Travel to Europe using points and miles: How to redeem your rewards for flights

Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Europe is a 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. Still, there are excellent travel options for your credit card points.

Regardless of your budget for your next trip, this guide will help ensure you can obtain great value from your points and miles redemptions for your European vacation with proper planning.

Related: 13 European destinations that are best experienced in the fall

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.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa's first-class product is one of the best in the sky, offering a fantastic onboard experience including caviar, canapes and fine wines. If you're traveling from Frankfurt Airport (FRA), you can also access Lufthansa's special first-class terminal, which has private customs and immigration facilities, a top-tier lounge and a chauffeur who takes you directly to the tarmac next to your plane.

The airline usually only opens first-class award availability to partner airlines within three days prior to departure.

Lufthansa operates a variety of these aircraft on routes between the U.S. and Germany (some feature first class only seasonally):

• Between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and the following airports: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Miami International Airport (MIA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Washington, D.C.'s Dulles International Airport (IAD).
• Between Munich Airport (MUC) and the following airports: BOS, Denver International Airport (DEN), EWR, ORD, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LAX, MIA, San Diego International Airport (SAN) and SFO.

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Lufthansa's much-delayed new Allegris first-class seat is now flying on some Airbus A350 aircraft. However, it is not currently bookable with any points and miles. Instead, you can use the following partner points and miles to book it:

• Air Canada Aeroplan: 90,000 points from the East Coast or 100,000 points from the Midwest and West Coast, plus around $50 in taxes and fees, for a flight to Germany; taxes and fees for a flight from Europe to the U.S. will cost around $200.
• Avianca LifeMiles: 130,000 miles (plus some cash for the low taxes and fees) to travel from the U.S. to Germany.
• United MileagePlus: 140,000 miles to 165,000 and about $140 in taxes and fees for a flight from the U.S. to Germany.

British Airways

While British Airways' first-class product doesn't have as many bells and whistles as Lufthansa's, booking with points and miles is much easier. 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 68,000 British Airways Club Avios on off-peak dates for shorter flights from the East Coast, 80,000 Avios on peak dates from the East Coast, 85,000 Avios on off-peak dates for longer flights (such as those from California) and 100,000 Avios on peak dates for those same longer flights, including flights from the Midwest and the West Coast.

Unfortunately, British Airways imposes large surcharges, airport fees and government taxes on first-class tickets, which cost around $700-$800 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 the 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 for these award flights. Therefore, consider AAdvantage instead for longer flights to Europe.

Related: Still better than business class: A review of British Airways First on the 777 from London to Washington

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 ORD, IAD, BOS, LAX, MIA, JFK, SFO, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to its main hub at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), with flights from Orlando International Airport (MCO) also starting later this year.

Related: A review of Iberia's new business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City

Iberia prices its flights based on distance and whether your travel falls on peak or off-peak dates. Four of its departure gateways offer spectacular value; if you depart from JFK, BOS, IAD or ORD, here's what you'll pay for one-way business-class flights:

• Off-peak dates: 34,000 British Airways Club or Club Iberia Plus Avios and about $120 in fees
• Peak dates: 50,000 British Airways Club or Club Iberia Plus Avios and about $120 in fees

Tickets on Iberia flights longer than 4,000 miles (any flights departing from Miami or cities west of Chicago) are pricier. However, an off-peak fare to Madrid from these destinations will cost 42,500 Avios for flights 4,001 to 5,500 miles long or 51,000 Avios for flights 5,501 to 6,500 miles long, which is still an excellent deal.

Air France and KLM

Another one of the industry's great sweet spots to 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.

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: Private suites and high-tech touches: What it's like flying Air France's new business class

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 Spain are also very 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 beverages service than the economy-class cabin. Passengers also receive a small amenity kit and noise-canceling headphones.

From DFW and MIA, expect to pay 31,750 Avios for off-peak travel or 43,750 Avios for peak season flights. During off-peak times, you can book a premium economy ticket for just 25,500 Avios from JFK, BOS and IAD to Madrid; on peak dates, you'll need 35,000 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 most transatlantic routes. While Air France's product has 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.

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.

Virgin Atlantic

You can book economy-class flights to Europe through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, starting at just 6,000 points each way from the East Coast or 9,000 points each way from the West Coast. This is an outstanding deal. Look for the red-tagged "Saver" flights for the lowest prices.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club recently switched to dynamic award pricing, so redemptions are priced according to demand. Redemptions can reach as high as 100,000 points on peak dates for a single economy flight, which is not a great deal.

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 be no more than $100. 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.

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 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 200,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 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

Redeeming points and miles for travel to Europe can be confusing. With so many airlines flying on seemingly endless route combinations across the Atlantic, 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.