Which award program is best to use for booking flights between the U.S. and Italy?

ANA Mileage Club offers the best round-trip award rates between the U.S. and Italy. ANA charges 55,000 miles in economy and 100,000 miles in business class for round-trip award tickets. However, ANA Mileage Club does not allow one-way award bookings. For those, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and Avianca LifeMiles can be good options.

How can I earn Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles?

Flying Blue miles are relatively easy to earn, as the program is transfer partners with most of the major transferrable points currencies. Flying Blue is a 1:1 transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

How many miles does Avianca LifeMiles charge for one-way business class tickets to Europe?

For flights between the U.S. and Europe, Avianca LifeMiles charges 63,000 miles one-way in business class.

How much does a flight to Italy cost in points?

Depending on the airline and season, you can find tickets from the U.S. to Italy in economy class from 22,500 miles and in business class from 57,500, both one-way. Prices can be much higher, but during a sale such as Flying Blue Promo Rewards, they can also be lower.

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The Best Ways To Fly to Italy With Points and Miles

Updated: June 27, 2025, 12:25am CDT

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Table of Contents

Key Takeaways
Best Programs To Use for Booking Flights to Italy
Final Thoughts

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Key Takeaways

Flying to Italy using points is best achieved by searching for award flights through Star Alliance members such as ANA Mileage Club, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Avianca LifeMiles.
Another option for finding award flights to Italy is to use the loyalty programs of SkyTeam alliance members such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
American Airlines AAdvantage has seen devaluations over the years but is still a solid option for finding flights, particularly with Oneworld alliance partners.

Italy has incredible food, welcoming people, and thousands of years of history. The country’s artistic and cultural heritage can be seen everywhere. The capital, Rome, is known for the Vatican and the Colosseum. Florence is home to Michelangelo’s David, Venice has its famous canals, and Milan is a world fashion capital. Then there are the Cinque Terre, the Italian Alps, Tuscany, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily, all of which can’t be missed. And that’s just scratching the surface.

As with any popular destination, though, flights to Italy can be expensive. Fortunately, getting to Italy can be easy using points and miles.

In this guide, we look at some of the best programs you can use to book award flights to Italy, how to book these award flights, and how to earn enough points and miles to do that.

Best Programs To Use for Booking Flights to Italy

There are plenty of programs to utilize when it comes to award travel to Italy (or Europe in general). The programs we’ll review cover all 3 of the major airline alliances. With these airline alliances, you can use an airline’s program to book award travel on one of their partner airlines.

Award space in premium cabins on certain routes to Italy can be tough to find. Typically, you want to search either close to the travel date or far out in the award calendar (10 or 11 months ahead of travel). Being flexible with your travel dates helps.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club

United Polaris business class 787 10 seats HND LAX — United Airlines Polaris business class is a great way to get between the U.S. and Italy. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

The first program to consider for award flights between the U.S. and Italy is ANA Mileage Club. The program offers some of the best rates and has plenty of partner airlines since ANA is a member of Star Alliance, which includes dozens of carriers, including United Airlines.

For award redemptions on partner airlines, ANA Mileage Club publishes a zone-based award chart. The mileage required for an award ticket depends on the departure and destination zones and the class of service.

Note that ANA Mileage Club does allow one-way award redemptions for half the cost of a round-trip. You can also book open-jaw itineraries for added flexibility. This means that you can book an outbound flight from New York to Frankfurt and a return from Rome to New York, for example. (Flying within Europe is cheap using the continent’s low-fare airlines, or you could take advantage of Europe’s fast, efficient trains.)

Mileage Club also allows stopovers on its award tickets, which is a great way to visit 2 destinations for the price of 1.

Here is the round-trip partner-award pricing for flights between the U.S. and Italy:

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Class of Service	Required Mileage
Y (Economy)	55,000
C (Business)	100,000
F (First)	165,000

100,000 miles for round-trip awards in business class between Italy and the U.S. is a very good rate, considering that one-way flights across the Atlantic can cost well over 50,000 miles with other programs.

ANA does pass along fuel surcharges, but they vary significantly depending on which partner airline you fly. Fuel surcharges are lower for flights operated by United than with many other Star Alliance partners.

Hot Tip:

ANA Mileage Club offers some of the best rates on many awards. Check out our guide to some of the best ways you can redeem ANA Mileage Club miles for maximum value.

Earning ANA Mileage Club Miles

ANA Mileage Club is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Amex points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. You also get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer at any one time, meaning you end up with 25,000 ANA miles.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

Welcome OfferYou may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
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UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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^®.
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Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

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

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UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $2,200

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APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Avianca LifeMiles

Lufthansa First Class is one of the best ways to fly between the U.S. and Europe. Image Credit: Greg Stone

Another Star Alliance program that’s great for booking award flights to Italy is Avianca LifeMiles. The LifeMiles program offers a ton of value thanks to its numerous partners, lack of fuel surcharges, and the ability to book mixed-cabin awards.

LifeMiles uses a standard zone-based award chart for most flights. From all of the U.S. to the Europe 2 zone, containing Italy and Western Europe, award rates are:

Economy: 30,000 miles one way plus taxes and fees
Business: 63,000 miles one way plus taxes and fees
First: 87,000 miles one way plus taxes and fees

LifeMiles’ award pricing between the U.S. and Europe is competitive, especially in business and first class. Best of all, you can use LifeMiles to fly on partner airlines such as Lufthansa and Swiss and not have to worry about exorbitantly high cash fees, since LifeMiles does not pass along fuel surcharges.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles are some of the easiest points to earn since the program partners with many transferable points programs. Avianca LifeMiles is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards. Hotel loyalty programs IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy also transfer to LifeMiles.

All the programs transfer to LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio, except for IHG and Marriott Bonvoy points, which transfer to LifeMiles at a 3:1 and 10:2 ratio, respectively.

Avianca also offers frequent bonuses, sometimes as high as 170%, when purchasing LifeMiles. Although buying points and miles should not be a priority, buying LifeMiles can make for especially cheap first class and business class award redemptions.

Recommended Bilt Card (Personal)

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Bilt Mastercard

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Bilt Mastercard

Welcome OfferNo offer available
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Annual Fee

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See Rate & Fees

Why We Like This Card

Never before has there been a credit card built specifically with renters in mind. Enter the Bilt Mastercard, designed specifically to help renters earn rewards on their rent payments with no transaction fees.

Of course, aside from rewards on rent, there are many other solid features that the card offers that add extra value to cardholders. In this guide, we provide a complete breakdown of everything the Bilt Card has to offer to help you decide whether the card makes sense for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 on dining
2x points per $1 on travel
1x point per $1 on rent payments, without a transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year (plus all other eligible purchases)

Cons

Does not offer a welcome bonus
Must use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

$0 Annual Fee
Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
Earns 3x points on dining, 2x on travel, and 1x on other purchases
Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, credit card statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
Other features and benefits include: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Purchase Security, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Cellular Telephone Protection, and Trip Delay Reimbursement
Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Rate & Fees
Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is one of our favorite ways to book award flights to Italy.

It’s an easy program to use, requires a reasonable number of points, and has access to the large Star Alliance network. The latter could soon include ITA Airways, Italy’s flag carrier, which joined the Lufthansa Group in January 2025.

Unlike many airline loyalty programs, Air Canada uses a distance-based award chart for flights from North America to the Atlantic region, which includes all of Europe:

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Distance (Miles)	Operated By	Economy	Premium Economy	Business	First
0 to 4,000	Air Canada	35,000	50,000 to 73,200	60,000 to 80,000	90,000+
0 to 4,000	Partner airlines	35,000	–	60,000	90,000
4,001 to 6,000	Air Canada	40,000	60,000 to 83,900	70,000 to 80,000	100,000+
4,001 to 6,000	Partner airlines	40,000	–	70,000	100,000
6,001 to 8,000	Air Canada	55,000 to 60,700	70,000 to 112,100	85,000 to 113,000	120,000+
6,001 to 8,000	Partner Airlines	55,000	–	90,000	130,000
8,001 or more	Air Canada	70,000	85,000 to 101,800	100,000 to 134,500	130,000+
8,001 or more	Partner airlines	70,000	–	110,000	140,000

Air Canada does not add fuel surcharges to award flights on Star Alliance partners that fly to Europe from the U.S.

As a result, you can fly on airlines such as SWISS, Lufthansa, and Austrian Airlines without having to worry about paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket.

Hot Tip:

Aeroplan allows stopovers, even on one-way flights, for an additional 5,000 points. Better yet, these stopovers are bookable 100% online. If you can’t see the availability you want, give Aeroplan a call at 800-361-5373.

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan Points

In addition to earning Aeroplan points by flying Air Canada and its partners, you can transfer points into the program from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Bilt, Capital One, and Chase transfer almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio, while Marriott Bonvoy transfers in 5 business days at a 3:1 ratio.

For every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer to Aeroplan in a single transaction, you’ll get 5,000 extra Aeroplan points.

Recommended Capital One Cards (Personal)

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

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

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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

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

UP's Offer Valuation*:
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Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

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

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

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

Financial Snapshot

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

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Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

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

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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

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

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

$95 annual fee
Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

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

Financial Snapshot

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

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Capital One Miles

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France A350 new business class overview — Air France offers a solid long-haul business-class product, like on the Airbus A350 pictured here. Image Credit: Alberto Riva

Another excellent option for business-class flights to Italy is Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM. The airlines are part of the SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic.

Although the Flying Blue program has been through devaluations, award flights between North America and Europe can still be a deal. The lowest available rates can be hard to find at times, but award availability is among the best.

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide on the best ways to Redeem Flying Blue Miles (Air France-KLM) for maximum value.

Air France-KLM uses dynamic pricing rather than an award chart. This means that the cost of an award ticket can vary significantly.

Flying Blue does have a tool for checking the prices of award flights, but it isn’t an award chart. It simply tells you where prices start, but rates can go up. Still, you’ll know that you are getting a good deal when you see, like in the image below, that an award seat between New York and Rome costs 25,000 miles in economy, 40,000 in premium economy, and 60,000 in business.

Flying Blue Rewards — Image Credit: Flying Blue

Flying Blue does pass along carrier-imposed surcharges on its award tickets, but they are reasonable for flights between the U.S. and Italy. You can expect to pay around $200 for a one-way flight between the U.S. and Europe.

Another perk of the program is its Flying Blue Promo Rewards. Each month, Flying Blue discounts select routes up to 50% off normal award rates, including many routes between the U.S. and Europe. Although you must book and fly within a specific travel period, this can be a great deal.

Earning Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

Thanks to transfer partnerships, earning Flying Blue miles is relatively easy. The Flying Blue program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards. All these points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio.

Recommended Wells Fargo Cards (Personal)

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

U.P. Rating

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.

Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card

A powerful point earning card with access to transfer partners.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$900

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey^SM Card is an excellent option for those looking for a great all-around travel rewards card that offers bonus categories on hotels, airfare, travel, and dining, giving you the opportunity to earn points on these purchases quickly.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options including access to transfer partners, an annual statement credit with airfare purchase, and no foreign transaction fees.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Earn 5x points on hotels
Earn 4x points on airfare
Earn 3x points on other travel and restaurants; 1x on other purchases

Cons

$95 annual fee
List of transfer partners is smaller than competing programs

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s $600 toward your next trip.
Earn unlimited 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, and 1X points on other purchases.
$95 Annual Fee.
Book your travel with the Autograph Journey Card and enjoy Travel Accident Insurance, Lost Baggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
Earn a $50 annual statement credit with $50 minimum airline purchase.
Up to $1,000 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature^® Concierge.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

U.P. Rating

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers great 3x bonus points and cell phone protection with no annual fee.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card offers great 3x bonus points and cell phone protection with no annual fee.

Welcome OfferEarn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
20,000 points

Annual Fee

APR

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is an excellent no annual fee card that offers 3x points on 6 different bonus categories. Choose from multiple options when you’re ready to redeem your rewards, and take advantage of great perks including cell phone protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, and no foreign transaction fees.

Pros & Cons

Pros

3x points per $1 spent on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans
1x points per $1 spent on other purchases
No annual fee

Cons

Points are worth a fixed 1 cent per point, so it isn’t possible to get outsized value

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Select “Learn More” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value.
Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up – like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
$0 annual fee.
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter.
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature^® Concierge.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% variable APR thereafter
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Delta One Suites A350-900 — Delta One Suites on the Airbus A350-900. Image Credit: Stephen Au

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is another excellent program that can be utilized for flights to Italy.

Despite numerous devaluations to Virgin Atlantic’s partner award charts over the years, the program still offers some great rates for award flights between the U.S. and Europe. However, the program also charges extremely high fees, at least on particular routes.

Flying Club has distance-based award charts for SkyTeam partner redemptions. However, the program also has unique award charts for each partner airline, and pricing depends on where you are flying.

When using Flying Club to book flights operated by Delta, you can fly nonstop between U.S. cities and Italy for 30,000 points in economy with minimal taxes and fees. In business class, off-peak prices start at 47,500 miles one-way, but with very steep taxes and fees that can be around $1,000. This makes Flying Club uncompetitive for booking Delta One business class to Italy.

You can also use Flying Club points on flights operated on Air France or KLM. Award rates can be very competitive, but taxes and fees are much higher.

Earning Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points

Earning Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points is quite easy, thanks to the program being a transfer partner of nearly every major transferable currency: American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles (via Virgin Red), Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All programs transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio except Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers at a 3:1 ratio. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at once, you will receive 5,000 additional Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

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

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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

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

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel^SM
10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating

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

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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

Welcome OfferEarn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

20.24% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

$795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Are you a business owner? Check out our list of the best Chase business cards.

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines AAdvantage is another solid option for award travel between the U.S. and Italy. American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance with British Airways, Finnair, and Iberia, among others.

The program has undergone major devaluations over the years, but it still provides a ton of value, particularly on partner airlines. However, some partners are better than others when it comes to award redemptions.

For American-operated flights, American Airlines uses a dynamic pricing method, meaning prices vary. Economy class awards start at 25,000 miles one-way, while business class starts at 60,000 miles.

Award rates are different when flying on partner airlines. Off-peak economy awards start at just 22,500 miles one-way, while business class costs 57,500 miles. British Airways charges fees that can surpass $700 one way in business class. Iberia is a better alternative, imposing fees as low as $55 each way.

For example, you can find business class from the U.S. to Italy via London on British for just 57,500 AAdvantage miles, but you pay $774 in fees. In premium economy, you can find awards for 40,000 miles but with similarly steep fees.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

It is relatively easy to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles, as there are several co-branded American Airlines credit cards issued by Citi and Barclays.

Unfortunately, AAdvantage does not have any credit card transfer partners. You can only transfer Marriott Bonvoy points, at a 3:1 ratio.

Final Thoughts

Italy has a rich history and offers many diverse experiences. From the mountainous regions in the north to the vineyards in Tuscany to the beautiful coastal cities in the south, Italy has something to offer everyone.

The key to experiencing the country is knowing how to leverage your points and miles with the programs that offer the best redemptions. Fortunately, there is a long list of programs you can utilize for award tickets to Italy.

It’s important to look at award programs carefully. Some programs may charge significantly fewer miles for an award ticket but may pass on huge fuel surcharges.

What you may notice is absent from this article is flying on an award ticket from the U.S. to another country in Europe and then buying a ticket on a low-cost carrier from that country to Italy. This is certainly an option, too — and one we recommend if you don’t mind a connection and spending a small amount of cash on a cheap flight.