The Best Ways To Fly to Paris With Points and Miles

Key Takeaways

• The Flying Blue frequent flyer program offers good value for award redemptions. Flying Blue miles can be used on Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam airlines like Delta and Virgin Atlantic.
• Air Canada Aeroplan is an excellent program for Star Alliance partner awards between the U.S. and Paris, offering great value through its numerous partners.
• American Airlines, a member of the Oneworld alliance, is the only airline in the alliance offering nonstop flights between the U.S. and Paris. Award space is relatively easy to find and book online.

Europe is always a popular destination for Americans, and Paris is arguably the biggest draw of all. The French capital boasts an incredible history, a fascinating culture, and incredible cuisine to savor.

Fortunately, there are tons of ways to get yourself to Paris, especially when it comes to redeeming points and miles. You can get to Paris nonstop from quite a few U.S. cities or you can connect through a major European hub such as London or Frankfurt.

In this guide, we look at some of the best ways to fly to Paris using miles. We take a look at economy, business, and even first class flights to Paris that you can book with points instead of cash.

Don’t forget to read our extensive travel guide to Paris and check out the best Paris hotels to book with points before you go!

Best Programs for Booking Award Flights to Paris

Fortunately, there are a ton of award programs that you can use for flights between the U.S. and Paris — let’s take a look at your best options.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Since we’re talking about flying to Paris, it only makes sense to start with Air France-KLM. Air France and KLM share a frequent flyer program called Flying Blue. The program offers a ton of value when it comes to award redemptions.

Both Air France and KLM are members of the SkyTeam alliance along with other airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic. This means that you can use Flying Blue miles on Air France and KLM flights as well as on any of their partner airlines.

The program is relatively good when it comes to award availability, and rates are competitive when compared to other programs.

Book Awards With Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Flying Blue has dynamic pricing on its award redemptions. However, the program has also introduced an award chart that shows what the lowest award prices can be between 2 cities. The award charts are only for flights operated by Air France and KLM, not its partners. They list base prices, meaning flights can cost significantly more between 2 given cities because of the program’s dynamic pricing model.

Although Flying Blue has some of the best award rates for flights between the U.S. and Europe, the program does pass along some carrier-imposed surcharges on award tickets. Still, the fees are significantly less than what you’d find with other programs such as British Airways Executive Club or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. You can expect to pay about $200 in taxes and fees for a one-way business class award redemption booked through Flying Blue.

In addition to its already great award redemptions, the program also has a benefit called Flying Blue Promo Rewards. Each month, Flying Blue allows you to book select routes at a discounted award rate, sometimes up to 50% off normal award pricing. The discounted pricing is only available temporarily but provides some of the best rates available from any program.

Nonstop Routes Bookable With Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

Flying Blue miles can be used to book nonstop flights from several cities in the United States. Remember, if you need to connect from your home airport to one of these gateway airports, you don’t need any additional miles.

Air France operates nonstop flights to the following U.S. cities from Paris:

You can also use your Flying Blue miles to fly on Delta Air Lines, which flies to Paris from the following U.S. cities:

Earn Flying Blue Miles

Flying Blue miles are some of the easiest airline miles 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, and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

Perhaps the most popular way to earn Flying Blue miles is to transfer Chase points, as there are several credit card options with lucrative bonus categories.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

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U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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Cons

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• APR: 20.49% - 27.49% Variable
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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21.49% - 28.49% Variable

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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.

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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 out there.

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• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
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• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

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• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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Pros

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Cons

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• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
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Financial Snapshot

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

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

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$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

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

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Cons

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

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Apply With Confidence and, if approved, find out your welcome offer before deciding to accept the Card. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount.
• 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.
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Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip:

Look out for frequent transfer bonuses to Flying Blue from programs such as American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is a great program for Star Alliance partner awards between the U.S. and Paris. The program offers a ton of value thanks to its numerous partners, published award chart, and its ability to book stopovers, including with one-way awards.

For partner award redemptions, Aeroplan uses a zone-based award chart. However, in addition to the zones, Aeroplan also factors in the total distance flown, meaning that award pricing can vary even between regions.

According to its award chart, Aeroplan divides the world into just 4 regions: North America, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and South America. The U.S. is in the North America zone, and the entirety of Europe is in the Atlantic zone.

Here is the award pricing between the North America and Atlantic zones:

Nonstop Routes Bookable With Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Although Air Canada does not operate any nonstop flights between the U.S. and Paris, its partner, United Airlines, does from the following cities:

• Chicago (ORD)
• Newark (EWR)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD)

As mentioned above, the distance flown determines the award pricing between regions. Nonstop flights to Paris from both Newark and Washington, D.C. are less than 4,000 miles each way. This means that you can book award flights on United for 35,000 points one-way in economy or 60,000 points one-way in business class.

Flights from both Chicago and San Francisco to Paris are more than 4,000 miles each way, which means they fall in the next distance band (4,001 to 6,000 miles). These nonstop awards can be booked for 40,000 points one-way in economy or 70,000 points one-way in business class on United.

Earn Air Canada Aeroplan Points

Earning Air Canada Aeroplan points is also relatively easy, as the program has a lot of transfer partners. Air Canada Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All programs transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Aeroplan, except Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Aeroplan, and for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer, you get a 5,000-mile bonus.

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines carries more passengers every year than any other airline in the world. Its frequent flyer program, American AAdvantage has undergone some major devaluations over the years but still provides a ton of value.

Book Awards With American AAdvantage Miles

American Airlines is part of the Oneworld alliance and is the only airline in that alliance that offers nonstop flights between the U.S. and Paris.

American Airlines employs dynamic pricing for award flights on its own metal, though it has an award chart for partner redemptions. Award space on flights operated by American Airlines can be found and booked relatively easily online, and, despite the dynamic pricing, the airline still offers decent redemption rates.

Need help booking? Check out our step-by-step guide to booking American Airlines business class.

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide on some of the best ways to redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for max value.

Nonstop Routes Bookable With American AAdvantage Miles

American Airlines operates nonstop flights to Paris from the following U.S. cities:

• Charlotte (CLT)
• Chicago (ORD)
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW)
• Miami (MIA)
• New York (JFK)
• Philadelphia (PHL)

Earn American AAdvantage Miles

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles is relatively easy. There are several co-branded American Airlines credit cards issued by Barclays and Citi.

American AAdvantage is a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy is a 3:1 transfer partner, and transfers from Marriott Bonvoy take around 2 business days.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club

Another excellent program for Star Alliance partner awards is ANA Mileage Club. Perhaps not the frequent flyer program you would expect to use when flying to Paris, ANA Mileage Club has some of the best redemption rates to get there. By using ANA Mileage Club, you can fly nonstop to Paris on United Airlines from several airports in the United States.

Book Awards With ANA Mileage Club Miles (Online)

If you’re looking to use the fewest miles possible on an award flight on United Airlines, ANA Mileage Club is likely your best bet. You can search for and book award flights on United directly from ANA’s website.

When it comes to partner awards, ANA Mileage Club has a published zone-based award chart. The exact mileage required to redeem an award depends on the departure and destination zones and the class of service for ANA partner awards.

However, thanks to the award chart, you know exactly how many miles are needed. It’s important to know that ANA does not allow one-way award redemptions — you must book round-trip awards. The program does allow for open-jaw bookings.

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

ANA does pass along fuel surcharges. However, they are lower for United-operated flights than they would be with many other Star Alliance partners.

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide on some of the best ways you can redeem ANA Mileage Club miles for max value.

Nonstop Routes Bookable With ANA Mileage Club Miles

As mentioned above, United flies nonstop to Paris from the following U.S. cities:

• Chicago (ORD)
• Newark (EWR)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Earn ANA Mileage Club Miles

ANA Mileage Club is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Amex transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy transfers occur at a 3:1 ratio. You also get 5,000 extra ANA miles if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at once, meaning you end up with 25,000 ANA miles overall.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Another common way to book SkyTeam flights is with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Despite recent changes to Virgin Atlantic’s partner award charts, the program still offers some great rates for award flights to Europe. However, it also charges high fees, at least on some particular routes.

For SkyTeam partner redemptions, Flying Club has an award chart. However, it has unique award charts for each partner airline, and pricing depends on where you are flying. Virgin Atlantic requires fewer points than other SkyTeam airlines when you’re redeeming nonstop flights between the U.S. and Paris.

Here is the award pricing for nonstop Delta flights to Europe (excluding the U.K.):

This is great pricing, especially for Delta One. Delta regularly charges more than 200,000 SkyMiles for the exact same seat.

For partner awards on Air France-KLM, you need to look at both the applicable award chart as well as the zones you’re flying between. Virgin Atlantic divides the world into 10 zones, and award pricing depends on your origin and destination zones.

Pricing varies between zones. For example, the East Coast of the U.S. is in Zone 6, and the West Coast is placed in Zone 7. Meanwhile, Western Europe is in Zone 1, while Eastern Europe is in Zone 2.

Virgin Atlantic does pass along fuel surcharges for partner bookings, but they’re not nearly as high as what Virgin charges for awards on its own flights.

Nonstop Routes Bookable With Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points

As mentioned above, SkyTeam partners Air France and Delta operate nonstop routes to Paris from the following U.S. cities:

Earn Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Miles

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a transfer partner of nearly every major transferrable points currency. The program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Bilt Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

All programs transfer to Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio except Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers at a 3:1 ratio. In addition, you get a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

It is worth mentioning that Capital One Miles and Bilt Rewards do not transfer directly to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Instead, they transfer to Virgin Red. However, you can then convert those points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio.

Final Thoughts

Flying to Paris from the U.S. is relatively easy, especially for those on the East Coast. Fortunately, there are plenty of nonstop routes to Paris from the U.S. It’s also easy to earn the necessary points and miles.

There are plenty of award programs you can utilize for award flights between the U.S. and Paris. Best of all, there are programs in each of the 3 major airline alliances that can help you book award travel.

As always, it’s important to consider the taxes and fees on award travel before deciding on which program to utilize.