Been looking into cheap ways to explore Europe and honestly, finding the right budget airlines makes such a difference. I've been digging into which ones actually deliver and here's what I found.

EasyJet is pretty solid if you want options. They've got bases everywhere - Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, but also smaller spots like Porto and Inverness. The seasonal routes to places like Malta and Ibiza sometimes have killer last-minute deals if you're flexible with timing.

Blue Air from Romania is interesting because they're kind of in between budget and full-service. They partner with other carriers too, which expands where you can actually go. It's worth checking if they serve your route.

Then there's Play from Iceland - they've got this playful vibe to their bookings and they're genuinely cheap for Europeans traveling to the US and back. Just remember that extras like legroom cost extra, which is standard for budget airlines across Europe.

French Bee is another option if you're doing longer hauls from Paris. They branded themselves as 'smart-cost' which basically means reasonable prices without feeling like you're sacrificing everything.

Honestly though, Lufthansa and Swiss are worth considering too. Yeah, they're not ultra-budget, but the economy experience is way better than some competitors. Lufthansa especially has solid legroom and their service is reliable. Swiss is similar - they actually care about comfort and their meals aren't terrible.

So when you're picking a Europe budget airline, it really depends on your route and what you're willing to compromise on. The cheapest isn't always the best deal if you end up paying for everything else.