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The Best Ways to Fly to Paris With Points & Miles

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Spencer Howard

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Europe is always a popular destination for Americans, and Paris, France is without a doubt one of the major reasons why. Fortunately, there are tons of ways to get yourself to Paris — whether flying through London or connecting in one of Europe’s other major hubs.

Sometimes, though, you just want to get from point A to point B quickly. To help you find your way from the United States to Paris as fast as possible, we’re going to discuss some of the most direct options available to you.

We’ll take a look at economy, business, and even first class flights to Paris that can be booked with miles and points. Make sure you check out the bonus option from Los Angeles for an unexpected and fun way to fly!

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 to Book Award Flights to Paris

Fortunately, when flying to Paris you won’t have to deal with anything like the Air Passenger Duty (APD) fee that you get hit with on your trips to London, but you will want to keep an eye on fuel surcharges with each carrier.

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

For 125,000 Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles, you can try business class on Air France when you fly to Paris. Image Credit: airfrance.com.

Note: Flying Blue will announce new award prices for many routes in June 2018, stay tuned for updates.

Since we’re talking about flying to Paris, it only makes sense to start with SkyTeam member Air France/KLM Flying Blue. KLM is the Dutch half of the partnership, but we’ll be focusing on Air France today.

There’s a good chance this will be your go-to program when booking award flights on either Air France or Delta.

Book Awards With Air France/KLM Flying Blue (Online/Phone Booking)

Like many airline loyalty programs, Air France/KLM Flying Blue uses a region-based award chart; regardless of your home airport in the United States, the miles required for an award booking will be the same.

To book an award, you simply make an award search, find award space on dates that work for you, and complete the booking online. If you don’t have the necessary Flying Blue miles, you might be able to get a friendly phone representative to put an award ticket on hold for you for a couple of days.

Let’s take a look at round-trip mileage requirements as well as the taxes and fees you can expect to pay when booking with Flying Blue miles.

Class of ServiceAir France and Delta FlightsTaxes/Fees
Economy50,000 Flying Blue miles~$120-$240
Business125,000 Flying Blue miles~$170-$615
First400,000 Flying Blue miles~$615

You might be wondering why the taxes and fees vary so much on economy and business class awards. This is because round-trip flights operated by Delta and originating in the U.S. do not incur fuel surcharges, thus keeping your out of pocket expenses below $200 for both economy and business class award tickets.

Fair warning though: if you book an award flight from Paris to a city in the U.S., even flights operated by Delta will include a fuel surcharge.

In addition, flights operated by Air France will incur significant fuel surcharges on itineraries originating in either the U.S. or Paris. As a result, economy class awards will include roughly $240 in taxes and fees, while business class awards will include about $600 in taxes and fees.

If you want to book a first class award, your only option will be Air France (since Delta does not have a first class cabin on its flights). There’s one big caveat to booking Air France first class, though: to even be eligible to book a first class award, you must have earned Silver, Gold, or Platinum elite status.

Need help with booking? Check out our step-by-step guide on booking Delta One with Flying Blue miles to make the award booking process easy.

Hot Tip: Make sure you check out Air France/KLM’s monthly Promo Rewards and other great ways to redeem Flying Blue miles.

25 Nonstop Routes Bookable With Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles

Air France/KLM Flying Blue has solid redemption rates. Just watch out for the high taxes and fees when flying Air France because of fuel surcharges. Image Credit: Air France

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

Here are the 12 U.S. airports from which Air France operates:

Airports With Nonstop Air France Flights to Paris
Atlanta (ATL)Miami (MIA)
Boston (BOS)Minneapolis (MSP) – seasonal
Chicago O’Hare (ORD)New York City (JFK)
Detroit (DTW)San Francisco (SFO)
Houston (IAH)Seattle (SEA)
Los Angeles (LAX)Washington Dulles (IAD)

You can also use your Flying Blue miles to fly on Delta from one of these airports:

Airports With Nonstop Delta Flights to Paris
Atlanta (ATL)New York City (JFK)
Boston (BOS)Newark (EWR)
Cincinnati (CVG)Pittsburgh (PIT)
Detroit (DTW)Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
Indianapolis (IND) – starts May 24, 2018Salt Lake City (SLC)
Los Angeles (LAX) – starts June 17, 2018Seattle (SEA)
Minneapolis (MSP)

Earn More Flying Blue Miles

If Air France/Flying Blue has one major advantage, it’s the fact that you can transfer points from all 3 transferable points programs:

  • American Express Membership Rewards
  • Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Citi ThankYou Points

Each of these programs transfers points to Flying Blue at a solid 1:1 ratio.

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)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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

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

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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

Pros

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

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-850)

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

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

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros

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

Cons

  • $550 annual fee
  • Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
  • 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
  • Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

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

The Chase 5/24 rule is one of the major reasons why we often recommend people start with Chase credit cards, but American Express credit cards also offer some great ways to earn Membership Rewards that can be transferred to Flying Blue.

Recommended Amex 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

Business Owner? See our article on Amex business credit cards that earn Membership Rewards.

Sometimes overlooked, Citi cards that earn ThankYou Points are a great way to earn some more Flying Blue miles for your next big trip.

Hot Tip: Check out some of our favorite ways to earn Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles, and you’ll be ready to book your next trip to Paris before you know it.

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines 787-9 Flagship Business Class rear cabin view. Image Credit: Stephen Au

American Airlines is the largest airline in the world (by fleet size), and there are plenty of ways to use American AAdvantage miles to book award flights to Paris. Award space on flights operated by American Airlines can be found and booked on their website.

Book Awards With American AAdvantage Miles (Online)

Like Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American AAdvantage has a region-based award chart, so the miles required for a flight from the U.S. to Paris will be the same regardless of your starting point.

American Airlines is the only Oneworld airline that operates non-stop flights between the United States and Paris, so you can use their website to both search for award space and book your award ticket. As with Flying Blue, you can put an award on hold if you don’t have the miles in your account when you’re ready to book. These holds can be placed online and will last for 5 days.

Let’s take a look at round-trip mileage rates that American AAdvantage requires for each class of service as well as the taxes and fees you can expect. (One-way award bookings require half the miles of a round-trip award.)

Class of ServiceAmerican FlightsAmerican Taxes/Fees
Economy (off-peak)45,000 American miles~$85
Economy60,000 American miles~$85
Business115,000 American miles~$135

American Airlines does not operate any flights to Paris that have a first class cabin, so business class will be your only premium cabin option here. Fortunately, the taxes and fees for business class and economy class award tickets are quite reasonable.

When compared to booking an award with Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American AAdvantage could save you $35-$155 on economy awards and $35-$465 on business class awards. Off-peak economy awards will also require fewer miles, as will business class award bookings.

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

Hot Tip: Check out some of the other amazing ways you can use American AAdvantage miles to book award flights around the world.

6 Nonstop Routes Bookable With American AAdvantage Miles

American AAdvantage miles can be a great way to book both economy and business class award tickets to Paris. Image Credit: American

American Airlines operates 6 nonstop flights to Paris from the United States. As we mentioned above, American AAdvantage uses a region-based award chart, which means you can connect from your home airport for no extra miles.

Airports With Nonstop American Flights to Paris
Charlotte (CLT) – SeasonalMiami (MIA)
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) – SeasonalNew York City (JFK)
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)Philadelphia (PHL)

Earn More American AAdvantage Miles

While not quite as easy to earn as Flying Blue miles, you still have several options to earn the necessary American AAdvantage miles so you can book an award ticket to Paris.

American Airlines also has co-branded credit cards issued by both Citi and Barclays that earn AAdvantage miles directly. You can often earn a nice sign-up bonus from these cards if you’re able to hit the minimum spending requirement within the stated timeframe.

Hot Tip: Check out some more of the best ways to earn American AAdvantage miles in preparation for your next award flights to Paris.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club

United Polaris cabin with lie-flat seats. Image Credit: United Airlines

Though perhaps not the frequent flyer program you would expect to use when flying to Paris, ANA Mileage Club actually has some competitive redemption rates. By using ANA Mileage Club, you can fly to Paris on United Airlines from several airports in the United States.

Book Awards With ANA Mileage Club Miles (Online)

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

United Airlines doesn’t have a great reputation relative to many of its competitors, but there won’t be any fuel surcharges added to your awards when flying with them.

Like the 2 options we discussed above, ANA Mileage Club uses a region-based award chart. However, unlike the options above, ANA Mileage Club requires round-trip award bookings — so you won’t be able to book a one-way award ticket.

Here are the redemption rates (round-trip) and a rough estimate of the taxes and fees to book an award to Paris.

Class of ServiceUnited FlightsUnited Taxes/Fees
Economy55,000 ANA Mileage Club miles~$125
Business88,000 ANA Mileage Club miles~$175

The economy class redemption rate is solid, but it’s the business class redemption rate that really provides the best value. The 88,000 miles required for a round-trip business class award ticket is a much better rate than United charges for these same flights.

When you run your search on ANA’s site, make sure you choose flights that are operated by United Airlines, since many other Star Alliance partners will require you to pay significant fuel surcharges. United is also the only Star Alliance carrier that operates nonstop flights from the U.S. to Paris.

Hot Tip: Make sure to check out some of the other awesome ways you can redeem ANA Mileage Club miles.

4 Nonstop Routes Bookable With ANA Mileage Club Miles

ANA has solid redemption rates for both economy class and business class if you want to fly United from the U.S. to Paris. Image Credit: ANA

United Airlines only operates 4 nonstop routes to Paris from the United States, so your options to use ANA Mileage Club miles are a bit limited. However, United provides options from the East Coast, the central U.S., and the West Coast, which does make connecting a bit easier regardless of your home airport location.

Airports With Nonstop United Flights to Paris
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)San Francisco (SFO)
Newark (EWR)Washington-Dulles (IAD)

Earn More ANA Mileage Club Miles

The ease with which you can earn ANA Mileage Club miles falls somewhere between Air France/KLM Flying Blue and American AAdvantage. As a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, you’ll have plenty of options to earn lots of miles for your next award flight.

Hot Tip: Take a look at our guide to earning tons of ANA Mileage Club miles to see even more fun ways to earn!

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

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

Another common way to book flights on Air France or Delta is with Delta’s SkyMiles program. If you’re going to do so, you should be aware that Delta has a habit of devaluing their award chart (which they don’t publish) without even the slightest announcement prior to doing so.

Book Awards With Delta SkyMiles (Online)

If you’re able to find saver level award space on the dates you need, the process of searching and booking is pretty straightforward and can be completed entirely online.

In theory, Delta also has a region-based award chart…but they often require more miles for connecting flights. If this happens, search each segment individually since you might see saver level space on both segments.

Take a look at the table below to see what saver level award prices (round-trip) you need to find as well as a rough estimate of the taxes and fees you can expect. One-way awards require half the miles, but starting an award from Paris will have higher taxes and fees.

Class of ServiceDelta FlightsDelta Taxes/FeesAir France FlightsAir France Taxes/Fees
Economy60,000 SkyMiles~$8670,000 SkyMiles~$86
Business140,000 SkyMiles~$135170,000 SkyMiles~$135

You’ll notice that the taxes and fees will be the same regardless of whether you fly Delta or Air France. The big difference lies in how many miles are required for an award ticket.

If you want to use SkyMiles to book a flight on Air France, you’re going to pay 10,000 more miles for economy class and 30,000 more miles for business class than if you booked an award flight on Delta.

If you’ve already tried the Delta One product, it might be worth it for you to try Air France. Additionally, many of Delta’s flights to Europe are on their Boeing 767s. While these flights offer Delta One, it isn’t as nice as the reverse herringbone cabin layout on Delta’s A330s.

If you’re looking for a lie-flat seat on Air France, make sure the aircraft is a Boeing 777; their Airbus A380s have angled-flat seats. To find this the plane type once you have the search results on Delta’s site, just expand the info of a particular flight option. It only takes a couple more seconds to do this research, but it will ensure you get the experience you want.

Hot Tip: If you have a bunch of Delta SkyMiles in your account, you’ll want to take a look at some of the best ways to redeem them for award travel

25 Nonstop Routes Bookable With Delta SkyMiles

You can use SkyMiles to fly non-stop to Paris from a number of U.S. airports. Just remember it costs more miles to fly with partner Air France. Image Credit: Delta

As we discussed earlier, there are tons of non-stop routes to Paris from the United States since both Air France and Delta fly from a number of U.S. cities.

These are the airport from which Delta flies to Paris:

Airports With Nonstop Delta Flights to Paris
Atlanta (ATL)New York City (JFK)
Boston (BOS)Newark (EWR)
Cincinnati (CVG)Pittsburgh (PIT)
Detroit (DTW)Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
Indianapolis (IND) – starts May 24, 2018Salt Lake City (SLC)
Los Angeles (LAX) – starts June 17, 2018Seattle (SEA)
Minneapolis (MSP)

If you want to fly Air France, you’ll need to catch a flight from one of these airports:

Airports With Nonstop Air France Flights to Paris
Atlanta (ATL)Miami (MIA)
Boston (BOS)Minneapolis (MSP) – seasonal
Chicago O’Hare (ORD)New York City (JFK)
Detroit (DTW)San Francisco (SFO)
Houston (IAH)Seattle (SEA)
Los Angeles (LAX)Washington Dulles (IAD)

Earn More Delta SkyMiles

You can transfer both American Express Membership Rewards to your Delta SkyMiles account at a 1:1 ratio.

You can also earn SkyMiles directly from one of Delta’s co-branded credit cards provided by American Express. Some of these cards also come with some Delta-specific perks such as free checked bags.

Recommended Delta Cards

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Gold 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.

This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.
Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
40,000 miles
$480
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
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)

Frequent Delta flyers will love the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. The card offers great benefits that will help save you money, effectively mimics low-level elite status with Delta SkyMiles, and helps you earn miles even faster, all for a low annual fee. Let’s dive into the benefits to see if the Delta Gold card is a good fit for your needs.

Pros

  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Bonus earning on Delta purchases and U.S. supermarket and worldwide restaurant purchases
  • First checked bag free on Delta flights
  • 20% back on inflight purchases

Cons

  • Moderate annual fee
  • Earn rate for Delta flights is relatively low compared to other travel cards
  • Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
  • Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
  • Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum 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.

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
50,000 bonus miles
$600
$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 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning free flights and other valuable rewards.

Pros

  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
  • 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
  • 1x SkyMile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual companion certificate
  • Complimentary checked bags
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • 20% back on inflight purchases
  • Delta Status Boost
  • Discount on Delta Sky Club visits (Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available)

Cons

  • $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not earn transferable rewards
  • Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family when traveling on a Delta flight from now until 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Delta Platinum Card, up to two times through 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve 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.

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
60,000 miles
$720
$550
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 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its lounge access, status boost, annual companion certificate, and many other great benefits.

Here is a full look at everything the Delta Reserve card can offer to you to help you decide whether the card deserves a place in your wallet.

Pros

  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • 3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases
  • 1x SkyMile per $1 on all other purchases
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Delta Status Boost
  • Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver
  • Annual Companion Certificate
  • Access to Complimentary Upgrades and Upgrade Priority
  • Free checked bags
  • 20% back on inflight purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Travel and purchase protection

Cons

  • $550 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • No bonus categories other than Delta purchases
  • Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enjoy Delta Sky Club® access at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Eligible Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $550 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

Hot Tip: There are tons of ways to earn Delta SkyMiles, so check out some of our favorites to help you prepare for your next award flight.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles are a great way to book a lie-flat seat with direct aisle access for your flight to Paris on American Airlines. Image Credit: American Airline

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles can provide you the cheapest redemption option if you want to fly American Airlines to Paris. There’s a chance that American AAdvantage’s off-peak economy awards could be cheaper if you need to connect from your home airport, so make sure you give it a quick look.

Book Awards With JAL Mileage Bank Miles (Online)

Unlike some awards with Japan Airlines Mileage Bank, you can both search for and book this award online. For partner awards, Japan Airlines uses a distance-based award chart that is divided into tiers based on the number of flight miles. This means you’ll have to add up the number of flight miles of each segment on your journey to determine the mileage requirement.

Let’s take a look at some of the round-trip award mileage requirements and their taxes and fees when using Mileage Bank miles to book a flight from New York City (JFK) to Paris on American Airlines.

Class of ServiceAmerican FlightsAmerican Taxes/Fees
Economy39,000 Mileage Bank miles~$85
Business63,000 Mileage Bank miles~$135

Redemptions from the central U.S. and the West Coast will push you up a redemption tier, which will mean you’ll need more miles. However, even with the increased mileage requirement, it’s likely that Japan Airlines will still require the fewest miles.

Hot Tip: There are tons of fun ways to redeem Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles. Make sure you check out some of the best we’ve found!

6 Nonstop Routes Bookable With JAL Mileage Bank Miles

You can fly nonstop in business class from New York City (JFK) to Paris (CDG) for 63,000 JAL Mileage Bank miles plus about $135 in taxes and fees. Image Credit: JAL

American Airlines doesn’t operate as many routes to Paris as either Delta or Air France, but there are still several options that could work for you.

Airports With Nonstop American Flights to Paris
Charlotte (CLT) – SeasonalMiami (MIA)
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) – SeasonalNew York City (JFK)
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)Philadelphia (PHL)

Earn More Japan Airlines Mileage Bank Miles

The one downside with Japan Airlines Mileage Bank is the difficulty in earning more miles.

You can earn Marriott points and transfer those to Japan Airlines at a transfer rate of 3:1. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott points that you transfer, you’ll receive an extra 5,000 Japan Airlines miles bonus.

Recommended Marriott Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

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

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
30,000 points
$210
$0
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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

Pros

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

Cons

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

Financial Snapshot

  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

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

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Hot Tip: Check out some of the best ways to earn more Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles as you prepare for your next trip.

United Airlines MileagePlus

United Airlines will be your go-to option if you want to fly with a Star Alliance carrier to Paris. Image Credit: StudioPortoSabbia via Shutterstock

United Airlines MileagePlus might not have the most competitive business class redemption rates, but it does provide some different avenues to earn points for award travel.

Book Awards With United MileagePlus Miles (Online)

For the Star Alliance fans out there, United Airlines is the only alliance member that flies nonstop from the United States to Paris. When United finally rolls out its new Polaris business class product across its fleet, it will provide a solid premium cabin option. However, until that time, United will continue to operate with a subpar business class product to Paris.

All that being said, it’s very easy to search for and book United award flights online. Additionally, they don’t hit you with fuel surcharges, which helps keep your total out of pocket costs manageable.

You can find the round-trip redemption rates for both economy and business class, as well as estimates of the respective taxes and fees required.

Class of ServiceUnited FlightsUnited Taxes/Fees
Economy60,000 MileagePlus miles~$85
Business120,000 MileagePlus miles~$135

The economy redemption rate is relatively competitive with ANA Mileage Club’s rate of 55,000 miles, but United’s business class redemption rate is quite pricey compared to ANA.

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

Hot Tip: Check out some other great ways to book award flights with United MileagePlus miles.

4 Nonstop Routes Bookable With United MileagePlus Miles

United’s business class redemption rates aren’t great, but their economy award rates are decent.

United only operates 4 non-stop routes from the U.S. to Paris, but you can easily connect from other airports for no extra miles. The connections will often be pretty reasonable since United has flights to Paris from the East and West Coasts as well as the Midwest.

Airports With Nonstop United Flights to Paris
Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)San Francisco (SFO)
Newark (EWR)Washington-Dulles (IAD)

Earn More United MileagePlus Miles

One of the best aspects of United MileagePlus is the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards points into your account at a 1:1 ratio. These transfers generally process instantly so you can transfer and book quickly.

Hot Tip: There are tons of ways to earn United MileagePlus miles. Check out some of our favorites.

Bonus

The options above are some of the best ways to fly between the United States and Paris, but there’s another rarely-mentioned option that we think you should know.

You can fly Air Tahiti Nui to Paris from the United States.

Fly Air Tahiti Nui From Los Angeles (Phone Booking)

Thanks to Air Tahiti Nui’s fifth freedom route from Los Angeles to Paris, you can have a little fun on your journey across the Atlantic. As a partner of American Airlines, you’ll be able to book with your American AAdvantage miles if you can find award space.

Now, finding award space and booking this award isn’t quite as easy as the other options we have discussed. You won’t be able to find award space on American’s site; instead, you’ll need to call them and ask them to search for award space, or use our preferred method, ExpertFlyer.

ExpertFlyer is a paid service, but it makes searching Air Tahiti Nui award space so much quicker than calling and asking an American Airlines phone agent to search tons of dates.

Once you have found award space on ExpertFlyer, you can call American Airlines with the specific flight numbers and dates for a much quicker booking process.

The same American AAdvantage redemption rates will apply.

Class of ServiceAmerican FlightsAmerican Taxes/Fees
Economy (off-peak)45,000 American miles~$85
Economy60,000 American miles~$85
Business115,000 American miles~$135

If you’re looking for a fun redemption that most people won’t think of, then this is the one for you. However, if you’re hoping to fly business class, be aware that Air Tahiti Nui business class seats are not lie-flat and most do not have direct aisle access.

Final Thoughts

For those on the East Coast, Paris is one of the most accessible international destinations to visit. Beyond that, the city’s rich culture is a huge draw for Americans across the United States.

There are plenty of nonstop routes to Paris from the U.S., and it’s easy to earn the necessary miles and points thanks to airlines that partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points.

American’s co-branded card options make using American AAdvantage miles for economy class award flights during the off-peak timeframe one of our favorite ways to book economy awards.

If business class is more your style, we suggest looking into using ANA Mileage Club miles — the redemption rate is competitive, and you’ll have plenty of ways to earn miles between Amex Membership Rewards.

As always, make sure you consider the taxes and fees before deciding how you want to fly to Paris. While the taxes and fees aren’t as bad as those imposed when flying to and from London, you should check before you make a decision.

In the end, you won’t regret taking a trip to Paris, and using miles and points to do so just makes it that little bit better. With the information above, you’ll be booked and ready to go before you know it!

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When you book award flights on Air France with Flying Blue miles, you can expect to pay fuel surcharges. They aren’t as bad as some, but they are a bit steep —  so you should keep that in mind before booking.

If you use Flying Blue miles to book an award flight on Delta, you won’t face these same steep surcharges.

ANA Mileage Club often passes on fuel surcharges when you book award flights, but these surcharges are not required when booking with their Star Alliance partner United Airlines.

JAL Mileage Bank requires the fewest miles to book a nonstop economy class award on American Airlines from the East Coast, at just 39,000 miles round-trip.

However, JAL Mileage Bank uses a distance-based award chart, so connecting flights and flights from the Midwest and East Coast could increase the number of miles required. As a result, American AAdvantage’s off-peak economy class rate of 45,000 miles round-trip could be your cheapest option.

Additionally, American AAdvantage miles are much easier to earn since you can earn American miles directly through one of their co-branded credit cards provided by Barclays or Citi.

Again, JAL Mileage Bank is the cheapest from the East Coast, at 63,000 miles round-trip for business class on American Airlines. The same caveats as above apply to connecting flights and flights from the West Coast.

Another cheap business class award option is using ANA Mileage Club miles to book an award on United Airlines.

Finally, if you want to fly Delta One or Air France business class, you can use 125,000 Flying Blue miles for a round-trip award.

Booking a first class flight to Paris from the United States is a difficult task. Your only option is Air France first class, but you must have earned elite status with Flying Blue to even be allowed to book the award. As a result, this award is out of reach for the vast majority of travelers.

About Spencer Howard

Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.

Like many, he started this journey searching for cheap flights to take him around the world. This was fun for a while, but Spencer was intrigued by the idea of flying in business and first class!

Throwing himself into what became an extensive research project, Spencer spent 3-4 hours per night learning everything he could about frequent flyer miles over the course of several months (he thinks this is normal). He runs Straight to the Points, an award-seat alert platform.

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6 comments

Jean-Luc Glorieux

June 25, 2019

I am not sure where you get your information about the Delta Sky Miles requirements for a round trip business class ticket to Paris but every time I check the Delta website, this requirement seems to have gone up and I have rarely seen it for less than 220,000 miles and never ever for as low as 140,000 miles as you indicate in this article.

Jarrod West

June 27, 2019

Hi Jean-Luc,

Delta uses a dynamic pricing model for their award redemptions. Meaning the price can change based on the route, demand, season, or a variety of other factors.

Rest assured, it is entirely possible to find round-trip business award flights for 140k Skymiles if you have flexibility with both the dates you travel and the airport you fly out of.

If you can provide additional details as to the timeframe you’re looking to travel, and you’re preferred airport, we can try our best to help!

Jean-Luc Glorieux

June 29, 2019

Thanks for your reply and for your offer of help.
I normally fly from Pittsburgh (PIT) to Paris (CDG) business class twice a year, once in the Spring (typically April) and once in the Fall (typically October) and I normally stay in France for 3 weeks.
I already have reservations for this Fall and next Spring but I would really be interested in trying to get a “free bee” for my Fall trip in 2020.
Thanks again

Jarrod West

July 02, 2019

Happy to help, Jean-Luc!

Have you tried any searches from some of Delta’s hubs that offer non-stop service to Paris? Options like Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati Detroit, etc?

You may be able to save yourself a good chunk of miles by finding a reasonable award redemption from one of these cities and then purchasing a cheap fare as a positioning flight.

Happy searching!

Tien Tran

October 07, 2022

Hi- I was trying to book from LAX to CDG on Air France using Flying Blue award and never seen anything RT for 140,000 miles. Outbound starts at 140,000 and inbound 80,000 so total is 220,000 for business. I’m looking for Feb 2023 (2/4-2/18) but can be flexible for a couple days. Many thanks

Jarrod West

October 10, 2022

Hi Tien,

If you’re not seeing those prices on the dates you are looking for then they are simply unavailable. It is best to be as flexible as possible when looking for the best award rates for round-trip business class seats.

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