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The Best Ways to Fly to Croatia With Points and Miles

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Michael McHugh

Michael McHugh

Former Content Contributor

Countries Visited: 15U.S. States Visited: 32

Michael fell in love with points and miles back in 2014 and since then has built up a vast knowledge of award programs and has striven to show readers how to receive the maximum value when using their...
Edited by: Kellie Jez

Kellie Jez

Director of Operations & Compliance

Countries Visited: 10U.S. States Visited: 20

Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...

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With a sprawling coastline along the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is a country located in eastern Europe. Bordered by Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, Croatia has a mix of influences that can be seen through its medieval cities, food, and beaches.

There is 1 major and 2 large regional airports in Croatia. Zagreb (ZAG) offers the most options for those flying in from the U.S., however, you’ll also want to look into seasonal flights that fly into Split (SPU) and Dubrovnik (DBV).

Best Programs to Use to Book Flights

There are currently no nonstop flights offered from the U.S. to Croatia, so you’ll likely want to connect in Europe. This actually isn’t that bad as the Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance partner airlines offer a number of flight options between the U.S. and Croatia.

As we work our way through this list, it’s important to note that the award prices shown are for round-trip flights. Outside of ANA partner airline flights and American Airlines flights using Iberia Avios (miles), you can book one-way flights to Croatia for half of the miles shown in the respective award charts. With that behind us, let’s dive into how to book your next flight to Croatia!

Best Programs to Fly to Croatia

Air Canada Aeroplan

Cabin ClassStar Alliance Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy80,000$39+
Business140,000$39+

Aeroplan offers solid redemption pricing on both Economy and Business class flights to Europe. Better yet, you can add stopovers in other European cities for no extra mileage cost.

  • Newark (EWR) – Warsaw (WAW) – Zagreb (ZAG) for 140,000 Aeroplan points in LOT Polish business class
  • Washington (IAD) – Copenhagen (CPH) – Split (SPU) for 140,000 Aeroplan points in SAS business class

The steps below will help you during your booking process with Aeroplan:

  1. Search for flights on United.
  2. Confirm the same availability on Aeroplan.
  3. Book the flight online.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Aeroplan Points

It’s easy to earn Aeroplan points because the program is an American Express transfer partner, Chase transfer partner, Capital One transfer partner, and Marriott Bonvoy transfer partner. In addition, Aeroplan has a co-branded credit card that earns Aeroplan points directly with your spend.

You’ll want to keep the transfer ratios and transfer times in mind before transferring any points. American Express, Capital One, and Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott point transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio. With that said, here are the American Express cards we recommend:

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

The Platinum Card® from American Express

This card is undoubtedly the #1 card for luxury travel benefits. From the best lounge access (of any card) to statement credits, to complimentary elite status, you can’t go wrong.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
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)

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

  • 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, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
  • 5x points per $1 spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
  • 5x points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
  • Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
  • TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
  • Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
  • Access to Amex International Airline Program
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
  • 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
  • $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: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 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.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. 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

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American Express Membership Rewards

American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express® Gold Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express® Gold Card

This is the go-to card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants and those who want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
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)

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

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

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

Pros

  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per $1 on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
  • No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
  • Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $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.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Amex business credit cards.

You can also opt to acquire the co-branded Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card, which earns 3x points per dollar spent on dining, groceries, and Air Canada, as well as 1x point per $1 spent everywhere else.

Bottom Line: Aeroplan is one of the easiest and best Star Alliance programs to use to book business class flights to Europe. 

ANA Mileage Club

Use ANA miles to fly United business class. Image Credit: United
Cabin ClassStar Alliance Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy55,000$108+
Business88,000$108+

The second Star Alliance program to make the list is ANA Mileage Club. ANA is primarily known for its hard product (the actual seat you fly in) and its competitive award chart when flying on its own and partner award flights.

One of the main downsides when using ANA miles is that you must book round-trip partner airline flights. Programs like Aeroplan give you more flexibility by allowing you to book one-way partner airline flights — not the case with ANA. Unless you’re flying on an ANA award flight, you must book a round-trip flight.

Hot Tip: Business class award flights are where ANA really shines —  88,000 miles is one of the lowest award prices in this list for flights from the U.S. to Croatia. 

Here are a couple of example flights to Croatia that you can book when you have enough ANA miles in your account:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Amsterdam (AMS) – Zagreb (ZAG) for 88,000 ANA miles in United and Croatia Airlines business class
  • Houston (IAH) – London (LHR) – Split (SPU) for 55,000 ANA miles in United and Croatia Airlines economy

When booking flights to Croatia using ANA miles, the steps below will be helpful in the booking process:

  1. Search for flights on United.
  2. Confirm the same availability on ANA.
  3. Book the flight online.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles

It’s easy to earn ANA Mileage Club miles because ANA has partnerships with American Express and Marriott Bonvoy. The points that you earn in this program can be transferred directly to ANA. There is an ANA co-branded card, however, it’s not available for the U.S. market. With that said, point transfers from American Express and Marriott will be the main way to earn ANA miles.

If you have American Express points, you’ll want to transfer those points to ANA first because point transfers take 2-3 days at a 1:1 ratio. Those of you with Marriott points will need to wait 7 days for the transfer at a 3:1 ratio.

Bottom Line: If you do not need flexibility, booking round-trip business class partner airlines to Croatia using ANA miles is a great deal. 

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club

Turkish Airlines 777-300ER business class. Image Credit: Turkish Airlines
Cabin ClassStar Alliance Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy50,000$108+
Business80,000$108+
First100,000$108+

For flights to Croatia, it’s hard to beat the award pricing offered by Star Alliance partner Asiana Airlines Asiana Club. This program is primarily known for its extremely competitive partner award chart.

One of the reasons you likely don’t hear much about Asiana Airlines is because its partner award flight booking process is cumbersome. You have to call Asiana Airlines to book partner flights as they cannot be booked online.

Hot Tip: Asiana Airlines has the lowest first class award pricing to Europe. However, you won’t be able to fly first class all the way from the U.S. to Croatia. If you’re eyeing first class, flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt or Munich will be your bet, although fuel surcharges will be high. 

The Star Alliance has a ton of its members based in Europe, so you’ll have a number of award flights options from the U.S. including:

  • San Francisco (SFO) – Istanbul (IST) – Zagreb (ZAG) for 80,000 Asiana miles in Turkish Airlines business class
  • Denver (DEN) – London (LHR) – Split (SPU) for 50,000 Asiana miles in United and Croatia Airlines economy

Booking Star Alliance award flights to Croatia using Asiana Airlines miles requires a few additional steps in the process as follows:

  1. Search for Star Alliance partner flights on United.
  2. Call Asiana Airlines at 800-227-4262 between 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PST on Monday-Friday.
  3. Book the flight over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Asiana Airlines Miles

You’ll likely have a tough time earning Asiana Airlines miles because they only partner with Marriott Bonvoy. However, Asiana Airlines offers co-branded credit cards that earn miles directly with your spend. The best strategy is to put your spend on a combination of Asiana Airlines and Marriott credit cards.

For those of you already with Marriott points, the point transfer to Asiana Airlines takes 4 days at a 3:1 ratio. Separately, with every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus.

Bottom Line: Asiana Airlines is a great option if you’re looking to fly in a premium cabin and are able to earn Asiana Airlines miles. 

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Use Cathay Pacific miles to fly British Airways first class. Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Cabin ClassOneworld Airlines Cost Taxes and Fees
Economy54,000+$88+
Business100,000+$88+
First150,000+$330+

Another Oneworld alliance program to consider using to fly to Croatia is Cathay Pacific. One of the best ways to use Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is to book British Airways award flights due to the taxes and fees. When you book British Airways flights with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, you’ll pay ~$600 roundtrip instead of $1,000 round-trip for flights to Europe.

The primary downside when using Asia Miles to book partner award flights is that the pricing isn’t that competitive. As you’ll see in this list, there are cheaper ways to use points and miles to fly transatlantic in economy, business, and first class.

Hot Tip: Reference the Asia Miles Standard Award if you’re flying 1 Oneworld airline partner. From there, add 5,000 miles to the cost of the award flight that’s based on the distance of your itinerary. 

Examples of award flights that you can book with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles include:

  • Boston (MIA) – Madrid (MAD) – Zagreb (ZAG) for 100,000 Cathay Pacific miles in Iberia business class
  • New York (JFK) – London (LHR) for 150,000 Cathay Pacific miles in British Airways first class

The process to book award flights using Asia Miles is dependent on the airline. For flights to Croatia, you can book Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, and Iberia online. All other airline partners that fly between the U.S. and Croatia (i.e. American Airlines) require a phone call to book the flight:

  1. Search for partner airline flights on asiamiles.com.
  2. Or call Cathay Pacific at 866-892-2598 to confirm award availability.
  3. Book the flight online or over the phone.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific has partnerships with American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy — in other words, it’s easy to earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Separately, Cathay Pacific offers a co-branded credit card for the U.S. market, meaning that the spend you put on this card earns Cathay Pacific Asia miles.

If you have a stash of American Express, Capital One, Citi, and/or Marriott points, you’ll want to keep tabs on the transfer ratios and transfer times. American Express points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One Miles transfers take up to 3 days at a 1:1 ratio, Citi point transfers take 24 hours at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott point transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio.

Bottom Line: The way to receive the most value with this Cathay Pacific redemption is to fly British Airways. The fuel surcharges will still be there, however, they will be much lower than what you’d otherwise pay. 

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Use Japan Airlines miles to fly Air France business class. Image Credit: Air France
Cabin Class Oneworld Miles Cost Taxes and Fees
Economy40,000+$+
Business80,000+$+
First100,000+$+

The last program to make our list is Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. Japan Airlines routinely offers some of the lowest award rates on its own and partner airline flights. For award flights to Croatia, Japan Airlines has one of the lowest economy, business, and first class prices to Croatia.

Japan Airlines is a program you should use, but miles are hard to earn in the Mileage Bank program. If you can generate Japan Airlines miles, you’ll open yourself up to a number of high-value award flight options.

Hot Tip: Japan Airlines has a partnership with SkyTeam member Air France. This means that you can use Japan Airlines miles to book an Air France award flight. 

The Mileage Bank program offers a number of interesting options to book flights between the U.S. and Croatia including:

  • New York (JFK) – Madrid (MAD) – Split (SPU) for 50,000 Japan Airlines miles in Iberia economy
  • Washington (IAD) – Paris (CDG) – Zagreb (ZAG) for 110,000 Japan Airlines miles in Air France business class

Booking Japan Airlines partner award flights is easy. Just follow these steps:

  1. Search for Oneworld flights on British Airways.
  2. Search for saver level Air France flights on Delta.
  3. Confirm the same availability on Japan Airlines.
  4. Book the flight online.
  5. Pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

There are not a ton of ways to earn Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles because the airline only partners with Marriott. Japan Airlines has a co-branded credit card, however, the card has a low welcome offer and earn rates.

For those of you already holding Marriott points, the point transfers to Japan Airlines take 2 days at a 3:1 ratio. You’ll also receive a 5,000-mile bonus with every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer.

Bottom Line: Japan Airlines offers one of the cheapest ways to fly transatlantic first class. Air France first class can’t be booked with Japan Airlines miles, but you can book American Airlines and British Airways first class. 

Iberia Avios

Use Iberia Avios to fly American Airlines business class. Image Credit: American Airlines
Cabin ClassIberia Avios CostTaxes and Fees
Economy Off-Peak34,000+$88+
Business Off-Peak68,000+$88+

 

Cabin ClassAmerican Airlines Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy42,000+$88+
Business100,000+$88+

 

Cabin ClassRoyal Air Maroc Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy42,000+$472+
Business100,000+$472+

Yet another Oneworld airline partner to check out is Iberia. The Iberia Avios (miles) program is likely familiar to some U.S. travelers because you can cheaply book domestic American Airlines flights using Avios.

What many people are not fans of with Iberia is that American Airlines flights must be booked round-trip. If your goal is flexibility and you want to fly American Airlines, other Oneworld programs offer greater flexibility.

Hot Tip: The longer the distance of your flight, the more miles you’ll need. Both Iberia’s own and partner airline flights are distance-based. 

Examples of flights to Croatia that you can book with Iberia Avios include:

  • Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) – Zagreb (ZAG) for 88,000 Iberia Avios Iberia business class off-peak
  • New York (JFK) – Milan (MXP) for 100,000 Iberia Avios in American Airlines business class

The Iberia award flight booking process will be different depending on which airline you fly:

  1. Search for American Airlines and Iberia flights on British Airways.
  2. Confirm the same availability on Iberia.
  3. Search for Royal Air Maroc flights on Royal Air Maroc.
  4. Call Iberia at 800-772-4642 to confirm award availability.
  5. Book American Airlines and Iberia flights online.
  6. Book Royal Air Maroc flights over the phone.
  7. Pay the taxes and fees.

For the Milan flight, you’ll need to book a cheap points or cash flight to continue on to Croatia. Croatia Airlines operates the MXP-ZAG route seasonally for 12,500 Avianca LifeMiles in economy class. You can transfer points from Membership Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and ThankYou to LifeMiles.

Alternatively, easyJet operates the MXP-SPU route seasonally. This flight can be had for as little at $33 one-way, and you can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to cover the flight when booked through the Chase Travel Portal. If you don’t mind flying an ultra-low-cost carrier, this is likely your best bet.

Earning Iberia Avios

Earning Iberia Avios is extremely easy because Iberia has partnerships with American Express, Chase, and Marriott. In addition, Iberia has a co-branded credit card for the U.S. market. The spend that you put on this card earns Iberia Avios.

If you’re looking to earn American Express, Chase, and/or Marriott points, American Express and Chase points transfer to Iberia at a 1:1 ratio within 24 hours. Marriott transfers also happen within 24 hours, however, the ratio is 3:1. With Marriott, you’ll want to transfer 60,000 points at a time so you’ll receive the 5,000-mile bonus.

Bottom Line: The cheapest way to fly transatlantic business class in this list is with Iberia. During the off-peak season, you’ll only need 68,000 Iberia Avios for a round-trip flight. 

Best Programs to Connect to Croatia

While not all programs book to a final destination of Croatia, there are still great options that you can get you to an airport within an easy connection to Croatia simply by purchasing an additional short flight. These flights may be great if you have miles or points to utilize with a specific program.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Use Alaska miles to fly American business class. Image Credit: American Airlines
Cabin ClassAmerican Airlines Miles CostTaxes and Fees
Economy45,000$71+
Business115,000$71+
First170,000$330+

Our first U.S. airline program is Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Long-known for the ability to book a stopover on a one-way flight, another thing you may not have considered is using Alaska miles to fly American Airlines to Europe. Alaska Airlines has other airline partners, however, you’ll likely receive the most value booking American Airlines award flights.

Without a doubt, the primary drawback with Alaska Airlines is that it can be tough to earn Alaska Airlines miles. Another downside is the partner award booking fee, similar to Avianca, however, the cost is nominal.

Hot Tip: American Airlines doesn’t fly all the way to Croatia. Instead, you’ll need to book an additional flight after landing at your European destination. 

For those of you with Alaska Airlines miles, check out the examples below for the types of flights that you can book:

  • Charlotte (CLT) – Frankfurt (FRA) for 45,000 Alaska Airlines miles in American Airlines economy
  • New York (JFK) – London (LHR) for 170,000 Alaska Airlines miles in American Airlines first class

To help you with your flight booking process, reference the steps below when using Alaska miles to book an award flight:

  1. Search for flights on Alaska Airlines.
  2. Book the flight online.
  3. Pay the taxes and fees, including the $12.50 partner award flight booking fee.

Since American Airlines doesn’t fly all the way to Croatia, you’ll need to book an additional jumper flight from Frankfurt or London to Croatia. You can book LHR-ZAG for just 7,500 British Airways Avios in economy class — British Airways is an American Express transfer partner, Chase transfer partner, and a Marriott transfer partner. Alternatively, you can fly LHR-ZAG and LHR-SPU (seasonally) on Croatia Airlines for 12,500 Avianca LifeMiles.

Croatia runs year-round service between FRA and DBV, SPU, and ZAG airports. Further, Lufthansa flies year-round to ZAG and seasonally to SPU. Both of these airlines are in the Star Alliance, and the route can also be booked using LifeMiles as well. However, this route only costs 8,000 as it’s a shorter flight from FRA than LHR.

Earning Alaska Airlines Miles

Alaska Airlines miles can be challenging to earn as they only partner with Marriott Bonvoy. However, Alaska Airlines offers co-branded credit cards and the spend on these credit cards will directly earn Alaska Airlines miles.

For those of you with Marriott points, the transfer takes 2-4 days at a 3:1 ratio. If you’re looking for additional Alaska Airlines miles earned from Marriott transfers, here are the Marriott credit cards we like:

Recommended Marriott Cards 

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
30,000 points
$210
$0
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)

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros

  • Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
  • 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
  • Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
  • Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
  • 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
  • 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

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Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
Earn 3 Free Nights after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases (each night valued up to 50,000 points) within the first 3 months from account opening.
Up to 3 Free Nights
$1,050
$95
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)

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros

  • Earn big when you use your card at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • New benefit to earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status
  • 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
  • DoorDash DashPass subscription
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier
  • Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
  • Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
  • Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
  • 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
  • Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
125,000 points
$875
$250
20.99%-29.99% Variable
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)

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
  • 15 Elite Night Credits per year
  • 1,000 bonus points per paid stay
  • 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

  • $250 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
  • Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • With complimentary Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months.
Two 85K Free Night Awards
$1,190
$650
20.99%-29.99% Variable
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)

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros

  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
  • 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
  • 25 Elite Night Credits each year
  • Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
  • Complimentary Platinum Elite status

Cons

  • Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
  • Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
  • With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Bottom Line: The best value for Alaska Airlines redemption is to book economy flights. Business class pricing is middle-of-the-road relative to the other options in this list. 

British Airways Executive Club

Cabin ClassAer Lingus CostTaxes and Fees
Economy Off-Peak26,000+$120+
Economy40,000+$120+
Business100,000+$120+

For U.S. travelers, Oneworld partner British Airways is known for the ability to book cheap, short-haul American Airlines flights within the U.S. British Airways uses a distance-based award chart, so the less distance that you fly, the fewer miles that you’ll need.

Although this doesn’t affect Aer Lingus flights, British Airways recently devalued its partner airline award flight chart. The number of miles required for award flights didn’t increase across the board, however, some airline routes require additional miles.

Hot Tip: Flying Aer Lingus from Boston (BOS) – Dublin (DUB) during off-peak dates is the cheapest way to fly transatlantic. If you book this flight, you’ll only need 13,000 British Airways Avios (miles) each way. 

Examples of award flights that you can book with British Airways Avios include:

  • Boston (BOS) – Dublin (DUB) for 26,000 British Airways Avios in Aer Lingus economy
  • Chicago (ORD) – Dublin (DUB) for 100,000 British Airways Avios in Aer Lingus business class

To book Aer Lingus flights using British Airways Avios, use these steps:

  1. Search for Aer Lingus flights on British Airways.
  2. Book the flight online.
  3. Pay the taxes and fees.

For these flights, you’ll need to purchase a separate, cheap flight from Dublin to Croatia. Aer Lingus flies nonstop from DUB to DBV and SPU seasonally, and you can use just 10,000 Aer Lingus Avios to fly one-way on-peak or 8,500 Avios off-peak. You can transfer to Aer Lingus from Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Earning British Airways Avios

You’ll have no issues earning British Airways Avios because the airline partners with American Express, Capital One, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy. The points earned in these programs can be transferred directly to British Airways. In addition, British Airways has a co-branded credit card with a sizeable welcome offer available to the U.S. market.

Transfer ratios and transfer times differ across these programs. With that said, American Express, Capital One, and Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott point transfers take 24 hours at a 3:1 ratio. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott points, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus. In short, these are the Chase cards that you should consider:

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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 huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
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)

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

  • 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
  • 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel worldwide
  • $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
  • Excellent travel and car rental insurance
  • 10% annual bonus points
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
  • Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industryexperts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as ratesand 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.

Learn More(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.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
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)

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

  • 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
  • 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
  • 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • Priority Pass airport lounge access
  • TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
  • Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
  • Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $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 Ultimate Rewards® 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 Ultimate Rewards®. 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 $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

Bottom Line: If economy is your style, you can’t beat using less than 30,000 Avios to fly Aer Lingus economy across the Atlantic. 

Etihad Guest

Cabin ClassAmerican Airlines Cost Taxes and Fees
Economy Off-Peak40,000$88+
Economy60,000$88+
Business100,000$88+
First125,000$88+

 

Cabin ClassRoyal Air Maroc Cost Taxes and Fees
Economy44,000$472+
Economy88,000$472+

The second airline not in a major airline alliance to make the list is Etihad. Its Etihad Guest loyalty program is fantastic, especially for those looking to fly in a premium cabin. American Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Royal Air Maroc are airline partners to keep an eye on.

It’s not all great news with Etihad, as partner award flights need to be booked by phone. The process isn’t as bad as it sounds, however, it’s not as simple as booking the flight online.

Hot Tip: Etihad Guest partners with an array of airline partners. Many of these partners have prices in their award charts that you simply will not find as low anywhere else. 

American Airlines and Royal Air Maroc fly a number of routes that will get you close to Croatia. From there, you’ll book a cheap cash or points flight to get the rest of the way.

  • Miami (MIA) – Milan (MXP) for 100,000 Etihad miles in American Airlines business class
  • Washington (IAD) – Casablanca (CMN) for 88,000 Etihad miles in Royal Air Maroc business class

As mentioned, a phone call is required to book Etihad partner airline flights:

  1. Search for American Airlines flights on British Airways and Qantas.
  2. Search for Brussels Airlines flights on United.
  3. Call Etihad at 877-690-0767 to confirm award availability.
  4. Book the flight over the phone.
  5. Pay the taxes and fees.

Flying MIA-MXP? See the above “Iberia Avios” section on booking hopper flights from MXP to Croatia — we’ll go in-depth there!

There are no non-stop flights between CMN and Croatia, so you have 2 options: fly to another European city nearby, hang out there for a few days, and then head to Croatia, or fly on a 1-stop itinerary to Croatia. One of the best ways to book a 1-stop itinerary is by using Iberia Avios to fly via Madrid. Flying CMN-MAD-ZAG costs 12,000 Iberia Avios off-peak or 13,250 on-peak in economy class.

You can transfer Membership Rewards, Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy points to Iberia Avios. Plus, you can transfer British Airways Avios to Iberia Avios so long as both accounts have been open for 90+ days.

Earning Etihad Guest Miles

Etihad has partnerships with American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott. For this reason, it’s super easy to earn Etihad Guest miles. The points that you earn in these programs can be transferred directly to Etihad.

For those of you looking to transfer points, American Express points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One Miles transfers take 36 hours at a 1:1 ratio, Citi transfers take 7 days at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott point transfers take 3 days at a 1:1 ratio. With Marriott transfers, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus with every 60,000 points that you transfer.

Bottom Line: 88,000 miles for business round-trip on Royal Air Maroc is one of the cheapest transatlantic business class flights that you’ll find. 

Final Thoughts

Although you can’t fly nonstop to Croatia from the U.S., it’s an easy 1-stop flight. The country is incredibly beautiful and should certainly be added to your dream travel list.

To wrap things up, earn transferable points before booking your next trip to Croatia. American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Marriott each have airline partners that will help you to book an incredible trip to this eastern European country.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

The lowest number of miles needed for economy, business, and first class flights in this list are 26,000, 68,000, and 100,000 miles respectively.

Banks and hotels have partnerships with airlines. These partnerships allow you to transfer points from a bank and/or hotel. With the transferred points, you can book an award flight or hotel.

American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Marriott earn transferable points. These points can be transferred directly to their airline and hotel partners for award flights and hotel rooms.

About Michael McHugh

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.

Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare.  That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.

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