How much does a flight from Spain to the United States cost?

The transatlantic fare isn't a stable number but the result of a revenue management system that splits each aircraft into dozens of fare classes. Two passengers sitting in the same row may have paid very different amounts depending on when they bought, how much flexibility they accepted and whether their ticket includes checked baggage. In economy, the usual round-trip range between Spain and the United States runs from 400 to 900 euros, with dips below that in January or February and spikes above it in August and the Christmas weeks.

Direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona to New York, Miami, Boston or Chicago concentrate most of the supply and, therefore, the tightest prices. Destinations without a direct connection require a stopover at another European airport or on the US east coast, which usually cuts the fare at the cost of several extra hours. Long-haul low-cost carriers have pushed the cheapest fares down, although their model charges extra for baggage, seat selection and catering.

A significant part of the amount doesn't go to the airline. Airport fees, security charges and departure taxes are added to the base price, and for the United States you also need to add the ESTA electronic authorization, mandatory for Spanish travelers entering without a visa. It's worth comparing the final total rather than the advertised fare, because the breakdown varies a lot between legacy and low-cost carriers.