The Best Ways To Fly to the Caribbean With Points and Miles

The Caribbean is an enormously popular region for U.S. travelers — and for good reason. It’s known for incredible weather, beautiful beaches, an abundance of culture, incredible cuisine, and so much more. Even better, it’s just a short flight away for many Americans, so it’s an easy trip.

Today, let’s take a look at the best ways to fly to the Caribbean with your points and miles.

Nonstop Flights Between the U.S. and the Caribbean

Thanks to the immense beauty and proximity of the Caribbean, there’s a ton of demand from U.S. travelers. Thankfully, all of the major U.S. airlines and many low-cost airlines offer flights to a number of islands in the region.

This area of the world is made up of a number of countries and islands that include:

This guide focuses on booking flights on full-service carriers as opposed to low-cost carriers like Spirit or Frontier simply because you can generally get better value when booking business or first class flights with points.

Check out some of these airlines offering nonstop flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean:

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

JetBlue

United Airlines

Hot Tip: In addition to booking for your flight to the Caribbean with miles, you can book great Caribbean hotels with points too.

Best Programs for Booking Flights

It’s important to note that award availability can be found both close to departure and far in advance — not typically what you see when you’re booking business and first class on long-haul flights, such as those from the U.S. to Australia.

What’s great about having so many U.S. airlines flying to the Caribbean is that you have a ton of options to book award flights. In this post, you’ll find the Oneworld, Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and nonalliance airline programs that you can use to book flights to the Caribbean.

On a high level, American Airlines is most generous in providing award availability to partners, while United and Delta are generally stingier.

This means AA flights are generally easy to book using partner currencies like British Airways Avios and Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is well-known for having a unique award chart where the number of miles you pay depends on your itinerary distance and airline.

With 45,000 Aeroplan points, you can book round-trip economy flights between

Any North American destination that exceeds 2,751 flight miles costs 35,000 to 45,200 points round-trip on Air Canada and United economy class or 70,000 to 117,000 points in business class. Flights on other partner airlines cost 45,000 points round-trip in economy and 70,000 in business class.

Flights between 1,501 and 2,750 miles in distance cost 25,000-31,600 points on Air Canada or United economy class and 50,000 to 84,200 points in business class. Meanwhile, flights on all other partner carriers cost 25,000 points round-trip in economy and 50,000 points round-trip in business class.

Follow these steps to book your award flight:

1. Head to Air Canada’s homepage.
2. Enter your travel dates, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired class of booking.
3. Book the flight with Aeroplan points in your account and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

If you’re looking to visit the Caribbean, here are a couple of example round-trip routes that you book with your Aeroplan points:

• Chicago (ORD) to San Juan (SJU) for 30,000 Aeroplan points plus around $85 in taxes and fees in economy class on United
• Houston (IAH) to Bonaire (BON) for 30,000 Aeroplan points plus around $150 in taxes and fees in economy class on United
• Newark (EWR) to Aruba (AUA) for 60,000 Aeroplan points plus around $165 in taxes and fees in business class on United
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Bridgetown (BGI) for 60,000 Aeroplan points plus around $200 in taxes and fees in business class on United

Earning Aeroplan Points

Earning Aeroplan points is easy because the airline is an American Express transfer partner, Bilt Rewards, Capital One transfer partner, Chase transfer partner, Marriott Bonvoy transfer partner, and Mesa Points.

If you’re looking to transfer points from one of these programs to Aeroplan, keep the transfer ratios and transfer times in mind.

Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, and Mesa points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy points take 5 days to transfer at a 3:1 ratio.

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

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U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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

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UP's Offer Valuation*:

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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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
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Cons

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

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Card Highlights

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

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• APR: 19.74% - 27.99% Variable
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Chase Ultimate Rewards

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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

Welcome Offer

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125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

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APR

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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 card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

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

Pros & Cons

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Cons

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Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
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• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
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• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Hot Tip: Did you know that you don’t even have to fly to earn Aeroplan points? See how you can earn miles simply by shopping at Aeroplan’s eStore.

Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards 

Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards is one of the most valuable loyalty programs around, thanks to individual partnerships with several airlines and favorable redemption rates. In the case of award flights to the Caribbean, Alaska operates just a few direct flights from the West Coast. American Airlines is the airline partner you’ll fly if you live outside of Los Angeles.

Alaska is known for its routing rules that allow you to book a free stopover, even on one-way flights. This means you can be creative with your Caribbean itinerary by building in a stopover on your trip.

Just 25,000 Atmos Rewards points are enough to book round-trip economy flights between many East Coast U.S. cities and the Caribbean. Business class starts at 30,000 points round-trip, depending on the distance flown.

Here’s a breakdown of the costs for round-trip flights booked through Alaska:

Follow these steps to book your award flight:

1. Go to Alaska Airlines’ website.
2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, number of passengers, and enable Use Points.
3. Click the flight that you want, click Add To Cart, and then click Next.
4. Book the award ticket.

Below are a couple of examples of round-trip American Airlines flights that you can book with your Atmos Rewards points:

• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Montego Bay (MBJ) for 25,000 Atmos Rewards points in economy class on American
• New York (JFK) to Antigua (ANU) for 50,000 Atmos Rewards points in business class on American
• Washington, D.C. (DCA) to Nassau (NAS) for 30,000 Atmos Rewards points in business class on American

Earning Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Points

It can be tough to earn Atmos Rewards points because Alaska only partners with 2 transferable point programs: Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Bilt transfers are 1:1 and instant. Marriott point transfers take 2 business days at a 3:1 ratio, and you receive a bonus of 5,000 Atmos Rewards points for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

While the Atmos Rewards points are relatively hard to earn, they are valuable because of the competitiveness of the Alaska award charts.

In addition to partnering with Marriott Bonvoy, Alaska Airlines offers co-branded Bank of America credit cards, though the easiest way to earn Alaska miles is to transfer them from Marriott Bonvoy or Bilt Rewards.

Bottom Line: The Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards program shines because of 2 factors: one, the ability to book a stopover, and two, competitive award prices when flying with partner airlines. 

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines is a member of the Oneworld alliance and is best known for its competitive redemption prices for partner airline flights to the Middle East and Africa. Using AAdvantage miles for flights to the Caribbean is sometimes overlooked, but it can be very valuable.

American considers the following destinations to be in its Caribbean region:

Here’s a look at what you can expect to pay for round-trip award flights:

When you’re ready to book a flight, follow the steps below:

1. Head to American Airlines’ website.
2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
3. Select the flight that you want, book the flight, and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Here are a few examples of round-trip award flights you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) to San Juan (SJU) for 20,000 American miles in American economy
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Aruba (AUA) for 40,000 American miles in American business class
• Los Angeles (LAX) to San Juan (SJO) for 55,000 American miles in Alaska Airlines business class

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

AAdvantage miles are fairly easy to earn because American offers a number of co-branded credit cards and partners with Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Earning miles directly from American Airlines credit cards is the easiest way to earn miles, but transfers from Marriott Bonvoy shouldn’t be overlooked.

You can also transfer Citi ThankYou points to American AAdvantage at a 1:1 ratio (1:0.7 for no-annual-fee cards). If you’re looking to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to American, expect transfers to be complete in 2 days at a 3:1 ratio.

Bottom Line: American Airlines is the only major U.S. airlines that has not moved its award charts to dynamic pricing. American’s made some moves towards dynamic pricing, so don’t be surprised if American’s award chart goes away completely in the not-so-distant future.

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club

Asiana Airlines continually flies under the radar. It’s a South Korea-based Star Alliance partner that can be used to book partner flights to the Caribbean. The Asiana Club program considers these destinations to be in its Central America region:

Here’s a look at what you can expect to pay for round-trip flights:

Thanks to Asiana’s membership in the Star Alliance, you can use Asiana miles to book Air Canada or United Airlines flights.

You can’t book Star Alliance partner awards on Asiana’s website, so you need to call the airline to book. Follow these steps:

1. Search for award availability using Air Canada or United.
2. Enter your route, travel dates, number of passengers, and cabin class.
3. Write down all the flight information, including flight numbers, dates, and times.
4. Call Asiana Airlines at 800-227-4262 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Monday to Friday.
5. Tell the representative that you want to book an Air Canada or United award flight.
6. Provide the flight numbers, travel dates, and any other flight information.
7. Once they’ve confirmed the award space, provide them with your credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Here are some examples of round-trip flights you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) to Grand Cayman (GCM) for 55,000 Asiana miles in United business class
• Houston (HOU) to Havana (HAV) for 55,000 Asiana miles in United business class
• Newark (EWR) to Montego Bay (MBJ) for 35,000 Asiana miles in United economy class
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Providenciales (PLS) for 55,000 Asiana miles in United business class

Hot Tip: Check out our step-by-step guide on booking United business class with points.

Earning Asiana Miles

The primary way to earn Asiana miles is through a co-branded credit card. Unfortunately, Asiana Club no longer has any transfer partnerships.

Avianca LifeMiles

The Avianca LifeMiles program is known for its Star Alliance sweet spots and for not passing along fuel surcharges, though there is a $25 award booking fee for one-way award flights. Sadly, Avianca LifeMiles won’t allow open jaws or stopovers on its awards flights.

Here’s a look at the miles required for round-trip flights, along with taxes and fees:

Keep this in mind as you follow these steps to book your next flight:

1. Go to Avianca LifeMiles. Change the language as necessary by clicking on the flag icon in the top right corner and choosing English.
2. Click Log in on the top right corner.
3. Click Fly at the top banner. Type in your origin and destination airports, number of passengers, and cabin class. Click Find Flights.
4. Click and select your flights and reserve them by paying with LifeMiles and your credit card for taxes and fees.

Here are a few examples of round-trip flights you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) to Sint Maarten (SXM) for 70,000 Avianca LifeMiles in United business class
• Houston (IAH) to Nassau (NAS) for 35,000 Avianca LifeMiles in United economy class
• Newark (EWR) to Curaçao (CUR) for 70,000 Avianca LifeMiles in United business class
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Saint Thomas (STT) for 70,000 Avianca LifeMiles in United business class

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

LifeMiles partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, meaning you can transfer these points directly to Avianca to book an award flight.

American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Citi points, and Wells Fargo rewards transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio (1:0.7 for no-annual-fee Citi cards). Meanwhile, Brex points transfer in up to 1 business day at a 1,500:1,000 point ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in less than 24 hours at a 3:1 ratio.

If you’re looking to earn even more LifeMiles, Avianca offers 2 co-branded credit cards from American Express.

You can also purchase LifeMiles directly. Avianca has sales with bonuses of up to 200% with some frequency, so you’ll definitely want to wait to buy miles until a sale is offered.

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U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

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• Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
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Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $6,000 within the first 3 months of account opening
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• 6x points at restaurants, including restaurant delivery services, every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. ET, and 3x points any other time
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• No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% to 28.74%
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U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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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• 2x points at restaurants

Cons

• Doesn’t offer the best transfer ratio to Citi’s airline and hotel partners
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Card Highlights

• Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
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• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.

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U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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

Citi Double Cash^® Card

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

Welcome Offer

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Why We Like This Card

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

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

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Cons

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• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
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Financial Snapshot

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U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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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Citi Custom Cash^® Card

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Why We Like This Card

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, with a $0 annual fee.

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
• $0 annual fee
• Multiple redemption options

Cons

• Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
• Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Get 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% - 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• $0 annual fee.
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash^® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% - 27.99%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

The British Airways Club

The British Airways Club continues to be a viable option for booking these flights. U.S. travelers may be familiar with The British Airways Club program because of how cheaply you can book domestic American Airlines flights. As a reminder, British Airways charges per segment, so avoid making connections if at all possible.

This is what you can generally expect to pay for round-trip flights when booking through British Airways:

Follow these steps to use your Avios on your next trip:

1. Head to British Airways’ website.
2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and the number of passengers.
3. Select the flight you want.
4. Book the award flight and pay the taxes and fees with your credit card.

Examples of round-trip American Airlines flights you can book with British Airways Avios include:

• Charlotte (CLT) to Puerto Plata (POP) for 80,000 British Airways Avios in American business class
• Miami (MIA) to Saint Thomas (STT) for 32,000 British Airways Avios in American economy class
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Montego Bay (MBJ) for 36,000 British Airways Avios in American economy class

Earning British Airways Avios

British Airways Avios are easy to earn because the airline partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. When you earn points in any of these programs, the points can be transferred directly to British Airways.

American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, and Wells Fargo points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in about 1 day at a 3:1 ratio. You get 5,000 bonus Avios for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

In addition to its transfer partners, British Airways offers a co-branded credit card, the British Airways Visa Signature^® Card from Chase. The welcome offer on this card is typically high, helping you to earn Avios quickly.

If you’re looking to earn Amex points to transfer, consider applying for the following cards:

Recommended American Express Cards

+ NEW BENEFITS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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

American Express^® Gold Card

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

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Bottom Line: British Airways should be among the first programs U.S. travelers turn to when looking to book American Airlines award flights. 

Cathay Pacific Cathay

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles can be an alternative to The British Airways Club if you already have miles or an easy way to transfer points to the program.

Not all Cathay Pacific airline partners can be booked online, making the booking process slightly more difficult, as you need to call to book your flights.

One important item to note is that there’s no publicly available award chart to use when booking an award flight with just a single Oneworld airline partner. To figure out the number of miles needed for a specific award flight, you need to reference the Cathay Pacific standard award chart and add 5,000 miles to the rate shown there.

Here’s what you can expect to pay, in general, for round-trip flights with American Airlines:

For those who want to book a flight with Asia Miles, use the steps below:

1. Go to British Airways’ website.
2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and number of passengers.
3. Select the flight that you want.
4. Call Cathay Pacific at 866-892 2598 to confirm the award availability you found.
5. Book the award flight and pay the taxes and fees with your credit card.

Here are some examples of round-trip American Airlines flights you can book with Asia Miles:

• Boston (BOS) to Punta Cana (PUJ) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• Charlotte (CLT) to Curaçao (CUR) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• Charlotte (CLT) to Saint Croix (STX) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• Chicago (ORD) to Grand Cayman (GCM) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• Chicago (ORD) to Nassau (NAS) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• Miami (MIA) to Fort-de-France (FDF) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• Miami (MIA) to St. Lucia (UVF) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• New York (JFK) to Antigua (ANU) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Saint Thomas (STT) for 60,000 Asia Miles in American business class

Hot Tip: Does finding award availability on Oneworld partners seem daunting? Check out our step-by-step guide on searching for availability on Oneworld. 

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Earning Cathay Pacific miles is easy because the airline partners with 5 transferable point programs: Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Mesa Points.

Amex points transfer in 1 to 4 days at a 1:1 ratio, Brex points transfer in up to 1 business day at a 3:2 ratio, Capital One miles transfer in 36 hours at a 1:1 ratio, Citi points transfer almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio (1:0.7 for no-annual-fee Citi cards), Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in 5 days at a 3:1 ratio, and Mesa Points transfer in up to 1 business day at a 1:1 ratio.

Keep in mind that you receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

In addition to earning miles from transfers, Cathay Pacific offers a co-branded credit card from Synchrony Bank.

Recommended Capital One Cards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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

Welcome Offer

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

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

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 card application.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

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

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

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

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

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

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

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

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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

Welcome Offer

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

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)

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 card application.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

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

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

Pros & Cons

Pros

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

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

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

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome Offer

LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $300 in travel.

$100 travel credit + 20,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$460

Annual Fee

$0

APR

Purchases: 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; variable 18.99% - 28.99% thereafter

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 card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Ability to use transfer partners

Cons

• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; variable 18.99% - 28.99% thereafter
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Club Iberia Plus Avios

Similar to British Airways, Club Iberia Plus is a program many U.S. travelers may have used in the past because sometimes you can book American Airlines flights for less than American charges for the same flights.

The main difference between booking British Airways versus Iberia is that the latter requires you to book round-trip flights with American Airlines.

Here’s what you can generally expect to pay for round-trip flights:

Follow these steps to book your flights:

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

Here are several examples of round-trip flights you can book on American using Iberia Avios:

• Charlotte (CLT) to Antigua (ANU) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• Charlotte (CLT) to Grand Cayman (GCM) for 18,000 Iberia Avios in American economy class
• Charlotte (CLT) to Grenada (GND) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• Chicago (ORD) to Nassau (NAS) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Providenciales (PLS) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• Miami (MIA) to Curaçao (CUR) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• Miami (MIA) to Saint Croix (STX) for 33,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• New York (LGA) to Aruba (AUA) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• New York (JFK) to Sint Maarten (SXM) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• New York (JFK) to St. Thomas (STT) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Montego Bay (MBJ) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class
• Philadelphia (PHL) to San Juan (SJU) for 44,000 Iberia Avios in American business class

Earning Iberia Avios

It’s easy to earn Iberia Avios because the airline has partnerships with Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

Amex points transfer in 2 days at a 1:1 ratio, Chase, Mesa, and Wells Fargo points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in 24 to 36 hours at a 3:1 ratio. You get a bonus of 5,000 Avios for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

Finally, Iberia offers a co-branded credit card issued by Chase that allows you to earn Iberia Avios directly.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

The Japan Airlines Mileage Bank program is one to consider for Oneworld flights to the Caribbean. Business award pricing is not as low as British Airways, so focus on economy award flight redemptions.

Japan Airlines uses a distance-based award chart for Oneworld partner airline flights, so use a tool like the Great Circle Mapper to calculate the total distance of your itinerary to see how many miles you’ll need.

Generally, you can expect to pay the following for round-trip flights:

Follow the steps below to book a flight:

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

You’ll be booking flights on American Airlines. Here are some examples of what you can fly round-trip:

• Boston (BOS) to Providenciales (PLS) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Charlotte (CLT) to Aruba (AUA) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Charlotte (CLT) to Saint Kitts (SKB) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Chicago (ORD) to Providenciales (PLS) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Chicago (ORD) to Punta Cana (PUJ) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Saint Lucia (UVF) for 60,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Miami (MIA) to Dominica (DOM) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Miami (MIA) to St. Kitts (SKB) for 23,000 Japan Airlines miles in American economy
• New York (JFK) to Montego Bay (MBJ) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• New York (JFK) to Providenciales (PLS) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Bermuda (BDA) for 15,000 Japan Airlines miles in American economy
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Sint Maarten (SXM) for 42,000 Japan Airlines miles in American business class

Earning Japan Airlines Miles

Earning Japan Airlines miles is difficult, as the program’s only transfer partners are Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, while its own credit card doesn’t have a sizable welcome offer.

For those with Marriott Bonvoy points, transfers take 2 days at a 3:1 ratio. Bilt points transfer almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio. If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points in a single transaction, you earn an extra 5,000 miles.

Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air SKYPASS is one of the few programs you can leverage if you’re looking to fly a SkyTeam airline. For flights to the Caribbean, use Korean Air SKYPASS miles to fly Delta Air Lines.

For 35,000 SKYPASS miles, you can book round-trip economy flights between North America (Mexico and the U.S., including Hawaii) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Central America. Business class award flight pricing is not as competitive, so use another program for business class award tickets.

Korean Air considers the following destinations to be in its Central America region:

The primary downside of using Korean Air miles to book partner flights is that you’re required to book round-trip flights.

Here’s what you can expect to pay:

Use the steps below to book your award flight:

1. Search for award availability on Delta’s website.
2. Write down the flight numbers, dates, and times.
3. Confirm the same availability through Korean Air’s website.
4. Book the flight, and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Here are a few examples of round-trip flights you can book:

• Atlanta (ATL) to George Town (GGT) for 75,000 Korean Air miles in Delta business class
• Atlanta (ATL) to Grand Cayman (GCM) for 75,000 Korean Air miles in Delta business class
• Atlanta (ATL) to North Eleuthera (ELH) for 75,000 Korean Air miles in Delta business class
• Atlanta (ATL) to Providenciales (PLS) for 35,000 Korean Air miles in Delta economy
• Detroit (DTW) to Montego Bay (MBJ) for 75,000 Korean Air miles in Delta business class
• Minneapolis (MSP) to San Juan (SJU) for 75,000 Korean Air miles in Delta business class
• New York (JFK) to Nassau (NAS) for 35,000 Korean miles in Delta economy
• New York (JFK) to Punta Cana (PUJ) for 75,000 Korean Air miles in Delta business class

Earning Korean Air Miles

Korean Air miles aren’t as easy to earn as other programs, as they have no transfer partners. Also, U.S. Bank offers a few co-branded Korean Air credit cards.

Hot Tip: Korean Air miles aren’t easy to earn, but it’s not impossible. Here’s how to best earn Korean Air miles.

United Airlines MileagePlus

United MileagePlus no longer has an award chart. Instead, the frequent flyer program uses dynamic award pricing, which makes it a bit more difficult to figure out award prices.

At the lowest level, you can spend 35,000 United miles to book round-trip economy flights between the mainland U.S., Alaska, Canada, and the Caribbean. The same tickets would cost 60,000 miles in business class.

Estimated taxes and fees are usually around $50 to $150 per ticket.

United considers these destinations to be in its Caribbean region:

Follow the steps below to book your award flight:

1. Go to United’s website.
2. Enter your travel dates, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired class of booking.
3. Select the flight you want and then pay the taxes and fees with a credit card to complete the booking.

Here are several example round-trip routes that you book:

• Chicago (ORD) to Punta Cana (PUJ) for 60,000 United miles in United business class
• Houston (IAH) to Port of Spain (POS) for 60,000 United miles in United business class
• Houston (IAH) to Punta Cana (PUJ) for 35,000 United miles in United economy
• Newark (EWR) to Antigua (ANU) for 60,000 United miles in United business class
• Newark (EWR) to Puerto Plata (POP) for 60,000 United miles in United business class
• Newark (EWR) to Saint Kitts (SKB) for 60,000 United miles in United business class
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to San Juan (SJU) for 35,000 United miles in United economy
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Nassau (NAS) for 60,000 United miles in United business class

Earning United Airlines MileagePlus Miles

You can easily earn United miles because the airline partners with Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, and both of those programs offer a number of credit cards that allow you to earn miles in a hurry.

Bilt and Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio, while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in 2 days at a 3:1 ratio.

If you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United, you end up with 30,000 United miles, thanks to a 10,000-point bonus.

United also offers co-branded credit cards from Chase.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

The Virgin Atlantic Flying Club program has a number of sweet spots with airline partners, but there’s one airline partner that U.S. travelers should keep on their radar: Delta Air Lines.

Having Virgin points allows you to book Delta flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean according to distance-based award pricing.

Here are some examples of round-trip flights you can book with your Virgin Points:

• Atlanta (ATL) to Bonaire (BON) for 37,000 Virgin Points in Delta economy class
• Atlanta (ATL) to Saint Kitts (SKB) for 133,000 Virgin Points in Delta business class
• Boston (BOS) to Nassau (NAS) for 33,000 Virgin Points in Delta economy class
• Boston (BOS) to Saint Thomas (STT) for 133,000 Virgin Points in Delta business class
• Detroit (DTW) to Punta Cana (PUJ) for 37,000 Virgin Points in Delta economy class
• Minneapolis (MSP) to Montego Bay (MBJ) for 44,000 Virgin Points in Delta economy class
• New York (JFK) to Aruba (AUA) for 133,000 Virgin Points in Delta business class
• New York (JFK) to Nassau (NAS) for 119,000 Virgin Points in Delta business class
• New York (JFK) to San Juan (SJU) for 37,000 Virgin Points in Delta economy

When you’re ready to book a flight, use the steps to help you with the booking process:

1. Head to Virgin Atlantic’s website.
2. Enter your travel dates, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired class of booking.
3. Book the flight and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Hot Tip: Virgin Atlantic will not allow you to search for all of Delta’s flight routes. Try searching for Saver-level award flights on Delta, then call Virgin Atlantic at 800-365-9500 to book the award flight. 

Earning Virgin Atlantic Points

It’s easy to earn Virgin Points because the program partners with American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Citi, Chase, and Wells Fargo points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio (1:0.7 for no-annual-fee Citi cards), while Marriott Bonvoy points transfer in 1 or 2 days at a 3:1 ratio. You receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.

Virgin Atlantic also offers a co-branded credit card issued by Bank of America that will allow you to earn points directly with your credit card spend.

Final Thoughts

The Caribbean is an immensely popular destination for U.S. travelers. With plenty of beautiful beaches, different countries to explore, and food to taste, it’s hard to go wrong with whatever destination you choose.

The key to booking your next trip to the Caribbean is to know how best to use the miles and points you have. With an array of programs at your disposal, flights in both economy and business class are within reach.