I’ve looked at STA and student universe flights, they seem about $200 less round trip than what I can find on Expedia. I couldn’t find any recent threads on these sites, any reviews on the student travel sites? Some of the connecting layovers in Europe are short, like 45 minutes in Dusseldorf, but I don’t know much about that airport. There are connections in Munich, Zurich, or Brussels also we are looking at. One airline charges $200 for a 2nd checked bag, others $100, one has 75 euro. Would love to hear any recent experiences on your student’s travel. It just occurred to me that there is a study abroad forum here on CC also, so I’m off to check there too.
I would try and keep the bag down to one manageable size. It just makes it so so much easier for your student to get to their destination. Schlepping two is not only expensive, it’s a real headache. The money saved can easily be spent on necessities and clothing at your students destination.
How long is the study? If this a year-long course encompassing several seasons, it would make sense to bring two bags. Otherwise, if this is just for one semester, I would try to stick to one bag.