
Summer is a notoriously expensive time to travel from the U.S. to Europe, so these flight deals to Madrid are particularly enticing.
You can enjoy the city’s parks, plazas, museums and cuisine for $1,000 less than usual, thanks to offers from Delta Air Lines and its SkyTeam alliance partners.
Families boat around the lake in Madrid’s El Retiro Park. JORG GREUEL/GETTY IMAGES
Deal basics
Airlines: Air France, KLM and Delta.
Routes: From Charlotte, Dallas and Los Angeles to Madrid.
How to book: Browse Google Flights and book directly with the airline.
Travel dates: August through September.
Book by: As soon as possible.
Sample flights
The following flights were priced as listed at the time of publication. We cannot guarantee the below round-trip flights will be available when you book:
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), starting at $585
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to MAD, starting at $586
Dallas Love Field (DAL) to MAD, starting at $586
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to MAD, starting at $586
For example, you can head to Madrid on an overnight flight from Charlotte, then spend the following eight days exploring this culturally rich city. You’ll head back to the U.S. Friday morning and have the weekend to recover from your travels. There is a layover in each direction at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
GOOGLE.COM/FLIGHTS
Because this low price is for a basic economy ticket, you won’t get to choose your seat or change your ticket without paying. You’ll also only get to bring one free carry-on bag. If you want to check a suitcase, it’ll cost $75 each way.
GOOGLE.COM/FLIGHTS
Even though you’ll be traveling during the peak summer months, this fare is a whopping $1,039 less than normal.
GOOGLE.COM/FLIGHTS
For just $25 more, travelers can fly all the way from Los Angeles to Madrid. If you’re flying from the U.S. West Coast, it’ll take almost a full day to get to and from Europe. So, it’s a good idea to book a long trip like this one to make the flight worth it. With the flight above, you’ll get to spend nine full days in the Spanish capital.
The above flights are operated by Delta, and you can book them directly on the airline’s website. If you’re a loyal Flying Blue member, you can also book the same flights through KLM’s website since both carriers are SkyTeam alliance members.
Maximize your purchase
Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: 2 points per dollar on travel
American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel
The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year
Citi Premier® Card: 3 points per dollar on airfare
Chase Sapphire Reserve: 3 points per dollar on airfare
If you book a Delta flight, use a Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to earn 2 SkyMiles on Delta purchases or a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to earn 3 SkyMiles on Delta purchases.
Bottom line
Summer flights from the U.S. to Europe do not come cheap — especially this year. If you have been dreaming of visiting Madrid or its surrounding cities, jump on these deals for an August or early September vacation in Spain.
If you can’t snag these flights quickly enough, here are some helpful ways to travel to Europe using points and miles.
Related reading:
18 of our favorite points hotels in Europe
15 of the most beautiful villages in Spain
5 reasons why families should travel to Spain: Madrid, Barcelona and beyond
The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming with Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Your complete guide to the Delta SkyMiles program

