Deal Alert: California and New York to Spain and Italy From $319 Round-Trip

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.

If you didn’t get the memo, recent research shows that shorter, frequent getaways actually do more for your relaxation than longer trips. If you haven’t taken a vacation yet this year, this deal may be just the ticket. Get to Rome, Barcelona or Madrid from New York and Los Angeles for less than $400 round-trip. Some routes are in basic economy, but some are full-service depending on your dates. Availability is widespread, and deals are available from other cities as well for slightly higher prices.

If you’re looking to do some exploring, check out Get Your Guide for a list of the best activities in Rome, Barcelona and Madrid.

Airlines: KLM, Delta, Finnair, American, Iberia
Routes: LAX/JFK to FCO/BCN/MAD
Cost: $319+ in economy
Travel Dates: October 2018 – June 2019
Pay With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline), Citi ThankYou Premier Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express, Citi Prestige (3x on airfare plus excellent trip delay insurance) or Chase Sapphire Preferred (2x on travel)
Booking Link: Priceline, Orbitz, Expedia or directly with the airline

Here are a few examples of what you can book:

New York (JFK) to Barcelona (BCN) for $319 round-trip on KLM in October:

New York (JFK) to Barcelona (BCN) for $334 round-trip on Finnair Light (basic economy) in October:

New York (JFK) to Madrid (MAD) for $343 round-trip on Finnair Light (basic economy) in December:

New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO) for $345 round-trip on American Airlines basic economy in January:

Los Angeles (LAX) to Madrid (MAD) for $383 round-trip on Iberia in April:

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 Premier Rewards Gold, 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.

Source: thepointsguy.com