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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
Fly to a reopened Morocco this fall for just 44,000 miles each way in business class
Andrew Kunesh is TPG's Points & Miles editor. He has been active in the points and miles space since 2014, using them to travel far and wide around the world. He is originally from Chicago but moved to New York City after graduating from DePaul University. His work is featured on Credit Karma, UpgradedPoints, ValuePenguin and various other travel and finance publications. He currently holds Delta Diamond Medallion and Marriott Titanium status, and 20+ credit cards that each have a special place in Andrew's wallet.
June 27, 2021 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
Morocco has reopened to international travelers, including those from the U.S., with specific entry requirements such as a negative PCR test or proof of vaccination.
Royal Air Maroc has resumed nonstop flights from New York and Washington D.C. to Casablanca, with significant business-class award availability through fall and winter.
Booking these flights via a partner airline's loyalty program can provide excellent value, with round-trip business-class tickets available for a moderate amount of points and taxes and fees.
Travelers can transfer points from several major transferable currencies to book these awards, often at a much lower cost than paying cash fares.
What to consider
Award availability is concentrated from September through December, with specific dates listed for both outbound and inbound flights.
Travel restrictions and entry requirements may change, so it's important to monitor official sources and understand the loyalty program's change and cancellation policies.
Some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of award space by date and route, plus step-by-step guidance on booking these high-value business-class flights to Morocco.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Morocco restarted international flights and opened its borders to tourism from many countries on June 15, 2021. This includes the U.S., which is on the country's "List A." Those coming from countries on this list can enter Morocco with a negative PCR test administered within 48 hours of the date of entry or proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Many businesses have reopened in Morocco, but there is still an 11 pm to 4:30 am curfew in effect. We're hopeful that these restrictions will be eased over time. Regardless, you can now return to Morocco to experience its amazing food and cultural sights.
Royal Air Maroc is again flying to its Casablanca (CMN) hub from New York-JFK and Washington-Dulles (IAD). We're finding plenty of open award space on both routes in business class this fall and winter.
Let's take a closer look at the award space and how to book.
The deal
Airline: Royal Air Maroc Routes: New York-JFK, Washington-Dulles (IAD) to Casablanca (CMN) Cost: From 88,000 Amex, Capital One or Citi points round-trip (transferred to Etihad Guest) Dates: September through December 2021 How to book: Find award space with your favorite Oneworld search tool and call Etihad Guest to book Pay Taxes/Fees With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline or with American Express Travel; on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on travel) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel) for travel protections on the award flight.
Royal Air Maroc 787-9 business (Photo by Brendan Dorsey/The Points Guy)
Business-class flights to Morocco are never cheap, and this fall is no exception. Nonstop flights from New York-JFK to Casablanca (CMN) start at just over $3,800 round-trip for the bulk of the fall schedule and get higher close to New Year's Eve.
(Screenshot courtesy of google.com/flights)
You can book the same flights for just 88,000 Etihad miles and moderate taxes and fees (~$300) round-trip. This gives you over 4 cents per point in value which is excellent for any major transferable points currency.
You can earn American Express Membership Rewards points by spending on an Amex card. Here’s a look at some of my favorite Amex cards and their current welcome offers. Each card has its own set of benefits and fees, so do your own research to find a good fit for you.
American Express® Green Card:Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Plus, 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases in the first six months, up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit. Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants, travel and transit (including flights, hotels, taxis, tours, and ridesharing services), 1x points on all other purchases ($150 annual fee; see rates and fees).
American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new card within the first six months of account opening. Earn 4x points on dining at restaurants; 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x points); 3x points on airfare purchased directly from airlines or American Express Travel; 1x points on all other purchases, ($250 annual fee; see rates and fees).
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Earn 5x points on airfare purchased directly from airlines or with American Express Travel (earn 5x points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5x on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts; 1x on all other purchases, ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees).
Morocco is an incredible country, and it's great to see it reopen to American tourists. If you're interested in traveling to the North African country this year, consider booking your tickets now before award space is booked up.
Feature photo by ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here
For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, click here
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here
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.
