Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking. However, if you’re using The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll need to book directly with the airline or through the Amex Travel portal to get 5x MR points. Remember: Fares may disappear quickly, so book right away and take advantage of Orbitz or Expedia’s courtesy cancellation if you’re unable to get the time away from work or family.
New Yorkers, one of the dreaded tourist seasons is approaching. Looking for an escape? We’ve got you covered. Take advantage of these deals to major European cities while you can. Flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and Newark International Airport (EWR) to Paris (ORY)/(CDG), Barcelona (BCN), Dublin (DUB), Amsterdam (AMS) and Frankfurt (FRA) are available starting from $282 round-trip. Warning: some of these deals are offered via budget carriers or in basic economy, so checked baggage will not be included in all fares.
While you’re in Europe, don’t get stuck in one place — use the continental train lines. We’ve cooked up a guide to help you out while you navigate the rails.
To search, head to Google Flights and enter your origin and destination cities. Scroll through the calendar function to find dates and prices that work for you. Finally, click through to book directly with the airline or through an OTA like Priceline or Expedia.
Airlines: LEVEL, American, Norwegian, WOW
Routes: EWR/JFK to ORY/CDG/BCN/DUB/AMS/FRA
Cost: $282+ round-trip in economy
Travel Dates: November 2018 – May 2019
Pay With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline), Citi ThankYou Premier Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express® Gold Card, Citi Prestige (3x on airfare plus excellent trip delay insurance) or Chase Sapphire Preferred (2x on travel)
Booking Link: Kayak, Priceline, Orbitz, Expedia or directly with the airline
Here are a few examples of what you can book:
New York (EWR) to Paris (ORY) for $282 round-trip on LEVEL:
New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) for $315 round-trip on American:
New York (JFK) to Barcelona (BCN) for $318 round-trip on American:
New York (EWR) to Dublin (DUB) for $320 round-trip on WOW Air:
New York (JFK) to Amsterdam (AMS) for $360 round-trip nonstop on Norwegian:
New York (EWR) to Frankfurt (FRA) for $360 round-trip nonstop on WOW Air:
Maximize Your Purchase
Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel), Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express® Gold Card, Citi ThankYou Premier, Citi Prestige (3x on airfare) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on all travel purchases). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.
H/T: Secret Flying
Featured image by Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images.