Planes, trains (but not automobiles): While young travelers have long relied on trains to travel affordably throughout Europe, now those on even a shoestring budget can afford to fly.

Sure, you’ve likely heard of EasyJet and Ryanair, which led the industry with cheap flights from the United Kingdom to other points in Europe. But today dozens of budget carriers crisscross the continent and offer fares as low as 1 euro.

Who would ever want to spend hours on a crowded train again?

Before you become a sky warrior, a few things are worth keeping in mind about budget airlines. Depending on your itinerary, you could benefit from a combination of transportation modes.

It all depends on how much time you have overall for the trip, the distance you want to cover and how much time you want to spend in each spot,” said Aimйe Goggins, a marketing manager for Lonely Planet, a travel guidebook publisher.

Using budget airlines. When you’re making long hauls, say from Paris to Madrid, it can take more than 12 hours by train.

That’s no problem if you’ve got the time or don’t mind overnight trains (which saves you the cost of a hotel room, to boot).

A one way flight, however, will make the trip in only two hours.

In other words, if you can’t spend a few weeks or more rambling through Europe, low-cost flying is a great way to quickly jump from one major city to the next, taking regional trains once you land.

How to book a flight. Expedia.com and other search engines you may be familiar with won’t bring up these low-cost flights. To find them, head to sites such as Flycheapo.com and Whichbudget.com. Both let you search for carriers that fly between your selected cities, and then take you directly to the airline’s site to book.

Don’t hesitate to use one-way tickets, either.

Low-cost airlines changed the way tickets are priced,” Tom Betts, editor of Flycheapo, said in an e-mail. Now, “the cost is exactly the same for the single ticket whether it is purchased on its own or as part of a return.

Tips for smooth flying. To make flying truly the best option, consider a few things:

Book at least a month in advance to obtain the lowest prices. The best fares are limited to only a few seats. And during July and August, the peak travel period in Europe, those seats go quickly.

Don’t forget about taxes. Fare quotes almost always exclude applicable taxes and fees, which can easily add $25 to the price.

Also, read the fine print. If your itinerary changes, most airlines allow you to switch a ticket for a fee, often about $30, plus any difference in the price of the ticket. Miss a flight, though, and you have to buy a new ticket.

Remember, too, that budget airlines often use remote airports, and that commuting to these airports can add to your travel time and cost, said Martino Matijevic, managing director of WhichBudget.

“Most of the small airports now have shuttle connections, but buses may not run late at night or early in the morning,” Matijevic said.

Using a Eurail pass. If you’re concentrating on one region in Europe or moving consecutively from one country to the next, you may want to invest in a Eurail pass, which for a flat price buys you multiple train rides.

For guidance on how to pick a pass (there are different options),

Also, visit online forums, such as Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree (thorntree.lonelyplanet.com) to see what other travelers have done.

This all requires a little planning. But it’s much easier to relax and be spontaneous when you know you have budgeted for your major expenses wisely.

Are cheap flights legitimate?

Cheap flights are legitimate. Ticket prices go down when the airline has plenty of customers so that they can maximise their flight occupancy and their sales go higher. Also, buying tickets at the earliest also gives cheaper ticket prices.