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Search “cheapest flight to Europe” and you’ll get an answer in seconds. Search “best budget airline” and the answer is less clear, because cheap and good are not always the same thing.
For UK travellers in 2026, the lowest fare on the screen is not always the best deal. Bags, seats, airport transfers and reliability all add to the real cost of your trip.
Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, Jet2 and TUI each suit different travellers. Some win on headline fares. Others offer better value once you add the luggage and services you need.
The smart way to compare budget airlines is to look at the total cost of the trip, not just the ticket price. This guide compares the main options for 2026 and shows where each airline makes the most sense.
Ready to compare routes and fares? Search flights from UK airports with TravelApp.
There is no single best budget airline for every trip. Use this table as a starting point, then compare prices for your own route and dates.
| Airline | Best for | What to check |
| Wizz Air | Low base fares on selected European routes | Baggage charges, airport choice and flight times |
| Ryanair | A large choice of short-haul European routes | The final fare after bags, seats and other extras |
| easyJet | A broad European network and competitive fares | Cabin bag costs and fare conditions |
| Jet2 | Customer service and included baggage | Route availability and the total fare |
| TUI | Comparing flight-only options with package holidays | What the package includes and whether the flights suit your dates |
Both airlines are worth checking first when you want a low fare. Which one costs less depends on your route, dates, departure airport and baggage.
Wizz Air has a strong presence on European routes from London Luton. Ryanair has a large short-haul network, including many routes from London Stansted. This gives you more choice of destinations and departure times.
An independent 2026 ranking of European airline fares put Wizz Air first for affordability, followed by easyJet and then Ryanair. The ranking looks at how much each airline earns per seat for every kilometre flown. It is an airline-wide measure, so it does not mean every Wizz Air ticket will be cheaper.
A low fare only helps if it includes what you need. A basic fare usually covers a small bag that fits under the seat. A larger cabin bag, checked luggage or a chosen seat costs extra. Which?’s airline hand luggage guide shows how allowances differ between airlines.
Tip: Compare each fare with the baggage you actually need. If you only need a small under-seat bag, Wizz Air or Ryanair may be good value. If you need a larger cabin bag, compare the final prices before you decide.
Jet2 and easyJet are good options if you don’t want to choose on headline fare alone. Jet2 does especially well in customer surveys. easyJet offers a broad network of European routes and competitive fares.
Jet2 is a strong choice if you value customer service, included baggage and support when something goes wrong.
In Which?’s 2026 airline survey, Jet2 had the highest short-haul customer score at 76%. It was also named a Which? Recommended Provider for short-haul travel. You can see the full Which? airline results.
This matters for families and travellers with hotels or transfers already booked. Saving a little on a flight is not worth it if problems on the day cost you more.
Jet2 also includes cabin baggage in its standard fare. This can make its price more competitive than it first looks. Always check the current allowance before you book.
easyJet sits between the very low-cost approach of Ryanair and Wizz Air and airlines that include more in their fare. It flies a wide range of European routes from UK airports.
It was named the UK’s Best Low-Cost Airline at the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards. You can read easyJet’s award announcement.
This does not make easyJet the cheapest choice on every route. It does make it worth checking alongside Wizz Air and Ryanair.
Reliability means more than a low fare. It covers how often flights leave on time, how often they are cancelled, and how the airline helps you when things go wrong.
Punctuality data and customer surveys measure different things. Neither tells the whole story alone.
easyJet sits in the middle of the pack.
Which? looked at Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data from May 2024 to April 2025. It found that 67.8% of easyJet flights from UK airports left within 15 minutes of schedule. That put easyJet ahead of Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI, but behind Jet2 and British Airways. Read the Which? analysis of flight delays.
easyJet cancelled 1.05% of its flights in the same period. That was more than Wizz Air (0.74%) and Ryanair (0.21%).
In customer satisfaction, easyJet scored 67% in Which?’s 2026 survey. That is ahead of Ryanair and Wizz Air, but behind Jet2.
| Airline | On-time departures, May 2024–April 2025 | Which? 2026 customer score |
| Jet2 | 68.0% | 76% |
| easyJet | 67.8% | 67% |
| Ryanair | 66.5% | 55% |
| Wizz Air | 66.0% | 59% |
| TUI | 59.2% | 72% |
On-time figures come from CAA data analysed by Which?. Customer scores come from Which?’s 2026 airline survey. These are different measures from different periods, so they are not a single ranking.
Jet2 leads on both punctuality and customer satisfaction. easyJet comes second on both among the budget airlines. TUI had the lowest on-time rate, but its customer score was higher than easyJet’s, Ryanair’s or Wizz Air’s.
These figures can’t predict your own flight. Weather, air traffic control and airport conditions all play a part. Check your flight status before you travel.
Want an airline that fits your plans? Tell us your route and dates, and our team will talk you through the options.
The best airline depends on where you are going, which airport you fly from, and how much luggage you take. Several airlines compete on popular routes, so compare them rather than assuming one is always cheapest.
Routes and seasonal schedules change, so check what’s available from your airport for your dates.
No single European destination is always cheapest from the UK. Prices change with the season, airport, demand and how many seats are left.
Routes with several budget airlines usually have more competition. Smaller European cities can also be cheap on some dates.
If you’re planning a trip for 2026 or early 2027, compare:
There is no guaranteed best day to book. If your dates are fixed, especially in school holidays, waiting for a last-minute deal can leave you with fewer choices and higher fares.
The biggest cost of budget flying is often not the fare. It is the extras you add while booking.
Common extra costs include:
This is why a £30 flight is not always a £30 trip.
Cabin bags are the biggest trap. Which? checked almost 1,500 cabin bag prices. Based on its average prices, taking a cabin bag on a return flight cost about £41 with Ryanair, £58 with Wizz Air and £60 with easyJet. Prices vary by route and date.
Jet2 includes cabin baggage in its fare. If you need a cabin bag, this can make Jet2 cheaper overall, even when its headline fare is higher.
Before you book, decide what you need. A weekend away with a small backpack suits a basic fare. A family trip with several bags changes the sums quickly. It’s also worth arranging travel insurance as soon as you book.
Want a total price with bags included? Speak to our team and we’ll compare the full cost for your trip.
TUI and Ryanair do different jobs, so they are hard to compare directly.
Ryanair sells mainly flight-only tickets. It works well if you just need a seat and a small bag for a short trip.
TUI is best known for package holidays, where flights come with your hotel. Depending on the package, baggage and transfers may be included.
So the better question is: which option gives you the lowest total cost for the holiday you want?
For a short European break with little luggage, Ryanair may be cheaper. For a beach week with a hotel and luggage, a package can make more sense once everything is priced together.
There is no single best budget airline for every UK traveller. Choose based on what matters most for your trip:
To keep the cost down:
The cheapest ticket is not always the cheapest trip. Compare flights from UK airports with TravelApp, or explore our holiday packages if you’d like a hotel too. Our team can also check fares and bag costs for you.
Quick answers to common questions. Reach out if you need more help.
There is no single winner for every traveller. Jet2 is the strongest choice for reliability and customer satisfaction, while Wizz Air and Ryanair are often competitive when the priority is a low headline fare. easyJet is also worth considering for its strong value positioning in 2026.
It depends on the route, date and what you add to the booking. Wizz Air currently ranks ahead of Ryanair in AirAdvisor's European affordability comparison based on revenue per available seat kilometre. However, this is an airline-level measure rather than the price of an individual ticket.
Jet2 is a particularly strong option for families. It scored 76% in a most recent short-haul airline survey and received Recommended Provider status. Its baggage allowance and strong customer satisfaction result can also make the overall cost more competitive.
Jet2 is a good choice for families. It scored 76% in Which?’s 2026 short-haul survey, was named a Recommended Provider, and includes cabin baggage in its fares.
Compare several dates, airports and airlines, set price alerts and check more than one comparison site. Most importantly, compare the final price after baggage and other extras. There is no guaranteed single best day to book.
There is no universal booking window that guarantees the lowest price. Airlines release seats at different times, and prices can rise or fall depending on demand. If your dates are fixed, particularly during school holidays, waiting for a last-minute bargain carries more risk.
Finding cheap flights is about comparing more than just the headline fare. Check different travel dates, departure airports and airlines, then compare the total cost including baggage and other extras. TravelApp's flight search lets UK travellers compare available flight options and fares in one place, making it easier to find an option that fits both their budget and travel plans.
Yes. Travelling with only the baggage included in your basic fare can significantly reduce the total cost of a budget flight. Before booking, check the airline's exact size and weight limits, because a larger cabin bag may require an additional fee.
There is no airline that is always the cheapest. Wizz Air and Ryanair frequently compete on very low headline fares, but the cheapest option changes by route, date, airport and baggage requirements. The best comparison is the total price for your specific trip, rather than a permanent ranking of airlines.
It depends on your trip. Ryanair and easyJet have the widest choice of European routes, which makes them good for city breaks. Jet2 and TUI suit beach holidays with luggage. Wizz Air is often cheapest for Central and Eastern Europe, especially from Luton.
easyJet sits in the middle. Between May 2024 and April 2025, 67.8% of its UK flights left on time. That is ahead of Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI, but just behind Jet2. Its Which? 2026 customer score of 67% is ahead of Ryanair and Wizz Air, but behind Jet2.
Wizz Air and Ryanair often have the lowest headline fares, and easyJet is competitive on many European routes. A 2026 ranking of European airlines put Wizz Air first for affordability. Jet2 can work out cheaper once you need a cabin bag, because one is included.
