Would you rather be siesta-ing in Spain this summer instead of sitting in traffic to the nearby beach?
Of course, you would. And if you're flexible with travel dates, you'll be able to this August with prices dropping even below $300 departing numerous U.S. airports.
Travel Availability
Travel days vary slightly by the route, but for the most part, you'll see availability leaving Sunday through Wednesday, with returns available Tuesday through Friday.
Departures from the USA are available on select dates in early to mid-August with returns available through the end of the month and into early September. Of course, if you want to visit later in the year, you may find even lower prices in October or November on many of these routes.
On select city-to-city pairings, a nonstop option may only be available on one leg of the journey at these prices. 7-day minimum stay required.
Sale Period
This sale is unadvertised, and fares may jump at any moment.
Sample Fares
New York-JFK to Madrid $285 roundtrip
Newark to Madrid $283 roundtrip, (nonstops available on one segment)
Boston to Madrid $287 roundtrip (nonstops available on one segment)
New York-JFK to Barcelona $289 roundtrip, nonstop
Newark to Barcelona $293 roundtrip (nonstops available on one segment)
Chicago-ORD to Barcelona $340 roundtrip
Miami to Barcelona $352 roundtrip (nonstops available on one segment)
San Francisco to Barcelona $356 roundtrip
Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona $360 roundtrip
Philadelphia to Barcelona $372 roundtrip, nonstop
Los Angeles to Madrid $396 roundtrip
Santa Ana to Madrid $408 roundtrip
You may find slightly lower fares and/or more availability for fall travel, but these are excellent deals for peak summer travel dates.
Baggage
These are Basic Economy or Economy Light fares, which include a carry-on bag plus a small personal item. A checked bag costs $60 each way.
Seat Assignments
Seats will be assigned at random upon check-in for these prices. You may be able to pay a fee to choose a specific seat.
Related: Today's Best Flight Deals to Europe
Alternate Fares
The upgrade to a standard Economy fare varies by dates and route. Some routes/dates are only $140-$180 extra. Certain dates could be much more. This type of fare includes one free checked bag, advanced seat assignments, and allows ticket changes/upgrades for a fee.
Example Booking
As an example, I found a flight departing Chicago ORD on Monday, August 12, returning from Barcelona BCN on Friday, August 23, for $340 roundtrip. That's over a week in Europe during peak summer travel season for under $350 roundtrip!