How two can fly L.A.-London for $739
Can two travelers really fly between Los Angeles and London for $739? The answer is yes, but not if you plan to take a checked bag or carry-on luggage. That will cost you more.
Iceland-based no-frills carrier Wow Airlines launched an airfare sale Monday that starts at $119 a person to fly from L.A. to many European cities, with a stopover in Reykjavik. It’s for travel Nov. 1 through Dec. 13.
I tested the cheap fares around Thanksgiving (leaving Nov. 21 and returning Nov. 29) and found two round-trip tickets on Wow from L.A. to London’s Gatwick International Airport (LGW) available for a total of $739.
Seats at these prices go fast. If you’re interested, book right away.
But before you jump, consider that Wow charges $59.99 for a checked bag and $39.99 for carry-on items (that’s the online price, otherwise fees may cost more) for each leg of your trip. In this case, you would pay about $119 per person to check a bag each way — a considerable amount to add to that cheap airfare.
While Wow’s base fares are super-low, my Kayak.com search Tuesday turned up other carriers with direct flights and dates available at the same time for not much more money.
Ireland-based Norwegian, another low-cost carrier, turned up tickets for two on the same dates for flights to Gatwick for a total of $881. The flights are nonstop, but you can expect to pay 50 euros ($58) for each checked bag each way.
Two can fly the same dates on Air New Zealand from L.A. to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) for $1,207. The flights are nonstop, and allow you to take a 50-pound bag for free.
On the same dates, I also found tickets for two passengers on Finnair (flights are operated by British Airways) for $1,287 in the same time frame. The flights are nonstop so you save time, and you can check a 50-pound bag for free.
Bottom line: Even when there’s a super-low airfare sale, shop around. Flying nonstop and getting a free checked bag for a little more money may speak to you more than the cheapest seat.
ALSO
Do you have enough time to make that connecting flight? Maybe, but don’t count on it
Why you should apply for or renew your U.S. passport before January
Sign up for The Wild
We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
