Star Alliance member TAP is selling cheap flights to the USA from Spain and France. Prices start at only €312. Adding a checked bag would increase the price by at least €100 plus the difference of booking through an OTA or the airline’s website.
You can fly from January 2024 onwards. Our availability calendar shows you availabilities on the 5 cheapest routes for trips of up to 28 days. You can choose between OTAs or TAP’s website for approximately €40 more.
These are the possible routes at max €350 to the East Coast (& Chicago) and under €400 to San Francisco:
You would first fly to Lisbon on a narrowbody. TAP has the standard 3-3 configuration on their Airbus A320 family aircraft and 2-2 on their Embraers. Crossing the Atlantic would involve either an A321LR (3-3) or an Airbus A330neo (2-4-2). You’d have adjustable headrests and inflight entertainment on both planes.
Search & Book
The fare rules do not state how long this fare will remain valid. There is a minimum stay of 5 nights or a Saturday night and a maximum stay of 12 months.
You can use our calendar above that will show you availabilities. Once you selected your dates, it will forward you to either TAP’s website or to the Travel-Dealz Flight Search with your preselected flight dates. With all its disadvantages, it may be worth it to book through online travel agencies (OTAs), since they offer prices up to €40 cheaper. You can also search more specifically on Google Flights (instructions) for example by setting filters. You can then use our Go2 browser extension to book your flights.
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 are issued in booking class T. A roundtrip to New York from Barcelona, for example, would get you:
- 1,938 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 800 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 800 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
- 800 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 800 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 644 Miles on Hainan Fortune Wings Club
- 400 Miles on Azul TodoAzul
Destination
In most US cities (especially for those mentioned in the deal) you’re looking at hotel prices starting at €60-€100, 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.
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
Information & Tips for Chicago
Chicago is the third largest city in the USA with about 2.7 million inhabitants and an important economic and cultural center. The city attracts about 55 million visitors every year and has a lot to offer in terms of tourism.
Best Time to Visit
The best weather for tourists is in May, June, September and October. Summers can become very hot and humid, winters are often associated with snow storms and double-digit temperatures below zero.
From the Airport to the City Center
Two commercial airports serve the metropolitan area of Chicago, the larger Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (DCA). Long-haul flights are serviced by ORD, which is also a hub for Star Alliance carrier United Airlines and Oneworld carrier American Airlines. MDW mainly serves domestic flights and is Southwest’s hub.
Chicago O’Hare Intl. Airport
By CTA train (Blue Line, journey time 35 – 50 minutes) the journey from the airport to the city costs $5, in the other direction only $2.25. A taxi costs – depending on traffic – between $40 and $50, Uber and Lyft are slightly cheaper. The journey time can vary between 30 and 60 minutes.
Chicago Midway Intl. Airport
This airport can also be reached by CTA train (Orange Line, travel time 25 minutes, same prices as ORD). Taxis take about 30 minutes and cost $30 to $40, Uber and Lyft are slightly cheaper.
→ All Dealz for Chicago
Information & Tips for Boston
Boston is one of the most important cities in the history of the USA and also the state capital of Massachusetts. Next to its historic significance, the city boasts a number of tourist attractions.
Careful: Flights to Boston are usually very cheap from Europe (starting at €200 without checked baggage), but the hotel prices are among the most expensive in the USA!
The Best Time to Visit
The best time to travel to Boston is from late summer to autumn. While the beginning of the summer can still be rainy and cool, the weather from August to October is most suitable for touristic purposes – temperatures are mild and precipitation is comparatively low.
From the Airport to the City Center
A free shuttle bus takes you from the terminals to the Airport Station of the MBTA Blue Line, from there you can take the Blue Line to the city centre (approx. 7-10 minutes). Tickets cost $2.50. A taxi to the city centre costs between $20 and $30, depending on the traffic and the exact destination. Uber and Lyft are slightly cheaper.
→ All Dealz for Boston
Cover Picture: Photo by Florian Wehde on Unsplash