Oneworld partners British Airways, American Airlines, and Iberia have teamed up to offer cheap first class tickets to the USA for people departing from Spanish cities. Prices to 5 US-destinations cost €2,231 from Barcelona and Madrid and are available for flights from February through September 2022. You can also fly to a few other destinations – or start your journey in Valencia, however at a slightly higher price.
Touristic travel to the USA should be possible again from November 2021 onwards for fully vaccinated Europeans.
British Airways allows you to cancel all flights starting before August 31, 2022, in exchange for a voucher. You can use that voucher for booking made up until September 30, 2023. It cannot be exchanged for a monetary refund, though.
Here are some examples with departure from Barcelona:
- New York: €2,231
- Dallas: €2,231
- Washington DC: €2,231
- Boston: €2,322
- Philadelphia: €2,322
- Chicago: €2,254
- Atlanta: €2,316
- Miami: €2,381
With departure from Madrid, you can now fly to New York for roughly €100 less.
You would always first fly to London in business class, from where you would fly to the USA in first class with either British Airways or American Airlines on seats that can be extended into roughly 2 meter long fully flat beds and lots of privacy. You also get to bring 3 suitcases of 32 kg each.
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.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, tickets are on sale until for flights without a specific travel period. However, the outbound flight may only take place on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Sunday. The inbound flight can take place on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Sunday. The fare has no expiration date and can thus be withdrawn anytime. The tickets have to be booked at least 120 days before departure.
Google Flights is usually the best source for suiting flight dates. We’d recommend simply trying out some early week dates between February and September using our tool above, which will redirect you to British Airways’ website.
Mileage
The business class flights between Spain and London are issued in booking class J, while the long-haul flights are issued in booking class A. Should you fly from Barcelona to New York (and back), you’d get:
Mileage calculation is currently unavailable.
As this is the shortest flight, all other routes would give you even more miles. One thing, however, always stays the same – the number of tier points that you’d get on British Airways’ Executive Club: 500 tier points!
Information & Tips for USA
The United States offers a wide range of tourist sights, from national parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon to cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The currency is the U.S. dollar (USD), and card payments are widely accepted. Prices vary by region but can be high in major cities, especially for accommodation and dining. Weather differs greatly across the country—winters can be harsh in the north, while the south often stays mild; summers are generally hot and humid in many areas.
The U.S. transport infrastructure is highly car-dependent, especially outside major cities. Urban centres like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco have functional public transit, but many other cities have limited options. Between cities, domestic flights are common for long distances, while intercity buses and Amtrak trains cover some routes, though often with slower speeds and less frequency compared to other countries. Without a car, getting around can be inconvenient in many parts of the country.
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
Cover Picture: © British Airways