Travel to Europe using points and miles: How to redeem your rewards for flights
Editor's Note
Europe is an ever-popular destination for points and miles collectors thanks to its rich history, diverse cultures, excellent beaches and gourmet cuisine. However, with new routes, mileage devaluations and airline partnerships, keeping track of the top ways to fly to Europe with points and miles is challenging.
Related: 13 European destinations that are best experienced in the fall
Still, there are excellent travel options for your credit card points.
Regardless of your budget for your next trip, this guide will help you get great value from your points and miles redemptions for your European vacation with proper planning.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Book first-class flights with points and miles
For the ultimate way to travel to Europe in style and comfort, here are our tips for booking first-class seats with points and miles.
British Airways
Booking British Airways' first-class product with points and miles is relatively easy. Plus, if you're flying from London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) in first class, the Concorde Room is one of the best airport lounges in Europe.
First-class flights on British Airways to London start from 75,000 British Airways Club Avios on off-peak dates for shorter flights from the East Coast, 88,000 Avios on peak dates from the East Coast, 93,500 Avios on off-peak dates for longer flights (such as those from California) and 110,000 Avios on peak dates for those same longer flights, including flights from the Midwest and the West Coast.
Unfortunately, British Airways imposes huge surcharges, airport fees and government taxes on first-class tickets, which cost around $1,500 each way. As first-class flights are excluded from British Airways' Reward Flight Saver option, paying more Avios cannot reduce these surcharges.
American Airlines AAdvantage award rates are cheaper for first-class British Airways tickets to the West Coast, as American Airlines uses a region-based award chart rather than a distance-based one. Regardless of origin in the U.S. or date of travel, American Airlines first-class flights start at 85,000 AAdvantage miles, plus similar fees, taxes and surcharges. Therefore, consider AAdvantage for longer flights to Europe instead.
Related: British Airways unveils stunning new first-class suites
Book business-class flights with points and miles
Want a lie-flat bed for an overnight flight that arrives in Europe so you can feel rested and refreshed? Here are our business-class redemption recommendations.
Iberia
One redemption for trips to Europe that continues to provide terrific value is offered by Iberia. Iberia operates flights from various major U.S. airports to its main hub at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD).
Iberia prices its flights based on distance and whether your travel falls on peak or off-peak dates. Three of its departure gateways offer spectacular value; if you depart from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), or Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, D.C., here's what you'll pay for one-way business-class flights:
- Off-peak dates: 40,500 British Airways Club or Iberia Club Avios and about $125 in fees
- Peak dates: 59,000 British Airways Club or Iberia Club Avios and about $125 in fees
An off-peak fare to Madrid for flights from Miami International Airport (MIA), Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Orlando International Airport (MCO) or O'Hare International Airport (ORD) in Chicago will cost 50,500 Avios or flights, while flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) cost 60,500 Avios on off-peak dates.
Related: A review of Iberia's new business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City
Air France and KLM
Another one of the industry's great sweet spots in Europe is booking flights on Air France or KLM through the Flying Blue program. While flights are priced dynamically, limited-capacity Saver fares cost just 60,000 miles in business class from anywhere in North America to anywhere in Europe, both airlines having extensive transatlantic options via their hubs in Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
Availability during the winter months is usually good; during summer, seats at these prices come and go often in waves. Availability from JFK can be easy to find if you are flexible — as there are numerous daily flights — while seats from the West Coast can be harder to find.
Also, remember to watch Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards, where select routes are discounted by 25%, making the award prices even cheaper.
Related: KLM's new 777 business class is a big improvement with privacy panels and updated tech
Book premium economy seats with points and miles
Premium economy can provide a more cost-effective midway point, which offers more space and comfort than economy without breaking the bank.
Iberia
Like its attractive business-class redemption pricing, Iberia's premium cabin rates for flights to Madrid are also reasonable.
If you don't have enough miles to stretch for a flat bed in business class for overnight flights to Europe, consider premium economy instead. It offers a wider seat, a smaller, more intimate cabin, more legroom and elevated food and beverage service than the economy-class cabin. Passengers also receive a small amenity kit and noise-canceling headphones.
From DFW, ORD, MCO and MIA, expect to pay 36,750 Avios for off-peak travel or 50,500 Avios for peak season flights. During off-peak times, you can book a premium economy ticket for just 29,500 Avios from JFK, BOS and IAD to Madrid; on peak dates, you'll need 40,250 Avios.
Related: Is Iberia premium economy worth it on the Airbus A330 from Madrid to Dallas?
Air France and KLM
Both Air France and KLM offer premium economy class on transatlantic routes. While Air France's product has some room for improvement, TPG rates KLM's premium economy as one of the world's best. It provides an elevated experience above economy class, including lobster for dinner (on select routes), which is almost unheard of in premium economy.
While Flying Blue prices its awards dynamically, the program has standardized saver-level pricing for all one-way flights between the U.S. and Europe, regardless of origin or destination. Therefore, saver-level premium cabin award seats cost just 40,000 miles.
Virgin Atlantic
If you can stomach the high taxes, fees and surcharges of around $300 each way, Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program offers dynamically priced premium economy awards to Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London and Manchester Airport (MAN) from only 10,500 Virgin points from the East Coast and 16,000 points from the West Coast.
As one of the first airlines to offer premium economy, Virgin Atlantic has spent years refining the experience, offering a proper "better than economy" experience.
Related: Is Virgin Atlantic premium economy worth it on the A330-900neo?
Book economy flights using points and miles
Looking for the cheapest way to fly to Europe? Here are our economy recommendations for redeeming points and miles for flights to Europe.
American Airlines
While economy class flights to Europe from 21,000 miles one-way might not sound like an excellent deal, given the redemption rates of premium economy flights above aren't much higher, the beauty of booking through the American Airlines AAdvantage program (for America-operated flights) is that the program charges just $5.60 in taxes and fees with no surcharges.
This is a fantastic way to fly to Europe for the price of a cup of coffee plus your miles. Just ensure you avoid selecting British Airways-operated flights through AAdvantage, as they incur surcharges of several hundred dollars.
Aer Lingus
If you want to fly to Ireland in economy class, redeeming Avios through the Aer Lingus AerClub program or British Airways Club is a terrific deal.
Aer Lingus routes from the Northeast to Ireland require just 13,000 Avios each way on off-peak dates. This includes flights from JFK, BOS, ORD, IAD and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Fees, taxes and surcharges are reasonable and should not exceed $120. However, peak travel dates require 20,000 Avios each way.
Longer flights from Florida, Washington, and California to Ireland cost a slightly higher 16,250 Avios each way on off-peak dates or 25,000 Avios on peak dates. This could still be a good deal if nonstop cash fares are expensive.
Related: What it's like flying Aer Lingus' Airbus A321XLR to Ireland
How to earn points and miles to book flights to Europe
The following cards all currently offer substantial welcome bonuses with points or miles that you can transfer to some or all of the above programs to book flights to Europe:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you're eligible for as high as 300,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- American Express Platinum Card®: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Bottom line
With so many airlines flying on seemingly endless route combinations across the Atlantic and programs having different pricing and availability, planning a European getaway with rewards can quickly overwhelm you. If you plan to visit Europe in the summer, booking as early as possible is best to maximize your chance of finding the right flight at the right price.
However, this guide will help you save time (and points or miles) when finding the best flight options for your hop across the pond. Check TPG regularly as we share last-minute award deals from the U.S. to Europe, Asia and beyond.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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