(EXPIRED) $700’s RT: Business class, Budapest to US

Will Run for Miles reports an amazing business class fare sale available from Budapest to the United States on SkyTeam carriers, with round trip business class available in the $700’s on Air France, KLM, and Delta. Note that I even see these available through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for just over 51,000 Ultimate Rewards points round trip. These fares are available through the end of the schedule, which means you could book them for travel late in 2020 or even in early 2021. Hopefully reservations stick.

The Deal

• SkyTeam carriers Air France, KLM, and Delta are offering some amazing business class airfares from Budapest to many US cities with prices in the $700’s on many routes round trip (also bookable via credit card portals)
• Direct link to search Google Flights

Key Details

• Available on all three carriers
• Available to be booked via airline websites, OTAs, or even credit card portals
• Available through the end of the booking calendar
• Only available originating in Europe. Book an award flight to Budapest and enjoy two trips to Europe

Quick Thoughts

It is certainly possible that the airlines will get a case of what Gary Leff at View from the Wing likes to call “seller’s remorse”, so I would probably recommend holding off on other nonrefundable travel plans in the meantime (though on the other hand, with some hotels potentially offering free cancellation even on advance purchase reservations made over the next couple of weeks, the risk may be lower than normal).

These prices are widely available to many American cities. Here is an example week from January 2021 into February 2021 (again, these are round trip business class fares from Budapest):

It is further amazing to see those prices also available via credit card portals. For example, I’m seeing round trip flights available for 51,151 Ultimate Rewards points for those who have the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Obviously in light of the current travel ban, I wouldn’t recommend booking this for travel in the next couple of months, but there will obviously come a time when travel will return to normal. With this fare being available through the end of the schedule, there is certainly some opportunity here. Further, as I expect we’ll see elite status qualifications relaxed with many airlines and earnings increased to encourage bookings as we come out of this outbreak, these may be good opportunities to earn mileage down the road as well.

Of course, these fares are available from Europe to the US round trip, not the other way around. That’s a problem that is easily solved with an award ticket to Europe to start. This is essentially a way to get two trips to Europe — fly there on an award ticket, fly home on this paid ticket, then return to Europe on this paid ticket and fly back again on an award.

Note that while Will Run for Miles notes being able to have added in a stopover in Hawaii for even less, that option no longer appears to be available. Still, round trip to many US cities in business class for less than $800 round trip is a steal.

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