If you have been dreaming of exploring the streets of London, discovering the historic charm of Edinburgh, or experiencing the culture of Manchester, then you are at the right place! Whatever your UK travel plans are, finding affordable flights is key to making your trip a reality.
With so many airlines, routes, and booking options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll share our top tips for getting cheap UK flights among other relevant information.
What are the Best Airlines that Fly to the UK in 2024?
1. Lufthansa
Lufthansa is a full-service German airline based in Cologne that is ranked among the biggest airline companies in Europe which operate more than 210 routes in 73 countries including the UK. Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program is Miles & More, through which it rewards its customers in the form of points that can be used to gain free flights, upgrades, and other services. Although it has few transfer partners with the world’s leading point systems, the program is most appreciated for its high-end redemption opportunities.
Furthermore, Lufthansa’s fees are not bad compared to that of some of its competitors. Although, seat selection is charged in economy classes and some premium economy classes, passengers in business and first class have their seat selection done for free. Also, free checked baggage for all guests travelling on intercontinental flights is offered by Lufthansa as opposed to other airlines that charge exorbitant baggage fees.
2. Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was launched in 1984 and operates more than 34 routes in 18 different countries, one of which is the UK. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club loyalty program rewards members points depending on the distance of the flight and class with Silver and Gold members getting 30% and 60% extra points, respectively. These points average a value of 1.8 cents each making them attractive for redeems such as flights and upgrades. Also, the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® improves points accumulation and has some benefits.
Finally, Virgin Atlantic is known for having a relatively small fee compared to other airlines. It provides a free selection of seats for most passengers as opposed to some other airlines that will charge passengers for this service.
3. British Airways
British Airways is a full-service carrier, providing extensive amenities across its four cabin classes: economy, premium economy, business, and first. This airline is involved in many flights to international destinations as well as having partnerships with many other airlines through having codeshares. Currently, Skytrax, an international airline quality rating company, accords British Airways the distinguished four-star status.
One benefit of flying with BA is its Executive Club loyalty program, which offers three levels of elite status: Bronze, silver and gold. Members move up through these tiers by accruing Tier Points based on their travel throughout the year. Points can also be exchanged for flights, upgrades, and vacation packages.
4. Air France
Air France is the flagship airline of France, recognised to be competitive, efficient and comfortable when it comes to booking and boarding. You can purchase a ticket through the website of Air France, but to compare options and get the best prices, one should use such platforms as Google Flights or other flight scanners. These sites assist in the search for cheap flights and lead to Air France’s website for the purchase of the tickets. Air France also subdivides the boarding process into five zones.
Business and first class passengers as well as elite members travel in Sky Priority zones 1 and 2, which means fast and problem-free boarding. Economy passengers are further categorized into different zones from 3 to 5 which makes it easier in terms of travel class. During the flight, there are numerous movies and TV shows that passengers can watch, and headphones are free of charge. The meals and beverages depend on the class of the trip as well as the length of the flight.
5. Turkish Airlines
This airline is based in Istanbul and is a member of the Star Alliance. Popular for the many routes it covers, the airline serves over 300 destinations around the world, making it the only airline to do so. Miles&Smiles is the airline’s loyalty program that operates based on distance flown, member tier etc. The miles obtained can be used for all Star Alliance partner airlines through a zone-based award chart. One can also earn miles through credit card partners which include Citi ThankYou, Bilt Rewards, and Capital One.
As for the onboard services, Turkish Airlines offers the best of services both for the business class as well as the economy class. Although it lacks first and business classes as well as premium economy, its business class is well regarded for its comfort and services. The travel experience of the economy class passengers is also satisfactory with good service and adequate features.
6. Emirates
This is another global leading airline based in Dubai, UAE and has a fleet size of more than 260 aircraft. It operates in 134 cities in 73 countries, which also include the UK. While Emirates does not belong to any airline alliance, it operates an extensive network, connecting major cities within the United States. The flexibility of the Emirates Skywards loyalty program is excellent for collecting points through partners such as American Express among others.
Emirates is also famous for its four-class service provision, which enhances the travel experience of passengers. The luxurious features especially on the Airbus A380 are superb, including private cabins, gourmet cuisine, bar and shower among others. While business class passengers get lie-flat beds and access to lounges, premium economy and economy passengers get comfortable seats and entertainment on board.
7. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM airline is one of the best airlines known and has its operational base at the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Being part of the Air France-KLM Group and SkyTeam alliance, KLM offers both passenger and cargo transportation to 145 destinations. As of 2021, KLM operates 110 aircraft and has a workforce of 35,488 employees.
However, within Economy, there is Economy Comfort, which is equipped with seats that allow for even more legroom. Entertainment facilities in all the long-haul cabins include personal screen with audio-video on demand, satellite telephone, SMS and e-mail facilities. For short and mid-haul flights, the aircraft has Economy Class at the rear section, Economy Comfort and Europe Business Class at the forward section.
8. EgyptAir
This airline is the national carrier of Egypt which is based in Cairo and has its main hub at Cairo International Airport. It operates from Cairo International Airport and was established in 1932 making it one of the oldest airlines in the world. EgyptAir is part of the Star Alliance, so it provides customers with access to international destinations. Hence, the company operates flights to over 70 locations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
EgyptAir maintains a fleet of aircraft to meet the different demands of passengers while on-board different classes. These classes are Economy Class, Business Class, and First Class. On full-service flights, all classes of passengers are provided with personal entertainment screens with a library of movies, television programs, music, and games. They also provide free meals and snacks with beverages and special meal requests.
The frequent flyer program of the airline is EgyptAir Plus which lets the members earn the miles on EgyptAir and its Star Alliance members. These miles can be used to pay for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related products and services. It currently has several membership levels with enhanced privileges including free baggage allowance, fast check-in services, and other perks.
9. Royal Air Maroc (RAM)
This airline is the flag carrier airline of Morocco and officially joined the Oneworld alliance in April 2020. This expansion is particularly attractive for travellers wishing to access Africa, as Oneworld has numerous partners including American Airlines, Qantas, Fiji Airways, etc. Therefore, Royal Air Maroc adds over 1,100 locations served in more than 180 countries to the Oneworld alliance.
Royal Air Maroc has several travel classes including Economy, Business, and First Class. In Economy Class, passengers are served snacks on all the flights that do not take more than 4 hours and mostly cold sandwiches and hot meals on all flights that take more than 4 hours. It also boasts modern in-flight entertainment facilities for all classes of travel. Passengers in Business and First-Class are also offered more services such as access to the business class lounge, premium meal service, and fully flat seats on long hauls.
The loyalty program of the airline is Safar Flyer where members are enabled to earn and redeem mileage on Royal Air Maroc flights and on its Oneworld partners. Some of the privileges include priority boarding, extra luggage allowance, and the ability to use special airport lounges.
10. Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE and it connects to 60 destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, including the UK. Although it is a smaller airline compared to some of its competitors, Etihad Airways is famous for its luxury travel experience. Etihad’s loyalty program, Etihad Guest, offers four status tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Members get reimbursable miles according to the flight specifics such as route and class of service.
Etihad established itself using The Residence and The Apartment facilities on its Airbus A380s, which has unique features like private houses, unique meals, and showers on board. While these suites were inactive during the pandemic, they were introduced once again in 2023 as the premier service offering a luxurious flying experience.
How to Get Cheap UK Book Flights
1. Book your Flight Early
There is the misconception that buying a ticket for a long flight at the last moment is great but this is not entirely true. While travelling by flight to the UK, book your ticket before 4 to 5 months to enjoy cheaper prices and better positions. It is advisable to check online often before your trip to compare fares and look out for news. Once you locate a good deal, grab it right away. This is because early booking and prior planning can considerably help cut down travel expenses and hassles.
2. Book a Flight with a Connection
If you want to save money on flying, consider flying with a connection rather than a non-stop flight. While using the flight search websites do not use the option of direct flights only in order to broaden the options. This is because connecting flights may be cheaper than direct flights. However, it is vital to remember that having connecting flights may involve the chances of delays, and this may force you to miss other connecting flights.
3. Subscribe to Airline Newsletters
Airline newsletters are another good source of information that will help you get the best deals on flights. These newsletters consist of offers, discounts, and coupons that are available only for a short period, sometimes for a single day only. This way, you may discover attractive promotions on your flight tickets or get other information which may be useful.
4. Check Loyalty Programs
Loyalty to a particular airline always has its merits as it can be highly rewarding. Joining your favourite airline’s loyalty program may give you access to free checked baggage, priority check-in, priority boarding, and even access to airport lounges. Also, you can accumulate points with each flight that you can later use to buy tickets at a significant discount or even for free. This loyalty does not only improve your travelling experience but also increases your savings.
5. Use Discounts for Students
Some flights are usually cheaper than other standard flights as they are usually provided at a lower rate for students. However, these discounts are not always advertised, so it will be wise to check the airline’s website or call them and find out whether they offer student discounts or not before buying tickets. This makes it possible to save a lot of money in case one decides to take advantage of these discounts, especially as a student.
Conclusion
Finding cheap flights to the UK is easy with the right strategies and smart moves. This article has just shown you how you can go about this and with these tips, you have a high chance of getting affordable flights and enjoying a stress-free journey to the UK. Happy travels!