Star Alliance member United Airlines magnificently upgraded their business class over the last couple of years. Their newest addition is the Polaris business class cabin. As of now, nonstop flights from Dublin to Newark and back are sold at €1,346, a good fare for nonstop transatlantic flights.
These flights are especially attractive because of their perfect departure time to benefit from Dublin’s US Border Preclearence facilities:
If you prefer flying to JFK instead of Newark, you should check out Delta’s ongoing offer.
United flights between Dublin and Newark are operated Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft, equipped with the newest Polaris business class. It features open suites in a 1-2-1 seating pattern.
We expect further shakeups in the airline industry over the following months. Some services might be cancelled, aircraft changed or downgraded. The schedule we describe may very well change.
Search & Book
Fare rules state that tickets at this fare are on sale until June 30, 2020. It covers all flights departing from Dublin on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays combined with inbound flights departing Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
Further, these fares are valid for flights between December 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, with a minimum stay of one night from Saturday to Sunday. As of now, availability is great during the entire travel period, even Christmas and NYE.
You can use Google Flights to find suiting flight dates (instructions). Enter the dates you’ve found in our flight search to find the cheapest ticket available or go to a Star Alliance carrier’s website like lufthansa.com to purchase your tickets there. We recommend doing the latter, even if prices are approx. €80 higher.
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
United Airlines issues these tickets in booking class P. This is a pretty basic booking class, generating mileage of more than 100% of travel distance on just a Star Alliance few frequent flyer programs:
- 9,552 Award Miles + 1,274 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 9,552 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 7,960 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 7,960 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 7,960 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
- 7,004 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
- 6,368 Miles on Asiana Club
- 6,368 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 6,368 Award Miles + 400 Points on Miles&More
- 6,368 Award Miles + 1,274 Tier Miles on Azul TodoAzul
- 6,368 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 6,368 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 6,368 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 6,368 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 6,368 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 6,368 Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 6,368 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 6,368 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 6,368 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 4,458 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
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
Cover Picture: © United Airlines