Oneworld members Iberia and American Airlines are offering cheap flights between Madrid and the USA. Prices start at €219 for flights to Miami and New York. Even if you add a piece of luggage for €100, you’d still be getting a good price.
Iberia has some of the worst Covid-19 refund policies out there, as your way to a refund might require things like an actual Covid-19 infection.
This is why we recommend booking with British Airways:
British Airways allows you to cancel all flights starting before August 31, 2022, in exchange for a voucher. You can use that voucher for booking made up until September 30, 2023. It cannot be exchanged for a monetary refund, though.
Touristic travel to the USA is possible again since November 8, 2021, for fully vaccinated Europeans.
There’s very good availability until May 31, 2022. Our availability calendar highlights all flight dates at the lowest fare for trips of 6 to 28 days. It forwards you to British Airways with your selected flight dates.
Nonstop roundtrips from Madrid to Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia are available for slightly more than €300.
All of these flights are nonstop and operated by Iberia – in some cases, you can also choose to fly with American Airlines or with a layover – probably only an interesting option for people trying to get a few extra miles. Either way, you’ll be served a meal on the flight.
Search & Book
While it is unclear until when this deal will remain valid, the fare rules clearly state that you need to fly before May 31, with a minimum stay requirement of 6 days
You can see the exact price for each date on Google Flights. To book the flights, simply use our booking tool above, which displays all the cheapest dates in green and will redirect you to British Airways, where you can find the best rebooking and cancellation policies.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Mileage
The tickets should be issued in booking class O by British Airways. Flying to New York (and back), you can expect to get:
- 3,580 Avios + 20 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 1,790 Avios + 40 Tier Points on British Airways Executive Club
- 1,790 Avios + 180 Elite Points on Iberia Plus
- 1,790 Miles on American AAdvantage
- 1,790 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 1,790 Points on Finnair Plus
- 1,790 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 1,790 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 1,790 Points + 12 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 1,790 Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 1,790 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 1,790 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 1,790 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
Information & Tips for USA
The USA offers many sights, natural wonders and cultural significance. Thanks to numerous airlines offering flights across the Atlantic, it is always pretty inexpensive to get there. Alternatively, you can also cross the Atlantic by boat.
Immigration, ESTA & Visa Requirements
The USA has one of the strictest entry regulations in the world. Most EU citizens, among others, are lucky to be able to participate in the so-called Visa Waiver Program. If you get an electronic entry permit (ESTA) for approximately €20, you don’t need a visa for entry.
The Best Time to Visit
Due to its sheer size, the perfect time to visit the USA varies greatly from region to region. In winter, Florida is very popular due to the mild temperatures. In the summer the West and East Coasts are flooded by tourists which drives up the prices for hotels and flights and during the Indian Summer in late autumn New England is a very popular destination. The hurricane season between July and September can be dangerous in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida and the southern states are regularly struck by these tropical storms. Blizzards occur from the East Coast to the Midwest during the winter months and regularly put air traffic and public life on hold.
Currency
The US dollar is widely used throughout the world and accepted as a currency in most tourist hotspots worldwide. That being said, carrying cash isn’t necessary in the US, all you need is a credit card! These are very common in the USA and are accepted pretty much everywhere without any issues. If you already have a credit card in your wallet, you should make sure that it does not charge a foreign currency fee if possible. Carrying a few dollars in cash doesn’t hurt though. You might need cash e.g. for the bus ticket if you want to buy it directly from the driver. Most of the time you even have to give exact change.
Finding the Best eSIM Plan
We’ve compared various eSIM providers, such as Knowroaming and Ubigi. To see which plan is best for your travel needs, and which network offers the best coverage, feel free to read our detailed guide:
The Best eSIM Plans for the USA 🇺🇸 Compared
→ All Dealz for USA
Cover Picture: Photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on Unsplash