My Review of Transatlantic Airlines: What to Fly Over to Europe from The USA

Ever wonder where to start with booking a flight to Europe? Maybe you are like me and just go onto google flights and book the cheapest one with no care as to which airline it is or what the connections are along the way. This is a great was to book a trip! But maybe you prefer to look at a specific airline and you don’t care about the cost because you just want a non-stressful flight. I am going to rate my experiences with each airline I have flown with over to Europe to help those who are maybe unsure about booking a certain airline or maybe want a starting point for looking at a trip. I will rank these from my least favorite to the ones I have had the best experience with, so lets get into it!

(But first a disclaimer: keep in mind my home airport is Minneapolis-St.Paul, so some experiences, especially when I comes to connections can vary very much from my own.)

6. Air Canada

Rating: 9/20

Pros: Cheap, Provides Onboard Meal

Cons: Unreliable, Multiple Connections

I have flown Air Canada once in my life and will never do it again. I didn’t like it at all. I flew it over for one of my bigger European trips where I was arriving in Brussels and flying out of Zurich. I had two connections on the way there, Canada and London. The Canada connection was stressful and rushed and then my flight from London got delayed. It was one of my most stressful flight experiences. Then on the way back home I had trouble checking in online and ended up being put on standby. I didn’t get a seat on the flight until boarding began and I ended up with an exit row seat, which is nice for the extra legroom, but I was in a middle seat (which I don’t like) and I couldn’t have any of my stuff in front of me (which I also don’t like). I have also heard of other people having bad experiences with the airline, especially due to delays. It’s very unreliable.

The only positives is that is can be pretty cheap and provides a complimentary meal.

5. Icelandair

Rating: 13/20

Pros: Cheap, Small Airplane = Quick Boarding/Disembarking

Cons: Connection in Iceland Makes Sleeping Difficult, No Complimentary Meal

I have a love hate relationship with Icelandair. I have had some really amazing experiences, but also some stressful ones. I have had weather cause me to be rebooked on other flights and airlines as well as quick connections in Iceland. My most recent experience with Icelandair was really smooth though and was a great connection. It can go either way really, but they are good about rebooking you if there are issues. If you do have a connection there that goes well, Keflavik is one of the nicest airports in the world. Its not overcrowded, there are great food options, and everything is clean and great quality. My only other complaint is that it makes it hard to sleep on the plane when going over to Europe because your transatlantic flight is basically being split in half in Iceland so you don’t have a long portion where you can get your night’s sleep.

It is a great airline for those on a budget though. I have never booked a flight above $600 (not including the upgrade to choose my seat and check a bag). You just have to keep in mind that you are paying for a cheaper flight. There are no complimentary meals on board. You also won’t receive a blanket, pillow, or any of the other items an overseas flight may provide. There are screens now with some entertainment options and for the most part it is a pretty comfortable plane. Its a smaller plane with a singular aisle and three seats on each side. This smaller aircraft makes boarding and disembarking the aircraft much easier and quicker.

Choosing Icelandair just comes down to who you are. If its the cheapest option (which it very often is), I have no problem booking Icelandair even though it is a bit annoying buying my meals at the airport ahead of time. I have had stressful moments, but it has always worked out for me.

3. Aer Lingus

Rating: 15/20

Pros: Cheap and Easy to go to Ireland, Irish Accents

Cons: Onboard Services Aren’t Top Tier

This is my new favorite airline! I have only flown Aer Lingus for the first time on my most recent trip that I only returned from last week. I had a great experience though. I travel to Ireland so much and now that Aer Lingus flies directly from Minneapolis to Dublin I hope to take it again, especially because it was so affordable. Why wouldn’t you choose the direct flight when it is the same price as all the others?

What did I enjoy about the flight? First off I chose my seat at the back of the plane and because it wasn’t a full flight I got a row to myself both there and back. It was a small airplane with the three seats on each side, so I got quite a bit of room. The only downside to this was being right next to the bathroom so there was always people with hands on the seat and waiting in the aisle right next to me.

My only complaint was that I had a hard time finding something to watch, but there wasn’t necessarily bad movies. I also wasn’t super impressed by the meals as I got stuck with beef on my way there (I don’t eat beef) and my pasta on the way home wasn’t anything special. There also wasn’t alway a blanket provided. These are really minor though and would not stop me from booking the airline again. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.

As for those who may fly Aer Lingus with a connection in Dublin to another European country, I can not attest to how this would go. I have been to Dublin Airport many times though and would assume that a connection would go quite smoothly here. I have never spent too much time in line for customs and the airport is very easy to get around and understand. There are also a lot of great food and shopping options. I trust the Irish with my life, so I would go towards the route that this is a very reliable airline.

3. United Airlines

Score: 15/20

Pros: Cheap, Good Onboard Services

Cons: Often Paired with Smaller and Less Reliable Airlines

For me United Airlines just feels like a standard airline. It isn’t anything spectacular, but it is reliable and has gotten me where I need to go. I have flown it to Italy and back as well as a partner with my Air Canada flight. I think the biggest downside to United Airlines is the fact that it’s partner airlines are smaller, regional, and less reliable airlines. Otherwise it feels a lot like an American Airlines or Delta flight. You just will probably never find a direct flight with United. They will often be cheaper than these other airlines though. For a cheaper airline they still offer good on boards services from a good selection of entertainment to good meals. United wouldn’t be my go-to airline, but I think it is a great option for booking a flight to Europe, just be extra aware of the connections you are booking.

2. American Airlines

Score: 16/20

Pros: Great Onboard Services, Very Reliable

Cons: Will Most Likely Not Fly Direct

American Airlines is one of my favorites, but sadly I don’t get to fly them that often. When I do, I have a great flight experience. Before I get into why it’s so good, here is what you should know about American Airlines first. If you are from a smaller airport that may not be an American Airlines hub, then you will have a connection going to Europe. The nice thing about these connections vs the connections of the other airlines I have talked about is that your connection will most likely be in the United States, meaning it is a smoother layover since you won’t have to do customs until you’re at your final destination unless you have another connection in Europe.

I also have always been really satisfied with the in flight experience. Typically it is a bigger plane which can mean more room since there are more aisle seats. I have never had a complaint about the food they serve. There also is great entertainment options. If they flew from Minneapolis more I would definitely fly American more often. This is a really great place to start looking for a flight to Europe. Plus, because they are a bigger airline they are really good about rebooking if there are issues as well as taking care of you if something comes up.

1. Delta

Score: 18/20

Pros: The Most Reliable and Comfortable, Great Onboard Services

Cons: Can Be Expensive For Certain Destinations, Common Connection in Amsterdam

Delta is my favorite airline. I will admit I am a Delta snob and I have no shame about it. Sometimes Delta is the more expensive option, but there are time it isn’t. I am so happy when it is the cheapest option because then I can justify flying Delta. If you are looking for a cheap flight then I wouldn’t necessarily start with looking at Delta’s website and instead see if it comes up as an option in Google Flights. Otherwise you might end up with an expensive flight. If you are a Delta rewards member though then you should definitely book Delta because that free checked bag you get with your card will already save you $200.

The only downside I can think of with Delta is that if you are flying to Europe (or at least from MSP), if not booking directly then the connection will most likely be in Amsterdam with a KLM flight through Europe. I don’t necessarily dislike Amsterdam, but it is a really stressful connection. You usually only get about an hour connection in which you have to go through passport control and get to your next gate. I’ve never missed a flight there, but I have really stressed myself out. Plus, they are really good about letting you jump ahead of the line if your flight is soon. With this quick layover though you are at risk of losing you luggage. On one of my school trips a good portion of our group didn’t get their luggage because of this connection and I have also lost my luggage to this airport when I really needed it for the Taylor Swift concert in Munich. I would just suggest getting a connection in the US if flying Delta to Europe.

Now lets talk about the good stuff that may make this risk worth it. If there are issues with your flight Delta is really good about rebooking you and because its such a huge airline they have so many more flights they can put you on so you can still get to your destination that day and hopefully not too much later. They are also great about providing vouchers and such for issues. They also have the best in flight experience. You can count on a pillow and blanket, great movies, and to never go hungry. They feed you so much and will make sure you always have a couple bottles of water. Going overseas with them will be a large aircraft so there is a lot of leg room and walking room, but these big planes mean getting off the plane may take longer. I kind of prefer the big planes though as long as I am in an aisle seat on the window side of the aisle. I also think they do have the most comfortable seats for economy. Anyway that is the end of my Delta ad. I feel the most comfortable flying Delta and I highly recommend flying Delta.

Bonus: Lufthansa

Pros: The Best Flight Experience

Cons: Expensive

This is a bonus airline that you probably will never fly unless you are German. I got to fly Lufthansa once, but it was kind of on accident. Remember when I was saying I had a bad experience with Icelandair? Well there was bad weather in Iceland and I was 17 flying by myself for the first time and they rebooked my on American to Chicago (this is where my hate for O’Hare started) and then was on standby on Lufthansa to Frankfurt. Luckily I got on Lufthansa. Even though I got a middle seat (which I hate), I was in an exit row so I got a lot of leg room and I was next to two nice German colleagues. Lufthansa felt way too fancy for me. I can’t remember the whole experience because it was 7 years ago, but I just remember there being an upper floor of seats and having good food. This is definitely an airline for people with money, which means I will probably never fly it again, but just know if you are booking Lufthansa, you are going to have the very best in flight experience. Enjoy it while you can!

I hope this helps you to plan your next trip to Europe! Keep in mind that these are all from the perspective of flying from MSP, but these reviews can be relevant to many other flights with these airlines overseas. These are some of the biggest airlines in the US, so at some point you will probably fly these airlines if you are planning to be a big traveler! Just remember to do what is best for yourself to make sure you feel the most comfortable about your choice going abroad.