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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Deals
Premium economy flights to Milan for under $1,000 — including Thanksgiving
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
October 15, 2022 • 7 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Premium economy round-trip flights to Milan are available for under $1,000 from several U.S. cities, mainly on SkyTeam carriers.
The best prices are found for travel between November and March, including Thanksgiving but excluding Christmas.
Travelers can expect enhanced comfort, amenities and airport benefits in premium economy compared to standard coach seating.
Flights are available from cities like New York, Boston, Washington, Charlotte and Miami, with slightly higher fares from other major cities.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available; check current pricing before booking.
Most low-priced routes require a connection through New York's JFK airport, especially from non-East Coast cities.
The lowest fares are generally with SkyTeam carriers, but other airlines offer similar deals at slightly higher prices.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of sample routes, pricing and tips for maximizing comfort and value on these premium economy deals to Milan.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
When we talk about airfare priced under $1,000 for flights to Europe, we’re usually talking about seats in coach— not more comfortable seats on flights to Italy.
At the moment, though, you can find round-trip flights to the beautiful northern Italy city of Milan for less than $1,000 in premium economy. The cheap prices include travel during most of the fall, winter and early spring. In fact, if you haven’t locked in your Thanksgiving plans yet — and you should as soon as possible — it’s a great week to go overseas and take advantage of this airfare.
The deals include a variety of SkyTeam carriers, including international airlines KLM, Air France and Italy’s flag carrier, ITA. However, most of the deals are aboard Delta Air Lines, in the Atlanta-based carrier’s Premium Select seating.
If you do book Delta Premium Select tickets as part of this deal, you’ll get wider seats, more recline, adjustable leg rests, Tumi amenity kits, better food and drink options, and wider entertainment screens while in flight. You’ll also be able to take advantage of Sky Priority benefits at the airport.
There are plenty of reasons to visit Milan, from its incredible restaurants to its historic sites and shopping options. Plus, you’ll be in a great position to branch out and visit other Italian cities, whether those close by or a train ride away.
Premium economy seating is a great way to get there with more ease in the airport and additional comfort in the air, without shelling out far more money for a business-class seat.
BUENA VISTA IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Deal Basics
Airlines: Delta, KLM, Air France, ITA; with slightly higher price points available on American, United, British Airways and other carriers.
Routes: New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Miami to Milan for the lowest deals; slightly higher fares on flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities to Milan.
Travel dates: November 2022 through March 2023, including Thanksgiving but excluding Christmas.
How to book: We recommend finding your itinerary on Google Flights and then booking directly through the airline.
Thanks to Scott’s Cheap Flights for flagging these great premium economy deals across the Atlantic. With premium memberships starting at $49 annually with the site, you’ll get alerts on great economy deals. For $199 per year, you’ll get premium economy and business class deal alerts.
Sample Flights
The best deals we noted were round-trips in premium economy to Milan out of New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Miami.
However, given how high the prices on premium economy seating to Europe can often be, we want to note that there are quite a few more cities with round-trip deals in the $1,100 to $1,300 range, which may be worth exploring.
So, even if you don’t see your city listed here, there’s a chance you may be able to get a premium economy round-trip in that price range.
It’s likewise worth noting that while Delta and its SkyTeam partners were generally the carriers with the cheapest options, if you’re loyal to American, United or another airline, you may also be able to get a round-trip premium economy ticket in that $1,100 to $1,300 range. This may be worth it if you're pursuing status with one of those airlines or if the perks you already enjoy — thanks to your existing status or cobranded credit card benefits — outweigh the price difference.
Most of the lowest-priced routes will send you through New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) before the transatlantic flight to Milan, so if you’re traveling from another city on the East Coast or West Coast, there’s a good chance you’ll have to make a stop at JFK.
Here are a few of the routes and prices we found, again, for premium economy deals on Delta:
New York to Milan for $985 on Delta.
Boston to Milan for $972 on Delta.
Washington to Milan for $1,037 on Delta.
Miami to Milan for $972 on Delta.
Charlotte to Milan for $1,067 on Delta and ITA.
Flights on other airlines include:
Atlanta to Milan for $1,173 on American and British Airways.
Chicago to Milan for $1,259 on United.
San Francisco to Milan for $1,183 on Air France.
Los Angeles to Milan for $1,273 on British Airways.
Let’s start with a Thanksgiving flight option out of New York. Spend the holiday enjoying some incredible Italian cuisine instead of turkey with a Monday evening departure aboard a Delta Airbus A330 from JFK. You'll arrive mid-morning on the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week in Milan. It’s also a nonstop return flight, leaving late morning from Milan and arriving back in New York at 3:15 p.m. the Tuesday after the holiday.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
You can even get a good deal, depending on your departure city, by flying closer to the holiday. Here’s a 5 p.m. departure the night before the holiday (get to the airport early) from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) aboard Delta. Again, you’ll make the connection at JFK, but it’s a short one — just more than an hour — before you’re on the same Delta itinerary to Milan pictured above.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
Looking to take advantage of this deal with an eye on spring break? These deals extend into the early spring months. Departing from Miami, you’ll have to make the stop in New York on the outbound and return trips, but you’ll get the whole Premium Select round-trip journey for less than $1,000.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
Finally, here’s an option that includes a non-Delta flight. Yes, you’ll be aboard Delta for the positioning flight, but then you’re aboard Italian carrier ITA — a SkyTeam partner — for the overseas flights. The transatlantic eastbound flight departs JFK at 8:45 p.m. and you’ll leave Milan early afternoon just over a week later for the trip back to the U.S.
GOOGLE FLIGHTS
Maximize your purchase
Don’t forget to use a card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, which earns 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). The Chase Sapphire Reserve earn 3 points per dollar on airfare, and the American Express® Gold Card also earns 3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel. Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2 points per dollar on travel. Learn more here about maximizing your air travel purchases.
Navigli Canals in Milan, Italy. MARCO BOTTIGELLI/MOMENT/GETTY IMAGES
Bottom line
If you're looking for a way to visit Italy but want to be comfortable on the long flight, book this deal for the fall, winter or spring.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
