Star Alliance member United Airlines is selling very cheap flights from Madrid to San Juan in Puerto Rico. You can get these flights for merely €279! Luggage, however, is not included.
Currently, Puerto Rico will let you enter the country if you present a negative COVID-19 PCR molecular test, no older than 72 hours. Otherwise, you’d need to quarantine for 14 days. All passengers also have to fill in this form. However, there are two things that you need to consider: You’ll have to be able to transit through the USA, and that everything may change until November.
From Madrid, you would fly to United’s hub in Newark (remember that you need an ESTA, even for transit) on a Boeing 767. From there, you would then fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico on a Boeing 737.
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.
By the way, we also have other deals from Madrid:
Search & Book
This deal is set to expire on May 20, 2021. Your trip needs to be at least 6 days long. Google Flights shows good availability from November onward. You can see all available dates in our calendar above.
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.
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 the airline’s website, such as Lufthansa.com, and select the rate that includes luggage for roughly €100 more.
Mileage
The tickets are issued in booking class K, which should get you:
- 5,210 Miles on Asiana Club
- 5,210 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 5,210 Award Miles + 1,042 Tier Miles on Azul TodoAzul
- 5,210 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 5,210 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 5,210 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 5,210 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 5,210 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 5,210 Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 5,210 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 5,210 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 3,126 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 2,606 Award Miles + 522 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 2,606 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 2,606 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 2,606 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 2,606 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
- 2,606 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 2,606 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 2,606 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
Cover Picture: CC0-Lizenz Pixabay-Nutzer rlhochhalter