This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
When I started collecting miles and points, it was with the goal of traveling to Europe. I think that tends to be true for most people starting out, and it continues to be a focus of mine. I actually just booked another trip to Europe, so I thought I would do a post on the best award miles to use for flights to Europe. Let’s make these dreams a reality!
United MileagePlus Miles
United has great economy and premium cabin award availability to Europe on their own metal and through their Star Alliance partners. You can fly economy on United or one of their partners for 30,000 miles, in business class on their metal for 55,500 miles, or in business class on one of their partners, like Lufthansa, for 70,000 miles each way (sometimes they will have sales on partner award flights).
How to book
Award travel bookings can be made directly on the United website. Although the United website can be buggy, it’s fairly easy to use and pulls up the majority of United’s partners. If the United website isn’t letting you book the award you want, then you may have to call a rep at 1-800-421-4655.
How to earn
The best ways to earn United miles are by flying revenue flights or by using credit cards that earn United miles.
Transfer partners
The United MileagePlus program is also a transfer partner of Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program. UR points earned through the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Sapphire Reserve, and Ink Business Card can be transferred instantly at a 1:1 ratio. (You can also use points earned from the Chase Freedom if you have either of the cards mentioned above, then your Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred between those accounts.)
American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
American Airlines miles aren’t the easiest award miles to use to get to Europe, since you will often have to route through London (higher fees), fly British Airways (high fuel surcharges on longer flights), and they limit award availability on their own metal, especially for premium cabin flights. But they have a good award chart, especially their non-peak availability, and it’s pretty easy to earn AA miles.
MileSaaver economy flights start at 30,000 miles, business at 50,000 miles, and first class at 62,500 miles each way. Pretty standard, but the real gem is the round-trip “non-peak” economy flights that cost 45,000 miles (22,500 one way).
How to book
Award flights to Europe can easily be searched for and booked on AA.com. It’s worth mentioning that you will have to search the British Airways website for Iberia flights. AA also has a generous hold policy for award flights. If you can’t make a booking online, you can call AA at 1-800-882-8880.
How to earn
American Airlines AAdvantage miles can be earned through revenue flights, or through many of their co-branded travel rewards cards. There’s the personal Citi Platinum Select Visa, Citi Platinum Select Business, or Citi Executive World Elite, and even the Citi AA Mastercard.
AeroPlan Miles
An interesting loyalty program to use for flights to Europe is Aeroplan. Aeroplan is part of the Star Alliance, so you can fly any airline in the alliance. Aeroplan does charge fuel surcharges and taxes, but they don’t on United flights. And you can book one way award flights. You can fly one-way business class awards to Europe on United (with no fuel surcharges), Lufthansa, or LOT start at only 55,000 points. That’s a great deal.
How to book
You can search/book on the Aeroplan website after creating an ANA account. If you can’t book online, then you will need to call Aeroplan at 1-800-361-5373.
How to earn
Since Aeroplan is a transfer partner of Amex MR points (see below), you have a lot of options to earn points to be used through the Aeroplan program. The best Amex MR card options are usually targeted.
Update: Air Canada Aeroplan is now a Chase partner! Points can be transferred on a 1:1 basis.
Transfer partners
The best way to earn Aeroplan miles is to transfer in American Express Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Transfers are instant, and done at a 1:1 ratio.
ANA Miles
Another Star Alliance airline, ANA can be used for award flights to Europe. You have to book round-trip tickets with ANA miles, but they do have some sweet spots for award flights to Europe. A United round-trip ticket in business class will only cost you 88,000 ANA award miles, or 55,000 award miles in economy, and ANA doesn’t add fuel surcharges on United flights.
How to book
The ANA website is actually a good site to use to search for Star Alliance award flights. Another good thing about ANA is that you can have 3 stopovers. That’s sweet. If you can’t book your award online, just call the ANA reps at 1-800-235-9262.
How to earn
Just like Aeroplan, ANA is a transfer partner of the American Express Membership Rewards program, so any card that earns MR points can be used for ANA transfers.
Transfer partners
Amex MR transfers can take up to 4 days, but they are usually completed in 24 hours.
Singapore Krisflyer Miles
You don’t usually associate Singapore Airlines with flights to Europe, but there are a couple gems. You can fly NYC to Frankfurt in the swanky Suites Class for 76,000 miles, or Houston to Moscow in business class for 65,000 miles. There will be fuel surcharges that vary for each flight.
How to book
You can search and book Singapore award flights on their website. If you need to call Singapore Krisflyer, the US center’s number is (213) 404-0301.
How to earn with transfer partners
The Singapore Krisflyer program is a transfer partner of Citi Thank Points, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and American Express Membership Rewards. Some rewards card options include the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Card, and all American Express Membership Rewards cards. I love the options!
British Airways Avios
Ah, British Airways. Yes, British Airways raised the award prices for premium cabin flights, but there’s still one award flight to Europe that can make sense. Flying from the East Coast to Dublin or Shannon, Ireland. One way economy tickets are still 13,000 Avios miles (non-peak), and 20,000 Avios miles during peak season.
How to book
You will have to search for Aer Lingus award space on the Qantas website, or United’s website. Then call British Airways at 1-800-452-1201 and give them your flight information that you would like to book.
How to earn
British Airways has the personal co-branded British Airways Visa Signature® Card from Chase, and for a time, you can earn Avios.
Transfer partners
British Airways Avios is also a transfer partner of Chase’s Ultimate Rewards earned from the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Plus® Business Cards. These options make adding to your British Avios account easy.
Wrap Up
Personally, I like to fly business class to Europe, so the Star Alliance is my best option. The best way to go about earning points for award flights to Europe is by focusing on transferable points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards points. That way, you have the most flexibility and options when it comes time to search and book your award.
____________________________________________________________
Tried this tip? Let me know in the comments!
Have your own tip? Email it to whitney@johnnyjet.com!
Want to see more tips? Click here for all 928!
Want even more travel tips? Sign up here for the Daily Travel Tip newsletter! Just fill in your email address and check the Daily Travel Tip box—and you’ll have Johnny’s best tips, straight to your inbox each day!
If you already subscribe to our weekly newsletter, you can sign up on the same page. Just fill in your email and check the Daily Travel Tip box on the same page and you’ll receive an email with a link to update your JohnnyJet.com preferences. On that page, just click the Daily Travel Tip box and Update Profile.
Awards to Europe is a joke. Hard to find any and, especially, saver awards on AA don’t exist.
Hi! I’ve been travelling a lot lately around Asia, work-related of course, and Europe has been in my bucket list for pleasure. Thanks for the advice and the options. Europe won’t just be a dream anymore. This is worth the read!