United Airlines is currently offering really cheap economy class tickets between Spain and the USA. Prices start at €235 for roundtrips from Madrid & Barcelona to Miami. While luggage isn’t included, you could pay €110 for a 23 kg piece of luggage – which is still an OK price.
United does not offer any eased up rebooking or cancellation rules for Basic Economy tickets.
Our calendar displays all available dates for trips of up to 28 days. Once you’ve selected the departure airport and dates that suit you best, it can redirect you to United’s booking site.
Our redirect links to United only work if you’ve been on United’s website at least once (to get a cookie).
Usually, you’ll first fly roughly 9 hours to Newark onboard a Boeing 767, from where you’d fly to Miami for roughly 3 hours with a Boeing 737.
Search & Book
The fare rules do not state how long this deal will remain valid. There’s availability during the following travel periods:
- January 8 until April 6
- April 19 until June 16
- August 28 until December 14
There’s a minimum stay requirement of six days.
You’ll quickly and easily find suitable dates using Google Flights. You can then book the tickets on Lufthansa’s or United’s website.
This is a Star Alliance fare that does not include check-in luggage. Additionally, some other disadvantages may apply, especially when flying with United:
Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian
Lufthansa Group airlines call this fare Economy Light. You can select your seats during the check-in process. While these airlines still allow Star-Alliance-Gold customers to bring one 23kg bag, it is said that this benefit will soon be eliminated without much warning – like on European flights.
United Airlines
The long-haul United Basic Economy allows Star-Alliance-Gold customers to fly with 2 x 23 kg luggage, or even 3 x 32 kg if you’re a MileagePlus frequent flyer. Nevertheless, there are other restrictions:
- You cannot reserve your seats. Even at the time of check-in, you’ll be automatically assigned a seat, which you cannot change.
- You’ll be the last one to board the plane (except if you’re a frequent flyer).
- Additionally, if you’re a MileagePlus-customer:
- No free Economy-Plus upgrades
- Only 50% PQM instead of 100%, and only 0.5 PQS per flight
- No modifications (e.g. Same Day-Changes) possible
- Upgrades are not permitted
Air Canada
On flights with Air Canada, there is also a Basic Economy, but it is not quite as restrictive as United’s. If you have a Star-Alliance-Gold-Status, you can give up a 23 kg luggage, and Air-Canada-Altitude status holders can even be allowed up to 3 x 32 kg.
Other restrictions include:
- You can reserve seats, but at a higher price than usual for Economy.
- For Air Canada Altitude customers:
- 25% miles for transatlantic flights, none for domestic.
- Upgrades are not permitted.
- From Prestige 25K onwards you can select your seats.
If you feel that these restrictions are unbearable, you should book over Lufthansa.com or United.com and select the rate that includes luggage for roughly €100 more.
Miles
The tickets are issued in booking class K. Flying from Madrid, you can expect to be credited:
- 2,343 Miles on Asiana Club
- 2,343 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 2,343 Award Miles + 469 Tier Miles on Azul TodoAzul
- 2,343 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 2,343 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 2,343 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 2,343 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 2,343 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 2,343 Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 2,343 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 2,343 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 1,405 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 1,172 Award Miles + 80 Points on Miles&More
- 1,172 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 1,172 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 1,172 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
- 1,172 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 1,172 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 1,172 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
- 805 Award Miles + 161 PQP on United MileagePlus
Information & Tips for Miami
Miami is the largest metropolitan region in Florida, although the city itself has only a population of about 400,000. Also called “Capital of Latin America”, the city has a lot of influences from Central and South America which give it its unmistakable character. Miami can be reached quite cheaply from Europe, fares of under €300 are now the norm and from time to time there are also bargains for under €200! Miami International Airport is served by numerous European airlines and American carriers also offer transatlantic flights.
The Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Miami is between November and May. At this time of year the weather is warm but moderate and the water temperatures are perfect for swimming. During the Hurricane Season from the beginning of June to the end of November, hurricanes and tropical storms with strong winds and extremely high precipitation can occur.
From the Airport to the City Center
The Metrorail Orange Line to Downtown costs US$2.25 (~€2.11) per person and takes only 15 minutes to get to the city centre. A taxi costs about €20-25, while the Miami Beach Bus will take you directly to the beach. For $2,65[7c] it leaves every 30 minutes from the airport to Miami Beach.
→ All Dealz for Miami
Cover Picture: Photo by Felipe Simo on Unsplash