Want to see the latest flight deals as soon as they’re published? Follow The Points Guy on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to text message alerts from our deals feed, @tpg_alerts.

Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking. However, if you’re using The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ll need to book directly with the airline or through the Amex Travel portal to get 5x MR points. Remember: Fares may disappear quickly, so book right away and take advantage of Orbitz or Expedia’s courtesy cancellation if you’re unable to get the time away from work or family.

Occasionally, Emirates will market what it calls “Featured Fares,” that is, flights at a significant discount. Today we’re seeing cheap fares from the New York Metro Area (JFK and EWR) to European destinations such as Milan (MXP) and Athens (ATH) starting at just $449 round-trip.

All flights included in this deal are non-stop. Don’t wait to book either — these are flash sales and the deals expire August 4. Keep in mind that the fares are in Emirates’ “Saver” class, which means you’ll earn fewer Skywards Miles and you’ll pay $300 to change your ticket.

To search, head to Google Flights or Emirates and enter your origin and destination cities. Scroll through the calendar function to find dates and prices that work for you. Finally, click through to book directly with the airline or through an OTA like Priceline or Expedia.

Airline: Emirates
Routes: EWR/JFK to ATH/MXP
Cost: $450+ round-trip in economy
Dates: August – March
Pay With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline), Citi Prestige Card (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express® Gold Card (3x on airfare) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel)

Here are a few examples of what you can book:

New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) for $449 round-trip non-stop:

Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) for $559 round-trip non-stop:

Maximize Your Purchase

Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel), Citi Prestige Card (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express® Gold Card, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on all travel purchases). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.

Featured photo by Ryan Patterson / The Points Guy