All European travelers will be faced with mixed airfares and more connections. This makes for the perfect storm for painful flights.
Orlando Melborne International Airport by Aral Tasher
Many travelers heading to Europe this summer already know how much prices are in 2025. But there are lots of deals out there. Unfortunately, these deals mean more painful flights.
Most travel agents I know are getting regular requests, even from usually do-it-yourself travelers seeking any “deal” with airfare.
Prices are improving as we approach takeoff. If there are any rules, they are to buy fully refundable fares and reserve a seat. For some clients hoping to leave San Francisco for Dublin in late June and return from Munich last week, the least expensive reasonable flights had soaring airfares. However, United Airlines had flights for under $600 for a trip to Europe from the East Coast — and that was refundable up to the day of travel.
I avoid selling “basic” or “light” fares because of too many class restrictions on seat reservations and refundable fares.
The basic ticket prices, alas, are just the beginning of the pricing. Personally, I avoid selling the “basic” or “light” fares because they often come with restrictions on everything from seat assignments to baggage (both cabin and checked) to changes for any reason. Go for the refundable fares. If you have painful fights, at least you’re there.
More airlines charge for assigned seats; this means long waits for re-accommodation. Buy refundable tickets and get your seats early.
Another issue this summer: full flights leave very little margin for error, especially with regular strikes and slowdowns so far in 2025. This adds up to painful flights. While travel agents can and do help with schedule changes and missed connections, sometimes nothing works. One poor business class client missed a connection due to an over 2-hour Lufthansa internal German flight delay — where United didn’t hold the flight. The only business class option the next day was via Amsterdam, and the same thing happened. While he got two nights free at airport hotels (business-class clients are treated better), he still ended up home 40 hours later than expected.
Pack patience, pay a bit more, and use a travel agent to eliminate painful flights.
What to do? At this point, if you’ve booked flights, pack patience and contact info for your travel arranger or airline. Consider paying for seat assignments at check-in; there may not be options available, and overwater flights are a long time to sit in a middle seat. Plus, keep a change of clothes in your carry-on.
If you haven’t booked flights, consider booking through a travel agency, or at least an online agency you know to have good customer service and a contact number.
Try to make plane reservations with free seat assignments and buy through a US airline.
Try to ensure it’s a true flight operated by the carrier you chose, as many code-share flights may not allow advance seating.
There’s another reason to book with a US carrier, even if it has to be a codeshare. Most fares now allow changes for a small upcharge, but the ticket must be reissued with the same carrier for a cancellation.
Plus, in my experience, US carriers are more likely to have 800 numbers you can reach at all hours. Remember, if you’ve booked through a preferred agency, they have good help desks.
This summer is not a time to cut connections short. Avoid painful fights.
Finally, if alternatives exist and nonstops are unavailable or too expensive, this is NOT the year to minimize travel time with a tight connection. Two hours at least is safer than the usual one-hour minimum connection time. Worst case, you get extra airport time for shopping, a snack, or reading. At best, you don’t have a day or more cut off your trip.
Of course, even during this summer, many people will experience comfortable, relatively stress-free travel to Europe. It’s just a good idea in 2025 to spend the extra money on refundable tickets and a seat reservation. Bet on avoiding painful flights.
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Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
