Star Alliance members Lufthansa and SWISS currently offer a first class companion special with departure from Stockholm and Gothenburg. Six US destinations are available at the most comfortable way these airlines have to offer, starting with Miami at a SEK 47,098 (~€4,072) roundtrip for two persons. Because this is a companion sale, you need to purchase tickets for two persons get the quoted price of €2,206 per person.
The same special is now available with departure from Oslo and Copenhagen as well!
There are even more destinations on all continents available, like this SEK 39,402 (~€3,407) = €1,850 per person first class fare to Shanghai. All featured destinations can be found at the link below:
The following American destinations are available with departure from Stockholm and Gotheburg (prices per person):
- Miami at €2.206
- Boston at €2.212
- Washington DC at €2.212
- Chicago at €2.305
- San Francisco at €2.492
- New York at €2.588
Most connections feature a layover in Zurich, where you can enjoy Swiss’ famed first class lounge. After a European business class flight, a SWISS Airbus A330, A340 or Boeing 777 will take you across the Atlantic – in its first class cabin, of course. Some connections are routed via Frankfurt or Munich, on which you can expect a Lufthansa Airbus A380 or Boeing 747-8i.
Search & Book
This offer is valid until December 2, 2019 for trips starting before September 30, 2020. To qualify for this fare, you have to stay at least six days, but no longer than three months at your destination. A blockout applies during the summer holidays in June through August 2020. The fare rules for all possible origins and destinations are more or less the same.
We recommend using Google Flights to find suiting flight dates (instructions). The best option to purchase your tickets is directly with either Lufthansa or Swiss.
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.
Mileage
Swiss issues long haul tickets in booking class A. This grants mileage credtis of up to 300% of your travel distance. Feeder flights to Zurich are booking class J. A roundtrip to Miami yields the following mileage, even without tier bonuses:
- 33,250 Award Miles + 680 Points on Miles&More
- 32,946 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 32,946 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 23,196 Award Miles + 3,740 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 23,196 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 23,196 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 22,272 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 22,272 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 22,272 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 22,272 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 22,272 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 17,398 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 17,028 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 16,936 Miles on Asiana Club
- 16,936 Award Miles + 11,598 Tier Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 16,474 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,326 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
Thanks to our sources Vielfliegertreff & YHBU!
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