Looks like Virgin Atlantic and Oneworld member airline British Airways are fighting a small air fare battle on flights from London to New York. These flights are non-stop and may be worth traveling for from other parts of Europe. London is probably the easiest city to reach in the whole of Europe.
On some of the flights Virgin Atlantic will use with their brand new business class in their A350 while others are flown with their 787 Dreamliner and A330. Therefore be careful when booking if you want to test the new business class. Business Traveller has published a great posting on what to expect in the new Virgin Atlantic business class.
British Airways will fly this route with their Boeing 747 business class. God Save The Points has published a great review on the business class on the upper deck of the Boeing 747. Some other flights are operated by American Airways in their Boeing 777. Traveling For Miles has published a very detailed review of that business class.
Search & Book
The fare rules for the Virgin Atlantic and British Airways flights are identical. They state that the minimum stay length must be at least 1 day. The maximum stay length is 12 months. The deal expires on July 16. There are no blackout dates but the travel is only permitted on the following dates:
- Outbound: January 3 – March 31, 2020 & April 18 to May 31, 2019
- Inbound: January 3 – April 4, 2020 & April 19 to May 31, 2019
You can find cheap fares with Google Flights (instructions). You can then go ahead and book through Momondo which displays the cheapest online travel agent rates at the moment or directly via Virgin Atlantic or British Airways.
Mileage
Virgin Atlantic:
Virgin Atlantic is not part of a big alliance however it has several cooperations with other airlines. The flights promoted here are in booking class Z. You will earn at least 125% of the distance flown with airline partners.
- 13,768 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 13,768 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 13,768 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 13,768 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 13,768 Award Miles + 200 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 13,768 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 13,768 RDM + 2,066 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 13,768 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- 10,326 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 8,606 Award Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 8,606 Award Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 6,884 Award Miles + 48 XP on Flying Blue
- 6,884 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
British Airways:
The flights book in booking class I. You will earn at least 125% with these flights. Since British Airways is part of the Oneworld alliance you have a lot of options on where to credit them. You will also earn 280 Tier Points with a roundtrip in their own Executive Club.
- 17,210 Award Miles + 10,326 Elite Qualifying Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 10,326 Avios + 280 Tier Points on British Airways Executive Club
- 10,326 Avios + 1,000 Elite Points on Iberia Plus
- 10,326 Miles on American AAdvantage
- 10,326 Points on Finnair Plus
- 10,326 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 8,606 Avios + 60 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 8,606 AsiaMiles + 90 Club Points on Asia Miles
- 8,606 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 8,606 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 8,606 Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 8,606 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 8,606 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 6,884 Points + 12 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
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
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 ($8). Travel time 45 – 60 minutes.
Taxi: To Manhattan $62.50 (+ $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