SkyTeam members Air France, Delta Air Lines, KLM and Virgin Atlantic have recently started a sale of discounted business class tickets from various UK airports to New York. Prices are cheapest for departures from Inverness at €1,230 (~£1,058), while flights from other airports are a little more expensive. You can even fly nonstop from London or Manchester for just €1,500.
Despite Air France and KLM recently introducing business class light fares, these tickets include two checked bags and lounge access.
You can fly from the following airports:
- Inverness at €1,230 (~£1,058)
- Birmingham at €1,415 (~£1,217)
- Edinburgh at €1,415 (~£1,217)
- Newcastle at €1,416 (~£1,218)
- Glasgow at €1,428 (~£1,228)
- Bristol at €1,430 (~£1,230)
- Aberdeen at €1,431 (~£1,231)
- Manchester at €1,494 (~£1,285) (Nonstop)
- London at €1,514 (~£1,302) (Nonstop)
Our availability calendar highlights possible flight dates from Inverness, London and Manchester at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to KLM’s website with your selected flight dates.
Nonstop flights are available from Manchester and London, operated by either Virgin Atlantic or Delta Air Lines. Flights from other British airports take you to Amsterdam or Paris first, with Air France or KLM handling long-haul duties.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, tickets are on sale for this price until May 30, 2023 for departures between January and March 2024. A minimum stay of night from Saturday to Sunday in necessary to get the lowest price.
Google Flights helps you find additional flight dates. We recommend purchasing premium tickets directly from the involved airlines, like KLM.
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
Long-haul segments are booking class Z, with mileage depending on marketing and operating airline. This example covers a trip from Inverness to New York sold and operated by KLM:
- 16,936 Miles on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 16,642 Kilometers on China Eastern Eastern Miles
- 16,540 Award Miles + 12,406 MQM on Delta SkyMiles
- 14,646 Kilometers on China Southern Sky Pearl Club
- 12,410 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
- 12,406 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 11,582 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 11,096 Miles on Xiamen Airlines Egret Club
- 10,582 Miles on Aerolineas Argentinas Plus
- 10,582 Miles on Czech Airlines OK Plus
- 10,340 Miles on Aeroflot Bonus
- 10,340 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 10,340 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 10,340 Miles on Vietnam Golden Lotus Plus
- 10,340 Miles on China Airlines Dynasty Flyer
- 10,340 Miles on Air Europa Club
- 10,338 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 8,274 Miles on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 3,600 Award Miles + 90 XP on FlyingBlue
A nonstop trip with Delta yields the following mileage:
- 16,622 Kilometers on China Eastern Eastern Miles
- 13,768 Award Miles + 200 Tier Miles on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 11,082 Kilometers on China Southern Sky Pearl Club
- 11,078 Miles on Xiamen Airlines Egret Club
- 10,326 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 8,608 Miles on Aeroflot Bonus
- 8,606 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 8,606 Miles on Air Europa Club
- 8,606 Miles on Czech Airlines OK Plus
- 8,606 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 6,960 Award Miles + 10,326 MQM on Delta SkyMiles
- 6,884 Award Miles + 48 XP on FlyingBlue
- 6,884 Miles on Aerolineas Argentinas Plus
- 6,884 Miles on China Airlines Dynasty Flyer
- 6,884 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 6,884 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 6,884 Miles on Vietnam Golden Lotus Plus
You can find out your accrual with our Mileage Calculator:
Destination
Hotel prices in New York usually start at roughly €140, 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 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
Information & Tips for New York
It is THE dream destination in the USA. The 5 districts of New York City offer more than any other metropolis in the world. And due to the high number of flights to New York, it is usually the cheapest way to get to the USA.
The Best Time to Travel
The best travel time with moderate temperatures is from April to June and from September to November. Summers can bring heat waves with high humidity. Winters are often snowy and very cold.
From the airport to the city
New York City is served by three commercial airports: John F. Kennedy Intl. Airport in Queens (probably the most famous), Newark Intl. Airport in Newark, New Jersey (which is not located in NYC, but serves the metropolitan area just like the others) and LaGuardia Airport also in Queens (which is closest to the city).
John F. Kennedy Intl. Airport
Public transport: From Manhattan by subway or LIRR to Jamaica (price varies from $2.75 – $10.00), continue with AirTrain to JFK ($6). Travel time 45 – 60 minutes.
Taxi: To Manhattan $52.50 (+ $5.50 toll), 45 – 90 minutes depending on traffic.
Newark Intl. Airport
Public transport: Almost $20 with a combination of AirTrain Newark and NJ Transit to Penn Station. Almost 45 minutes drive.
Taxi: To Manhattan $50 – $70 (+ $8 toll), journey time 35 – 60 minutes depending on traffic.
LaGuardia Airport
Public transport: LaGuardia is only served by buses, these are slow and don’t have much space to store luggage, but with $2,75 they are very cheap.
Taxi: To Manhattan $20 – $30, journey time 15 – 30 minutes depending on traffic.
→ All Dealz for New York
Cover Picture: © KLM