Deal Alert: Transcontinental Flights From $236 Round-Trip
Quick summary
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
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Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend that 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 American Express Platinum Card, you'll need to book directly with the airline or through 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.
Several domestic carriers are offering transcontinental flights for a great price. Fly from New York (EWR and JFK) to West Coast cities including Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA) starting at just $236 round-trip. Discounted fares are generally available from September through November 2017, but exact availability will depend on where you're traveling to. Note, too, that some of the Delta tickets may be basic economy, though those aren't nearly as restrictive as United or American's version of basic economy. To search for these low fares, we recommend using Google Flights and then complete booking directly through the airline.
Airline: Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Virgin America
Route: EWR/JFK to LAS/LAX/SAN/SFO/SEA
Cost: $236+ round-trip in economy
Dates: September - December 2017
Booking Link: Orbitz or Expedia
Pay With: The Platinum Card from American Express (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi Prestige (3x on airfare) or Chase Sapphire Preferred (2x on travel)
Here are a few examples of what you can book:
New York (JFK) to Seattle (SEA) for $236 round-trip on Alaska:
New York (JFK) to Seattle (SEA) for $236 round-trip on JetBlue:
New York (JFK) to Seattle (SEA) for $236 round-trip on Delta (basic economy):
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) for $276 round-trip on JetBlue:
Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO) for $276 round-trip on Virgin America:
Maximize Your Purchase
Don't forget to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases, such as the American Express Platinum Card (5x on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel), Chase Sapphire Reserve, or 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.
If you're able to score one of these tickets, let us know in the comments below.