What is The Continental Hop Trick?

Many of our customers from Europe miss amazing Superdeals just because they only look for offers from their home airport. The Continental Hop Trick (TCHT)—a fare-bridging strategy using major European hubs and budget airlines—can expand your pool of usable Superdeals by a factor of 10!

Instead of waiting for a deal from your home airport—which may rarely appear—you proactively hop (reposition) to a hub where Superdeals regularly originate to catch the long-haul flight at 40-80% off regular price. Optionally, you may extend this trip via regional budget carriers to reach your final destination.

This comprehensive guide shows you exactly which hubs to target, how to time your connections, and when separate-ticket risks are worth taking.

Superdeals on Air Traveler Club. Your dream destination just dropped in price—but it might be leaving from a nearby airport. One short hop, and you’re flying to Asia at half price.

Three ways to execute the trick

Unlike generic “positioning flight” advice that simply suggests flying to a bigger airport, TCHT is built on three specific advantages: geographic positioning, hub connectivity patterns, and low-cost carrier networks. The strategy comes in three distinct types, each suited to different travel scenarios:

Regional → long-haul

Reposition to Superdeal

You take a short regional or low-cost flight from your home city to a European hub, then catch a Superdeal on the long-haul leg to Asia. This is the most common approach when your home airport lacks direct Asia deals.

An Edinburgh traveler might book easyJet to Istanbul for £60 roundtrip (€70 outbound + €70 inbound), then catch a Turkish Airlines Superdeal from Istanbul to Bangkok for €410 roundtrip (regularly €950+). The total cost of €550 beats a direct Edinburgh–Bangkok fare of €1,200, saving €650.

Long-haul → regional

Superdeal, then extend

You use a Superdeal to land in a major Asian hub, then take a short regional or local flight to your target destination. This works brilliantly when your final city isn’t directly served by European carriers but sits within a budget airline network from a major Asian hub.

Consider a Paris traveler booking an Air France Superdeal to Singapore for €380 roundtrip (regularly €850+), then adding Scoot to Lombok for €110. This €490 total undercuts a direct Paris–Lombok fare of €1,050 (which typically requires 2-3 connections through Middle Eastern hubs) by €560, and you get to fly modern aircraft like the A350 on the long-haul segment while enjoying Singapore’s efficient Changi Airport for your connection.

Regional → long-haul → regional

Reposition to Superdeal, then extend

The most advanced variation combines both strategies: reposition within Europe, catch the Superdeal to Asia, then extend to your final destination. While this adds complexity, it dramatically expands your options and can produce the largest savings.

A Lyon resident might book a positioning flight to Istanbul for €130 (2 x €65: outbound/inbound), then Turkish Airlines to Bangkok for €280 roundtrip (regularly €650+), followed by AirAsia to Chiang Mai for €110 (2 x €55), totaling €520. The equivalent direct Lyon–Chiang Mai routing would cost €950, saving €430 through the two-hop strategy.

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A simple shift that changes everything

Many travelers don’t realize there’s a different way to search for flights on ATC platform—one that uses The Continental Hop Trick to open up far more opportunities.

The natural instinct is to filter only by your home airport and browse from there. That works, but by limiting your search, you miss out on hundreds of incredible choices and the cheapest way to travel. The key to repeating savings is maximizing your destinations.

A different approach

Instead of starting with “What deals are available from my airport?” try flipping it: “Where do I want to go?“

Here’s how it works:

• Traditional search: Filter by London, see what Asia destinations have deals today.
• Repositioning search: Decide you want Bali, then check all the Bali deals across European airports.

When you find a great deal—say $320$ to Bali from Amsterdam—simply check budget airlines for positioning flights. A $45 easyJet ticket from London to Amsterdam gets you there. You’ve still saved hundreds compared to regular fares, and you didn’t have to wait weeks for a London departure.

Repositioning flights are surprisingly cheap

Europe’s robust network of low-cost carriers (LCCs) makes the continental hop incredibly affordable. Carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling, and Eurowings connect nearly every major city with rock-bottom base fares.

Table 1. Typical repositioning flight prices.

This wide network gives you two major financial advantages. First, the cost of your hop is a tiny fraction of your total savings: even if your positioning flights (outbound + inbound) costs €100 and the Superdeal from that hub saves you €600 compared to flying direct from home, you’re still €500 ahead. The additional cost barely impacts the overall savings potential of the Superdeal.

Second, these LCCs frequently run their own flash sales and promotions (which you can track with ATC alerts), sometimes dropping the hop cost to near zero.

A real example

You’d love to visit Bangkok, Thailand. You’re based in Lisbon, Portugal.

One approach: wait for a Lisbon → Bangkok Superdeal. Could happen next days, could be weeks..

Alternative approach (repositioning): search Bangkok deals across all European airports. You find a fantastic economy Superdeal (which is always round-trip) to Bangkok for €350 departing from Vienna, Austria. You quickly book a low-cost positioning flight from Lisbon → Vienna and back for, say, €90 (assuming €45 each way).

• Total cost: ≈ €440 (€350 Superdeal + €90 Positioning RT).
• Regular Lisbon → Bangkok economy round-trip fare: ≈ €900.
• The result: you’ve saved over €460 and you’re booking now instead of waiting months for a direct deal.

The bottom line

Browse by destination first, departure city second. Your dream destination probably has a Superdeal right now—it might just be leaving from a neighboring hub. One short positioning flight, and you’re on your way to Asia at half price.

Top European hubs for continental hop

Choosing the right hub makes or breaks your Continental Hop Trick. Use the wrong hub and you’ll waste money on expensive positioning flights while gaining little on the long-haul segment. Pick the right one and you’ll unlock access to Superdeals while keeping total costs well below direct routing.

We list 20 European hubs across multiple criteria essential for effective TCHT execution. Use it to identify your top three to five target hubs, then watch Air Traveler Club alerts for all of them to maximize your Superdeal opportunities.

Let’s start with the top 5 most recommended airports.

Istanbul (IST) — Turkey

• Asia destinations: 85+ nonstop
• Repositioning: €75–90 via Pegasus, Ryanair (to SAW)
• Sample Superdeals: Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Delhi, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur

Istanbul dominates as the #1 Continental Hop hub for good reason. Turkish Airlines’ massive network covers more Asian cities than any other European carrier, with multiple daily departures giving you flexibility when delays occur. The geographic positioning—nearly 1,400km closer to Bangkok than Amsterdam—translates directly into lower fuel costs and more competitive fares.

The airport operates two terminals with free shuttle service running every 15-20 minutes. Repositioning is straightforward via budget carriers serving Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), though you’ll need to account for the 50km distance between airports if connecting same-day. Most travelers stay overnight in Istanbul instead, turning the connection into a bonus city break.

Frankfurt (FRA) — Germany

• Asia destinations: 40+ nonstop
• Repositioning: €65–80 via Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air
• Sample Superdeals: Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Delhi

Lufthansa’s primary hub delivers German efficiency and reliability. If you value on-time performance and smooth operations over rock-bottom prices, Frankfurt excels. The central European location makes it accessible from most major cities in under 90 minutes by air or even high-speed rail from nearby regions.

Repositioning costs are moderate, and the hub’s business-traveler focus means premium cabin deals appear more frequently than leisure-focused airports. The compact terminal layout (despite its size) makes connections manageable, though allow extra time during peak morning departure banks.

Frankfurt works especially well for travelers in western and central Germany who can reach it by train, eliminating the repositioning flight entirely.

London Heathrow (LHR) — United Kingdom

• Asia destinations: 45+ nonstop
• Repositioning: €65–80 via easyJet, Ryanair (to other London airports)
• Sample Superdeals: Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Delhi

Heathrow offers the broadest Asian network. For Continental Europeans, the post-Brexit complexities add friction: most visa-exempt travelers now need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), and terminal changes between budget arrivals (Gatwick, Stansted, Luton) and Heathrow long-haul departures eat into connection buffers.

The hub’s strength is frequency and competition. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and partner airlines battle for market share, creating opportunities. India coverage is exceptional (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad), and service to Tokyo Haneda (closer to central Tokyo than Narita) adds value.

Consider Heathrow when Superdeals significantly undercut other hubs, but factor in that repositioning complexity often negates savings.

Athens (ATH) — Greece

• Asia destinations: 25+ nonstop
• Repositioning: €60–75 via Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Aegean
• Sample Superdeals: Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Doha (onward connections)

Athens is Europe’s sleeper hub for Continental Hop Trick. Aegean Airlines and partners are aggressively expanding Asian service, and the compact single-terminal layout makes connections refreshingly straightforward after navigating mega-hubs. The eastern Mediterranean position cuts significant distance to Asia, translating into more competitive pricing.

Repositioning is remarkably affordable thanks to intense LCC competition, with Ryanair and Wizz Air fighting for market share alongside Greek carrier Aegean. The hub offers a better airport experience than many larger alternatives—shorter walking distances, less crowded, and genuinely helpful staff.

Athens works brilliantly for Southern and Eastern Europeans seeking cheap repositioning with quality service. It’s underutilized by Western Europeans who default to London or Frankfurt, meaning less competition for limited Superdeal inventory when deals drop. The growing network includes strong Doha connections via Qatar Airways, opening indirect routes across Asia.

Amsterdam (AMS) — Netherlands

• Asia destinations: 35+ nonstop
• Repositioning: €50–65 via Transavia, easyJet, Ryanair
• Sample Superdeals: Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta

KLM’s hub offers the cheapest and easiest repositioning from Western Europe—often €50-65 from UK, Belgium, northern France, and western Germany. The airport is familiar to most European travelers, with efficient operations and clear signage. Amsterdam balances convenience and price without requiring the eastern positioning bet of Istanbul or Athens.

The hub’s 110+ LCC routes create excellent repositioning options, and KLM’s mature Asian network covers all major Southeast Asian destinations. The downside is less dramatic geographic advantage and moderate capacity growth. Border control can bottleneck during peak times, so build 4-5 hour buffers for separate-ticket connections.

Amsterdam makes sense when repositioning ease matters more than maximum savings, or when the Superdeal you found is with KLM. The Schiphol experience—while busier than a decade ago—remains more pleasant than Heathrow or CDG for connections.

Table 2. Top 20 European airports with low repositioning cost.

Expand beyond your home airport

The foundation of successful TCHT strategy is expanding your deal awareness beyond your local airport. Most travelers only check Superdeals from their home city, which means they miss 80–90% of offers published by Air Traveler Club.

Start by identifying your top three to five target hubs using the table in the previous section. For example, if you live in Amsterdam, your targets might be Istanbul, Frankfurt, Athens, Vienna, and Warsaw. This expands your Superdeal opportunities by three to five times compared to monitoring only your home airport. When a Superdeal appears from any of your target hubs, you’ll know immediately and can assess repositioning feasibility.

Your optimal hub depends on your origin city and Asian destination. Here’s how to narrow down your choices.

Based in Western Europe

If you live in UK, Ireland, France, Benelux, western Germany

Target Istanbul, Frankfurt, Athens, Amsterdam, and Vienna.

These offer the best balance of eastern positioning advantage and affordable repositioning. Istanbul provides the strongest geographic positioning with Turkish Airlines’ massive 85+ Asian destination network. Frankfurt excels for travelers prioritizing reliability and Star Alliance connections. For instance, budget airlines like Wizz Air and easyJet offer very competitive one-way fares to Istanbul (€35-50). Don’t overlook high-speed rail, which can be a cost-effective and comfortable way to reach Frankfurt from neighboring countries. Amsterdam works perfectly for quick same-day connections from UK, Belgium, and northern France.

Strategy tip: Your repositioning flights are among Europe’s cheapest (€45-70), so focus on monitoring the widest range of hubs. Book positioning flights separately from long-haul tickets to maintain flexibility if Superdeal dates shift. Ryanair and easyJet flash sales can drop London-Athens to €25 one-way—sign up for their newsletters to catch these.

Based in Central Europe

If you live in Austria, Czech Republic, east Germany, Poland, Switzerland

Focus on Vienna, Warsaw, Prague, Istanbul, and Munich.

Prioritize hubs with the most direct Asia routes. Consider that Vienna is a major hub for Austrian Airlines, which has a strong network in Asia (Bangkok, Tokyo, Singapore, Delhi), while Warsaw is a base for LOT Polish Airlines. This can translate to more competitive fares and better flight availability. Prague offers the continent’s lowest repositioning costs (€45-60) with excellent Wizz Air and Ryanair coverage. Munich provides Lufthansa’s extensive Star Alliance network, ideal for premium cabin Superdeals.

Strategy tip: You’re positioned in Europe’s sweet spot—closer to Asia than Western Europe but with excellent LCC connectivity. During winter months, overnight trains to Vienna (from Prague, Munich, Budapest) eliminate positioning flight costs while saving a hotel night. Austrian Airlines and LOT frequently appear on our radar—recently, Warsaw-Bangkok Superdeal was available at €280 roundtrip.

Based in Southern Europe

If you live in Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Croatia

Prioritize Athens, Rome, Istanbul, Barcelona, and Madrid.

Geographic positioning is favorable; optimize for connectivity and pricing. Athens is a rising star for Asia connections, with airlines like Scoot and Singapore Airlines offering great deals. Rome, with its extensive flight network, can also be a strategic choice, especially for destinations in Southeast Asia. Barcelona and Madrid benefit from Iberia’s Latin America focus but maintain solid Middle Eastern carrier partnerships (Qatar, Emirates) for Asia connections.

Strategy tip: Southern European airports see less Asia competition, making repositioning to Istanbul or Athens your power move. Athens works brilliantly from Italy/Spain via Ryanair/Vueling (€35-55 one-way). Time your trips during shoulder season (April-May, September-October) when repositioning to Greece combines cheap flights with pleasant Mediterranean weather.

Based in Scandinavia

If you live in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland

Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warsaw, and Frankfurt offer the best combinations.

Helsinki’s Finnair operates the fastest connections to Northeast Asia (Tokyo, Seoul) using polar routes—9 hours to Tokyo versus 11+ from southern Europe. Copenhagen provides SAS’s Star Alliance network. Many low-cost carriers, such as Norwegian Air Shuttle, offer affordable flights from Scandinavian capitals to these hubs. This makes repositioning relatively easy and inexpensive. Warsaw has emerged as a budget alternative with LOT’s growing Asia network.

Strategy tip: Scandinavian positioning costs run higher (€80-120), but your northern latitude provides unique routing advantages. Helsinki-Tokyo takes 2 hours less than London-Tokyo due to polar routes over Russia (when available) or optimized northern paths. Book Copenhagen-Warsaw on Ryanair (€45-65) to access LOT’s competitive Bangkok/Seoul fares. Consider combining positioning with Scandinavian Airpass deals for multi-city European trips before Asia departure.

Based in Eastern Europe

If you live in Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Baltic states

Warsaw, Bucharest, Vienna, Istanbul, and Athens become your power hubs.

You already have a geographic advantage—focus on hub connectivity quality. Warsaw offers the best combination of low repositioning cost (€40-60) and strong LOT Asia network. Bucharest provides excellent Middle Eastern carrier connections (Emirates, Qatar) for onward Asia travel. Look into overnight train options to reach Vienna, as it can be a comfortable and budget-friendly alternative to flying. This also allows you to save on accommodation for one night.

Strategy tip: Your proximity to Asia’s “eastern door” is your secret weapon. Istanbul sits just 2-3 hours away via Wizz Air (€40-70), unlocking Turkish Airlines’ unmatched 85+ Asian destinations. Budget €150-200 total for positioning + long-haul Superdeal savings. Overnight buses from Sofia/Budapest to Istanbul cost €25-40 and eliminate hotel costs. Romanian and Bulgarian citizens should consider Bucharest’s strong Dubai/Doha connections—frequently cheaper than direct European routes due to Middle Eastern carrier competition.

Many Superdeals have booking windows of just 48–72 hours, so speed matters. Having pre-identified your target hubs and knowing typical repositioning costs lets you make decisions quickly when opportunities appear.

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