How to Book Cheap Flights to France: Budget Airlines, Timing & Skyscanner Tips

Flying to France on a Budget

Flights to France don't have to be expensive. Paris has two main airports and several budget carriers competing for routes. The gap between a €400 flight and a €120 flight is mostly timing and flexibility.

Paris Airports: CDG vs Beauvais

Charles de Gaulle (CDG) — main airport, 30 km northeast of Paris

• Most flights land here
• Connected to Paris by RER B train (€11.80, ~45 min to city center)
• Taxi: €55 fixed rate to right bank, €62 to left bank
• Better option if arriving with luggage and want direct train

Paris Beauvais (BVA) — budget airport, 85 km north of Paris

• Used almost exclusively by Ryanair
• Shuttle bus to Porte Maillot: €17, takes 75-90 min
• Total journey: 2.5+ hours to city center
• Only worth it if the fare difference is €50+

Orly (ORY) — south of Paris, mostly domestic + some European routes

• Connected by Orlyval train + RER B (€14.10)
• Closer to central Paris than CDG

Budget Airlines to France

Ryanair

• Routes: Dublin, London Stansted, Barcelona, Porto, Rome, Madrid → Beauvais or smaller French airports
• Fares from: €9.99 (promotional) to €40-70 (standard)
• Watch out for: baggage fees (cabin bag €8-25, checked bag €20-50), airport check-in fee (€55 if you don't check in online)

EasyJet

• Routes: Many European cities → CDG, Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse
• Fares from: €20-80
• More generous baggage than Ryanair: 1 small bag free
• Flies into better airports than Ryanair

Vueling

• Strong Barcelona-France connections
• Fares: €30-90

Transavia

• French low-cost carrier (Air France subsidiary)
• Good for Amsterdam, Rotterdam → France routes

From the UK: Eurostar vs Flying

Eurostar (train)

• London St Pancras → Paris Gare du Nord: 2h15
• City centre to city centre—no airport hassle
• Fares: £40-200 (book early for cheap)
• Environmental cost: much lower than flying
• Worth it over any flight once you factor in airport time

Flying London-Paris:

• Add Heathrow/Gatwick + security + CDG + transit = 4.5-5 hours total
• Eurostar wins on time and often on price

When to Book

Best booking window: 6-10 weeks before travel for European routes

Cheapest days to fly: Tuesday and Wednesday

Most expensive: Friday afternoon, Sunday evening

Avoid school holidays: French school holidays (Toussaint in October, Christmas, February, April, July-August) push prices up significantly.

Shoulder season advantage: September and October flights are 30-50% cheaper than July-August.

Using Skyscanner Effectively

1. Set up price alerts: Enter route + dates → "Watch this price" → email notification when price drops
2. Whole month view: Select "Cheapest month" to see price calendar
3. Flexible airports: Search "Paris" as destination—it searches all 3 airports
4. Nearby airports: Toggle on—might find cheaper flights to Marseille if you're heading south
5. Book direct: Skyscanner shows the price, then click through to airline's own site. Booking direct avoids third-party fees and makes changes easier.

Hidden Costs to Watch

• Checked baggage: Budget airlines charge €20-50 per bag. Pack in carry-on if possible.
• Seat selection: Skip it. Free random seat assignment is fine for short flights.
• Airport transfers: Factor this in. Beauvais-Paris shuttle (€17) vs CDG RER (€11.80)
• Travel insurance: Buy separately, not from the airline—cheaper and better coverage

The Total Cost Calculation

A "€30 Ryanair flight" often becomes:

• €30 flight
• €25 cabin bag fee
• €17 Beauvais shuttle
• €10 travel insurance = €82 total

A "€80 EasyJet flight" into CDG often becomes:

• €80 flight
• €0 (small bag included)
• €11.80 RER train
• €10 travel insurance = €101.80 total

Not always as different as it seems. Calculate the full cost.

Explore France with Trevurs

Once you land and reach your hotel, download Trevurs. Audio tours by locals for Paris neighborhoods and French regions—no Wi-Fi needed once you've downloaded.