinations that Ryanair and easyJet often skip. It was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe by Skytrax in 2024, largely because of its pleasant on-board experience and focus on underserved routes.

If you want to fly directly into a mid-sized Spanish, French, or Italian city without connecting through a major hub, Volotea is frequently the best answer.

5. Transavia — Best for France and the Netherlands

Transavia (with separate French and Dutch operations) is a solid mid-tier budget airline that feels a step above the ultra-low-cost end of the market. It ranked among the top 10 low-cost carriers globally in the Skytrax 2024 awards and is particularly competitive on routes between France, the Netherlands, and Southern Europe.

The Best Budget Airlines in the US

The American budget airline market is dominated by what the industry calls ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) — airlines that strip fares down to almost nothing and charge separately for every conceivable extra. Knowing how to navigate these carriers is the key to actually saving money.

6. Frontier Airlines — Cheapest Base Fares in the US

Frontier Airlines leads the pack on base fares among US budget carriers. Its cost per mile sits around $0.0985, making it one of the cheapest options for domestic travel. The airline's "All You Can Fly" pass has also attracted significant attention for frequent budget travelers.

The catch is familiar: baggage fees, seat fees, and drink fees add up quickly. Book with zero extras and Frontier is outstanding value. Start adding bags and you might as well have booked Southwest.

• Lowest average fares among US low-cost airlines
• Wide domestic route network
• Best value when traveling carry-on only

7. Spirit Airlines — Ultra-Low Fares with Trade-offs

Spirit Airlines operates on a similar ULCC model to Frontier, with fares averaging around $0.1110 per mile. It has faced some operational challenges in recent years, but for pure price hunting on US domestic routes, it remains a go-to.

Spirit's Big Front Seat upgrade is actually a decent deal if you want more legroom without paying full-service prices.

• Very competitive cheap domestic flights
• Wide coverage across the eastern US and Caribbean
• Great for carry-on-only travelers

8. Allegiant Air — Best for Vacation Routes

Allegiant Air does something different from most US budget airlines — it focuses almost entirely on leisure routes between smaller cities and popular vacation destinations like Las Vegas, Orlando, and Florida's beaches. If you live in a smaller metro area and want to fly direct to a vacation spot without connecting through a hub, Allegiant is often the only option and frequently the cheapest.

• Unique route network targeting vacation travel
• Strong value on Florida, Nevada, and Arizona routes
• Flies from secondary airports, which often means cheaper parking and less hassle

9. Southwest Airlines — Best Budget Airline for Flexibility

Southwest Airlines does not fit the classic ULCC mold — it does not charge for the first two checked bags, has no change fees, and lets you rebook freely. That makes it more expensive than Frontier or Spirit on paper, but often cheaper in practice once you factor in what the others charge for extras.

For budget travelers who value flexibility and predictability, Southwest remains one of the smartest choices in the US market.

• Free checked bags (up to two)
• No change or cancellation fees
• Strong domestic network with point-to-point routing

The Best Budget Airlines in Australia

Australia's budget airline market is smaller than Europe's or the US's, largely because of the country's size and the dominance of the Qantas Group. But there are solid options for travelers looking to keep costs down on both domestic and international routes.

10. Jetstar — Best Overall Budget Airline in Australia

Jetstar is the standout name in Australian budget travel. As a subsidiary of Qantas, it benefits from that group's operational infrastructure while keeping fares genuinely low. It has the broadest route network among Australian low-cost carriers, covering domestic routes and international flights across Asia and the Pacific.

The Bali route — Melbourne or Sydney to Denpasar — is one of Jetstar's most popular and consistently among the best-priced international budget flights from Australia.

• Most extensive low-cost route network in Australia
• Strong domestic and Asian international coverage
• Part of the Qantas Group — reliability and safety well established
• Ranked among the top long-haul budget airlines globally by Skytrax

11. Rex Airlines — Best for Regional Australia

Rex (Regional Express) Airlines fills a gap that Jetstar and Qantas don't — genuinely affordable flying to regional and rural Australian towns. It has expanded its jet operations in recent years to compete on major routes between Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, often undercutting the big two on price.

If you need to reach regional New South Wales, Victoria, or South Australia affordably, Rex is frequently your only reasonable option.

12. Bonza Airlines — Budget Carrier for Underserved Routes

Bonza is Australia's newest budget airline, operating on a model similar to Allegiant in the US — connecting smaller cities directly without routing through major hubs. It is not trying to compete with Jetstar everywhere; instead, it carves out routes that previously had no affordable direct option.

International Budget Airlines Worth Knowing

13. Scoot — Best Budget Long-Haul Airline from Australia

For Australians wanting cheap international flights to Asia, Scoot (a Singapore Airlines subsidiary) is hard to beat. It operates Boeing 787 Dreamliners on longer routes and maintains a decent reputation for value and reliability. Skytrax ranked it among the world's best long-haul budget airlines in both 2024 and 2025.

14. Norse Atlantic Airways — Best for Cheap Transatlantic Flights

If you want to cross the Atlantic without paying legacy airline prices, Norse Atlantic deserves a serious look. The Norwegian carrier operates modern Boeing 787s between Europe and North America at genuinely low transatlantic fares, making it one of the most exciting newer entrants in the budget long-haul flight space.

15. Eurowings — Best Budget Airline for German Travelers

Eurowings, a Lufthansa Group carrier, offers a solid middle ground in Europe — cheaper than Lufthansa, more reliable than the ultra-low-cost end of the market. It is a strong choice for travelers departing from Germany, Austria, or Switzerland who want affordable European flights without fully sacrificing service.

Tips for Getting the Best Deals from Budget Airlines

Knowing which budget airlines to fly is only half the battle. The other half is knowing how to book smart.

• Book early — Most low-cost carriers price their seats lowest when the flight first goes on sale. Waiting usually costs more.
• Fly mid-week — Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are consistently the cheapest days to fly on budget routes.
• Travel carry-on only — The single biggest extra cost on most cheap airlines is checked baggage. Packing light changes the math dramatically.
• Use fare alert tools — Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Hopper all let you track prices on specific routes and alert you when they drop.
• Check total price, not just base fare — Always click through to the final checkout price before comparing. A €19 Ryanair fare can become €55 once seat selection and a cabin bag are added.
• Watch for sales — Most budget carriers run Black Friday, end-of-season, and flash sales that can cut fares significantly for flexible travelers.

Are Budget Airlines Safe?

This question comes up constantly, and the answer is straightforward: yes. Every budget airline operating in the US, Europe, and Australia is subject to the same aviation safety regulations as full-service carriers. The FAA, EASA, and CASA impose identical airworthiness, maintenance, and pilot training standards regardless of ticket price.

Ryanair, easyJet, Frontier, Jetstar — all of them go through the same pre-flight checks and safety inspections as United, British Airways, or Qantas. What you are giving up is the free meal and the extra legroom, not the safety net.

Conclusion

The best budget airlines in Europe, Australia, and the US have never offered better value than they do right now. In Europe, Ryanair and Wizz Air dominate on price while Volotea and easyJet offer a better all-round experience. In the US, Frontier and Allegiant lead on fares while Southwest wins on flexibility. In Australia, Jetstar remains the strongest option for both domestic and international travel, with Rex serving regional travelers well. The key to making budget airlines work for you is understanding the fee structure upfront, packing light, booking early, and staying flexible on travel dates — do those things and you will almost always come out ahead financially compared to booking with a legacy carrier.