Deal Alert: US to Africa From $645 Round-Trip
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
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.
It's not often that we see cheap flights to Africa, especially with this kind of availability.
You can fly from Chicago (ORD), Washington (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle (SEA) and New York (JFK) to either Nairobi, Kenya (NBO) or Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ADD) starting from $645 round-trip.
If you end up in Kenya you can take a safari through Maasai Mara or even visit Giraffe Manor located in the Nairobi suburbs. Check out Get Your Guide for a list of more activities in Kenya.
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Earlier this year, Ethiopia made it much easier to get an e-visa, so tourists of all nationalities shouldn't have an issue visiting the country.
These flights are all on full-service carriers so you'll get a free checked bag and a hot meal during your journey.
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 Orbitz or Expedia.
Airlines: United, Swiss, Lufthansa, Turkish, Delta, Air France, Kenya Airways, Air Canada
Routes: ORD/IAD/LAX/JFK/SEA to NBO/ADD
Cost: $645+ round-trip in economy
Travel Dates: October 2018 to May 2019, depending on the route
Pay With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline), Citi Premier® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel)
Booking Link: Priceline, Orbitz, Expedia or directly with the airline
Here are a few examples of what you can book:
Washington DC (IAD) to Nairobi (NBO) for $645 round-trip on United/Swiss:
Washington DC (IAD) to Nairobi (NBO) for $664 round-trip on United/Swiss/Lufthansa:
Chicago (ORD) to Addis Ababa (ADD) for $692 round-trip in Economy on United/Lufthansa:
Los Angeles (LAX) to Addis Ababa (ADD) for $699 round-trip on Turkish via Expedia:
New York (JFK) to Nairobi (NBO) for $713 round-trip on Delta/Air France/Kenya Airways:
Seattle (SEA) to Nairobi (NBO) for $732 round-trip on Air Canada/Lufthansa via Orbitz:
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, Citi Premier, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on all travel purchases). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.
