Crazy savings on a flight

Nice deal, Rob. I’m a bit jealous of that $529 round trip ticket.

Yes, we paid about 3 x that amount for this summer and we are coming from east coast, coach too. I haven’t seen prices like that since the pandemic.

Enjoy!

I think the price level was somehow triggered by coming home from Stockholm. Of course it is United basic economy, but we get a free carry on each which is all we need, and while it’s non refundable, if we canceled we would get travel credit minus a 200 dollar fee.

Otoh, there do seem to be a fair amount of good prices out there right now, at least from Northern California. We had been hesitating about pulling the trigger but this option makes sense.

We will cancel them within a year for sure, before the annual fee kicks in. I found the flights thru google flights, and was doing some mixing and matching of dates and airports. It helps when you have time and destination flexibility which we do now that we are early retired.

Credit cards can be an amazing plus for travel. I have a few. Most because of the sign up bonuses.

When I got my British Airways Visa a number of years ago, they were offering 100,000 miles as a sign up bonus. Back then, that amount of miles could get you nearly one round trip ticket in business class or two in economy. I think I needed 10,000 more miles. So I charged everything to that credit card which didn't cost me anything other than the amount being charged and I got a free business class round trip flight to London.

I’ve been seeing lower summer Europe fares the last few weeks but I’m firmly home till Labor Day weekend— no more travel!! 6 trips in 6 months did me in for now.

Meeting the spend requirement on the card will net a United miles promo of some sort in addition to the $250. Note that you get a free global entry fee paid with each card. Also the car insurance is great with this card. It’s the best of the airline cards IMO.

I have taken the $250 promo previously but the promo of just points, if you can use them, are usually a better value. Often 80,000 is possible and that’s 2 people RT domestically or to Mexico/Caribbean. For me that’s a connection but the card also includes 2 lounge entries.

My favorite credit card promo recently was Hawaiian Airlines 70,000 miles with just one purchase. These transferred over to Alaska Airlines and were enough to cover RT Seattle to Japan.

Right now, American Airlines has a big sale on redeeming miles for travel in August and September. I checked a few Sept dates for Seattle to London and 15,000 miles was coming up frequently. This is a good redemption value.

Carol, also seeing 15,000 (via Charlotte). That’s a great deal. I have 60,000 miles so 2 RT to Heathrow. Too bad headed to NM that month.

Update, apparently all transatlantic flight savings will be obliterated within minutes once we enter Norway which looks like a challenge for budget minded visitors but also looks amazing.