Quick Answer

Ryanair usually posts the lowest headline fares out of London, flying its largest UK base at Stansted, with Wizz Air matching or beating it from Luton on Central and Eastern European routes. easyJet is often a few pounds more but flies from Gatwick and Luton with a bigger free under-seat bag (45 x 36 x 20 cm) and standard allocated seating. The cheapest airline flips by route and date, so compare all three on your exact days rather than assuming.

Read the full guide: Cheapest Airlines from London in 2026, Airport by Airport

Is Stansted or Luton cheaper to fly from?

Stansted tends to win on fare for Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece because Ryanair bases its largest UK operation there. Luton often wins for Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkans, where Wizz Air is the price setter. Luton is also the cheaper airport to reach, at around £4.90 for the DART plus roughly £15.10 off-peak on Thameslink, versus around £9.90 for an advance Stansted Express ticket and about £22 walking up on the day.

Are £9.99 Ryanair fares real?

Yes, but they are a limited promotional floor rather than a typical price, and they buy you one 40 x 30 x 20 cm under-seat bag and nothing else. Ryanair’s 2026 season lead-in fares start from around £29.99 on some UK regional routes, and London departures to Mediterranean beach destinations commonly land in the £60–150 band once your dates are fixed. Add a cabin trolley, a checked bag or a seat and the real total is usually two to four times the headline number.

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