The Best Ways To Fly to Europe With Points and Miles [Step by Step]

Key Takeaways

• Flying to Europe with points is best achieved using programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, or Avianca LifeMiles, which offer competitive redemption rates for transatlantic flights.
• You can transfer points from programs such as Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards to partner airlines for more booking flexibility.
• A round-trip flight to Europe could cost as little as 50,000 points in economy or 80,000 in business class.

Paris in the spring. Spain’s Costa del Sol in the summer. Christmas markets in Germany. No matter the time of year, there is always a great reason to travel to Europe!

Cash fares between the U.S. and Europe can be pricey, especially during peak travel season. It’s not uncommon to see round-trip airfare above $1,500 in economy. Fortunately, there’s a way around this: using points and miles for award redemptions.

If you book award tickets to Europe with miles and points, you can use the money you saved to enjoy the destination. This guide looks at the best ways to book award flights to Europe.

Best Programs To Book European Flights

You will find many options when you search for paid flights to Europe from the U.S. From low-cost carriers to some of the world’s best first class products, there’s something for everyone. Just make sure you’re up to date regarding ETIAS and visiting Schengen countries in Europe before you book your ticket.

If you live on the East Coast and can handle an economy class flight, you can save some of your points for another day. But if you live on the West Coast, a lie-flat bed is a little more important so you can hit the ground running when you arrive at your destination.

Many factors go into determining the best flight for a specific route or even for a specific passenger. For example, do you prefer lie-flat seats, great food, a friendly crew, or all of the above?

Choosing the best airline comes down to evaluating your personal preferences.

Below, we show you some of the best options for using your points for economy, business, and first class flights. No matter how you like to fly, we have you covered!

Hot Tip: We mainly discuss round-trip award prices, but remember that many airline loyalty programs will let you book one-way award tickets for half the miles.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is a fantastic way to book award flights to Europe, thanks to its extensive reach via the Star Alliance network. The program also has solid award pricing for partner airline redemptions, allows for stopovers for just 5,000 points, and does not levy fuel surcharges for partner redemptions.

Air Canada Aeroplan divides the world into 4 zones: North America, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and South America. The award chart is a combination of region-based and distance-based.

Here’s the award pricing for flights between the U.S. and the Atlantic zone (which covers the entirety of Europe):

Here are some great example routes you can take:

• New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) for 60,000 Aeroplan points plus taxes and fees in Singapore Airlines 777 business class
• Chicago (ORD) – Zurich (ZRH) for 70,000 Aeroplan points plus taxes and fees in United Polaris business class
• Miami (MIA) – Istanbul (IST) for 70,000 Aeroplan points plus taxes and fees in Turkish Airlines business class

Once you’ve got enough points, follow these steps to book your award travel:

1. Go to Air Canada Aeroplan’s homepage.
2. Click “Sign in” at the top-right corner. Type in your Aeroplan number and password. Click “Sign in.”
3. On the redirected page, enter your travel dates, trip type, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired booking class. Be sure to have “Points” selected instead of “US $.”
4. Click “Find” and select your flights. Pay with miles and use a credit card to cover the taxes and fees.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Aeroplan makes earning points easy. The airline is a transfer partner with most transferable point programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Bilt, Chase, and Capital One transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred at once.

You can also get the Aeroplan^® Credit Card, which earns 3x points on dining, groceries, and Air Canada purchases and 1x points everywhere else.

Recommended Capital One Cards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Recommended Aeroplan^® Credit Card

Aeroplan^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Aeroplan card is a great option for Air Canada flyers looking to earn more points and receive automatic elite status.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Aeroplan^® Credit Card

The Aeroplan card is a great option for Air Canada flyers looking to earn more points and receive automatic elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus points after your annual fee renewal payment posts and is paid in full.

Up to 70,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,050

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Flyers based in the U.S. may think they wouldn’t have a need for a card like the Aeroplan^® Credit Card, it might be much better suited for you than you think.

Not only does Air Canada offer fantastic award redemptions, but adding the card to your wallet makes the program even more rewarding by offering elite status, more points, travel coverage, and more. Let’s take a closer look and see why the Aeroplan card might make a lot of sense for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points per $1 on Air Canada purchases, at grocery stores, and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month (up to a maximum of 1,500 bonus points)
• Receive Aeroplan 25K status for the remainder of the calendar year, plus the following calendar year, and continue to extend it beyond that by spending $15,000 on the card per calendar year

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 70,000 bonus points
• Earn 60K bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Earn 10K bonus points after your annual fee renewal payment posts and is paid in full
• $95 Annual Fee
• Redeem points for both international and domestic flights with the Aeroplan^® Credit Card.
• Fly to another continent and travel the world with the Aeroplan^® Credit Card.
• Earn 3X points for each dollar spent at grocery stores, on dining at restaurants, and Air Canada directly. Earn 1X point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
• 500 bonus points for every $2,000 you spend in a calendar month - up to 1,500 points per month.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

ANA Mileage Club

ANA Mileage Club offers excellent redemption rates for business class flights. It mostly outperforms the competition regarding value for your miles. Unfortunately, the program only allows for round-trip redemptions.

It doesn’t charge fuel surcharges on some airlines, so you can choose to fly ANA to minimize your out-of-pocket cost. Additionally, the program has a great stopover and open-jaw policy.

ANA has 3 main zone-based award charts: ANA domestic flight awards, ANA international flight awards, and partner flight awards. Mileage Club also prices its flights based on seasonality (low, regular, and high), although partner redemptions do not follow seasonality rules.

Here’s the round-trip pricing for Star Alliance flights between North America (Zone 6) and Europe (Zone 7):

Generally, the best airlines to book with low fuel surcharges are Turkish Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, and United Airlines.

Here are a few amazing routes you can book:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Istanbul (IST) round-trip in Turkish business class for 100,000 ANA miles plus taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) round-trip in United Polaris class for 100,000 ANA miles plus taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Warsaw (WAW) round-trip in LOT Polish business class for 100,000 ANA miles plus taxes and fees
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – London (LHR) round-trip in United Polaris class for 88,000 ANA miles plus taxes and fees

ANA is a pretty easy program to redeem miles with. You can make bookings completely online using its award search engine. However, we recommend doing your initial award availability search on United’s website:

1. Go to United’s homepage and perform your award search.
2. Write down the flight details and schedule.
3. Go to ANA’s U.S. website.
4. Click “Award Booking” in the search box.
5. Log in to your ANA account. On the redirected page, enter your search details. Click “Search.“
6. Choose the flight that matches your desired booking. Redeem your ANA miles and use a credit card for taxes and fees.

Hot Tip:

Although ANA Mileage Club has fantastic award pricing (round-trip business class awards for 100,000 miles), the program levies fuel surcharges which can be hundreds of dollars on many Star Alliance partner airlines.

Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles

Earning ANA miles is easy, as ANA is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

American Express Membership Rewards transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio, and with every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive 5,000 bonus miles.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.

As High As 175,000 Points (Find out your offer)

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.

As High As 100,000 Points (Find out your offer)

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
• 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.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Avianca LifeMiles

LifeMiles, Avianca’s loyalty program, was long considered the best way to redeem miles for business and first class flights between the U.S. and Europe. There are many great ways to redeem LifeMiles, and the program offers plenty of benefits, including ease of earning miles and no fuel surcharges.

LifeMiles has a convoluted Star Alliance award chart and pricing awards based on region. Although the award chart was significantly devalued recently, it remains competitively priced. LifeMiles charges 35,000 miles for economy flights, 70,000 for business class flights, and 130,000 for first class flights.

Best of all, taxes and fees are around $30 to $50 each way, which is an incredible deal.

Here are some excellent LifeMiles redemptions you can make to Europe:

• Chicago (ORD) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 130,000 LifeMiles plus taxes and fees
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London (LHR) one-way in United Polaris class for 70,000 LifeMiles plus taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Vienna (VIE) one-way in Austrian Airlines business class for 70,000 LifeMiles plus taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Zurich (ZRH) one-way in SWISS Air business class for 70,000 LifeMiles plus taxes and fees
• Toronto (YYZ) – Munich (MUC) one-way in Lufthansa business class for 70,000 LifeMiles plus about $52 in taxes and fees

Once you’re ready to make your booking, follow these instructions:

1. Go to the LifeMiles website.
2. Adjust the language to English by clicking the flag icon in the top-right corner.
3. Click “Log In.”
4. Click “Travel” on the top banner of the homepage.
5. Fill in your flight details and click “Find Flights.”
6. Choose the desired travel dates.
7. Select what you like, redeem your LifeMiles, enter your travelers’ information, and use a credit card for taxes and fees.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Brex Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

Aside from Marriott Bonvoy, all other transferable rewards programs transfer to LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio.

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi Premier^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Citi Premier^® Card

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$0

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• No welcome offer available
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue loyalty program can be a great way to book award flights to Europe. In early 2025, the program underwent a major devaluation, and award pricing for flights between the U.S. and Europe increased significantly. However, with the change, Flying Blue increased award availability.

Air France-KLM is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and also partners with additional airlines. Air France has variable award pricing, so the best approach is to use Flying Blue’s award calculator and search for the lowest-level award availability. Flying Blue also has standardized saver-level pricing with introductory award pricing.

For flights between the U.S. and Europe, you can expect to pay at least 25,000 miles in economy and 60,000 in business one-way between the U.S. and Europe.

Perhaps the best part of the Flying Blue program is Promo Rewards. These awards are available for a special selection of destinations and are offered for a reduced number of miles — between 25% and 50% off what would normally be required for an award flight!

Promo Rewards change monthly and are limited in availability, when you can book, and what airlines you can fly. If your schedule is flexible or you can book a trip closer to when it takes place, these Promo Rewards can be great options.

Flying Blue adds carrier-imposed surcharges to its award redemptions, but they are often not that bad, depending on the routing. Of course, as with any program, these surcharges are significantly higher for premium cabins. When booking an award, you must consider the charges and decide if it is still a good enough value.

Here are some of our favorite redemptions you can make:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Delta One for 53,000 Flying Blue miles plus taxes and fees
• Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class from 60,000 Flying Blue miles plus taxes and fees
• Houston (IAH) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in KLM business class from 60,000 Flying Blue miles plus taxes and fees

To book your flights, follow these steps:

1. Visit Air France’s U.S. website.
2. Log in to your Flying Blue account.
3. Click “Book with Miles.”
4. Fill in the search box, and click “Search flights.”
5. Choose the desired flight, enter the travelers’ personal information, use your Flying Blue miles, and supply a credit card to pay for any taxes and fees.

Earning Flying Blue Miles

Earning Flying Blue miles is easy, as the loyalty program is a transfer partner of nearly every major transferable rewards program. These include Brex Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

Chase, Amex, Brex, Capital One, Citi, and Wells Fargo transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. You will also receive a bonus of 5,000 miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Recommended Chase Cards

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business Owner? Read our article on the best Chase business cards that earn Ultimate Rewards.

Korean Air SKYPASS

Though not as well-known as other programs on this list, Korean Air SKYPASS offers solid rates for awards between North America and Europe.

You can use Korean Air SKYPASS to fly Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic as a SkyTeam member. Here’s what Korean Air SKYPASS charges for round-trip flights to Europe:

Here are some great example routes you can book with Korean Air miles:

• Boston (BOS) – Paris (CDG) round-trip in Air France business class for 80,000 Korean Air miles plus taxes and fees
• Detroit (DTW) – London (LHR) round-trip in Delta business class for 80,000 Korean Air miles plus taxes and fees
• Miami (MIA) – Rome (FCO) round-trip in ITA business class for 80,000 Korean Air miles plus taxes and fees
• San Francisco (SFO) – Amsterdam (AMS) round-trip in KLM business class for 80,000 Korean Air miles plus taxes and fees

Once you’re ready to book, you can follow these instructions:

1. Use Delta or Air France’s website to find award availability.
2. Write down the flight numbers.
3. Call Korean Air SKYPASS at 800-438-5000 and give the agent the flight details to make a SkyTeam award booking.
4. Pay with your SKYPASS miles and use a credit card for taxes and fees.

Earning Korean Air Miles

Unfortunately, Korean Air SKYPASS’ only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott transfers to Korean Air at a 3:1 ratio.

Other ways to earn Korean Air miles include the co-branded U.S. Bank credit cards that earn SKYPASS miles directly.

American AAdvantage

American Airlines’ AAdvantage program can help you book award tickets on its flights and several of its Oneworld alliance partners. Oneworld partners that operate routes between the U.S. include British Airways, Iberia, and Finnair, among others.

The program has fantastic award pricing and availability for flights to Europe, especially during off-peak times.

Although American uses dynamic pricing for its flights, partner awards with American AAdvantage are not subject to dynamic pricing. This means you can follow an award chart and know exactly how many miles you need for an award redemption

Here is the one-way award pricing for partner-operated flights between the U.S. and Europe.

Taxes and fees on some American Airlines awards can be quite high, depending on the airline.

Hot Tip:

Check out our in-depth guide on the best ways to search for Oneworld award availability

Here are some great routes you can book using AAdvantage miles:

• Dallas (DFW) – Paris (CDG) one-way in American Airlines business class for 57,500 AA miles plus taxes and fees
• Miami (MIA) – Helsinki (HEL) one-way in Finnair business class one-way in American Airlines business class for 57,500 AA miles plus taxes and fees
• New York (JFK) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 57,500 AA miles plus taxes and fees
• San Diego (SAN) – London (LHR) one-way in British Airways business class for 57,500 AA miles plus taxes and fees

Check out the following directions to book your Europe flights using AAdvantage miles:

1. Visit the American Airlines website.
2. You’ll see a search box on the homepage. Check off the box that says “Redeem miles.”
3. Fill out the search box and click “Search.“
4. Find your desired flight.
5. Enter the traveler details, pay with AAdvantage miles, and use a credit card for any taxes and fees incurred.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

In addition to earning AAdvantage miles by flying American Airlines and its partners, you can transfer miles into the program from Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy transfers to AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio.

We’ve also covered many other ways to earn American miles, including signing up and using various co-branded credit cards.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Lastly, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offers some of the cheapest award flights to Europe. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in 2023, allowing redemptions on numerous partner airlines.

Flying Club has dynamic award pricing for travel on Virgin Atlantic. However, there are limits on how much you will pay when saver award space is available. Flying Club‘s award charts for travel on Virgin Atlantic are here.

For SkyTeam partners (excluding Delta and Air France-KLM), Flying Club has a distance-based award chart for travel. For Delta and Air France-KLM, Flying Club has zone- and distance-based award charts, with peak and off-peak pricing for certain award redemptions.

Redemption rates, particularly on Virgin Atlantic, can be pretty good. You can find one-way flights between the U.S. and London for as little as 6,000 points in economy, 10,000 points in premium economy, and 29,000 points in Virgin Upper Class.

Earning Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points

Earning Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points is relatively easy, as the program is a transfer partner of nearly every transferable rewards currency.

Flying Club is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

Tips and Tricks

When booking award tickets, you may encounter a few unexpected snags wherever you are headed. Not every segment may be available, ticket fees may be very high, or there just aren’t enough available seats.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help make your life easier when booking flights to Europe with points.

Taxes and Fees

In Europe, certain airports are much more expensive to fly through than others. Avoiding the more expensive airports can save you as much as a few hundred dollars on your trip!

When searching for award space, be sure to compare a couple of routes to see the difference in taxes and fees. Adjusting the departure or even the connection location can sometimes significantly cut costs.

The U.K., for example, adds a hefty air passenger duty onto each ticket departing the U.K. and flying over 2,000 miles. This fee can be hundreds of dollars, especially when flying in a premium cabin.

But avoiding this fee is easy! Just make sure your return from Europe doesn’t depart from the U.K. If you want to visit London, add a few days in another country before returning to the U.S.

Additionally, choosing one airline over another can be an excellent way to save money on taxes and fees. For example, you can fly American Airlines over British Airways from London (LHR) to New York (JFK) and save more than $200 in taxes and fees.

Lots of Airports

One of the great parts of award travel to Europe is that you don’t necessarily need to find available flights to the exact place you want to go.

Europe has multiple low-cost carriers and excellent rail service, which makes it easy and fairly inexpensive to hop between cities.

Want to go to Munich (MUC) but can only find availability to Frankfurt (FRA)? No problem. Grab a cheap Eurowings flight, hop on a Deutsche Bahn train, or even buy a Eurail Pass, and you’ll be there later that day. You could even add a night or 2 in Frankfurt and see what the city offers.

This idea works with cities all over Europe, so be flexible when choosing your flight destinations.

Finding More Seats

A general issue for award travel (not just on flights to Europe) comes into play when traveling with multiple people. Traveling as a couple, a family of 4, or an even larger group? Finding award tickets for everyone in your party can be tough.

When traveling with a large party, you generally want to start searching for award seats right when the schedule opens for booking. However, even if you do this, there often won’t be enough seats for a larger group. This is where it helps to be flexible.

You’ll have more choices if you have miles available from different airlines in alliances. Sometimes, you can even find award seats with 2 different alliances that arrive at your destination within minutes of each other. That way, you can meet up before leaving the airport!

In other cases, it could mean you can all reach a top destination during peak times. It’s up to you whether finding award seats is worth flying separately.

Final Thoughts

Europe is a fantastic destination for your travels from the U.S. For those new to traveling, you can find many of the comforts of home and plenty of people who speak English. If you are a history buff, you will love strolling through the cobbled alleyways and visiting the historic castles and churches scattered throughout the countryside. If you are a foodie, it’s hard to beat the amazing cuisine in France and Italy.

Europe has something for everyone — with so many airlines flying between the U.S. and Europe, it should be easy for you to book your next flight using miles and points. The question is whether you want to fly in a premium cabin or coach and which airline miles you’ll use to make your booking. Happy traveling!