I broke a points and miles rule and still got a good deal to Europe — how I maximized my rewards
I'm all for getting a good deal when I redeem my hard-earned points and miles. Once it's finally time to burn my rewards, I'm mindful of TPG's valuations and redemption advice to ensure I'm getting the best value.
But I can't always follow every rule. When I booked a trip to Europe that required booking flights on set dates to specific airports, I had to neglect a top rule: Be flexible.
Even though my redemptions weren't going to always net a value higher than TPG's valuations, analysis paralysis wasn't going to get the best of me. Points and miles are typically a bad long-term investment due to frequent program devaluations; therefore, I wanted to redeem my rewards for this trip.
By transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, my partner and I traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and back, in economy, for just 47,000 Amex points and about $700 in taxes and fees — all within our set travel schedule.
This is an instance where finding a valuable redemption is still possible, even if you break a cardinal points and miles rule.
My travel plans were not flexible
Here at TPG, we generally recommend booking award flights with flexibility to maximize your rewards. If you can broaden your search across multiple dates or airports, you can potentially unlock more value for your points and miles, but that wasn't going to work for my European adventure.
We started planning in January. My partner and I were locked in on a family trip that began in London and ended in Milan. The dates were set in stone for the end of my sister's Maymester in Florence, Italy, and we had to cover our travel to and from the U.S. (All of our travel within Europe was already planned.) We had to leave May 19 and return May 29.
Determined to redeem points for my flights, I used Seats.aero to search for award space from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) for the first leg. Then, I searched for a return trip from either Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Milan Linate Airport (LIN) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
I had a large amount of points in my American Express Membership Rewards account, so I searched for award availability with Amex's airline transfer partners.
Despite my rigid dates, I found availability through one of my favorite programs, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
The price for two one-way economy seats totaled:
- 6,000 Virgin points plus $109 in taxes and fees (per person) to fly from JFK to LHR via Virgin Atlantic
- 17,500 Virgin points plus $229 in taxes and fees (per person) to fly from LIN to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on ITA Airways, then CDG to ATL on Air France
All of this adds up to 47,000 points and $682 in taxes and fees.
Since Virgin Atlantic Flying Club operates using dynamic award pricing, what you find when you search may vary. I paid 17,500 Virgin points plus $229 in taxes and fees (per person) to go from LIN to ATL via CDG, but it's possible to secure an even better deal than the one I booked.
Related: Is Virgin Atlantic Economy Delight worth it on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
Did I get a good deal?
Even though my plan wasn't flexible, I still ended up with a good deal. Since I can't go back in time and see exactly how much these flights would've cost me if I had paid in cash, I compared the prices for similar flights in May 2026.
We flew two people in Virgin Atlantic economy from JFK to LHR for 12,000 Virgin points plus $218 in taxes and fees. Priced in cash, both tickets cost $876.
Let's use the TPG awards versus cash calculator to determine if this is a solid redemption.
TPG values Virgin points at 1.3 cents each (per our August 2025 valuations), so 12,000 Virgin points are worth $156. After calculating the out-of-pocket cost of the taxes and fees ($218), booking with points still saves more than $500.
When we booked with ITA Airways and Air France, we spent 35,000 points and $458 in taxes and fees. Two economy tickets from Milan to Paris on ITA Airways cost $234, while two economy tickets from Paris to Atlanta on Air France cost $3,514.
Per TPG's calculator, we saved more than $2,800 on two tickets by booking with points.
Related: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values
Why I love Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
I've used Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to book flights to and from Europe on the airline and its partners. It's one of my favorite programs because I find it easy to find consistent award availability at good prices. It's valuable for thrifty points travelers who want to spend a few points here and there, instead of draining their balance all at once.
Plus, Flying Club is a transfer partner of most major credit card issuers. You can transfer credit card points to Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio with the following programs:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Bilt Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi ThankYou Rewards
- Wells Fargo Rewards
Flying Club is a great program for me because I can transfer my Amex points, Bilt Points and Chase points.
However, this loyalty program isn't perfect, and its move to dynamic award pricing can set you back hundreds of thousands of points, especially for premium cabin fares. Additionally, Flying Club has continued to increase surcharges on its own flights and those operated by partners. Therefore, if your travel dates are limited, you could end up spending more points and cash than you intended to.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
How to earn Amex Membership Rewards points
I earned Amex points with one of my wallet's hardest-working cards: the American Express® Gold Card. Among its stellar benefits for foodies, I love earning 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
Multiple cards earn Membership Rewards points, and many of them have solid welcome offers, in which you can earn a chunk of points. Here are some of our favorites:
- American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- American Express Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of account opening. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- American Express® Green Card: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Earn 15,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 200,000 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 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of account opening. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
While these weren't business-class redemptions or premium first-class cabins, I saved cash and traveled where I wanted to go with my points. Not every redemption has to be huge, and points and miles can sometimes fit into less flexible travel plans.
Overall, it's good practice to use your points. You don't want them to be subject to devaluation or expire, so don't let rigid travel plans keep you from searching for award space, transferring your points and taking the trip.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees