How we know: Sources are listed at the end. Route, fleet and fare-structure facts come from the cited references. This guide quotes no fares: the right comparison is always the bundle you need on your dates, and the route pages show what each pair costs today.
Low-cost long-haul across the Atlantic is a small, unstable club. WOW air, Norwegian's long-haul arm and, most recently, PLAY (which ceased operations on 29 September 2025 (Play (airline))) have all stopped flying. What remains is a handful of genuine low-cost carriers plus two full-service airlines that behave like value carriers on their own routes. Here is who flies what, and how to compare them honestly.
The genuine low-cost carriers
Norse Atlantic Airways. Boeing 787-9s from New York JFK to London Gatwick, Paris, Rome, Athens, Berlin and Oslo, with Orlando also served; several other US cities have been dropped. Two cabins (Economy 3-3-3, Premium 2-3-2), fares unbundled with fees for bags, seats and meals (Norse Atlantic Airways). Best for: JFK to London and southern Europe, light travellers. See our Norse review and JFK to London.
French Bee. A350s from Paris Orly to Newark, San Francisco, Miami and (seasonally) Los Angeles; economy tiers from Light to Flex, Premium cabin, add-ons for bags and seats (French Bee). Best for: Paris as a destination, new aircraft. See our French Bee review and Newark to Paris.
Level. IAG's low-cost brand, A330s from Barcelona to New York JFK, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco; Economy and Premium Economy, with Wi-Fi, meals and hold bags sold separately (Level). Best for: Spain, and connections on Vueling from Barcelona. See JFK to Barcelona.
Condor. Germany's leisure airline, A330neos with Economy, Premium Economy and Business, long-haul flights departing Frankfurt (Condor). A hybrid rather than pure low-cost: economy fares are tiered with bags and seats as add-ons on the lowest tier. Best for: Germany and onward connections in Europe from its US gateways.
The value full-service carriers
Icelandair. Full service, Star Alliance-style earning with partners, 737 MAX and A321LR aircraft via Keflavík, a stopover of up to seven days in Iceland at no extra airfare, and US gateways including Boston, New York, Washington, Chicago, Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis and Orlando (Icelandair). Best for: a two-country trip, or cheap access to northern Europe. See our Icelandair stopover guide and Boston to Reykjavík.
TAP Air Portugal. Star Alliance, A330neos and A321LRs to Lisbon from Newark, JFK, Boston and Miami among others, discount fare tiers, and a Portugal Stopover of up to 10 days in Lisbon or Porto at no extra airfare (TAP Portugal Stopover). Best for: Portugal, Spain and the Mediterranean via Lisbon. See our TAP review and Newark to Lisbon.
What "budget" actually includes
The pattern is the same everywhere: the headline fare buys a seat and a small personal item. Expect to pay for a full-size cabin bag or a checked bag, seat selection, meals, and any change. Premium cabins on Norse, French Bee and Level are recliner seats with meals included, comparable to the majors' premium economy, not to business class.
How to compare fairly
- Decide the bundle you need: one checked bag, a seat you choose, a meal or not.
- Price the budget carrier's fare with those add-ons.
- Price the majors' basic economy on the same dates from all airports in your city; on competitive routes the gap is often smaller than the headline suggests.
- Count the airport: Orly versus CDG, Gatwick versus Heathrow, Barcelona as a connection point.
- Anchor to the current fare on the route page and set a price alert.
The risks, stated plainly
- Separate tickets. None of the low-cost carriers interline. A missed connection on a separate ticket is your cost; build in a buffer.
- Small fleets. A technical problem can mean a long delay rather than a rebooking on the next flight.
- Insolvency. Three transatlantic low-cost carriers have failed since 2019. Pay by credit card, consider insurance that covers airline failure, and avoid booking non-refundable onward travel months ahead on a separate ticket.
- Network changes. Norse has cut several US cities; French Bee's Los Angeles route is seasonal. Confirm the route operates on your dates.
Verdict
For a light traveller with fixed dates to a city these carriers serve, the savings are real. For anyone connecting onward, travelling with a family and bags, or needing flexibility, a full-service basic economy fare, or Icelandair and TAP with their stopovers, is usually the better value once everything is counted.
FAQ
Which budget airlines fly from the US to Europe? Norse Atlantic, French Bee, Level and Condor are the low-cost or hybrid carriers still operating; Icelandair and TAP are full-service airlines with value pricing.
Is PLAY still flying to Europe? No; PLAY ceased operations on 29 September 2025.
Are budget transatlantic airlines safe? Safety is regulated the same as for any airline. The risks are operational (delays, no interlining) and financial (insolvency), not safety.