Fare deal alert!
Via Pizza in Motion, you can fly one-way from cities like Miami and San Francisco, to spots in Europe like Berlin, London, and Frankfurt, from ~$70 one-way on WOW Air!
I found flights from San Francisco to Frankfurt for ~$70 on March 7, 2017. This sale is valid for several days between January and early June 2017.
Here are the details. And how to search for deals from your city!
How to Book It
Link: ITA Matrix
Link: Google Flights
WOW Air is having another incredible sale! Through early June 2017, you can find extra cheap trans-Atlantic flights from certain US cities, including Boston, Miami, and San Francisco, to places like:
- Berlin
- Copenhagen
- Frankfurt
- London
- Stockholm
Flights start at ~$70 one-way.
You can check Pizza in Motion for how to book. Or see my posts for how to use Google Flights and ITA Matrix to find sale dates.
Then book directly on the airline website or through a site like Orbitz, Expedia, etc.
If you book a ticket with an online travel agency like Orbitz, Expedia, or Priceline 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!
WOW Air also has ~$99 one-way fares to Iceland from:
- Boston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Washington, DC
Even if you aren’t interested in visiting any of these countries, these tickets are an inexpensive way to get to Europe. Once you’re in Europe, it’s relatively cheap to hop around to other countries!
Note: Return flights are more expensive. But you could consider paying for a cheap WOW Air flight to get to Europe, and use miles and points to return!
WOW Air Tips
Link: WOW Air
Link: My Review of WOW Air
I’ve written about WOW Air, a budget airline based in Iceland. They’re a great option for no-frills flights, with good service and clean planes.
Remember, WOW Air charges fees for seat selection, large carry-on bags, and checked bags. You’ll get the best deal if you can pack light.
And here’s my trip report from my visit to Iceland. I learned Icelanders are some of the kindest folks in the world!
Folks with the Southwest Companion Pass could fly to sale cities very cheaply. That’s because with the Companion Pass, your companion flies with you for almost free on both paid and award tickets.
Hotel Information
If you book a sale flight, remember there are lots of ways to get cheap or free hotel rooms with points from credit card bonuses and spending.
Check out my favorite Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Starwood hotels in Europe!
To find hotels that can be booked with points, I use 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.
Note: If you prefer to book paid stays, check out discount sites like Orbitz, Expedia, or TravelPony for deals. But remember you won’t get stay credits or points (and might not have your elite status recognized!).
Airbnb is another terrific way to save money on accommodations, especially for longer stays. Here are some tips on how to negotiate a better Airbnb price, and how to find a safe and comfortable Airbnb.
Use a Credit Card That Earns Bonus Miles & Points
These cards earn bonus miles or points for paid airfare:
| 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! |
And if you book a hotel, don’t forget to use one of these cards:
| Card Name | What It Earns |
|---|---|
| SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express | - 3% cash back on hotel rooms purchased directly from hotels on the first $50,000 when you choose this as your 3% cash back category - 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 hotels - Here's my review of the card |
| Citi Prestige® Card | - Earn 3X ThankYou points for airfare & hotels - Extend your trip with a complimentary 4th night stay at any hotel of your choice |
| Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card | - Earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 spent on travel, including airfare & hotels each year - Here's my review of the card |
| Citi ThankYou® Premier Card | - Earn 3X ThankYou points for travel, including hotels - Here's my review of the card |
| Or pay with a hotel credit card for specific perks! |
Bottom Line
You can fly one-way on WOW Air from US cities like San Francisco and Boston, to European cities including Copenhagen, London, and Berlin, for ~$70 one-way. And to Iceland from several US cities starting at ~$99!
Return flights are more expensive, but still a very good deal. Just remember, WOW Air charges for extras like large carry-on bags, checked bags, and seat selection.
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