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Ten days ago I wrote about $276 roundtrip tickets between New York and Amsterdam.
Fares across the Atlantic have been low for a variety of reasons: too much capacity from the major airlines, low fuel prices that support this, and increased competition from low cost airlines like Norwegian and Wow Air.
Fares were low before Brexit. But today via The Flight Deal you can book Norwegian New York JFK – London Gatwick for $361 roundtrip. There’s a trick to how.
Copyright william87 / 123RF Stock Photo
The fare is available for Winter travel. Granted this is off-season, but the fares are amazing and you can fly elsewhere beyond London Gatwick once you’ve positioned yourself.
You can use Norwegian’s fare calendar to see days with the cheapest flights.
If you book via their US site the cheapest I’m seeing is $435 roundtrip.
However if you book with their Norwegian site (use Google Translate if you wish though I don’t find it necessary) it will price at 3026 Norwegian Krone.
And that’s ~ US$361.
Since this is being charged in a foreign currency, be sure to use a credit card that doesn’t add foreign transaction fees. I find that MasterCard currency conversions are the most reliably favorable. So my card of choice is Citi Prestige because:
- No foreign transaction fees
- MasterCard currency conversion
- Triple points on airfare
Norwegian Air Shuttle operates the route with a Boeing 787. Here’s a good video summary of the experience:
They’re a low cost carrier but you do get free hand baggage with a weight limit although checked bags are charged. Also advance seat assignments are charged.
@Gary Love your blog – it’s among my top favs, but I have to bust your chops a bit with this post. Specifically, the video you called a “a good video summary of the experience” in conjunction with “Norwegian Air Shuttle operates the route with a Boeing 787.” That’s a terrible video! It’s a mashup of footage across multiple aircraft types and is misleading for the non-enthusiast. And nearly a third of the video (33 seconds) was focused on a finger swiping through the movie options on the IFE. I don’t take issue with the inclusion of the video in your post (assuming it was the best you could find and post), but it’s a long ways away from being a “GOOD video summary of the experience” on-board the 787.
@Chris by good I meant ‘well done’.
If you book in another country’s denomination, I think you have to be a citizen of that country. If the airline catches this at the airport they could deny you boarding…although the chances are slim. It has happened more in Latin and South America. Just beware and ensure you put your country of residence in when populating the flight search.
@Janet – you’re confusing fares that require residence or citizenship (something we see with a few South American countries) and fares sold inside that country.