Low-cost airline Play is embracing the holiday gift-giving season with a flash sale for European fares that has some routes available for as low as $79 each way.
The Icelandic carrier’s newest discounts are for routes to some of the most desirable destinations in Europe, including Amsterdam, London and Paris. The deal includes fares from each U.S. city where Play operates, such as Baltimore, Boston and New York City via New York Stewart International Airport (SWF), which is about 60 miles north of Manhattan.
All Play flights connect with the airline’s hub at Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavik before heading to their final destinations.
The sale is good through midnight EST on Dec. 8. It’s valid for flights from now through April 2024.
Deal basics
Airline: Play
Routes: From Baltimore, Boston, New York (via SWF) and Washington, D.C., to various European cities
How to book: Go to the Play website and book directly through the airline
Travel dates: Now through April 2024
Book by: Midnight EST on Dec. 8
Related: When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
Sample flights
If you want to jet out of New York and visit Reykjavik this winter, your best bet is to plan your travel in January and February. We found lots of one-way basic fares for as low as $81, as you can see in the screenshots below. This flight would take off from New York’s SWF and land at Iceland’s KEF. That’s a very good price for a ticket to Iceland, no matter how stripped-down the flight experience is.
January is a great time to plan a trip to London if you live in New England. Play has good availability for fares from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to London Stansted Airport (STN) in January for as low as $118 each way. February also has some tickets at this price, but they’re going quickly.
You can fly from Dulles International Airport (IAD) outside of Washington, D.C., to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in March for under $280 round trip. As you can see in the screenshot below, this is Play’s basic fare, which is as bare-bones as it gets. This tier only allows passengers to bring one personal item. You’ll have to pay more for a carry-on bag, as well as checked luggage. On the plus side, you’re flying to Paris for less than $300.
You can also fly from D.C. to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) for a post-holiday getaway for just $309 round trip. Reminder: This flight deal is the basic fare, and every one of Play’s flights from the U.S. connects through Reykjavik.
Related: 7 reasons why flying Iceland’s newest airline was a great experience
Maximize your purchase
When you book this deal or make any travel purchase, be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: 2 points per dollar spent on travel
- American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): 3 points per dollar spent on airfare
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: 3 points per dollar spent on travel
Bottom line
If you want to get the best deal, we suggest booking ASAP. We found some nice prices, but they’re definitely drying up.
Also, Play’s website isn’t the most user-friendly interface we’ve ever encountered, so give yourself extra time to find the right itinerary. We always suggest being as flexible as possible with your travel schedule to score the best deals, but it’s especially true with this sale.
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