Europe is the most popular award destination for US-based travelers, and for good reason: transatlantic competition keeps award prices relatively low, business class products are excellent (especially on carriers like Qatar, Turkish, and Lufthansa), and the sheer number of routing options means availability is better than to Asia or the Pacific.
Economy Class: The Budget Sweet Spots
| Program | Points Required (OW) | Best Routes | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air France Flying Blue (promo) | 12,500 miles | NYC/BOS to Paris | Monthly releases on the 1st |
| Virgin Atlantic | 10,000-15,000 miles | Various Delta routes | Good -- dynamic pricing |
| Aeroplan | 25,000 miles | Any Star Alliance | Excellent via Air Canada |
| United MileagePlus | 30,000 miles | United + Star Alliance | Good but dynamic pricing |
Business Class: The Sweet Spots
| Program | Points Required (OW) | Airlines Available | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Miles and Smiles | 45,000 miles | Turkish, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian | 6-13 cpp |
| Virgin Atlantic | 50,000 miles | Delta One | 5-10 cpp |
| Aeroplan | 60,000 miles | All Star Alliance | 4-8 cpp |
| ANA Mileage Club | 88,000 miles (RT) | Star Alliance | 5-9 cpp |
The Turkish Airlines Sweet Spot
The standout Europe award: Turkish Miles and Smiles business class to Europe for 45,000 miles one-way. This books any Star Alliance business class flight to Europe -- including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, and Turkish itself. Transfer from Citi ThankYou Points, Capital One Miles, or Bilt Rewards at 1:1.
Citi Double Cash — 2% on everything
No annual fee. Pair with a Premier for full ThankYou transfer access.
Bilt Mastercard — earn points on rent
No annual fee. Transfers 1:1 to United, Hyatt, Alaska Atmos, more.
Routing Strategies
- Open jaws: Fly into one city, out of another. Book London inbound, Rome outbound -- take the train between cities and avoid backtracking.
- Stopovers: Aeroplan allows a free stopover on round trips. Fly to Istanbul, stop for 3 days, continue to Paris.
- Positioning flights: If your home airport has limited transatlantic service, use British Airways Avios for a cheap positioning flight to a major hub.
Search multiple European cities simultaneously on Pointify Search. Our flexible date search shows you which dates and destinations have the best award availability across all programs.
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