Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal has put a decent price tag on business flights from Barcelona and Madrid to Chicago. You can reach the Windy City from two Spanish airports, with a stop in Lisbon. Lounge access, 2×32 kg checked bags and two transatlantic crossings in a lie-flat seat are included in these prices, which go as low as €1,343.
Our availability calendar previews all available flight dates for both routes. It forwards you directly to Skyscanner, where you’ll find the cheapest price. Skyscanner will display various options. Make sure to take a look at the layover times. Often, the best connection will be displayed second or third, simply because it costs €2-3 more. But who would spend 6 more hours at the airport to save €2 on a business class ticket?
TAP deploys their new Airbus A330-900 NEO aircraft on flights between Lisbon and Chicago, with lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 pattern up front. Our author Ditmar recently tested the product onboard an Airbus A321 between Lisbon and Washington.
Not too long ago, TAP’s Executive Class was infamously subpar. By now, however, all planes have been equipped with new seats that can be converted into fully flat beds and offer quite a high comfort. The service is also said to be very friendly.
Search & Book
The deal is valid until March 25, 2024. A minimum stay of five days or one Saturday night is necessary to get the lowest fare. According to the fare rules, all travel between Barcelona and Chicago has to be completed by June 30, 2024. On this day, your inbound flight has to arrive back in Spain.
Google Flights previews prices accurately, although our flight search above can make it easier to find available dates. We recommend looking for flight dates there and purchasing your tickets on the airline’s website. Alternatively, you can also save some money by booking through Skyscanner.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
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Mileage
TAP issues tickets for all flight segments in booking class J. For the Barcelona to Chicago flight, you can earn the following mileage:
- 21,894 Miles on Hainan Fortune Wings Club
- 19,996 Award Miles + 480 Points on Miles&More
- 18,468 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 18,468 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 18,468 Award Miles + 9,234 Tier Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 18,468 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 18,468 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 18,468 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 18,468 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 15,698 Miles on Azul TodoAzul
- 13,852 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 13,852 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
- 13,852 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 12,004 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
- 11,544 Award Miles + 1,924 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 11,544 Miles on Asiana Club
- 11,544 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 11,544 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 11,544 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 11,544 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
Destination
Information & Tips for Chicago
Chicago is the third largest city in the USA with about 2.7 million inhabitants and an important economic and cultural center. The city attracts about 55 million visitors every year and has a lot to offer in terms of tourism.
Best Time to Visit
The best weather for tourists is in May, June, September and October. Summers can become very hot and humid, winters are often associated with snow storms and double-digit temperatures below zero.
From the Airport to the City Center
Two commercial airports serve the metropolitan area of Chicago, the larger Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (DCA). Long-haul flights are serviced by ORD, which is also a hub for Star Alliance carrier United Airlines and Oneworld carrier American Airlines. MDW mainly serves domestic flights and is Southwest’s hub.
Chicago O’Hare Intl. Airport
By CTA train (Blue Line, journey time 35 – 50 minutes) the journey from the airport to the city costs $5, in the other direction only $2.25. A taxi costs – depending on traffic – between $40 and $50, Uber and Lyft are slightly cheaper. The journey time can vary between 30 and 60 minutes.
Chicago Midway Intl. Airport
This airport can also be reached by CTA train (Orange Line, travel time 25 minutes, same prices as ORD). Taxis take about 30 minutes and cost $30 to $40, Uber and Lyft are slightly cheaper.
→ All Dealz for Chicago
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