Sherman's Travel

Qantas: The Australian airline debuted in the Dallas/Fort Worth market on May 16 with flights to Sydney (includes stopover in Brisbane); return flights are nonstop (one-way fares from $499, based on round-trip purchase; www.qantas.com).

Lufthansa: The German airline will launch Airbus A380 service between Miami and Frankfurt on June 10, marking the first opportunity for Miami-area travelers to experience the world’s largest passenger plane (one-way fares from $614; www.lufthansa.com).

JetBlue: Starting on June 17, JetBlue (www.jetblue.com) will expand service from Boston to the Dominican Republic with the launch of that market’s only nonstop route to Santiago (one-way fares from $114).

Porter Airlines: Toronto-based budget carrier Porter Airlines (www.flyporter.com) kicks off its first fall service to Myrtle Beach (following two successful winter/spring seasons) on September 8, offering the only nonstop service between the beach resort and Canada (one-way fares from $179).

From the spring/summer issue of Smart Luxury Travel magazine by ShermansTravel.com.

Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights, hotels, packages, and more travel deals.

The end of winter and early spring can be a perfect time to snag a flight deal to Europe and tour its legendary cities without all the crowds. Lufthansa is offering a sale on flights to Dublin, London, Budapest, Paris, Munich, and beyond from $198 each way. This promotion brings prices down to $492 round-trip after taxes for the New York to Dublin route. This offer expires February 15, and travel is valid through April 12 (for departures) and April 30 for returns.

Sample fares (each way) include:

• New York-Dublin: $198
• Boston-London: $209
• Philadelphia-London: $209
• Washington-London: $221
• Chicago-London: $246
• Houston-London: $246
• Los Angeles-London: $258
• New York-Warsaw: $268
• San Francisco-London: $271
• Philadelphia-Dusseldorf: $275
• Charlotte-Munich: $277
• Dallas-Madrid: $286
• Dallas-Paris: $288
• Philadelphia-Budapest: $295
• Miami-Brussels: $298
• And more!

THE VALUE: Flying Lufthansa means you won’t have to worry about paying for seat selection, carry-on bags, or snacks. Plus, you can check a bag for free!

THE CATCH: Taxes are not included, and average around $100-$150 (or more, depending on route).

THE DETAILS: To book your flight, visit www.lufthansa.com.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Check out our Europe Travel Guides for the inside scoop.

Snag great hotel deal for after you touch down.

Find low rates on flights, cruises, hotels, and vacation packages with our travel search price comparison tool.

Lufthansa is giving travelers the opportunity to combine that coveted ski vacation with travel to Europe. Carve your way through Europe’s spectacular mountains by day and stroll its historic cities at night for as little as $266 each way! Take off to Milan, Munich, Oslo, Zurich, Vienna, Geneva, and more, and ski at iconic destinations throughout the Alps and Scandinavia! Flights leave from cities nationwide for travel between December 24 and March 31, 2011. Tickets must be purchased by January 6, 2011.

Sample One-Way Fares to Europe (Excluding Taxes):
•    New York?Milan, Italy: $266
•    Philadelphia?Basel, Switzerland: $276
•    Washington, D.C. –Oslo, Norway: $296
•    Miami?Vienna, Austria: $337
•    And more!

THE VALUE: These rates can save you up to $300!

THE CATCH: Taxes and fees apply. The Blackout period is between January 1 and January 5, 2011.

THE DETAILS: To book your flight, visit www.lufthansa.com.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the perfect accommodations during your trip.

Check out our European section on the 20 Sweet Spots for Winter Value!

German carrier Lufthansa announced Monday that its luxury Airbus 380 will touch down stateside at JFK airport, the craft’s first North American destination. The world’s largest passenger plane, with space for up to 526 flyers, serves three other international destinations (Johannesburg, Tokyo, and Beijing), and will begin flights from NYC to Frankfurt February 18. Expect tickets (already for sale) on the massive jet to start at about $716 round-trip, after taxes; the route kicks off with twice-weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays, and daily service is scheduled to launch by mid-April.

Sacrebleu! Looks like travelers to and from France this week will have to forego the notion of a bon voyage, as air traffic controllers nationwide commenced a planned four-day strike this morning (coinciding with a national school holiday), leaving hundreds of planes grounded across the country. The staged walkout has translated to the cancellation of one in four flights at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle, and as many as half of the flights in and out of Paris’s Orly airport – several airports in smaller cities were shut down entirely. The union-led strikes are being staged in response to fears that a planned integration of European air traffic control would lead to job losses and cutbacks in employee benefits. Like-minded fears led to a similar strike in Germany yesterday, with Lufthansa pilots returning to work today after 24 hours on the fritz, in a demonstration of their fears that cheaper labor from budget carriers in the country could replace them (still, a normal flight schedule on Lufthansa routes is not expected to fully resume before Friday). Luckily, the French strikes are not presently targeted towards transatlantic routes and American travelers, with only routes within France and Europe currently affected. (Or perhaps, “unluckily” for American vacationers in the country, who might not have necessarily minded being forced into four extra days of wine, cheese, and cafés in the likes of Paris or the French Riviera!)

Lufthansa just launched a 3-day fare sale to European cities from as little as $465 round-trip! Take off to London, Madrid, Lisbon, Zurich, Moscow, and more this winter. What makes this deal even sweeter is that in addition to these low fares, the airline is offering a $100 promotional code that can be applied to your flight. Simply enter your name and e-mail address and the code will be sent to you. When you book your flight to Europe by December 3, submit your promotional code to receive the $100 discount. Outbound travel is valid from January 8 through March 25.

Sample round-trip fares (prior to $100 promotion, taxes, and fees):
•    Washington D.C.–Manchester: $465
•    Chicago–Lisbon: $550
•    New York–Barcelona: $499
•    Boston–Copenhagen: $550
•    Los Angeles–Madrid: $606
•    San Francisco–Madrid: $590
•    Miami–Barcelona: $547
•    Orlando–London: $538
•    Houston–Geneva: $599
•    Philadelphia: Brussels: $539
•    And more!

For more information or to book your flight, visit www.lufthansa.com.