30 Tips Before You Book a Flight to Europe

If you only have seven hours on an overnight flight, assume that at least three of them will involve safety announcements and food service, leaving you only four hours of shut eye. Departures from anywhere west of Chicago will add precious sleep time.

It's easy to overlook a connection on the way home that happens after your bedtime. Study all the flight times on the suggested routes before you book.

A quick overnight, either outbound or on your way home, can make the difference between arriving exhausted or perky. Some airlines, like Iceland Air even help with the process.

If your preferred airline doesn't have a stopover program, build your own using the multi-city flight search.

On the way out of the country, it's a good way to avoid possible delays that could interrupt your trip. On the way home, it is possible that you will be too exhausted to drive to your house. The bonus is that you may get free parking for the duration of the trip.

You are going to be doing lots of research leading up to the purchase of your tickets. Every single site you have visited is now tracking you. Delete their cookies and reboot your computer before you book to get a fair price.

Be prepared to jump on great airfare deals. They will disappear-maybe tomorrow, maybe ten minutes from now. Getting the hot deals requires decisiveness.

Flights to and from what you might consider out-of-the-way airports may be cheaper than their well-known counterparts. Think Austin not Houston, Long Beach, not LAX, but be sure to factor extra transportation costs into your budget.

The hottest tip I have for you right now is Norwegian Air. Fares are low enough that you can book premium cabin seats for less than the economy fares on most U.S.-based airlines. And they are flying 787 Dreamliners to Europe.

And not just on the low-cost carriers. Even German giant, Lufthansa makes you pay to pick your seat sooner than twenty-four hours before departure. And pay you should if you care about comfort at all.

Even the largest foreign carriers often beat U.S.-based airlines when it comes to price, seat choices, and food.

Cheap flights are great, but if a flight on an airline that you use frequently (or one that partners with them) is not outrageously over-priced, consider it as an option to get those precious miles. A flight to Europe can net enough airmiles to get you a one-way ticket to some domestic or Caribbean destinations.

Most airline bassinets only fit in those extra-legroom seats at the bulkheads. Avoiding that general area gives you at least a fighting chance of not flying near screaming tots.

Seat Guru has detailed information about airlines, planes, and specific seats, as well as up-to-date reviews from people who recently flew the same route you are considering.

Your job is not over once you have booked the tickets and chosen your seats. Things happen that could cause the airline to swap you seats. Diligence is required until your behind in actually in the seat.

Remember those low-cost carriers I told you about? You have got to read all the fine print. Their lowest cost long-haul flight may not include meals. You can always eat in the airport or bring food and snacks along with you.

Yes. Really. It's reason enough not to sit in the last row of the plane. It's usually more of a no-more-chicken situation, but occasionally there may be no meal left at all. If that's the case, stand your ground and send the flight attendant in your cabin to see if there's any leftovers in the premium cabins.

There are airlines known for really good food-Singapore Air, Alitalia, and Qatar Airways, among the top contenders.

Traveling to and between most European countries is usually free from visa requirements, but checking with the state department is wise, both before and after you book your flights.

As you plan your connections and airport transfers, assume that you may be standing in line up to an hour.

Those plus seats in the economy cabin seem like an unnecessary expense when you are sitting comfortably on your couch in your jammies booking your flights. Concentrate on your comfort in that flying tube for hours and you'll make the right choice.

United has something called a "subscription" for a year's worth of economy plus seats that may be priced less than the add-on price for those seats on one trip to Europe.

They aren't totally secret, just hard to find. Often an airline will have upgrade options that include dollars and miles, or possibly even a bidding option for upgrading to a higher class of seat. The secret is you have to dig deep on the airline's website. Here are the details on Lufthansa's bidding program.

While U.S. carriers may have relatively standard sizing for both checked and carryon bags, foreign carriers do not. It behooves you to check those critical sizes before you book the ticket. Buying new carryon bags or paying for oversized checked bags can be budget busting.

Things you may need include: neck pillow, head phones, warm socks, eye mask, and a water bottle. And almost any blanket is better than an airline blanket.

Plan more time that you normally would for departures and connections in Europe. Foreign security measures often involve multiple checkpoints and lots of questions asked, starting at the check-in desk.

Misspellings or incorrect dates of birth can be serious security hang ups. Avoid tremendous hassles by making sure that your ticket and passport match exactly.

The sheer size of some airports in Europe can make connections complicated and time-consuming. Plan your flights accordingly.

Even if you manage to get some sleep on your flight, it is best not to plan too many activities on your first day on the ground in Europe. A better plan is to take it easy on day one and hit the ground running on day two.

The Mobile Passport smartphone app is the easiest way to cut the lines when you land back in the U.S. It's easy to use, but you'll need to install it and take a photo when you have good Internet service, so do it as soon as you book the tickets and you'll be set to go.