Your experiences using FRA or LHR or CDG as a springboard to smaller airlines flights?

If you plan to spend a day or two in your arrival city, and then at least one night in your final departing city, then it's called traveling and many people do this. It's two separate flights on two different days.

If you have the time and budget for the extra days in your arrival city and final departure city, I don't see the issue. I do this.

However, if you try to do this all in one day, it's a recipe for disaster. If you miss the second flight, you are not protected and would have to buy a new ticket at a non-discounted rate.

The other thing to consider is whether you can get from your hub to your final destination by train instead of flying. You get to see much more, and even if it takes a bit longer door to door, there's no mucking about in airports, transport etc.

Most international/intercontinental flights leave and arrive at large hubs. If you are moving forward to a smaller final destination (on the same day or later), you have the choice of a short-haul flight, train, or bus. People do it routinely. People also continue on the same day - a little riskier and can be tiring as well. I have done both. If I am doing the latter, I try to have as much 'layover', several hours if possible. You'll have to balance the time vs. money equation.

I did this going to Sardinia for a conference. Sardinia is not easy to get to from North America. I flew into Gatwick and had a five hour layover before taking an unconnected flight on British airways. My colleague flew into LHR the day before, spent the night in London and met me at Gatwick. On the way back we spent two nights in London.

I bought two one way tickets on British airways. That way if I missed my first flight, I would not also forfeit my return. I was prepared to buy a ticket on the spot if necessary to get to Sardinia. I would never do two unconnected flights when the second one was an expensive international flight.

I've done this several times, usually due to finding a great deal to a hub city that doesn't apply to my final destination, and not needing to try to minimize travel times. Sometimes it's because the only single ticket connecting flights available have terrible connections (too short for my comfort, or too long), or get me to my destination at an awkward time.

The European hub cities with direct flights for me are London, Paris, Amsterdam, to a lesser extent Frankfurt. I'll spend 2 nights in either London or Paris on the way there, recover from jet lag, and find some new places to explore in those cities.

I've done the same thing to Asia, find a great deal to Tokyo or Seoul, spend a couple of days, and then a cheaper carrier to somewhere else.

Typically, adding the cost of hotels, airport transfer, etc., doesn't end up with great savings (or any), but I figure I am getting additional days in cities I enjoy for minimal cost and a more relaxed overall travel experience.

Absolutely! Two years ago, I planned a trip to Ireland that started out with a short stay in the Mosel Valley because I got a mileage deal to and from Frankfurt. My advice is always to look at the "best" transatlantic flight (whatever "best" means to you: cheapest, paid with miles, whatever) and plan around that. I can't wait to get back to the Mosel Valley since getting a taste two years ago.

I’ve done this multiple times and London is almost always my hub of choice. When I do this, I always spend multiple nights in London before traveling on. Similarly, I always spend the night before flying home.

I've also done this a number of times, sometimes just on one end of a trip, due to flight schedules from my local airport, which has very few direct international flights. My advice is not to have your in-between short hop flights arrive/depart on the same days as your international ones. Too many things can go wrong and if you are late or delayed, it's on you if you miss the long haul flight. FWIW, I'm doing this exact thing in November, flying Portland to Heathrow, staying overnight, then on to Lisbon the next morning.

You don't say where you are flying from or where you want to go, but once you decide you might get more on point answers if you spec out your trip.

I did this once, but it wasn’t because of price. We flew to London with Delta & spent two weeks there. My husband flew back & I flew on to Ljubljana to join the RS Adriatic tour. Afterwards, I flew from Dubrovnik to Amsterdam, stayed one night at Leiden, and I flew home from Schiphol with Delta the next day. The European flights were with Easy Jet.

If you’re doing this because of a cost savings, I would also consider the cost of the hotel room for 1-2 nights in the connection city. If you’re not planning something special at that location, it might not be a true “savings”.

When you say "smaller airlines" I think what you mean are the budget airlines as these do not codeshare/have an alliance with the larger carriers. Examples would be RyanAir, EasyJet, airBaltic, Norwegian or Vueling (as you mention) yes?

I think there is no question that you would save money using these budget carriers, but there are risks. For example, if your budget airline has a cancellation or delay, they that could really mess us the transatlantic part of your trip.

I would also add that most of these budget airlines use alternate airports and have hubs in unlikely places.

Also think about your luggage as most of these budget airlines have significant mark-ups even for carry-ons and sometimes seats and sometimes checking in. The price is often not the price.

Hope that helps.