The Best Ways to Fly to Frankfurt With Points and Miles [Step-by-Step]

Germany is an incredible country filled with history, beautiful architecture, unique food, and of course delicious beer! In Berlin you’ll see the Berlin Wall, Munich is known for Oktoberfest, Frankfurt is home to the European Central Bank, Cologne has the Cologne Cathedral, and the port city of Hamburg has canals and parks.

In this article, we’ll cover the best programs you can use to book award flights to Frankfurt, how to book the award flight itself, and how to earn enough miles for your next redemption.

Best Programs to Use to Book Flights

Frankfurt airport (FRA) is one of the largest airports in Europe. With that said, U.S. travelers will find it relatively easy to fly from the U.S to Frankfurt.

Below we’ll dive into the best programs to use and how you can leverage the 5 transferable point programs, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Japan Airlines (JAL) Mileage Bank

The Japan Airlines Mileage Bank program provides value to many destinations in Europe — including Frankfurt — across all cabin classes.

Japan Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance, which is great because Oneworld member airlines offer a number of flights to Europe from the U.S., though American Airlines is the only Oneworld member offering nonstop flights from the U.S. to Frankfurt. Flying with British Airways, Finnair, or Iberia will require a connection.

Book Awards With Japan Airlines 

Japan Airlines uses a distance-based award chart. The amount of miles you’ll pay is driven by the total distance of your itinerary and the cabin class. We recommend using Great Circle Mapper to calculate the total mileage of your itinerary and then refer back to the award chart to see how many miles you’ll need.

Search for Oneworld award flight availability on the British Airways/Qantas websites, confirm that same availability on the Japan Airlines website, and then book the flight. If you can’t confirm availability on the Japan Airlines website, call the airline at 800-525-3663 to search for and book the award ticket.

Hot Tip: We recommend using the Qantas website to search for Oneworld availability because it has a monthly calendar view. American Airlines business class flights will likely not show up on the Qantas website so we recommend using British Airways to search for business class availability. 

When you’re ready to book your flight, below are the redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees for Oneworld round-trip flights from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA):

Need help booking an award flight? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking American Airlines business class.

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

Japan Airlines miles are hard to earn due to two factors:

1. Japan Airlines only partners with one transferable point program, which is Marriott Bonvoy
2. Japan Airlines doesn’t offer a credit card with a meaningful welcome offer bonus

The main way to earn Japan Airlines miles is by transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy. Before transferring your Marriott points, there are 3 things to keep in mind, 1) Marriott points transfer to Japan Airlines at a 3:1 ratio, 2) You’ll receive 5,000 bonus points when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points to an airline partner, and 3) Marriott points take 7 days to transfer to Japan Airlines.

With that said, there are a number of Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that we cover in our guide.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines provides value on a number of routes to Frankfurt. If you want to learn more about how valuable the Mileage Plan program is, check out our best ways to use Alaska Airlines miles.

Alaska Airlines is a member of Oneworld and also has individual partnerships with airlines that fly between the U.S. and Europe.

Book Awards With Alaska Airlines 

Alaska Airlines uses a distance-based award chart for partner flights. This means that the number of miles required is driven by the distance flown and cabin class.

American Airlines, British Airways, Condor, Emirates*, Finnair, Iberia, and Icelandair award flights can be booked on the Alaska Airlines website.

Below are the redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees for Alaska Airlines round-trip partner flights to Europe:

*Emirates flies first class between New York (JFK) and Milan (MXP), and Newark (EWR) and Athens (ATH). However, those seats are now only available to Emirates Skywards Silver members and above

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Alaska Airlines miles are much easier to earn than JAL miles. They can be earned by:

• Transferring points from Bilt Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy
• Spending on Alaska Airlines credit cards
• Using the Alaska Airlines shopping portal and dining program
• Spending with Alaska Airlines travel partners

Before transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines, keep in mind the transfer ratio and transfer time. Marriott point transfers take 2 days at a 3:1 ratio.

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

The ANA Mileage Club program is a great option for booking flights to Frankfurt using points. As a member of the Star Alliance, ANA offers numerous direct award flights at competitive rates on carriers including Lufthansa and United.

The number of miles you’ll need will be driven by the cabin class you’re traveling in.

Book Awards With ANA

ANA Mileage Club uses a zone-based award chart for its airline partners with flights to Europe. Germany falls into Zone 7 while the U.S. is in Zone 6.

You can search for award availability on the ANA website and book the flight you want directly. You might find expanded award availability by searching the United website and then calling ANA customer service at 1-800-235-9262 to book it.

Here are the redemption rates, taxes, and fees for Lufthansa and United round-trip partner flights to Europe/Frankfurt:

Earning ANA Miles

ANA is a 1:1 transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott. If you’re interested in earning points in these programs, check out our credit card recommendations below. Keep in mind that Marriott transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio.

With that said, we recommend transferring Amex points to ANA first flights to Frankfurt, since the rates are so competitive.

Recommended Amex Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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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 ins and outs 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

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Offer 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

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 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.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
• 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.
• Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
• $695 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.

Financial Snapshot

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

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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 ins and outs 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

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $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

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

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 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 get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $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.
• 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.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines is one of the big 3 U.S. airlines (along with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines) and offers direct flights to Frankfurt from Charlotte (CLT) and Dallas (DFW).

American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance. This means that you can use American Airlines miles to fly American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, and Iberia to Europe and/or Frankfurt.

Book Awards With American Airlines 

American Airlines uses zone-based award charts to determine the number of miles required. The award charts are driven by 3 factors: 1) zones you’re flying to and from, 2) cabin class, and 3) dates of travel. What’s unique about the American Airlines award charts is that you can fly to Europe on partner airlines in economy at off-peak prices.

American Airlines award flights and most Oneworld partners can be booked on the American Airlines website. For those that are not, you can search for award flights on the British Airways/Qantas websites, confirm the same availability on the American Airlines website, and then book the award flight. Another option is to call American Airlines at 800-433-7300 to search for and book an award flight.

Hot Tip: When flying American Airlines partner flights, its award program offers off-peak pricing in economy to Europe. The off-peak dates are January 10 to March 14 and November 1 to December 14. 

Here are the starting redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees for American Airlines and Oneworld round-trip flights to Frankfurt:

Earning American Airlines Miles

American Airlines partners with 2 transferable point program: Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. In addition, the airline offers a number of ways to earn enough miles for your next trip to Frankfurt that include:

• AA co-branded credit cards (with large welcome offer bonuses!)
• Spend with partner hotels and car rental companies
• American’s shopping portal

For those looking to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines, point transfers take 2 days at a 3:1 ratio.

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club 

Asiana Airlines is an under-the-radar program that has valuable redemptions to Europe if you know where to look. The Asiana Airlines Asiana Club program uses a zone-based award chart when flying its airline partners.

Asiana Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, so you can also use your miles for flights on partner airlines. Star Alliance airline partners that fly to Europe from the U.S. include Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss Air Lines, TAP Portugal, and United Airlines.

For those looking to fly nonstop, Lufthansa and United are your 2 options.

Book Awards With Asiana Airlines 

Asiana uses a zone-based award chart to determine the number of miles required. The zones you’re flying to and from and the cabin class will determine the number of Asiana miles that you’ll need.

Here are the redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees for both Star Alliance round-trip flights to Frankfurt:

Search for Star Alliance award availability on the Aeroplan/United websites, and then call Asiana Airlines at 800-227-4262 to confirm the award flight is available and book the flight.

Hot Tip: The Asiana Airlines website doesn’t allow you to search for Star Alliance award flight availability. Instead, use the Aeroplan/United websites.

*Singapore Airlines and Swiss Airlines first class can only be booked with each airline’s own miles respectively.

Earning Asiana Airlines Miles

Asiana Airlines offers a couple of ways to earn its miles for your next award flight to Frankfurt. The airline partners with 1 transferable point program in Marriott Bonvoy. Asiana also has co-branded credit cards that earn Asiana miles with your credit card spend.

If you decide to transfer Marriott points to Asiana, transfers take 10 days at a 3:1 ratio. Keep this in mind as you’ll need to be flexible on the dates of your travel as you wait for your points to transfer.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Aeroplan lets you book award flights with all members of the Star Alliance for some excellent value. This means that you can book Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss Air Lines, TAP Portugal, and United Airlines to Europe and/or Frankfurt.

Book Awards With Aeroplan 

Search for Star Alliance award flight availability on the Aeroplan website and then book the flight. Alternatively, you can search for award availability on the United website, confirm the same availability on the Aeroplan website, and then book the flight. You can also call Aeroplan at 800-361-5373 to search for and book the flight.

Hot Tip:Aeroplan doesn’t show Singapore Airlines award availability. Instead, use the Singapore Airlines/United websites to find business class award space, and then call Aeroplan to book the ticket. Singapore Airlines first class flights can only be booked with Singapore Airlines miles. 

Here are the redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees for Star Alliance round-trip flights to Europe and/or Frankfurt:

*Singapore Airlines and Swiss Airlines first class can only be booked with their own airline miles respectively.

Earning Aeroplan Points

Aeroplan offers a couple of ways to earn airline points for your next award flight to Frankfurt. The airline partners with 4 transferable point programs in Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Marriott. In addition, Air Canada offers a co-branded credit card where you earn miles directly with your credit card spend.

Before transferring your points to Aeroplan, keep in mind the transfer times and ratios. American Express and Chase transfers are instant at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One transfers are instant at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio. With that said, we recommend transferring Amex and Capital One miles to Aeroplan first.

Recommended Capital One Cards (Personal)

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 ins and outs 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 Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 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 access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• 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: Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

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 ins and outs 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

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

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

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

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome Offer

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

20,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$360

Annual Fee

$0

APR

Purchases: 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; variable 19.24% - 29.24% thereafter

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

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Ability to use transfer partners

Cons

• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

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Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

The Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program receives its fair share of attention because of the premium product offered by Singapore Airlines. You can even try these premium offerings on a fifth-freedom flight between New York (JFK) and Frankfurt (FRA).

KrisFlyer uses a zone-based award chart when flying Singapore Airlines or its partner flights.

Singapore Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance. So you can also use Singapore Airlines miles for Star Alliance partner flights, including Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Swiss Air Lines, TAP Portugal, and United Airlines.

Book Awards With Singapore Airlines 

The number of KrisFlyer miles you’ll need is based on the travel zone, cabin class, and whether you’re booking a Saver or Advantage Award. Singapore Airlines has one flight to Frankfurt (FRA) departing from New York (JFK), which you book at the following rates:

Singapore Airlines award

Star Alliance

Search for and book Singapore Airlines award flights on the Singapore Airlines website. Use the United Airlines/Aeroplan websites to search for Star Alliance award flights, confirm the same availability on the Singapore Airlines website, and then book the flight.

Hot Tip: Singapore Airlines first class award availability departing from the U.S. will be difficult to find. If you’re looking to fly Singapore Airlines first class, consider flights arriving into the U.S. or other Singapore Airlines flights around the world. 

*Singapore Airlines also flies from Houston (IAH) to Manchester

Earning Singapore Airlines Miles

Singapore Airlines makes it easy to earn its miles for an award flight redemption. The airline partners with all 5 transferable point programs: American Express, Capital One, Citi, Chase, and Marriott. The airline doesn’t have a co-branded credit card but has quite a few travel partners that allow you to earn points when you spend with them.

(For more on this topic, see our guides on: Amex Transfer Partners, Capital One Transfer Partners, Citi Transfer Partners, Chase Transfer Partners and finally, Marriott’s Transfer Partners.)

With its 5 transferable point program partnerships, it’s helpful to know the transfer times and ratios. American Express transfers take 1-2 days at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One transfers take 36 hours at a 1:1 ratio, Chase transfers are instant at a 1:1 ratio, Citi transfers take 2 days at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott transfers take 6 days at a 3:1 ratio. In short, we recommend transferring Chase points to Singapore Airlines first.

ANA Mileage Club 

ANA is another Asian program that can provide value for flights to Europe and/or Frankfurt. The ANA Mileage Club program uses a zone-based award chart when flying ANA or its partner airline flights.

ANA is a member of the Star Alliance. As previously mentioned, the Star Alliance offers a number of flights to Europe. However, if you’re looking for the quickest route, Lufthansa and United Airlines are the 2 airline partner with nonstop flights.

Book Awards With ANA 

ANA uses a zone-based award chart for its partner airline flights. The number of miles that you’ll need is based on your zones of travel, cabin class, and travel dates.

Search for Star Alliance award flights on the United Airlines website, confirm the same availability on the ANA website, and then book the flight.

Hot Tip: ANA requires you to book round-trip partner award flights, so you’ll only be able to search that way on ANA’s website. The United Airlines website allows you to search for one-way flights making the award search process easier. 

When you’ve found a route that works for you, below are the redemption rates and an estimate of the taxes and fees for round-trip Star Alliance flights to Frankfurt: 

Earning ANA Miles

ANA offers several ways to earn ANA miles for your next award flight to Frankfurt. The airline partners with 2 transferable point programs in American Express and Marriott. ANA also offers a co-branded credit card with a small welcome offer.

If you’re transferring points from one of these programs, know that American Express transfers take 3 days at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott transfers take 7 days at a 3:1 ratio. With that said, we recommend transferring Amex points to ANA first.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic is a niche award program that works great for nonstop Delta flights to Frankfurt. The Flying Club program uses a zone-based award chart when flying Delta to Europe/Frankfurt.

Virgin Atlantic is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, which Delta is also a part of. Delta operates numerous flights to Frankfurt from a select number of U.S. cities.

Book Awards With Virgin Atlantic 

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has 2 different award charts for Delta One flights to Europe. The number of points needed depends on whether you’re traveling during peak or off-peak dates. The prices below are for one-way awards:

You can typically search for Delta award flights on the Virgin Atlantic website.

Hot Tip: Virgin Atlantic is an excellent program to use for those looking to fly Delta Air Lines for fewer miles than you’ll see on the Delta website. 

Earning Virgin Points

Virgin Atlantic is another program that makes it easy to earn its airline points for your next award flight to Frankfurt. The airline partners with American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott. Virgin Atlantic also offers a co-branded credit card with a respectable welcome offer bonus.

Before transferring points to Virgin Atlantic, it’s important to know the transfer times and ratios. American Express transfers take up to 2 days at a 1:1 ratio, Chase transfers are instant at a 1:1 ratio, Citi transfers take up to 2 days at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott transfers take 1 day at a 3:1 ratio. We recommend transferring Chase points to Virgin Atlantic first.

Final Thoughts

Flying to Frankfurt in a premium cabin can be a great way to start off your European vacation. The airport also offers long-haul flights across the world, making this city an ideal jumping off point to Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific.

With Lufthansa based in Germany, Singapore Airlines flying nonstop to Frankfurt from New York (even in their Suites class), and the major U.S. airlines flying nonstop to Frankfurt, you have plenty of ways to find an award flight to Frankfurt!