UPDATE: The Starwood American Express credit card offers in this post are no longer available, but check Hot Deals for the latest offers!
Fly to Cancun, Mexico, starting at ~$240 round-trip from Cleveland, Denver, Newark, San Francisco, or Washington, DC, this winter or next spring!
Via The Flight Deal, American Airlines has tickets on sale for travel through June 2016! But availability is limited!
You can search for this fare using ITA Matrix or Google Flights, then book it on the American Airlines website.
This deal won’t last long, so book now if you’re interested!
How to Book It
Link: ITA Matrix
Link: Google Flights
Here’s how to use Google Flights to find sale dates.
If you book a ticket with an online travel agency like Orbitz or Expedia, you may be eligible for a refund within a short time of booking your ticket. Check out my post on cancellation policies for airlines and online travel agencies for more details!
What’s the Deal?
Fly to Cancun, Mexico, on American Airlines from ~$240 round-trip in coach. The fare is available from:
- Cleveland
- Denver
- Newark
- San Francisco
- Washington, DC
Travel through June 2016! There’s a 3-day advance purchase requirement, and availability is limited.
I found round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Cancun for ~$240!
This sale extends well into 2016, so you can plan your winter getaway or spring break vacation now!
Remember you can hold a reservation on American Airlines for up to 24 hours and get a full refund if you change your mind.
What If You’re Not in 1 of These Cities?
Southwest – If you need more Southwest points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest. Plus, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend can fly with you for (almost) free!
British Airways – If you’re a short flight away from an included city, you can save miles by using British Airways Avios points to book an award flight on American Airlines.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, and Starwood Preferred Guest points transfer to British Airways.
Which Card to Use?
Remember to use a card that will earn you bonus points:
| Card Name | What It Earns |
|---|---|
The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN | - Earn 3X American Express Membership Rewards points on airfare purchased directly from airlines when you choose this as your 3X category (otherwise earn 2X points) - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | - Earn 3X American Express Membership Rewards points for airfare purchased directly from airlines - $100 Airline fee credit. Up to $100 a year for incidental fees with your selected airline - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express | - 3% cash back on airfare purchased directly from airlines on the first $50,000 when you choose this as your 3% cash back category - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | - Earn 5X American Express Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel - $200 Airline Fee Credit. Up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at 1 airline - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
| Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard | - Earn 2 miles per $1 on all purchases - Use miles for travel statement credits (minimum 10,000 miles for $100) - Here's my review of the card |
Chase Sapphire Reserve | - Earn 3 miles per $1 on travel and dining - $300 statement credit for travel purchases per calendar year (including hotels, airfare, etc.) - Here's my review of the card |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | - Earn 2X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel, including airfare - Here's my review of the card |
| Citi Prestige® Card | - Earn 3X ThankYou points for airfare & hotels - $250 statement credit for airfare & baggage fees each calendar year |
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card | - Earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 spent on travel, including airfare each year - Here's my review of the card |
Citi ThankYou® Premier Card | - Earn 3X ThankYou points for travel, including airfare |
| Or pay with an airline credit card for specific perks! |
Remember, folks with the Citi Prestige can use Citi ThankYou points to purchase tickets at a rate of 1.6 cents per point on American Airlines. Check the Citi Travel Portal for these sale fares!
Get Free Hotel Nights With These Cards
Link: Hot Deals – Hotel Credit Cards
If you book a cheap flight, remember there are lots of ways to get cheap or free hotel rooms with points from credit card bonuses and spending!
Here’s my post on top Starwood hotels in the Caribbean and Mexico to book with Starwood points! For instance, you can stay at the Aloft Cancun, a Starwood Category 2 hotel, for Big Travel with Small money!
Or use Hyatt points to stay at the fantastic all-inclusive Hyatt Zilara Cancun! Hyatt is a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner.
To find hotels that can be booked with points, I like using Hotel Hustle (which even shows you if rooms are actually available!) or AwardMapper.
Remember, you can transfer flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards to different hotel programs.
Check out my posts on all the ways to earn Hilton and Hyatt points!
Note: Folks who want to book paid stays could check out discount sites like Orbitz, Expedia, orTravelPony for deals. But remember you won’t get stay credits or points (and might not have your elite status recognized).
Airbnb is a great way to save money on accommodations, especially for longer stays. Read my tips on how to negotiate a better price on Airbnb!
Bottom Line
Fly from Cleveland, Denver, Newark, San Francisco, or Washington, DC, to Cancun, Mexico, starting at ~$240 round-trip in coach on American Airlines.
Travel through June 2016. Available seats are limited, and be sure to purchase your tickets at least 3 days in advance!
Will you plan a beach vacation to Cancun with this cheap fare?
Awesome deal! I’m pricing out under $200 from Cleveland.