The Star Alliance is currently offering quite a few interesting offers from Amsterdam to North America. After we’ve already published its premium economy deal to Hawaii for €740, we’ve now layed our focus on the economy class deals. These include flights to destinations such as Montreal, Edmonton, Las Vegas, or Philadelphia starting at €302.
If you wish to book a fare that includes luggage, the price will go up by €100-200, depending on the destination. Frequent flyers that hold a Star Alliance Gold status will currently be permitted to bring 23 kg of luggage onto their flight, even when booking the lowest fare.
Worldwide travel restrictions are in place to slow the spread of Covid-19. We strongly recommend gathering detailed information about the travel and quarantine restrictions that apply to your desired origin and destination.
A good start is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website. It provides current updates on a country’s immigration policies. Even better, the Covid-19 Travel Regulations Map is one of the most useful tools you can find.
- Canada:
- USA:
- Las Vegas at €315
- Los Angeles at €320
- Denver at €322
- Boston at €325
- Dallas at €325
- San Diego at €325
- Atlanta at €325
- Philadelphia at €325
- Orlando at €325
- Miami at €325
- Tampa at €325
- Fort Lauderdale at €328
- New Orleans at €328
- Jacksonville at €328
- Portland, Oregon at €343
- Pittsburgh at €343
- Phoenix at €352
- Aspen, Colorado at €365
- Jackson / Yellowstone at €365
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.
By the way, this isn’t our only economy class deal from Amsterdam:
Search & Book
The fare rules do not state until when this deal will remain available. You can fly from November 2020 until early July 2021. The minimum stay requirement is set at 4 days (or a Sunday).
You can find all available dates by simply using Google Flights. Then, you should book directly on Lufthansa’s website.
This is a Star Alliance fare that does not include check-in luggage. Additionally, some other disadvantages may apply, especially when flying with United:
Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian
Lufthansa Group airlines call this fare Economy Light. You can select your seats during the check-in process. While these airlines still allow Star-Alliance-Gold customers to bring one 23kg bag, it is said that this benefit will soon be eliminated without much warning – like on European flights.
United Airlines
The long-haul United Basic Economy allows Star-Alliance-Gold customers to fly with 2 x 23 kg luggage, or even 3 x 32 kg if you’re a MileagePlus frequent flyer. Nevertheless, there are other restrictions:
- You cannot reserve your seats. Even at the time of check-in, you’ll be automatically assigned a seat, which you cannot change.
- You’ll be the last one to board the plane (except if you’re a frequent flyer).
- Additionally, if you’re a MileagePlus-customer:
- No free Economy-Plus upgrades
- Only 50% PQM instead of 100%, and only 0.5 PQS per flight
- No modifications (e.g. Same Day-Changes) possible
- Upgrades are not permitted
Air Canada
On flights with Air Canada, there is also a Basic Economy, but it is not quite as restrictive as United’s. If you have a Star-Alliance-Gold-Status, you can give up a 23 kg luggage, and Air-Canada-Altitude status holders can even be allowed up to 3 x 32 kg.
Other restrictions include:
- You can reserve seats, but at a higher price than usual for Economy.
- For Air Canada Altitude customers:
- 25% miles for transatlantic flights, none for domestic.
- Upgrades are not permitted.
- From Prestige 25K onwards you can select your seats.
If you feel that these restrictions are unbearable, you should book over Lufthansa.com or United.com and select the rate that includes luggage for roughly €100 more.
Miles
The tickets are issued in booking class K. Miles&More will credit you 25% of the distance as status miles (50% if you’re a status holder) and 4-6 award miles per euro.
Other programs will usually also credit 25-50% of the distance, at least if you’re flying with Air Canada or United. Lufthansa and SWISS flights will often not get you any miles at all at many frequent flyer programs.
Here are two examples for the miles that you should be receiving. First, a roundtrip to Montreal via Frankfurt with Lufthansa:
- 2,318 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 2,070 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 2,070 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 1,934 Award Miles + 386 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 1,934 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
Should you, however, fly to Los Angeles via Newark with United, the roundtrip would get you:
- 6,206 Miles on Asiana Club
- 6,206 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 6,206 Award Miles + 1,242 Tier Miles on Azul TodoAzul
- 6,206 Miles on Copa ConnectMiles
- 6,206 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 6,206 Miles on EVA Infinity MileageLands
- 6,206 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 6,206 Miles on Thai Royal Orchid Plus
- 6,206 Miles on Avianca LifeMiles
- 6,206 Miles on Aegean Miles+Bonus
- 6,206 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- 3,724 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,104 Award Miles + 620 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 3,104 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 3,104 Miles on Singapore KrisFlyer
- 3,104 Miles on TAP Miles&Go
- 3,104 CV Points on Vistara Club Vistara
- 3,104 Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 3,104 Avios on Aer Lingus AerClub
- 3,104 Award Miles on Emirates Skywards
Translated by Ditmar Lange
Cover Picture: © mario beauregard - Fotolia.com