Oneworld member British Airways and its partner American Airlines are currently offering cheap flights from Athens to Chicago and New York. The flights to the windy city only cost €337 if you fly with only a carry-on, or €453 if you book the fare that includes 23 kg of checked luggage. Sadly, this fare expires tonight, so you don’t have much time to think about it.
These tickets are non-refundable but can be rebooked for €150 + the price difference.
Our calendar displays all available dates for trips of 2-14 days. Once you’ve selected the destination and dates for your booking, we’ll redirect you to British Airways’ website:
First, you would always fly to London, usually onboard an Airbus A320neo. From there, you can either fly to New York in a Boeing 777 or to Chicago, either in an American Airlines Boeing 787 or in a British Airways Airbus A380.
Search & Book
This deal is set to expire tonight (November 30, 2022), so you’ll have to be rather quick. According to the fare rules, the flights have to take place before March 14 or after September 1. You also have to stay at least 6 days (or a Sunday) before flying back.
Our calendar displays all available dates for trips of up to 2 weeks. For longer trips, check out Google Flights‘ calendar. Either way, you should book these tickets directly on British Airways’ website.
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
If you book on British Airways’ website, the flights between Athens and London will be issued in booking class S, while the long-haul flights will be issued in booking class O. On American Airlines’ website, you’ll have booking class O on the short flights and B on the long flights.
To give you an example, flying to Chicago when booking on British Airways’ website should get you:
- 5,450 Avios + 36 Qpoints on Qatar Privilege Club
- 3,480 Avios + 80 Tier Points on British Airways Executive Club
- 3,480 Avios + 250 Elite Points on Iberia Plus
- 3,480 Miles on American AAdvantage
- 3,480 Miles on Alaska Mileage Plan
- 3,480 Points on Finnair Plus
- 3,480 Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 3,480 Award Miles on LATAM Pass
- 3,480 Miles on Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer
- 3,480 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 2,726 Points + 18 Elite Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 2,726 Miles on Royal Jordanian Royal Club
- 2,726 Miles on SriLankan FlySmiLes
- 754 AsiaMiles + 10 Club Points on Asia Miles
Destination
Hotel prices in the USA usually start at roughly €85 – €130, depending on the city and hotel category. Whichever category and hotel you opt for, make sure to get the best price! Our recommendation is to search on booking.com, or even on our own Travel-Dealz hotel search:
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: Photo by Chloe Bovia on Unsplash