Oneworld member British Airways is currently selling cheap premium economy tickets from London to New York. The airline charges £647 (~€735) for two trips across the pond, while online travel agencies sell tickets as low as €687 (~£605). These fares are not uncommon for travelling in economy with a checked bag. Flights are available in the first five months of 2023.
If you are a SkyTeam frequent flyer, Virgin Atlantic matches British Airways’ offer on many travel dates.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to British Airways with your preselected flight dates. You can also check what OTAs have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to €50 cheaper.
Flights are operated by either American Airlines or British Airways if you select the Oneworld offers. SkyTeam flights are a mix of Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, tickets are on sale at this price until January 31, 2023. Only a minimum stay of one night from Saturday to Sunday applies. The maximum stay of one year is very generous. Availability is fairly good from January through May 2023.
Use Google Flights to find suitable flight dates and combinations (instructions). Enter the dates you have found in our flight search to find the cheapest ticket available or book directly on British Airways or Virgin Atlantic’s website.
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 three main reasons for that:
- The Covid-19 Pandemic
During the worldwide outbreak of Covid-19, planning international travel got more and more risky because of ever-changing restrictions. In contrast to many online travel agencies, most airlines modified their terms & conditions to become more customer friendly. Rebooking conditions are eased, change fees are waived and cancellations are much easier when there is no third party involved.
Further, by adding an OTA to your plans, you increase the risk of one service provider involved going bankrupt. Now, the airline and the online travel agency involved could vanish along with your money. - 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 you information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. 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 Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are more and more common. 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.
Mileage
British Airways issues tickets in booking class T. Outcomes vary slightly depending on whether you fly American or British Airways. This example covers a British Airways roundtrip:
- 11,078 Points on Finnair Plus
- 7,572 Avios + 50 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 6,886 Miles on S7 Airlines Priority Club
- 6,886 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 6,884 Avios + 180 TP on British Airways Executive Club
- 6,884 Avios + 850 TP on Iberia Plus
- 6,884 Award Miles + 40 Tier Miles on Asia Miles
- 6,884 Miles on American AAdvantage
- 6,884 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 6,884 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 6,884 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 6,884 Award Miles + 8 Tier Miles on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 6,884 Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 6,884 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 6,884 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiles
Virgin Atlantic issues tickets in booking class K. Partner programs will credit at least 100% of your travel distance.
- 10,326 Miles on Delta SkyMiles
- 8,608 Miles on Virgin Australia Velocity
- 8,608 Miles on HawaiianMiles
- 7,918 Miles on South African Voyager
- 6,886 Miles on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 6,884 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 6,884 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 6,884 Miles on Aerolineas Argentinas Plus
- 5,164 Award Miles + 32 XP on FlyingBlue
Destination
Hotel prices in New York City usually start at roughly €125, depending on the hotel category. Whichever category and hotel you opt for, make sure to get the best price! Our recommendation is to search on booking.com, or even on our own Travel-Dealz hotel search:
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.
→ All Dealz for USA
Information & Tips for New York
It is THE dream destination in the USA. The 5 districts of New York City offer more than any other metropolis in the world. And due to the high number of flights to New York, it is usually the cheapest way to get to the USA.
The Best Time to Travel
The best travel time with moderate temperatures is from April to June and from September to November. Summers can bring heat waves with high humidity. Winters are often snowy and very cold.
From the airport to the city
New York City is served by three commercial airports: John F. Kennedy Intl. Airport in Queens (probably the most famous), Newark Intl. Airport in Newark, New Jersey (which is not located in NYC, but serves the metropolitan area just like the others) and LaGuardia Airport also in Queens (which is closest to the city).
John F. Kennedy Intl. Airport
Public transport: From Manhattan by subway or LIRR to Jamaica (price varies from $2.75 – $10.00), continue with AirTrain to JFK ($6). Travel time 45 – 60 minutes.
Taxi: To Manhattan $52.50 (+ $5.50 toll), 45 – 90 minutes depending on traffic.
Newark Intl. Airport
Public transport: Almost $20 with a combination of AirTrain Newark and NJ Transit to Penn Station. Almost 45 minutes drive.
Taxi: To Manhattan $50 – $70 (+ $8 toll), journey time 35 – 60 minutes depending on traffic.
LaGuardia Airport
Public transport: LaGuardia is only served by buses, these are slow and don’t have much space to store luggage, but with $2,75 they are very cheap.
Taxi: To Manhattan $20 – $30, journey time 15 – 30 minutes depending on traffic.
→ All Dealz for New York
Cover Picture: © British Airways