Deal alert: Fly to Zurich from major US cities for less than $500 round-trip next ski season
Book within the next one to three days and score tickets to Zurich for ski season at ultra-discounted rates. Round-trip flights from New York City, Baltimore, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, D.C., are available for less than $510.
Flights from Denver and Minneapolis to Zurich are also available for closer to $600.
Expect to fly Icelandair for all routes excluding San Francisco, which will be on TAP Air Portugal.
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Deal basics
Airlines: Icelandair and TAP Air Portugal.
Routes: New York, Baltimore, Boston, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and Washington D.C., to Zurich.
How to book: Seach Google Flights and book directly with the airline.
Travel dates: September 2022 to April 2023; exact availability depends on the route.
Book by: One to three days.
Scott’s Cheap Flights was the first to point out this deal to us. Premium members pay $49 per year to get alerts for flights discounted up to 90%. You can try it out for free for 14 days. If you’re looking to get deal alerts for premium economy, business class and first class too, you can sign up to be an Elite member for $199 per year.
Related: 5 winter wonderland escapes in Switzerland to visit now
Sample flights
Most round-trip flights in this deal are less than $500. We’ve chosen to include flights from Minneapolis and Denver that are a little more expensive because it's still a great deal for travelers located closer to those airports.
Flights starting at $478 to Zurich Airport (ZRH) are available from:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
- Dulles International Airport (IAD).
- O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
San Francisco-based travelers can fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), starting at $507. Travelers can also book flights from both Minneapolis−St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Denver International Airport (DEN) starting at $587.
Search Google Flights and take a look at the booking calendar for your desired route to make sure you're getting the best rate. Choose your travel dates and flights accordingly.
For example, let's say you want to book the aforementioned flight from ORD to ZRH, as shown below. Google Flights list the price as $446 because that is the cheapest option available, but we recommend booking directly through the airline's website for $487.
Head directly to the airline’s website to book your flights.
You can view a breakdown of the flight charges by clicking on the box that lists the total price on the passenger information page.
The cheapest option available is Icelandair’s Economy Light fare, which does not include a checked bag or allow for changes to the flight. One carry-on item up to 22 pounds is included in the fare. Upgrading by one fare class to Economy Standard costs $60; in return, you'll receive a checked bag and the ability to make changes (with applicable fees).
Economy Light fares are nonrefundable. However, Icelandair does offer a full refund without penalty if you cancel within 24 hours of booking when your reservation is made a week or more before the flight departure.
Icelandair has five fare options on international flights. Take a look at what features the other fares offer, as well as what extra charges are for additional services like checked baggage and seat selection, to decide what is best for you.
Related: Watch us fly Icelandair 2 different ways: Business class vs. economy
Maximize your purchase
Use a card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express. This card earns 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. With the Citi Premier® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve you earn 3 points per dollar on airfare. When you book airfare using the American Express® Gold Card directly with the airline or through Amex Travel you earn 3 points per dollar. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar on travel purchases. This post explains how to make the most of airfare purchases.
Bottom line
A deal that involves flights for less than $500 from major U.S. cities to Zurich during ski season (and a little longer) is a gift for ski bums. Even for those of us that don’t dabble on the slopes, a snowy Switzerland sounds like a fun winter getaway.
Flights for less than $600 from Denver and Minneapolis to Zurich are also rare.
If you want to take a trip to Europe in the fall or winter this is a great deal to take advantage of.
Featured photo by Daniel Frauchiger/Getty Images.
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- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
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Rewards Rate
10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023