5 Cheapest Ways to Fly to Europe Using Frequent Flyer Miles

Flying 4,903 miles between the US and Europe is notorious for being expensive and out of reach of most Americans.

Up until three years ago, I had never flown outside the US. That is, until I got my first travel credit card, and started to learn how to maximize my miles.

If you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, they give you 50,000 bonus points on signup.

50,000 points are enough for two round-trip tickets to Europe if you book them using Avios miles (details below).

If you want to fly business class to Europe using frequent flyer miles, that’s just 50,000 miles.

Here are my five favorite ways to fly to Europe using points and miles.

1.  Fly Coach One-Way to Europe for 22,500 American Airlines Miles

The reason AA Miles is ranked #1 is is that they offer the lowest fees and taxes compared to other airlines.

Based on the standard AA Award chart, it costs 65,000 miles for a roundtrip ticket from the USA to Europe flying on American.

You may also choose to use the miles to fly on one of their One World Alliance Partners, like AirBerlin, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

If you can fly during Off-Peak times (October 15 – May 15) and can find a MileSAAver ticket, then a one-way flight is just 22,500 miles.

Your best bet to find the SAAver is to look for flights departing on Tuesday-Thursday.

2. Fly Coach to Europe for 28,125 Miles Using FlyingBlue’s Promo Awards

You can never go wrong with the Flying Blue Promo Awards, and it lets you save your rewards for flights to Europe.  Air France and KLM awards discount tickets on specific routes by up to 25% – 50%, every month.

For example, an economy class round-trip ticket between the US and Europe costs 37,500 points.  But with the monthly Flying Blue awards 25% discounted coach class tickets which cost only 28,125 points for a flight to New York to Paris. But you’ll still pay fees and taxes depending on the destination which usually costs less than $200 each way.

Now, you wouldn’t have to end your adventure in Paris or Amsterdam because you can now connect flights to other cities for the same number of miles.  Maximizing the usage of your points won’t hurt either.

In addition to that, Flying Blue includes Western Russia, Israel, and other cities in North Africa; which means more fun and adventure!

3.  50,000 United Miles for a One-way Business Class Flight to Europe with $0 in Surcharges

We wanted to focus on the question readers were sending in, “How Many United Miles Do I Need to Fly to Europe.”

United Airlines does not add fuel surcharges to award tickets which are great! And because they are part of the Star Alliance partners, you’ve got lots of flight options.

You can now book a one-way economy class flight from the US to Europe for only 30,000 miles, business class flight from the US to Europe for only 50,000 miles, and a one-way first class flight from the US to Europe for only 67,500 miles just by using United One-Way Saver Mileage Award.

But, If you choose to book round-trip flights between the US and Europe you are expected to redeem double mileage of your preferred accommodation as to what I’ve mentioned above.

Besides that, you can also choose from their less known partners such as Brussels Airlines or LOT Polish Airlines.

4. 22,500 KrisFlyer Miles to Fly Economy Class from the US to Europe on SingaporeAir

SingaporeAir’s KrisFlyer program is the only Asia-based frequent flyer program to accept all transferable currencies from it is transfer partners: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Starwood Preferred Guest – which means it’s effortless to earn and redeem points!

Singapore Airlines also offers the best first-class flight to Europe using points, in the form of their Suite Class.

You can book an Economy Class ticket from JFK to FRA (Frankfurt) for just 22,500 miles when you score a Saver seat.

Finding Saver availability is just a matter of searching for the best dates that work. Luckily, a Standard award is still only 40,000 miles.

Singapore Air flies from New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Boston to Europe.

 

 

If you check out the award chart, you can see zone 13 has the 22,500 miles for the flight we showed from JFK to FRA. Premium Economy for the same trip which will only cost 45,000 miles and Suite Class flights are now just 76,000 miles.

5.  13,000 Miles for an Economy Class Ticket to Europe Using British Airways Avios Points

British Airways Avios Points can be your best bet if you’re planning to go to Europe because it uses a distance-based award chart which means areas that are closer to Europe costs fewer points.

British Airways and some of their partners charge hefty fuel surcharges to their tickets. You can also use your British Avios Points to fly Aer Lingus or Air Berlin to Europe.

However, you may choose to use and redeem British Avios Points through Aer Lingus; Ireland’s national airline and one of the partnered airlines of British Airways.

For example, a flight from New York(JFK) to Dublin or Shannon is 3,170 miles which will cost 13,000(off-peak) miles or 20,000(peak) miles for an economy class one-way ticket flight between the US and Europe.  And, for an economy class round-trip flight between the US and Europe will cost 26,000(off-peak) miles or 40,000(peak) miles.

Aer Lingus also flies from the following cities in the US:

• Boston
• Chicago
• Hartford
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Newark
• Orlando
• San Francisco
• Washington, DC

Luckily! Aer Lingus has a low fuel surcharge which makes ticket fees and taxes cost less, although you might need to pay higher charges for flights on your way home due to European departure taxes.

Planning to travel to Europe?  It’s good to have choices when you book award tickets.  Depending on which airline you choose, you could get there for fewer miles and points, or lower fuel surcharges.

If you want a quick boost to get enough miles to fly to Europe, all you have to do is sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and you will get 50,000 bonus points. We have put together five reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred should be your first travel credit card.