Budget airline Norwegian has this week begun its cheap flights to the USA direct from Ireland. Travellers on a budget can choose flights servicing New York and Boston for prices beginning at €258 return. Those fares deliver significant savings, for example, on Aer Lingus’s current promotional fare to New York, which stands at €229 each way.
However, there are some catches involved with the cheapest Norwegian fares:
- You can only bring hand baggage.
- You can’t select your seat in advance.
- You won’t be served any food or drink during your trip.
If you want to upgrade to those services that come as standard with Aer Lingus and other ‘regular’ airlines, you’ll pay an additional $70 (approx. €60) each way.
Airports 60 miles from downtown
There’s also the fact that the airports that Norwegian serves Stateside are relatively distant from the major cities.
Their New York flights, for example, land at Stewart International Airport, some 60 miles from downtown Manhattan). In contrast, JFK Airport to Manhattan is just 20 miles. However, the main bus operator at Stewart Airport promises to cover the trip in just about 80 minutes. As regular travellers will know, it can also take that long to get downtown from JFK.
If you’re headed for Boston, you’ll be landing at TF Green Airport just outside Providence, Rhode Island. Again, it’s about 60 miles from the city, and the main bus operator promises to get you there in 90 minutes. That’s a big difference from making the short and relatively cheap hop into the city from Logan International Airport in Boston itself.
Decision time!
So, are the cheap flights to the USA with Norwegian actually worth it? That depends!
Are you:
- Happy to travel with hand baggage only in each direction?
- Happy to bring your food and drink for the trip?
- Okay with not being able to choose where you sit – and remember, this includes maybe being separated from any travelling companion?
If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to those three, then yes, Norwegian’s offering could suit you perfectly.
But if checked baggage, food service, and reserved seats are important to you, then consider your decision carefully.
Paying the upgrade for those services could significantly narrow the faresdifference between Norwegian and other airlines. You might also prefer the added comfort, convenience and choice of flying into a major airport with one of the other carriers too. In the end, the decision is yours.
But however you get there – enjoy your time in the USA!
If you happen to be travelling to the USA soon – with Norwegian or any other airline – make sure that you and your travelling companion(s) are carrying comprehensive travel insurance for the trip.
Travel insurance is particularly important for the USA because of the high cost of healthcare there, should you become ill or suffer an accident. Remember too that you’ll also be covered against all other mishaps that might befall you during your trip, such as lost luggage or cancelled/delayed flights.
Choose single trip travel insurance if your Stateside trip is likely to be your only travelling of the year, or go for annual multi-trip travel insurance if you’re likely to do more travelling during the year too.
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- Abandonment Cover of €4,000
- Missed Departure Cover of €500
- Personal Accident Cover of €55,000
- Personal Liability Cover of €2,000,000
- Third Party Supplier Insolvency Cover of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cover of €1,000
- Legal Expenses Cover of €10,000
- Hijack Cover of €1,000
- Catastrophe Cover of €750
- Credit or Cash Card Fraud Cover of €300
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- Personal Luggage Cover of €3,000
- Personal Money and Documents Cover of €2,000
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- Abandonment Cover of €6,000
- Missed Departure Cover of €600
- Personal Accident Cover of €95,000
- Personal Liability Cover of €2,000,000
- Third Party Supplier Insolvency Cover of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cover of €2,000
- Legal Expenses Cover of €20,000
- Hijack Cover of €2,000
- Catastrophe Cover of €1,000
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