Flying to Europe with points is easier than ever when using a search tool like Roame, and the right credit card. By earning flexible points, you can transfer to programs like Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways Avios, Emirates Skywards, and Aeroplan, unlocking business class flights for as little as 29,500 points.
If you want to maximize your rewards and book premium flights to Europe, here are the best options to redeem and the cards that will help you get there.
Best Ways to Book Flights to Europe with Points

Here are some of the top redemptions to get to Europe using transferable points:

  • Virgin Atlantic – Fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to Europe for as low as 29,000 miles one-way.
  • Emirates Skywards – Emirates charges a very reasonable number of miles for business or first class between New York (JFK) and Milan or Newark (EWR) and Athens with 87K miles reuired one-way or 108K round-trip in business class. First Class is 102K one-way and 204K round-trip.
  • Aeroplan (for Star Alliance Partners) – Fly business class on Swiss, United, Turkish, or Lufthansa from only 60,000 miles one-way, with no fuel surcharges on most partners.

With so many ways to book flights to Europe using points, having a card that earns flexible rewards is key.

Best Credit Card for Flights to Europe: Amex Gold

The American Express® Gold Card is one of the best options for earning points toward flights to Europe. In addition to a typically strong welcome bonus, the card earns: 

  • 4x points on restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year
  • 4x points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (and then 1x points)
  • 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com

With Amex Membership Rewards, you can transfer 1:1 to 17 airline programs, including:

  • Aeroplan
  • Avianca
  • British Airways Avios
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
  • Iberia Plus Avios
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

With strong earning potential and top-tier transfer partners, the Amex Gold is an ideal pick for anyone looking to fly to Europe on points.


Learn more

Other Great Cards for Flights to Europe
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card & Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Great for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards with transfers to Aeroplan, British Airways, and Flying Blue. Solid value on redemptions.
  • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best for simple 2x points on everything, with transfers to Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and Aeroplan. Ideal for those who want strong lounge access and easy earning.
  • Aeroplan® Credit Card – Provides a built-in 10% transfer bonus and expanded award availability and when booking flights to Europe via Aeroplan, making it easier to find premium seats on a great airline program.
  • The Platinum Card® from American Express – Another luxury option from American Express, providing strong value, several statement credits, and access to airport lounges.

BRAND

Credit Card

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Application

Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
Learn more
How to Book Award Flights to Europe Using Points

Finding the best award flights to Europe can be tough, especially with limited availability on premium seats. Roame makes it easy by allowing you to search across multiple airline programs and set alerts to book top redemptions before they disappear.

If you want to maximize your rewards and book premium flights to Europe, here are the best options to redeem and the cards that will help you get there.
  • Use SkyView for Broad Searches – Instead of searching for a specific city, use region-to-region searches (e.g., US to Europe or vice versa) to see all available options. This helps find routes with the best award pricing and availability.
  • Set Award Alerts – The best deals often disappear fast. Set alerts for flights in business or first class so you get notified as soon as availability opens up for top redemptions like Flying Blue Promo Rewards or Virgin Atlantic Upper Class.
  • Filter by Airline & Program – Want to fly Air France business class with Flying Blue miles? Filter results to show specific airlines and find routes where award seats are actually available.
  • Find Transfer Sweet Spots – Once you find a good redemption, use flexible points (Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, or Bilt) to transfer instantly and book before availability disappears.
By using Roame’s search and alerts, you can save thousands of points and unlock premium award flights to Europe without spending hours manually searching airline websites.

Fly business class for the price of economy

Learn more

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

email

Get the free daily email of the latest award flight deals.

Mail Icon