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The Best Ways To Fly to Greece 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...

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Located in southeastern Europe with its fifth-century B.C. capital in Athens, Greece is a mountainous country with the longest coastline in the Mediterranean. The country is known for historic sites, such as the Acropolis and Parthenon, as well as picturesque island beaches, like those found at Santorini and Mykonos.

The main airport in Greece is Athens International (ATH). For this post, we’ll focus on how to fly to Athens from the U.S. using a variety of point and mile options.

Best Programs To Use To Book Flights

The great thing about Greece is that it’s easy to get there from the U.S. You have both nonstop and 1-stop options helping to limit the amount of travel time.

We recommend searching for flights as far out in advance as possible to have the best award availability. The only scenario where you’ll want to search close to your departure date is for first class Lufthansa flights, whose award flights are typically released within 2 weeks of the departure date.

Greece is served by airline partners in the Oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam alliances. In addition, non-alliance airlines like Emirates offer flights from the U.S. to Greece.

It’s important to note that all award pricing in this article is round-trip. Depending on the program, you can cut the award price in half if you only need a one-way flight.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Use Alaska miles to fly American Airlines business class. Image Credit: American Airlines

The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program is known for having sweet spots with its airline partners. Alaska Airlines is now in the Oneworld alliance and also has individual partnerships with airlines.

When flying to Athens, you have the option to fly its partners in American Airlines, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Condor, Emirates, Finnair, and Icelandair. When weighing fuel surcharges, award costs, and routing options, American Airlines is the partner we recommend.

Cabin ClassAmerican Airlines Miles CostTaxes & Fees
Economy Off-Peak45,000$102
Economy60,000$102
Business115,000$102
First170,000$102

Hot Tip: In addition to its sweet spots, Alaska Airlines is also known for the ability to book a stopover on one-way award flights. 

When you’re ready to book a flight, here are a couple of examples of seasonal flights that you can book to Athens (ATH):

  • Chicago (ORD) – Athens (ATH) for 45,000 Alaska miles in American Airlines economy
  • Philadelphia (PHL) – Athens (ATH) for 115,000 Alaska miles in American Airlines business

You’ll want to follow these steps when the Alaska Airlines miles are in your Mileage Plan account:

  1. Head to the Alaska Airlines website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
  3. Click the flight that you want, click Add To Cart, and then click Next.
  4. Book the award ticket and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning Alaska Mileage Plan Miles

Alaska Airlines only has 1 partnership with a transferable point program in Marriott Bonvoy, making it hard to earn Alaska Airlines miles. In addition to its partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, Alaska Airlines offers co-branded Bank of America credit cards that earn miles directly with your credit card spend.

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

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy 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

Rewards Center

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: Earning Alaska Airlines miles is ideal because you can book a stopover on one-way flights and the Mileage Plan program has a number of sweet spots that open up a ton of value for your miles. 

American Airlines AAdvantage

Use American Airlines miles to fly American Airlines business class. Image Credit: American Airlines

In addition to using Alaska Airlines miles to fly American Airlines to Greece, you can use American Airlines’ own miles for these flights. What’s great about using American Airlines miles for flights to Europe is that the AAdvantage program has off-peak pricing for economy flights.

The AAdvantage program also allows you to use miles to fly British Airways and Iberia to Greece. Due to the fuel surcharges when flying British Airways, Iberia is the only partner airline flight we recommend.

Cabin ClassAmerican Airlines & Oneworld Miles CostTaxes & Fees
Economy Off-Peak45,000$60
Economy60,000$60
Business115,000$60
First170,000$60

Hot Tip: You’ll want to search for Iberia flights on the British Airways website and then call American Airlines at 800-433-7300 to book the flight. 

If you have enough American Airlines miles in your account, below are a couple of flight options to Athens (ATH) to consider booking:

  • Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) – Athens (ATH) for 45,000 American miles in Iberia economy
  • Chicago (ORD) – Madrid (MAD) – Athens (ATH) for 115,000 American miles in Iberia business

To make the AAdvantage award flight booking process easier, we recommend using these steps:

  1. Go to the American Airlines website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
  3. Book the flight, and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

For Iberia award flights, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the British Airways website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
  3. Write down all of the flight information.
  4. Call American Airlines at 800-433-7300 to book the flight.
  5. Pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

American Airlines miles are relatively easy to earn because it partners with Marriott Bonvoy and has a number of co-branded credit cards that can come with substantial welcome offers. By putting your spend on Marriott Bonvoy and American Airlines credit cards, you’ll be well on your way to booking your next award flight.

If you already have Marriott Bonvoy points and want to transfer them to American Airlines, the point transfer takes 2 days at a 3:1 ratio. With Marriott Bonvoy point transfers, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points that you transfer.

Bottom Line: Keep your eye on the American Airlines AAdvantage program as it’s highly likely the airline will move towards dynamic award pricing in the near term. This means that there will no longer be an award chart and instead, the award price will be tied to the cash cost of the flight. 

ANA Mileage Club

ANA New 777 The Room business class. Image Credit: All Nippon Airways

The ANA Mileage Club program is the first Star Alliance partner to keep your eye on. Mileage Club has a number of sweet spots, including partner airline flights, with one of those being flights between the U.S. and Europe.

Before getting too excited about the competitive award pricing shown above, it’s important to note that ANA partner flights must be booked round-trip. Another drawback is that the ANA search engine isn’t as easy to use as the United Airlines search engine.

Cabin ClassANA Miles CostTaxes & Fees
Economy55,000$118+
Business88,000$118+

Hot Tip: We recommend searching for Star Alliance partner flights first on United’s website, and then confirming the same award availability on the ANA website. 

There are a number of Star Alliance options that you can consider for flights between the U.S. and Greece. You’ll want to focus on LOT Polish, Singapore Airlines (economy), TAP Portugal, and United award flights. Austrian, Brussels, Lufthansa, and SWISS Air award flights have high fuel surcharges, so keep that in mind before booking your flights.

Below are a couple of options to consider when you have the required number of Mileage Club miles in your ANA account:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Warsaw (WAW) – Athens (ATH) for 55,000 ANA miles in LOT Polish (ORD-WAW), Aegean economy (WAW-ATH)
  • Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH) for 88,000 ANA miles in United business

We recommend following these steps when you’re ready to book a flight with your ANA miles:

  1. Start on the United website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
  3. Confirm the same availability on the ANA website.
  4. Book the flight.
  5. Pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning ANA Miles

ANA is an Amex airline partner and Marriott Bonvoy, so the easiest way to earn ANA miles is to transfer your points from these programs to ANA. Unlike many airline programs, ANA doesn’t offer co-branded credit cards for the U.S. market.

If you have enough American Express and/or Marriott Bonvoy points to book a flight, the Amex point transfers take 2 to 3 days at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy point transfers take 7 days at a 3:1 ratio. With that said, below are best American Express credit cards that we recommend you should consider:

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

If you’re a business owner, there are a number of Amex business credit cards that we recommend.

Bottom Line: Aeroplan and United Airlines have the ability to book one-way partner airline flights, so only consider using ANA miles if you’re interested in booking round-trip flights. 

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club

Use Asiana miles to fly United business class. Image Credit: United Airlines

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club is a second Star Alliance program to consider. Asiana continues to fly under the radar but Asiana Club can provide value if you know how to use it.

The main downside with Asiana Club is that Star Alliance partner flights require a phone call to Asiana to book flights. In addition, you can’t use the Asiana Airlines website to search for Star Alliance airline partner flights.

Cabin ClassAsiana Miles CostTaxes & Fees 
Economy50,000$118+
Business80,000$118+

Hot Tip: Like ANA, we recommend searching for Star Alliance partner airline flights on United’s website, and then calling Asiana to book the award flight. 

With the Asiana miles in your account, here are a couple of flights to Athens (ATH) that you can book:

  • Boston (BOS) – Lisbon (LIS) – Athens (ATH) for 50,000 Asiana miles in TAP Portugal (BOS-LIS), Aegean economy (LIS-ATH)
  • New York (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Athens (ATH) for 80,000 Asiana miles in Singapore Airlines (JFK-FRA), Aegean business (FRA-ATH)

Using Asiana Club is more challenging than other programs, so we recommend the steps below to help you book your flight:

  1. Go to United.com to search for award availability.
  2. Enter your route, travel dates, number of passengers, and cabin class.
  3. Write down all the flight information, including flight numbers, dates, and times.
  4. Call Asiana Airlines at 800-227-4262 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. PST Monday to Friday.
  5. Tell the representative that you want to book a Star Alliance award flight.
  6. Provide the flight numbers, travel dates, and any other flight information.
  7. Once Asiana confirms the award space, provide them with your credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Earning Asiana Miles

It’s not easy to earn Asiana Airlines miles because the airline only has 1 transfer partner in the Marriott Bonvoy program. If you have Marriott Bonvoy points, the transfer takes 10 days at a ratio is 3:1 and you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus when transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Avianca LifeMiles

Use Avianca miles to fly Lufthansa first class. Image Credit: Greg Stone

The Avianca LifeMiles program is yet another Star Alliance airline program that you should consider using for flights to Greece. One of the best uses of Avianca miles is to book Lufthansa first or business class. You won’t have to pay fuel surcharges like you would with ANA and Asiana Airlines.

One major drawback with Avianca is the fact that it doesn’t have access to the same award availability as United and Air Canada, which may mean that you miss out on some flights.

Cabin ClassLifeMiles Cost Taxes & Fees
Economy60,000$118+
Business126,000$118+
First174,000$118+

Hot Tip: Before booking a flight with Avianca Lifemiles, keep in mind that Avianca charges a $25 award booking fee for one-way award flights, and that open-jaws and stopovers are not allowed.

For those of you who have Avianca Lifemiles, here are a couple of flight ideas to Athens (ATH):

  • Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Athens (ATH) for 174,000 Avianca miles in Lufthansa first (IAH-FRA), business (FRA-ATH)
  • Miami (MIA) – Warsaw (WAW) – Athens (ATH) for 126,000 ANA miles in LOT Polish (MIA-WAW), Aegean economy (WAW-ATH)

The booking process with Avianca can be challenging, so use these steps to help make the process easier:

  1. Go to Avianca LifeMiles.
  2. Change the language as necessary by clicking on the flag icon in the top right corner and choosing English.
  3. Click Log in on the top right corner using your LifeMiles number and password.
  4. Click Fly at the top banner.
  5. Type in your origin and destination airports, number of passengers, and cabin class.
  6. Click Find Flights.
  7. Click and select your flights.
  8. Book the flight and pay the taxes and fees with your credit card.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy partner with Avianca. These partnerships make it easy to earn Avianca LifeMiles that can then be used to book an award flight.

Before transferring any points, keep in mind that points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio for American Express, Capital One, and Citi. Marriott Bonvoy point transfers take less than 24 hours at a 3:1 ratio. In addition, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer to Avianca, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus.

Additional ways to earn Avianca LifeMiles is by putting your spend on its co-branded credit cards or by buying LifeMiles when a discount is offered.

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi Premier® Card

Citi Premier® 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.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Premier® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 points
$960
$95
21.24% - 29.24% 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 Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros

  • 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
  • Access to Citi transfer partners
  • Annual hotel credit
  • No foreign transaction fees

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
  • 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Rewards+® Card

Citi Rewards+® 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 no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Rewards+® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $250 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
20,000 points
$320
$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
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 Recommended (670-840)
  • Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
  • Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel(SM) portal through June 30, 2024.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
  • The Citi Rewards+® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
  • No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Card Categories

Citi® Double Cash Card

Citi® Double Cash 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.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi® Double Cash Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
None
$0
19.24% - 29.24% 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.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi® Double Cash Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros

  • Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
  • Flexible redemption options
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • No bonus categories
  • 3% foreign transaction fees
  • Lack of premium travel benefits
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
  • To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Custom Cash® 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.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200
$0
0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
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.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)

The Citi Custom Cash® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros

  • 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
  • No annual fee
  • Multiple redemption options
  • No redemption minimums

Cons

  • Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
  • Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

Card Categories

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Use Asia miles to fly Iberia Economy Class. Image Credit: Iberia

Cathay Pacific is our second Oneworld program to use in addition to American Airlines. There aren’t a ton of sweet spots within the Asia Miles program, but one potential one to mention is to use Asia Miles to fly Iberia.

Not all Cathay Pacific airline partners can be booked online, so that’s one major drawback to using Asia Miles. In theory, you should be able to book Iberia flights online. However, the booking process will likely not piece together the Iberia flights that you want. So you’ll want to call Cathay Pacific to book Iberia flights.

American Airlines is one of the Cathay Pacific airline partners that you can’t book online. Like Iberia, you’ll have to call Cathay Pacific to book American Airlines flights.

With that out of the way, it’s important to note that the Asia Miles program doesn’t have an award chart when you’re flying a Oneworld airline partner.

Cabin ClassCathay Pacific Asia Miles CostTaxes & Fees
Economy54,000 to 70,000$183+
Business100,000 to 140,000$183+

Hot Tip: To figure out the number of miles needed for an award flight, you’ll need to reference the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Standard Award chart and add 5,000 miles to the award pricing shown in that chart.

American Airlines and Iberia are the 2 Cathay Pacific airline partners that we recommend for flights to Greece. British Airways is an option, however, the fuel surcharges are high and will eat up the value of your Asia Miles. With that said, here are the partner award flights to Athens (ATH) that you should consider:

  • Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) – Athens (ATH) for 54,000 Cathay Pacific miles in Iberia economy
  • Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) – Athens (ATH) for 100,000 Cathay Pacific miles in Iberia business

When you’re ready to book an award flight, reference the steps shown below during the booking process:

  1. Head to the British Airways website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
  3. Write down all of the flight’s details.
  4. Call Cathay Pacific at 866-892-2598 to confirm award availability.
  5. Book the flight and pay the taxes and fees with your credit card.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy are all Cathay Pacific Asia Miles partners, making it easy to earn Cathay Pacific miles.

Before transferring any points to Cathay Pacific, keep the transfer ratios and transfer times in mind: American Express point transfers take 1 to 4 days at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One point transfers take 36 hours at a 1:1 ratio, Citi point transfers take 24 hours at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy point transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio.

Another way that you can earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is by putting your spend on the co-branded credit cards from Synchrony Bank. The spend that you put on these cards will directly earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.

Recommended Capital One Cards (Personal)

TOP PICK
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards 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.

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

Learn More(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.
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
$1,350
$395
22.24% - 29.24% (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.
Excellent (740-840)

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

  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
  • Add authorized users for no additional annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees

 

Cons

  • $395 annual fee
  • 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

 

  • 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 booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more – you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 22.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards 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.

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

Learn More(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!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
21.24% - 29.24% (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 Credit (670-850)

As a frequent traveler with excellent credit, you’re always on the lookout for a credit card that comes with all the bells and whistles. And the easier it is to understand, the better!

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 sign-up bonus, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Pros

  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • 2 complimentary visits to a Capital One Lounge or Plaza Premium Lounges each year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Limited elite benefits
  • 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 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 $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Enjoy two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or to 100+ Plaza Premium Lounges through the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase – or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards 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.

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.

Learn More(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.
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
$360
$0
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
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)

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, the no-annual-fee version of the more popular Capital One Venture 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

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Ability to use transfer partners
  • Access to Capital One Dining

Cons

  • Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
  • No luxury travel or elite benefits
  • $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; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

If you’re a business owner, consider Capital One’s business credit cards.

Bottom Line: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are easy to get a hold of because of Cathay Pacific’s partnerships with American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy. 

Etihad Guest

Use Etihad miles to fly Brussels Airlines business class. Image Credit: Brussels Airlines

Etihad is not in an airline alliance; instead, it has partnerships with individual airlines that allow you to use Etihad Guest miles to book an award flight on that airline partner. The Etihad Guest program is full of sweet spots, including flights between the U.S. and Europe, and the U.S. and Africa.

Cabin ClassEtihad Miles CostTaxes & Fees
AmericanEconomy Off-Peak40,000$60
Economy60,000$60
Business100,000$60
First125,000$60
BrusselsEconomy44,000$522
Business88,000$522
Royal Air MarocEconomy44,000$520
Business88,000$520

Hot Tip: One main downside with using Etihad Guest miles is that you’ll have to call Etihad to book a partner award flight. From personal experience, the Etihad Guest agents are competent making the booking process relatively easy.

Etihad offers 2 different types of options for flights to Greece with a couple of ideas shown below. You can fly to Athens (ATH) nonstop on American Airlines with lower fees or fly Brussels or Royal Air Maroc with higher fees and fewer miles than American Airlines would require for business class.

  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Brussels (BRU) – Athens (ATH) for 44,000 Etihad miles in Brussels economy
  • Miami (MIA) – Casablanca (CMN) – Athens (ATH) for 88,000 Etihad miles in Royal Air Maroc business

The booking process is different depending on the partner that you fly. Here are the steps for each option:

  1. Search for flights:
    1. Go to the British Airways website for American Airlines flights.
    2. Go to the United website for Brussels Airlines flights.
    3. Go to the Royal Air Maroc website for Royal Air Maroc flights.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
  3. Write down all of the flight details.
  4. Call Etihad at 877-690-0767 to confirm award availability.
  5. Book the flight and pay the taxes and fees with your credit card.

Earning Etihad Guest Miles

It’s easy to earn Etihad Guest miles because the airline partners with American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy. The points and miles that you earn in each of these programs can be transferred directly to Etihad to book an award flight.

It’s important to keep the transfer ratios and transfer times in mind before transferring any points or miles: American Express points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One point transfers take 36 hours at 1:1 ratio, Citi point transfers take 6 days at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy point transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio.

Etihad doesn’t currently offer credit cards for the U.S. market, so you’ll want to earn points and miles in these programs and then transfer them to Etihad.

Bottom Line: Etihad Guest is a program that you can use to fly its partner airline flights, including American Airlines, at competitive award prices. 

Iberia Avios

Use Iberia Avios to fly Iberia business class to Greece. Image Credit: Iberia

Our third Oneworld Alliance airline program to consider is Iberia. It’s a program travelers in the U.S. may be familiar with as you can use Iberia Avios (miles), similar to British Airways Avios, to book American Airlines flights.

Cabin ClassIberia Avios Cost (Iberia)Taxes & Fees
Economy Off-Peak42,500 to 51,000$183+
Business Off-Peak85,000 to 102,000$183+

Hot Tip: The primary difference when booking American Airlines flights with Iberia versus British Airways is that Iberia requires you to book round-trip partner airline flights. 

When booking flights to Greece using Iberia Avios, you’ll want to book Iberia’s own flights. You do have the option to book Oneworld partner airline flights. However, Iberia offers the best option when taking into account fuel surcharges, award pricing, and routing.

Flights options to Athens (ATH) that you can book include:

  • Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) – Athens (ATH) for 85,000 Iberia Avios in Iberia business
  • Miami (MIA) – Madrid (MAD) – Athens (ATH) for 51,000 Iberia Avios in Iberia economy

Once the Iberia Avios are in your account, follow the steps below when you’re ready to book an award flight:

  1. Go to the Iberia website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
  3. Book the award flight and pay the taxes and fees with your credit card.

Earning Iberia Avios (Miles)

American Express, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy partner with Iberia, making it easy to earn Avios to book an award flight.

You’ll want to keep these guidelines in mind before transferring any points as the transfer times and ratios across the programs are different: American Express point transfers take 2 days at a 1:1 ratio, Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy point transfers take 24 to 36 hours at a 3:1 ratio.

For those transferring Marriott Bonvoy points to Iberia, remember that you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer.

Iberia also offers a co-branded Chase credit card that allows you to earn Iberia Avios with your spend. The Avios that you earn can then be used to book an award flight. A combination of the Iberia co-branded credit card and these Chase credit cards will ensure you have enough Avios to book your next award flight:

Recommended Chase Cards

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

Bottom Line: U.S. travelers should turn to Iberia when looking to book American Airlines flights. The award rates can be lower than what you’ll find when using British Airways to book American Airlines flights. 

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Use Japan Airlines miles to fly Emirates first class. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

A fourth Oneworld Airline partner to consider using for flights to Greece is the Japan Airlines Mileage Bank program. Award pricing in the Mileage Bank program continues to be competitive, especially for those looking to book a luxurious experience on Emirates.

Japan Airlines uses a distance-based award chart so we recommend that you calculate your distance first, and then use the mileage calculated to see how many miles you’ll need to use in the Japan Airlines Oneworld and Partner airline award charts.

Cabin ClassJapan Airlines CostTaxes & Fees
AmericanEconomy60,000$60+
Business110,000$60+
EmiratesEconomy47,000$408
Business85,000$1,142
First (available until September 1, 2021)135,000$1,142

Hot Tip: Great Circle Mapper is the site we use and recommend if you need to calculate the distance of your flight. 

For those looking to use Japan Airlines miles for flights to Athens (ATH), American Airlines and Emirates will be your 2 best options. Here are a couple of routes to show you what’s possible to book:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Athens (ATH) for 110,000 Japan Airlines miles in American Airlines business
  • Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH) for 135,000 Japan Airlines miles in Emirates first

When the time comes to book your flight, we recommend using the steps below as you go through the process:

  1. Search for flights:
    1. Head to British Airways for American Airlines flights.
    2. Head to Emirates for Emirates flights.
  2. Enter your travel dates, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired class of booking.
  3. Confirm the same award availability on the Japan Airlines website.
  4. Book the award flight and pay the taxes and fees.

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

Japan Airlines only has a partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, so earning Japan Airlines miles isn’t easy. On top of that, Japan Airlines doesn’t offer a co-branded credit card to the U.S. market that has a sizeable welcome offer.

For those of you who have Marriott Bonvoy points and are looking to transfer them to Japan Airlines, the transfer time takes 2 days at a 3:1 ratio. It’s also important to remember that for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile transfer bonus.

Bottom Line: Japan Airlines requires the least number of miles to fly Emirates to Athens. You can use Alaska Airlines miles, however, the number of Alaska Airlines miles that you’ll need to book an Emirates flight is significantly more. 

Korean Air SKYPASS

Delta One Suites A350-900. Image Credit: Stephen Au

The lone SkyTeam partner making our list is the Korean Air SKYPASS program. The award costs are competitive, however, fuel surcharges and the difficulty in earning SKYPASS miles lowers the overall value.

Korean Air uses a zone-based award chart meaning it’ll cost the same number of miles no matter what route you fly from the U.S. to Greece. For example, you’ll need the same number of SKYPASS miles to fly from New York (JFK) nonstop to Athens (ATH) as you will to fly from Detroit (DTW) through Amsterdam (AMS) to Athens (ATH).

Cabin ClassKorean Air Cost Taxes & Fees
Economy50,000$232+
Business80,000$232+

Hot Tip: The SKYPASS search engine is challenging to use so we recommend using Air France, Delta, and KLM to search for SkyTeam award flights

When you have the required number of SKYPASS miles for a flight to Athens (ATH), here are a couple of SkyTeam partner airline flights that you can book:

  • Detroit (DTW) – Amsterdam (AMS) – Athens (ATH) for 80,000 Korean Air miles in KLM business
  • New York (JFK) – Athens (ATH) for 50,000 Korean Air miles in Delta economy

The booking process is straightforward with Korean Air by using these steps:

  1. Go to Air France, Delta, or KLM.
  2. Enter your travel dates, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired class of booking.
  3. Confirm the same availability on Korean Air or call Korean Air 800-438-5000 to confirm availability.
  4. Book the flight online or over the phone.
  5. Pay for the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning Korean Air SKYPASS Miles

With only 1 transferable point program partner in Marriott Bonvoy, it’s not easy to earn Korean Air SKYPASS miles. If you have enough Marriott Bonvoy points for this redemption, keep in mind that the transfer ratio is 3:1 and points take 7 days to transfer from Marriott Bonvoy to Korean Air.

Another way to earn Korean Air SKYPASS miles is to sign up for a Korean Air credit card. The welcome offers on these co-branded credit cards can be up to 45,000 Korean Air miles helping you to earn the miles that you need.

Bottom Line: The Korean Air SKYPASS lost a ton of value when its partnership with Chase Ultimate Rewards ended. Outside of flying Korean Air or SkyTeam partner airline flights, the main way to earn Korean Air miles is through Marriott Bonvoy.

United Airlines MileagePlus

Use United miles to fly United business class. Image Credit: Stephen Au

United’s MileagePlus program doesn’t feature a fixed award chart. Instead, it prices its flights according to the cash cost of your ticket, though its Saver level awards are semi-fixed.

Cabin ClassUnited Mileage Cost Taxes & Fees
Economy~60,000$118+
Business~120,000$118+

Hot Tip: It’s important to note that you can book both Star Alliance and United flights for ~60,000 miles. If you’re looking to fly business class, you’ll need ~120,000 miles to fly United and ~140,000 miles to fly a Star Alliance airline partner. 

The Star Alliance has a number of European-based airline partners, so here’s a couple of routes to Athens (ATH) that you should consider:

  • Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH) for 120,000 United miles in United Airlines business
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Vienna (VIE) – Athens (ATH) for 60,000 United miles in Austrian economy

When you have enough United Airlines miles in your account, the booking process you’ll want to follow is:

  1. Go to the United website.
  2. Enter your travel dates, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired class of booking.
  3. Select the flight that you want.
  4. Pay the taxes and fees with a credit card to book your flight.

Earning United Airlines MileagePlus Miles

United Airlines is both a Chase transfer partner and a Marriott Bonvoy partner, so you’ll have no problem earning United Airlines miles. Each partner has a number of personal and business credit cards; the points that you earn in each program can then be transferred directly to United.

If you’re transferring points from Chase, the points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio. If you’re transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy, the point transfers take 2 days at a 3:1.1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy point transfers have a 10% added bonus in addition to the 5,000-mile bonus you’ll receive when transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Another way to earn United miles is by applying for its co-branded credit cards from Chase. When you put your spend on these credit cards, you will earn United Airlines miles.

Recommended United Cards

United℠ Explorer Card

United℠ Explorer 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.

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United℠ Explorer Card

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
60,000 miles
$720
$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)

You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.

You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!

Pros

  • 2x miles per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays
  • 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
  • First checked bag free for you and up to 1 traveling companion
  • 25% statement credit on United inflight purchases
  • Priority boarding
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
  • 2 United Club 1-time passes each year
  • Premier upgrades on award tickets
  • Travel and purchase protections

Cons

  • $0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
  • $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
  • Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
  • 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
  • Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
  • Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

United Club℠ Infinite Card

United Club℠ Infinite 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.

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
80,000 miles
$960
$525
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)

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.

United frequent flyers will find that the United Club Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.

Pros

  • 4x miles per $1 on United purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 on travel and dining purchases
  • Complimentary United Club membership
  • Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
  • United Premier Access
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
  • Expanded award availability
  • Up to 8,000 Premier Qualifying Points
  • $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
  • Trip protections like trip delay insurance, lost and delayed luggage insurance, and rental car insurance
  • Shopping protections like return protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection
  • $70 discount on CLEAR membership, plus 10,000 bonus miles
  • IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and a $75 annual credit
  • Avis President’s Club elite status
  • 10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards within the continental U.S. and Canada

Cons

  • $525 annual fee
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
  • Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
  • 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
  • Earn up to 8,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

United Quest℠ Card

United Quest℠ 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 United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Quest℠ Card

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
60,000 miles
$720
$250
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 newest addition to United’s lineup of cards is the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.

With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.

Pros

  • 3x miles per $1 on United purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 spent on travel, dining, and select streaming services
  • $125 annual United credit
  • 2 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits
  • Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
  • Expanded award availability
  • Up to 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points
  • Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
  • Travel and shopping protections including trip delay insurance, lost/delayed luggage insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection

Cons

  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Does not offer airport lounge access
  • $250 annual fee
  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
  • Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
  • Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits each year (terms apply)
  • Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

United Gateway℠ Card

United Gateway℠ 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 United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.
Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.
20,000 miles
$240
$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)

The United Gateway℠ Card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without wanting to pay a credit card annual fee. Plus, the card offers other solid benefits like a 25% back on United inflight purchases, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.

Pros

  • 2x miles per $1 on United purchases
  • 2x miles per $1 at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit
  • 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
  • No annual fee
  • 25% back on inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
  • Rental car insurance
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty coverage

Cons

  • If you are a frequent United flyer, other cards offer more perks
  • It does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 20,000 bonus miles
  • No annual fee
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

United Club℠ Business Card

United Club℠ Business 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 United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Business Card

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
75,000 miles
$900
$450
20.74%-27.74% 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 United Club℠ Business Card is a premium card option for dedicated United loyalists seeking a card that offers complimentary United Club access, helps them earn and retain status, and doesn’t skip on the benefits.

From free checked bags to upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn Premier qualifying points, there is plenty to the United Club Business card that United flyers are sure to love.

Pros

  • 2x miles per $1 spent on United purchases
  • 1.5x miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Complimentary United Club membership
  • Free checked bags
  • Premier Access travel services
  • Discount on inflight purchases
  • Upgrades on award tickets
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Employee cards at no additional cost
  • Travel and purchase protections

Cons

  • $450 annual fee
  • Earning rate for United purchases is poor compared to other United cards
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
  • Earn 2x miles on United purchases
  • Earn 1.5x miles on all other purchases
  • Employee cards at no additional cost
  • United Club membership — up to a $650 value per year. Relax in comfort while waiting for your flight with complimentary beverages, snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi, and more
  • Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, save up to $320 per round-trip
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 20.74%-27.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Card Categories

Final Thoughts

Greece is a popular destination with a rich history and so much to offer. Its location also makes it a great place to jumpstart a trip to Northern Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and West Asia.

We recommend earning transferable points when planning your next trip to Greece. That way you have the most flexibility when the time comes to book your flight.

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.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

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.
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Iberia requires the least number of miles book an economy flight.

Iberia and Japan Airlines require the least number of miles to book a business class flight.

Singapore Airlines requires the least number of miles to book an economy flight.

Asiana Airlines requires the least number of miles to book a business class flight.

Korean Air requires the least number of miles book an economy and business class flight.

We recommend checking both Air France, Delta, and KLM to see how many miles each of these programs will require.

Etihad requires the least number of miles book an economy and business class flight.

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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2 comments

Dean

January 31, 2023

I’m seeing ath-phl in august for 113k miles plus almost $900!!! Why is it so high? Doesnt match what it says here.

Jarrod West

February 01, 2023

Hi Dean,

What award program are you searching through?

Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!

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