What is the cheapest month to fly to Paris from the US?

January is the cheapest month, with average round-trip fares around $541. November is a close second at about $528. Both months offer 30-40% savings over summer peak pricing. If you can handle cooler weather, you'll find the best deals between November and March.

How far in advance should I book flights to Paris?

About 2 months before departure for the best fares. For summer travel, extend that to 3-5 months ahead since demand is much higher. Don't book more than 6 months out unless you find an exceptional deal, as airlines hold back their best promotional fares for the 2-4 month booking window.

Which Paris airport is cheapest to fly into?

Paris Orly (ORY) is generally cheapest from the US thanks to French Bee's budget nonstop service from Newark, Miami, and San Francisco. Beauvais-Tille (BVA) has the lowest average fares at around $110, but it's 50 miles from Paris with an extra $20 bus transfer, so factor in the added time and cost.

What is the cheapest airline to fly to Paris from the US?

French Bee offers the lowest base fares, starting around $200 one-way from Newark, Miami, and San Francisco to Paris Orly. With bags and meals added, expect $280-$320 total. Icelandair connecting through Reykjavik and Norse Atlantic via London are also competitive alternatives.

Is it cheaper to fly into London and take the Eurostar to Paris?

Sometimes yes. Budget fares to London Gatwick ($150-$200 one-way on Norse Atlantic) plus a Eurostar ticket ($50-$80) can total less than a direct flight to Paris. The Eurostar takes 2 hours 15 minutes from central London to central Paris. This works best when direct Paris fares are above $500 round trip.

How to Find Cheap Flights to Paris

The Quick Answer

Fly to Paris from the US for $350-$550 round trip by booking about 2 months ahead, flying in January or November, and considering budget carriers like French Bee or Norse Atlantic through London. Flights from New York and Newark are consistently the cheapest, often dipping below $400 round trip during sales.

Start with the Right Search Tools

Paris is served by multiple airports and airlines, so searching just one booking site leaves money on the table.

Google Flights is your command center. The calendar view shows you the cheapest dates at a glance. Set up price tracking on your preferred route and Google will alert you when fares drop. The "Explore" map shows every destination with pricing, so you can confirm Paris is the best deal or spot a cheaper European entry point nearby.
Skyscanner excels at finding budget carrier fares that mainstream engines miss. Use the "Whole month" search to compare costs across different travel windows.
Momondo searches consolidators and smaller online travel agencies. It consistently surfaces fares $20-$50 lower than competitors on transatlantic routes.
Going.com sends deal alerts for mistake fares and flash sales to Paris. Members have found round trips for under $300. The free tier is limited, but premium pays for itself with one catch.

Search on these tools, then book directly on the airline's website for better customer service and easier changes.

Know Your Paris Airports

Paris has three airports that serve international flights. Which one you fly into can significantly impact your total cost.

Charles de Gaulle (CDG): The main international hub. Most legacy carriers fly here. Fares from the US start around $218 from New York. The RER B train gets you to central Paris in about 35 minutes for around $12.
Orly (ORY): The budget carrier airport. French Bee flies here from Newark, Miami, and San Francisco with fares starting around $204. Orly is actually closer to central Paris than CDG, about 25 minutes by Orlyval + Metro.
Beauvais-Tille (BVA): The deep-discount option. Ryanair and Wizz Air use this airport for European connections. Average fares around $110 but it's 50 miles from Paris, and the bus transfer adds about $20 and 75 minutes. Only worth it if the savings are substantial.

When you search on Google Flights, enter "Paris" as the destination to see all airports. The difference between CDG and Orly on the same dates can be $50-$100.

Budget Airlines to Paris

Several budget and mid-range carriers have made Paris surprisingly affordable from the US.

French Bee: The top pick for budget Paris flights. Flies Airbus A350s (newer planes with decent legroom) from Newark, Miami, and San Francisco to Paris Orly. Base fares start around $200 one-way. You'll pay extra for checked bags and meals, but the total is still well below legacy carriers. This is consistently the cheapest nonstop option from the East Coast.
Norse Atlantic Airways: Doesn't fly directly to Paris, but their cheap fares to London Gatwick plus a $30-$50 Eurostar train ticket to Paris can be cheaper than a direct flight. The Eurostar takes 2 hours 15 minutes from London to Paris city center.
Icelandair: Connects through Reykjavik with fares often under $400 round trip. The layover adds time, but their free Iceland stopover program is a nice bonus.
Norwegian/Condor: Seasonal service with competitive pricing, particularly from East Coast cities.
La Compagnie: An all-business-class airline flying New York to Paris. Not budget, but their fares ($1,500-$2,500 round trip) are a fraction of what Delta or Air France charge for business class.

Remember to price out bags. French Bee's $200 base fare becomes about $280-$320 with a carry-on and checked bag. Still a great deal, but not $200.

When to Book

The Booking Window

For Paris flights, aim to book about 2 months before departure. This is when airlines have released their promotional fares but seats aren't yet scarce enough to drive prices up. For peak summer travel, extend that to 3-5 months ahead.

Don't book more than 6 months out unless you spot an exceptional deal. Airlines hold back their best prices for the 2-4 month window.

Cheapest Months to Fly

January: The cheapest month, with average round-trip fares around $541. Paris is chilly but uncrowded. Museums have no lines, restaurants welcome you warmly, and the city feels like it belongs to you.
November: Nearly as cheap at around $528 average. The weather's moody but the holiday markets are starting up and the food scene is in full swing.
February-March: Still off-peak with fares 20-30% below summer. Paris in early spring is gorgeous, especially late March when the cherry blossoms appear.
April-May: Shoulder season. Prices are rising but still reasonable. The weather is ideal.
June-August: Peak season. Expect to pay $700-$1,000+ round trip. Paris is packed with tourists. If you must go in summer, fly midweek and book 4+ months ahead.

Best Days to Depart

Fly in the evening for the cheapest fares, with prices starting around $681. Tuesday and Wednesday departures are consistently cheaper than weekend flights. A midweek departure and return can save $80-$150 on the same route compared to a Friday-Sunday schedule.

Cheapest US Departure Cities

Your departure city has a huge impact on what you'll pay.

Newark (EWR): The cheapest departure point thanks to French Bee's nonstop service to Orly. Fares from $204 one-way.
New York (JFK): Fierce competition from Air France, Delta, Norse Atlantic, and La Compagnie. Round trips from $400-$500 are common.
Seattle (SEA): Surprisingly cheap to CDG, with fares from $230. Condor and Icelandair connections keep prices competitive.
Boston (BOS): Fares from $252. Multiple carriers compete on this route.
Dallas (DFW): Starting from $230 to Orly, thanks to connecting itineraries and occasional direct service.
San Francisco (SFO): French Bee's nonstop to Orly makes this the best West Coast option.
Miami (MIA): French Bee nonstop service keeps fares competitive.

If you're in a city with expensive Paris fares, consider a positioning flight. A $80 Southwest flight to Newark plus a $250 French Bee fare beats a $900 direct from your hometown.

The Connecting Flight Strategy

Nonstop flights to Paris are wonderful. Connecting flights are cheaper. Here's how to make connections work.

Through Reykjavik: Icelandair routes through Iceland with fares often $200-$300 less than nonstop. Add a free stopover and you've got two trips for the price of one.
Through London + Eurostar: Fly budget to London, then take the Eurostar train to Paris for $50-$80. Total cost can be $100-$200 less than flying direct, and you get to see two cities.
Through Dublin: Aer Lingus offers competitive connecting fares with US customs preclearance in Dublin.
Through Amsterdam or Frankfurt: KLM and Lufthansa hub through these cities with competitive connecting fares to CDG.

A connection adds 2-4 hours but can save $200-$400. For a weeklong Paris trip, the trade-off is usually worth it.

Mistake Fares and Deal Alerts

The cheapest Paris flights are often mistake fares. Airlines occasionally post fares at a fraction of the intended price. Round trips from the US to Paris have shown up for under $250.

To catch these deals:

Set up Google Flights price tracking for your preferred route
Subscribe to Going.com premium for instant deal alerts
Follow Secret Flying for mistake fare coverage
Check the r/flights subreddit for crowd-sourced deals

When you see a deal, book immediately. Don't deliberate. Mistake fares disappear within hours, sometimes minutes.

Points and Miles for Paris

A single credit card sign-up bonus can cover your Paris flight entirely.

Air France/KLM Flying Blue: Transfer partners with Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi. Off-peak economy awards from the East Coast start at 30,000 miles round trip. Flying Blue runs monthly "Promo Rewards" with discounts of 25-50% on specific routes.
Delta SkyMiles: Transfer from Amex. Delta flies nonstop from multiple US cities to CDG. Awards start around 50,000-60,000 miles round trip.
Virgin Atlantic: Transfer from Chase, Amex, or Capital One. Book Air France metal through Virgin Atlantic for sometimes lower mileage requirements.

Flying Blue Promo Rewards are the hidden gem here. When Paris appears on the promo list, you can book economy for as few as 20,000 miles round trip from the East Coast. That's an extraordinary deal.