Skyteam members Delta Air Lines and KLM are offering a real bargain for flights to the American West Coast. With departure from Luxembourg, both carriers sell tickets to Portland, Oregon as cheap as €1,066. These tickets include KLM Cityhopper flights from Luxembourg to Amsterdam and two Transatlantic business class transfers on Delta aircraft to Portland.
Delta’s schedule currently sees an Airbus A330-200 operating nonstop services between Portland and Amsterdam. These feature lief-flat-seats in a 1-2-1 seating pattern.
We expect further shakeups in the airline industry over the following months. Some services might be cancelled, aircraft changed or downgraded. The schedule we describe may very well change.
Search & Book
The fare rules are very generous as they define a sales period ending on June 27, 2020 with a travel period until July 2021. The minimum stay is more restrictive, as you need to stay at least six days at your destination to benefit from this fare. The maximum stay is three months, with corresponds with the maximum allowance. As of now, you may find this fare almost daily in 2021.
Google Flights shows possible flight dates accurately, so we suggest searching suiting flight dates there (instructions). While our flight search might show even cheaper tickets sold by online travel agencies, we recommend booking directly via klm.com.
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 long haul tickets in booking class Z and short haul tickets in booking class J. The roundtrip should earn you the following award mileage:
- 24,756 Award Miles + 280 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 20,740 RDM + 3,150 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 15,556 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 14,972 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 14,222 Miles on ITA Volare
- 13,972 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 13,972 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 13,972 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
- 13,158 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 13,158 Award Miles on Etihad Guest
- 13,060 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 12,962 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 12,962 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 12,962 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- 10,468 Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
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: © Josemaria Toscano - fotolia.com
Comments (2)
Deal is No longer available for 1066 euros
Thanks for the info.