SkyTeam partners Air France, Delta, and KLM are selling cheap tickets from Barcelona to Washington DC and Chicago. Both destinations are available for less than €300 with a change of planes in New York. Adding luggage, however, will cost you – usually €120 if you are not a status holder. You can also with KLM via Amsterdam or Air France via Paris for €30 more.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates for less than €300 for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to KLM with your preselected flight dates. You can also check what OTAs have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to €5 cheaper.
If you are willing to pay €50 more, you can also depart from Bilbao.
All itineraries include Delta’s nonstop service between Barcelona and New York. The airlines’ schedule sees a Boeing 767-300ER between the two cities, with a 2-3-2 in economy class. The onward flights are operated by Delta or one of their regional partners.
Search & Book
You should book these flights before September 20, 2022. You need to respect a minimum stay requirement of 6 days (or a Sunday). Availability is good at the beginning of 2023 and gets worse from monthly until ceasing in May.
You can easily check the exact availability on Google Flights. Once you found dates that suit you, we recommend booking directly on KLM’s website. Because Delta doesn’t credit any miles in their Basic Economy (in addition to barring you from upgrades), it is better to book the same tickets as a KLM Economy Light fare, avoiding Delta’s dreaded booking class. It is also the cheapest option if you want to travel with checked bags.
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
KLM issues tickets for all flight segments in booking class V. A trip to Chicago earns you:
- 4,560 Award Miles + 70 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 2,528 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 2,282 RDM + 9,120 MQM on Delta SkyMiles
- 2,282 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 2,282 RDM + 456 MQD on Delta SkyMiles 2024
- 1,928 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 1,824 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 1,824 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 1,824 Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 1,824 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 1,824 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 1,824 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
If you purchase these tickets from Delta, they are booking class E:
- 2,282 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 2,282 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- 2,282 Miles on China Airlines Dynasty Flyer
- 2,282 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 2,282 Miles on LATAM Pass
- 1,824 Award Miles + 24 XP on Flying Blue
Destination
Hotel prices in Chicago and New York usually start at roughly €50 in the suburban parts, depending on the 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 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 Washington D.C.
→ All Dealz for Washington D.C.
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
Thanks to our source Fly4Free!