US to Spain - What Airline?

[Dave2013]

I was wondering what Airline Americans use to fly from US to Spain.

Sure would like to build up those frequent flyer miles over the next year; and airline specific cards usually offer the most non flight mile build-up.

 

[vagabondette]

In general, you'll get a better ROI from a cash-back card than an airline card (this is assuming you don't fly a LOT already - in which case you'd probably already have your favorite). They generally have lower (if any) fees, better bonuses and you aren't stuck with one airline (family of airlines) as you can spend your cash wherever you want. Another option, if you're going to be buying lots of gear, is to get an REI card and use the bonus to outfit yourself.

I got my flight on Air Berlin. NYC->Berlin->Barcelona then Berlin->NYC and my flight was about $750 RT.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

United, American, USAir, and British Airways have flights from Denver to Spain. Several of them code share, so you might be on Air Canada for United, and British Airways for American!

 

[Red_Beard]

I'm planning on using Delta for my trip. They have the best list prices so far (when buying directly from them), and apparently their accommodations for economy class tickets far surpass those of American Airlines. I have an international airport about 20 minutes from me though, so i have a lot of airlines to choose from.

 

[katarob]

Iberia can be a good choice since it flies from many cities from the US and its a partner with American Airlines , so if you participate in an AA frequent flyer you can use the miles to fly with them as well. Be on the lookout for offers from AA credit card with huge miles bonuses. Last year they offered 100,000 FF miles for spending a certain amount in two years, the first year no payment of annual fee. They then offered to send us at no additional cost an Amex card with additional 20,000 miles bonus. So, without setting foot in an AA flight we earned 120,000 miles! Used 60,000 of those miles to get the Iberia flight from Chicago to Madrid R/T for my son who is joining us in the Camino.

I don't find flights with British Airways too economically attractive. They charge hefty taxes and fees in the tickets you purchase or FF award tickets.

 

[tyrrek]

Yes, the issue of taxes going through UK has been mentioned regularly. Also the problem of having to transfer to a different London airport if you plan to connect to Bayonne rather than Madrid. Another forum member recently suggested going through Dublin to Bayonne, as the flights arrive and depart at the same airport, which could work from some east coast airports in particular.

British Airways should be renamed London Airways, by the way, as that's the only city they serve, so there's no way of getting a cheap deal with them via Manchester etc. I'll dismount my hobby horse now! :evil:

 

[scruffy1]

Shalom and Greetings from Jerusalem
In my experience, Iberia may be the most convenient for connecting flights within Spain HOWEVER my past flights with Iberia have been largely negative, cramped quarters, little or no refreshment, the clock stops as you enter the terminal and goodness knows when your flight will leave, how long you will be in the air, and at what hour you will arrive - meaning how late and by how much did you miss your connecting flight. I would rather walk from Denver than fly Iberia. From Israel? I fly through Zurich and down to Spain from there, anybody just not Iberia. South America is another of my favorite destinations - nothing direct so its always Aerolíneas Argentinas or TAM.

 

[jpflavin1]

Dave:

You could fly any of the major U.S. airlines. Try Kayak as a search engine.

That said, United has a hub in Denver if you are looking to choose an airline with a major presence in your area.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[miamijhp]

From Miami, Florida I use American Airlines every time I travel to Europe. They match miles one to one with LAN Argentina (Iberia give you only 25% of the miles). I use American's miles for my trips to South America and vice-verse miles accumulated in Lan can be used in American for trips to Europe
Buen Camino
Jorge

 

[Red_Beard]

Dave:

You could fly any of the major U.S. airlines. Try Kayak as a search engine.

That said, United has a hub in Denver if you are looking to choose an airline with a major presence in your area.

Ultreya,
Joe

In terms of price, I actually found Kayak to be one of the more expensive options. Cheapo-air was a good one that compared multiple airlines. I like going directly through the airline, as that seems to produce the best results in my experience (In terms of price)

 

[viajero]

I've always had good experieces on Iberia. I flew on Ieria for all of my caminos because they had the best rates (I was flying in the off season each time). I have always flown from Washington DC and Iberia used to have a direct flight to Madrid from Washington (I don't think they do any more).The real benefit is that their connecting flights to cities in Spain were not much more in cost (and sometimes less ?!?) than the Return ticket U.S>Madrid. So, I was always able to fly to my starting point (Pamplona, San sebastian, etc.) and return from my ending point (Santiago, OViedo)

 

[ornarywomn]

Hello,

I had to stop and say hello because I also am interested in the airline that is best, I gat excited because I am in Denver. When are you going to Le Puy?

 

[jeff001]

Depending where you start you may want to fly into France rather than Spain. In any case you need to factor in ground travel cost and time when deciding what the best deal is.

 

[koby]

in May-June I flew US Air Philadelphia to Madrid. Nice planes, individual monitors, okay dinner, very pleasant attendants going (American), less so coming back (Spanish -- all male, left half hour late due to missing passengers, arrived half hour early).

Plane at least 1/3 empty both ways. Part of Star Alliance (Air Canada, and othes) with wide choice of seats. IIberia's Air Nostrum early arrival and on time takeoff. Small but nice plane an staff. Had four seats to myself each way.

 

[manifestdestinyLISA]

My brother has gifted me with his FF miles for United - Ill be departing from EWR (NJ)...Its only going to cost approx 200,000 miles round trip, $25 in taxes to fly to Toulouse and $45 for direct From Lisbon to NJ . There were flights to Bilbao and other Spanish cities, I was looking at France though - I am starting my trip at Lourdes so Toulouse makes sense-then short train ride from Lourdes to St Jean to start camino.

United has many options with reward travel..and thank God for the hard work and all the international travel that my brother has racked up the miles..and generously donated them for my pilgrimmage. If you have FF miles it def can make all the difference- or if someone was willing to share them with you! I have found that friends and fam who travel alot for work usually do not want to travel so much outside of work and they are happy to share miles..I was also gifted miles for 3 other trips abroad- only because I asked..and they were happy their miles could be enjoyed!The three others were on Continental..I forget who they merged with?

Before I had FF miles, I was searching Orbitz..I always find great flights with them/lots of options..the lowest round trip multi city I found was to PUF (pau, france) from JFK and my direct return from Lisbon to EWR (NJ ) for $1260- there were many roundtrips for under $1000 in the $960 range that left/arrived from more popular Spanish airports...and JFK Nyc- I used the mix/match airline feature and Delta to find the best fares...amazing though how flights range from $960 to $4,000 and some of the more expensive flights have really long flight times, multiple stops and lay overs!

Happy Trails
Lisa

 

[koby]

in my prior post about US Air I meant I had four seats each way from Philadelphia to Madrid return. Great for sleeping!

 

[tyrrek]

My brother has gifted me with his FF miles for United - Ill be departing from EWR (NJ)...Its only going to cost approx 200,000 miles round trip, $25 in taxes to fly to Toulouse and $45 for direct From Lisbon to NJ . Lisa

This is brilliant. I don't understand anything about these FF schemes (Ryanair don't have one, as far as I know! ), but it sounds great. Could someone ask their whole church congregation to donate FF points to enable a Camino, for example? Or do they all have to be from one person?

Buen Camino!

 

[mauveglass]

I just booked my flight on AA/Iberia on Smartfares. com. It was the cheapest I found. Multi-city flights: Columbus-JFK-MAD/MAD-LHR-Chicago/Chicago-Denver. $905

 

[Dave2013]

Well, I've picked up the CapitalOne Venture card. It's initial bonus miles are not as good as an actual airlines but I will be able to use them for any airline that I end up going with.

As always, thanks for all of your input.

 

[manifestdestinyLISA]

Tyrrek

I think it has to be fam or bus. associate, but I know people who have let their need be known to group/church etc, and people have been happy to step forward to donate FF miles...im pretty sure it has to be from the same group/bus or family. And/or they need your passport info to book trip..My trip wound up being 110,000 miles with United. Which is kind of alot, when I went to Italy twice and Greece once, the ff miles added up to approx 50-60,000 miles round trip for each with Continental. United did merge with Continental and they said they recently changed reward system. I think also since I am going to toulouse but leaving from Lisbon to come home and there is 6 weeks in between it made the fare/miles increase.

I do think Tuedays are the best for fares, I just checked Orbitz and they did go down a little today and there are many flights on many US Airlines, TAP and others...
Buen Camino!

 

[Hbee]

From LAX ... I just booked my british airways tickets to Barcelona via London. Figured I will scratch the return flighs from Barcelona and nip to London directly from Santiago. Prices were better than Oribiz or Spanish Airlines cheers, Hb

 

[markss]

From LAX ... I just booked my british airways tickets to Barcelona via London. Figured I will scratch the return flighs from Barcelona and nip to London directly from Santiago. Prices were better than Oribiz or Spanish Airlines cheers, Hb

Be careful ... if you booked an LAX - Barcelona via London roundtrip flight and you skip the Barcelona to London piece on your return, your return London to LAX fight will be cancelled. You cannot skip any piece of the set itinerary. It may not seem logical but that's the way it works.

 

[alipilgrim]

I looked at American Airlines to Madrid from LAX next May using FF and I can do it for 50,000 miles + $384 in taxes. 200,000 FF sounds like a huge amount of miles to use, unless you're flying 1st class...

 

[Mitchie Pairley]

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[indyinmaine]

This is brilliant. I don't understand anything about these FF schemes (Ryanair don't have one, as far as I know! ), but it sounds great. Could someone ask their whole church congregation to donate FF points to enable a Camino, for example? Or do they all have to be from one person?

Buen Camino!

What a great idea. I tried to get someone else from our parish to walk but the biggest deterrent was the flight cost. If you watch your "pennies" you can probably do the rest of it for under $1000. I think I'll start a "Camino Bank"!

Indyinmaine