Play deal: 23% off fares to Europe for the new year

Even as the holiday rush wanes, airlines continue to slash fares to Europe. Play is offering a 23% discount on flights to multiple cities in Europe as part of its New Year’s sale.

Fly to Reykjavik; Berlin; Brussels; Copenhagen; Dublin; Gothenburg, Sweden; Hamburg, Germany; London; Liverpool, England; Stockholm; and Paris from Baltimore, Boston, New York and Washington.

To receive the discount, just enter the promo code “PLAY2023” when booking your flight.

The sale ends Jan. 7, so snag these deals while you can.

Deal basics

Airline: Play.
Routes: From Baltimore, Boston, New York and Washington to various cities in Europe.
How to book: Book flights directly on Play’s website. Use the code “PLAY2023” to receive the discount.
Travel dates: Generally from Jan. 15 to May 24; dates vary by route. Check out Play’s website for more information on travel dates for specific routes.
Book by: Jan. 7.

Sample flights

If you can fly out from one of Play’s U.S. posts, this deal is a great opportunity to see Europe at a discount. Fares vary considerably by date and route. However, for certain routes, Play already has low fares, so when coupled with the 23% discount, a trip to Europe with Play almost feels like a no-brainer.

For example, if you want to fly from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARL), Play already has cheap fares for trips in April and May. Each flight to and from Stockholm costs less than $200, according to the airline’s booking calendar.

Without the promo code, a round-trip flight from Boston to Stockholm costs $383. With the promo code, the flights cost a total of $361. Both flights include a layover in Reykjavik.

Keep in mind that Play charges for both carry-on and checked baggage. If you pay for a carry-on, though, Play offers priority boarding. Carry-ons cost $62.05 and checked bags are $75.65 each.

Play also charges extra for choosing your seats, which can cost anywhere from $5.16 to $41.28 for this specific route. The most expensive seats are at the front of the aircraft and provide extra legroom.

Maximize your purchase

Use a card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, like The Platinum Card® from American Express (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), Citi Prestige® Card (5 points per dollar on airfare), Citi Premier® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar on airfare), American Express® Gold Card (3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar on travel). See this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.

The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

This deal ends in two days, and it’s first come, first served. We highly recommend you book these flights as soon as possible.

Flights to Europe, especially in the warmer months, can be pricey. However, this deal allows you to visit some major European cities at a bargain.

Even though there are additional fees for carry-ons, checked baggage and seat selection, these fares are still really hard to beat.