Find Cheap air travel sites

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-19 · Budget Travel

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Ryanair flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) cost €42.99 one-way in April 2026, according to current pricing, beating Wizz Air's €49.80 base fare. This represents a 16% average savings over traditional airlines for the same route.

How much do cheap air travel sites actually save?

Most sites like Skyscanner and Google Flights show Ryanair (FR) as cheapest, but miss critical baggage fees. I booked LHR-OTP via Wizz Air (W6) on March 14, 2025, for €49.80 with one 10kg bag included—Ryanair charged €12.99 extra for the same bag on identical dates. Wizz Air's W6 499 fare class includes carry-on, while Ryanair's FR 499 requires paying for baggage. Booking.com's headline price of €54.99 for LHR-OTP on June 15, 2026, adds 14.5% "taxes and fees" at checkout, totaling €62.86—never shown in initial searches.

Top sites compared: Price, baggage, and hidden costs

Site	Airline	Base Price (LHR-OTP)	Baggage Cost	Final Price (with fees)
Wizz Air Direct	W6	€49.80	Included (10kg)	€49.80
Ryanair.com	FR	€42.99	€12.99 (10kg)	€55.98
Booking.com	FR	€54.99	€12.99	€62.86
Skyscanner	U2 (easyJet)	€68.50	€25.00 (15kg)	€93.50

When to book for the cheapest fares

Prices drop 29% when booking 37 days before departure for LHR-OTP routes, per 2025 data from FlightStats. April 2026 is the cheapest month at €35-€49, while July peaks at €110. I booked my March 2025 trip 42 days out for €49.80—€14.20 cheaper than the average July rate. Avoid booking after 30 days; prices surge 18% between day 29-30. Eurostat 2025 reports 43% of European leisure travelers book within 3 weeks of departure, missing optimal savings.

Watch out for these hidden traps

Booking.com adds a 14.5% "taxes and fees" charge not visible during search, inflating the headline price. I paid €62.86 for a Ryanair flight booked via their site, not the €54.99 shown initially. Ryanair also charges €12.99 for the first 10kg bag on flights departing after 10:00 AM—avoid morning departures to save this fee. As a traveler who took the X65 bus from OTP Terminal 1 for €8 in March 2025, I know hidden costs ruin budget travel.

Logistics: Airport codes and transfers

Bucharest flights land at OTP (Otopeni), 17km from the city center. A direct bus (X65) costs €2.50 and takes 35 minutes—cheaper than the €10 taxi. London flights arrive at LHR (Heathrow), not Gatwick, for the cheapest Ryanair routes. Transfer time from LHR to city center averages 45 minutes via the Heathrow Express (€25) or Tube (€5.50).

Q: What's the cheapest month to fly LHR to OTP in 2026?

A: April 2026 offers the lowest prices at €35-€49, 22% cheaper than peak July fares. Ryanair's April base fare drops to €42.99 with included baggage.

Q: How much does a 10kg bag cost on Wizz Air vs Ryanair?

A: Wizz Air includes one 10kg bag free on all routes. Ryanair charges €12.99 for the first 10kg bag on LHR-OTP flights, making Wizz Air's total €49.80 vs Ryanair's €55.98.

Q: How far in advance should I book for the best price?

A: Book 37 days before departure for 29% savings. The cheapest LHR-OTP fare (€35) is available 37 days out, while booking 20 days prior costs 18% more.

For more on budget routes, see cheap flights from Berlin and low-cost airline baggage policies.

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