Yesterday, we found unbeatably cheap Star Alliance flights from Germany to the USA that only cost €219 per person (which, by the way, are still available).
Now an equally attractive deal from Aer Lingus has appeared. You can book open-jaw flights to the US and back for only €162. However, you need to depart and arrive in different countries in order to benefit from the cheapest prices. Unlike yesterday’s deal, this deal can be booked for a single passenger and includes 23 kg of luggage.
Entry into the USA is permitted for fully vaccinated persons. In addition to proof of vaccination, you need a negative rapid corona test, no older than 1 day before departure.
At Aer Lingus, all flights can be rebooked without having to pay a rebooking fee until September 30, 2022 (up to 7 days before departure), but you will have to pay the fare difference. In addition, when booking through an OTA (online travel agency), additional fees for rebooking may apply.
Normally, we would recommend Aer Lingus’ website for booking. However, the tickets there cost twice as much. Therefore, whether you like it or not, you have to buy these flights through an OTA. If you don’t want to take any risks, the best way to book is to use the ITA Powertools (browser extension for Chrome & Firefox) to book on Priceline.com. Experience has shown that tickets are issued immediately there, but it may take longer at other OTAs.
Below are some examples of cheap open-jaw flights:
- Prague – Chicago | Boston – Frankfurt: €162
- Prague – Boston – Berlin: €170
- Prague – Boston | New York – Frankfurt: €181
- Prague – Chicago – Zurich: €189
- Prague – Boston | Los Angeles – Hamburg: €194
- Prague – Boston | Chicago – Zurich: €195
- Brussels – New York – Hamburg: €220
- Brussels – Chicago – Zurich: €235
- Brussels – Washington | New York – Hamburg: €244
- Brussels – Boston – Frankfurt: €245
The feeder flights from/to Dublin are mostly carried out with Airbus jets of the A320 family. Both Airbus A330s and Airbus A321neos are used on long-haul routes. The seat pitch on long-haul routes is around 79 cm.
By the way, in Dublin, you can (or must) use the pre-clearance. Entry into the USA then takes place in Ireland. This costs you some time in Dublin but saves you waiting times after arriving in the USA.
Search & Book
The fare is apparently available for travel from March to June 2022. We do not know how long the prices will remain available. However, the tickets are so cheap that you shouldn’t hesitate too long. The minimum stay requirement seems to be one night from Saturday to Sunday.
To search for available dates, we recommend using Google Flights (instructions). Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, the tickets can only be booked through third-party providers (e.g. in the Travel-Dealz flight search) and not directly at Aer Lingus.
Mileage
The tickets are usually issued in booking class A. Unfortunately, opportunities to earn miles are very limited. At Aer Lingus AerClub, you’d get 3 Avios per euro ticket price minus taxes & fees, which then equates to around 200 Avios. You’re better off with United MileagePlus, which will get you around 1,900 award miles.
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
Cover Picture: Ditmar Lange
Comment (1)
How to count? How much will the Alaska Mileage Plan have?