How I Flew to Europe (And Back!) in Business Class for Just 70K Points

While visiting Europe is exciting in its own right, flying there in business class makes the journey even more enjoyable.

Fortunately, it’s not as difficult as it might seem. With numerous airlines operating between the U.S. and Europe, booking a business class flight with points and miles is easier than many travelers realize.

By using transferable points and understanding airline alliances and partnerships, there’s no reason you can’t get to Europe in comfort. Here’s a look at a popular airline loyalty program I utilize frequently and how I leveraged it to book business-class seats to Europe (and back!) for just 70,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue Overview

Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, and a member of the SkyTeam alliance with an extensive roster of airline partners. It also has a straightforward approach to earning and redeeming miles, frequent transfer bonuses, solid award availability, and competitive partner redemption pricing.

Although Flying Blue employs dynamic pricing — meaning award costs vary by route and demand — it also offers standardized saver award fares. That’s where much of the program’s value comes into play.

What Are Flying Blue Promo Rewards?

The loyalty program’s most interesting perk, and arguably its most valuable, is its monthly Promo Rewards. Every month, Flying Blue members can redeem their miles for select flights at a discounted rate, up to 50% off compared to standard award pricing.

Promo Rewards are typically released on the first day of every month and remain available to book throughout that month. They apply to specific routes and are subject to their own travel windows, which can be up to several months in the future.

These promotions include short-haul, medium-haul, and long-haul flights. Best of all, there are often deals in all classes of travel, including economy, premium economy, and business class. Unfortunately, Flying Blue levies fuel surcharges on award tickets, which can be pretty substantial — about $300 one-way in business class.

How I Book Business Class Tickets to Europe for Less

After reviewing the current Flying Blue Promo Rewards (which I do every month), I was excited to see that one of the long-haul destinations from Europe was Toronto (YYZ), one of my favorite cities in the world, and where my wife resides.

As mentioned, Flying Blue offers standardized saver award rates. One-way business class flights between the U.S. and Europe can be booked for as little as 60,000 miles, plus taxes and fees.

I was thrilled to see the 25% discount on Air France and KLM business class flights between Toronto and Europe — which dropped the rate to just 45,000 miles.

1. KLM Business Class to Amsterdam

Since I hadn’t flown business class on either Air France or KLM before, I wanted to try both. I decided to book one airline for the flight to Europe and the other for the return trip to Toronto.

I began by searching for award space between Toronto and Amsterdam (AMS) and was surprised to see fantastic KLM business class award availability with the standard saver pricing. Nearly two-thirds of the dates in January 2026 displayed the standardized award rates.

After confirming which dates I wanted to fly, I went ahead and booked a nonstop KLM business class flight from Toronto to Amsterdam for 45,000 miles and $263 in taxes and fees.

Air France Business Class to Toronto

Since I flew KLM business class to Amsterdam, I planned to fly Air France business class in the opposite direction. Since I didn’t know precisely when I would leave Amsterdam for Paris, I decided to arrange transportation once I was in Europe. All that was left was finding the required award space from Paris
(CDG) back to Toronto.

Following the same steps, I quickly located the necessary award space and confirmed the discounted Promo Rewards award pricing. I could fly nonstop from Paris to Toronto for 45,000 Flying Blue miles and $448 in taxes and fees.

Leveraging Transfer Bonuses

So, for a total of 90,000 Flying Blue miles, I was able to fly round-trip in business class to Europe. However, I mentioned that I booked these tickets for a total of 70,000 credit card points.

How is that possible when nearly all credit card programs transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio? I did so by leveraging a major transfer bonus.

Many credit card programs, like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, often offer transfer bonuses to Flying Blue. Earlier this year, I took advantage of a 30% transfer bonus from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Flying Blue in hopes of scoring a Promo Rewards deal.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® 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.

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

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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 75,000 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

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, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, 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 and emergency evacuation. 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
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

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

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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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.

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

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.49% - 27.99% 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 card application.

Excellent

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.

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

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

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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 Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

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Sapphire Reserve for Business℠

The Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business card is perfect for frequent traveler business owners who want premium perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening and access more than $7,000 in total business and travel value in your first year.

200,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$4,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.74% - 28.49%

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 card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card is a great pick for business owners who can easily make use of the annual credits for travel, Google Workspace, ZipRecruiter, and more. Plus, it offers helpful bonus categories such as ad spend and offers access to over 1,300 airport lounges — including Chase Sapphire Lounges.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on Chase Travel purchases
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
• 3x points on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (uncapped)

Cons

• $795 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn 200,000 bonus points after you spend $30,000 on purchases in your first 6 months from account opening.
• $7,000+ in value your first year. 200K points, valued at $4,000 for select flights and hotels through Chase Travel℠, plus $3,000+ in annual value through travel and business benefits.
• Earn 8x points on Chase Travel℠ for airline tickets, hotels, including The Edit℠, car rentals, cruises, activities and tours.
• Earn 5x total points on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
• Earn 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct.
• Earn 3x points on social media & search engine advertising.
• Get the most flexible travel credit compared to any other card, with up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year on travel purchases.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club network and Priority Pass™ Select membership. Two guests may accompany the Primary Cardmember to the lounges free of charge.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Flex for Business Variable APR: 17.74% - 28.49%
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

So rather than transferring 90,000 Ultimate Rewards points to Flying Blue, I transferred just 70,000 points. While preemptively transferring points is generally a bad idea, I have redeemed Flying Blue miles enough over the years that I knew I would be able to get full value from the points.

How To Earn Flying Blue Miles

Earning Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles is relatively easy, as Flying Blue is a 1:1 transfer partner of many credit card points programs. This includes American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards. 

Flying Blue is also a 3:1 transfer partner with Marriott Bonvoy. However, whenever you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a single transaction to Flying Blue, you get a bonus of 5,000 miles, resulting in 25,000 Flying Blue miles earned.

Final Thoughts

Flying Blue Promo Rewards are a fantastic way to book flights operated by Air France and KLM for significant discounts. By leveraging Promo Rewards and a massive transfer bonus, I was able to fly to Europe and back in business class for just 70,000 credit card points.