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Taking a multiple-stop trip around Europe can be the vacation of a lifetime. From London to Prague to Helsinki, there are countless cities European cities to explore on your next trip. And if you’ve already booked a flight to Europe, you might as well see another 2 or 3 cities if your schedule allows.
Of course, there are many ways to city-hop your way around Europe. A train or a bus might be the first that comes to mind, but if you’re operating on limited time and want to visit cities in different parts of Europe — for example, traveling from London to Riga — you might find that a plane is the only way to get between your city pairs efficiently.
But don’t fret: You can often fly between European cities on the cheap or redeem points and miles for your jumper flight between the 2. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to book intra-Europe flights with your travel rewards and when it makes sense to just pay cash.
There are dozens of airline loyalty programs you can use to book flights around Europe, but some are better than others.
Some loyalty programs are better for specific types of flights. For example, you often find more flexibility using British Airways Avios for flights from London to mainland Europe when compared to other programs thanks to British Airways’ large route network from London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW).
At the same time, using Air Canada Aeroplan can be advantageous when flying from Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), Vienna (VIE), and other Star Alliance hubs. The right program to book with depends on where you’re traveling to and from and the types of transferable credit card points you already have.
There are times when it’s better to pay cash for a flight, too. I’ll discuss this in depth later in the article, but as a general rule, if you can find an ultracheap flight between 2 European cities — which isn’t uncommon with budget airlines like Ryanair — or if there’s a convenient connection not bookable with points, you should consider paying cash instead.
Even so, intra-Europe travel can get expensive when booking at the last minute, over holidays, and during conferences and other events. These are a few of the best ways to book these flights with points.
Air Canada Aeroplan has long been one of our favorite loyalty programs — and for good reason. Aeroplan points are easy to earn, and the loyalty program has excellent redemption rates, especially on short-haul flights.
Air Canada is a Star Alliance member, so you can redeem Aeroplan points for flights on European airlines like Aegean, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, and TAP Air Portugal.
Flights within Europe are priced based on Aeroplan’s award chart for within its Atlantic zone. Flights that are 1,000 miles or less in distance cost just 7,500 Aeroplan points in economy or 15,000 in business class. Taxes and fees are moderate, and booking a partner flight with Aeroplan incurs a CA$39 (roughly $30) fee.
Here’s the full award chart for intra-Atlantic Zone flights:
Distance (Miles)
Economy
Business
0 to 1,000
7,500
15,000
1,001 to 2,000
12,500
25,000
2,0001 to 3,000
25,000
45,000
4,001 to 6,000
35,500
60,000
Thankfully, many intra-Europe flights are under 1,000 miles. For example, this flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Warsaw (WAW) is 916 miles, so it falls under the 7,500-point price band. Just note that you have to pay $75 in taxes and fees.
You can book Aeroplan award tickets on Air Canada’s website. Make sure to check the Book with Aeroplan points box to see award prices.
Thankfully, Aeroplan points are easy to earn — even if you live in the U.S. You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Most transfers to Aeroplan are processed instantly.
You can also earn Aeroplan points when you fly with Air Canada and its partners or when you spend on Aeroplan’s cobranded credit card.
The Aeroplan card is a great option for Air Canada flyers looking to earn more points and receive automatic elite status.
Flyers based in the U.S. may think they wouldn’t have a need for a card like the Aeroplan® Credit Card, it might be much better suited for you than you think.
Not only does Air Canada offer fantastic award redemptions, but adding the card to your wallet makes the program even more rewarding by offering elite status, more points, travel coverage, and more. Let’s take a closer look and see why the Aeroplan card might make a lot of sense for you.
Marriott Bonvoy points also transfer to Aeroplan at a 3:1 transfer ratio, with a 5,000-point bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer. This means 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points equal 25,000 Aeroplan points.
The British Airways Club can be a good option for booking flights operated by Aer Lingus, British Airways, or Iberia. These carriers primarily serve their hubs in Dublin (DUB), London (LHR, LGW), and Madrid (MAD), respectively, with extensive route networks around Europe.
This loyalty program refers to its currency as “Avios” instead of the usual “miles” or “points.” Some other Oneworld airlines — namely Aer Lingus, Finnair, Iberia, and Qatar Airways — also use Avios. This is worth mentioning because you can transfer Avios between your accounts.
British Airways has a distance-based award chart, so the further you fly, the more you pay. For Aer Lingus and British Airways flights, the following award prices apply. The airline no longer publishes an award chart, but these prices have held true in our testing.
Distance (Miles)
Economy (Off-Peak)
Economy (Peak)
Business (Off-Peak)
Business (Peak)
1 to 651
4,000
4,500
7,750
9,000
651 to 1,151
6,500
7,500
12,750
15,000
1,152 to 2,000
8,500
10,000
17,000
20,000
2,001 to 3,000
10,000
12,500
31,250
37,500
3,001 to 4,000
13,000
20,000
50,000
60,000
Meanwhile, you pay the following for short-haul Iberia flights. These prices are the same if you book with British Airways or Club Iberia Plus Avios. Taxes and fees may vary slightly between the programs, though.
Distance (Miles)
Economy (Off-Peak)
Economy (Peak)
Business
0 to 650
4,500
6,750
9,000
651 to 1,150
7,500
11,250
15,000
1,151 to 2,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
2,001 to 3,000
11,000
16,000
21,250
These award charts can yield excellent deals. For example, you can book this off-peak economy flight from Dublin (DUB) to Paris (CDG) on Aer Lingus for just 4,000 Avios and $10.50.
British Airways charges per segment, so connecting flights cost more than direct flights. It’s usually best to avoid using Avios if you need a connecting flight within Europe since this can easily double the cost of your award ticket.
You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards to British Airways Avios at a 1:1 transfer ratio. You can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
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.
American Express Membership Rewards
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!
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
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.
American Express Membership Rewards
United Airlines’ loyalty program, MileagePlus, is another good way to book short-haul European flights on Star Alliance airlines. United no longer publishes an award chart, but it typically charges between 6,000 and 16,000 miles, plus taxes and fees, for short-haul, intra-Europe flights in economy class.
You’ll find the cheapest flights on short-haul flights between cities in the same general region of Europe. For example, flights within Western Europe, like this one from Paris (CDG) to Frankfurt (FRA), cost 6,000 miles plus $35.40 in taxes and fees.
With this in mind, United can be the best way to book short-haul, intra-Europe flights on Star Alliance airlines. Just make sure to compare the mileage cost and the cost of taxes and fees with buying a low-cost ticket outright. More on that soon.
Beyond flying with United and its partners, you can use United miles with the airline’s cobranded credit cards. Further, you can transfer Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 transfer ratio. Transfers process quickly.
With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.
You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.
You should consider The New United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!
United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program
Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.
The New United Club℠ Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.
United frequent flyers will find that the United Club card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.
Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to United at a 3:1 ratio. Thanks to United and Marriott’s RewardsPlus partnership, you get a 10,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer to United. This means 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points equals 30,000 United miles.
Virgin Atlantic is a recent addition to the SkyTeam alliance, which also includes European carriers like Air Europa, Air France, ITA, KLM, and TAROM. However, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has different award charts for each of its partner airlines, and not all partners are bookable with Virgin Points.
You’ll find the best deals on Air France, KLM and SAS flights. Air France and KLM share a distance-based award chart that starts at just 4,000 points for a one-way, short-haul ticket, plus taxes and fees. Here’s a look at the full award chart for Air France and KLM flights:
Distance (Miles)
Economy (Off-Peak)
Economy (Peak)
Business (Off-Peak)
Business (Peak)
0 to 600
4,000
4,500
8,000
9,000
601 to 1,249
7,500
8,500
25,000
26,000
1,250 to 1,749
9,000
11,000
30,000
32,000
And if you’re looking to book SAS flights with Virgin Points, refer to the following award chart:
Distance (Miles)
Economy
Business
0 to 500
5,500
14,500
501 to 1,000
7,000
15,500
1,001 to 1,500
10,000
21,500
1,501 to 2,250
11,500
35,000
These are all great redemption rates, especially for short-haul flights. You can book Virgin Atlantic award tickets operated by Air France, KLM, and SAS online.
Unlike with British Airways Avios, you are not charged extra for connecting tickets. This means that, for example, London Heathrow (LHR) to Copenhagen (CPH) via Amsterdam (AMS) costs the same as a direct flight.
It’s easy to earn Virgin Points, thanks to its vast array of transfer partners. You can transfer points from all major transferable points programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards.
A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
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.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
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!
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Of course, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, too. Points transfer at the standard 3:1 transfer ratio, with a 5,000-point bonus awarded for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred.
Flying within Europe can be very cheap, especially if you book with budget carriers like EasyJet or Ryanair. For example, this EasyJet flight from London Southend (SEN) to Amsterdam (AMS) is just $23 before bags and other extras.
Similarly, you can book Prague (PRG) to Paris Beauvais (BVA) for $24 before bags and extras on Ryanair.
Of course, intra-Europe flights aren’t always this cheap. Fares can be significantly higher during events and holidays or when you book close to the day of departure. At the time of writing, the cheapest flight nonstop from Frankfurt (FRA) to Copenhagen (CPH) is $269 on Christmas Eve.
Further, you might prefer to fly a full-service carrier for a more comfortable experience or when you need to bring a bag with you. Bags can often cost more than the actual ticket when you fly with Ryanair or EasyJet, so take this into account before you book.
Not sure if you’re getting a good deal? Refer to Upgraded Points’ valuations to see how much we estimate each loyalty program’s points and miles are worth.
With that in mind, do your cost-benefit analysis before you book intra-Europe airfare. If all you need is to get from Point A to Point B as cheaply as possible and you don’t have luggage, booking a low-cost ticket on Ryanair or EasyJet often makes sense if fares are low.
Meanwhile, you might book a ticket with miles if you need to bring a bag with you or when fares are expensive. Budget airlines often use secondary airports, too, so you might use miles to book a full-service carrier to fly into a more convenient airport.
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But just because paid flights are cheap doesn’t mean you have to pay for them out of pocket. You might consider using your credit card’s travel portal to book flights with your points at a fixed value. Examples include AmexTravel.com, Capital One Travel, and Chase Travel.
You typically get more value from your points when you transfer your credit card points to a transfer partner. However, the added flexibility of a credit card portal can help you pay fewer points when flights are cheap, give you a larger selection of airlines to choose from, and allow you to avoid having to worry about finding award space.
Chase Ultimate Rewards are especially useful here. If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you redeem Ultimate Rewards points at up to 1.75 and 2 cents per point, respectively, toward select flights and hotels in the Chase Travel portal.
For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can book this $54 Norwegian flight from Copenhagen (CPH) to London Gatwick (LGW) for 3,554 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Alternatively, you can cover travel expenses charged to a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card at 1 cent per mile. This means a $50 flight costs 5,000 miles. This means you can reap the benefits of booking directly (namely, more flexibility) with the airline and still use points and miles to cover your flight.
A quick caution: Not all budget carriers are bookable through credit card travel portals. Even worse, pricing can sometimes be more expensive than booking directly. Compare prices before you book to ensure you’re getting a good deal.
Consider paying for your flight or booking through a credit card portal if your flight is cheap. This way, you can save your points for a future trip.
While trains and buses can be good options for intra-European travel, they’re not always practical.
If you’re traveling from one side of Europe to the other — or if there’s no convenient ground connection between 2 cities — airplanes can help big time. As you learned in this article, you can book flights within Europe cheaply with points and miles.
That said, always check the cost of paid airfare, too. Budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet often have incredibly low prices but do not include carry-on bags and other extras. Factor these costs in when you’re doing your cost comparison.
Typically, Air Canada Aeroplan, The British Airways Club, United MileagePlus, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club offer the best deals on intra-Europe flights. However, the best program for you depends on the points and miles you have available and the airline and route you’d like to fly.
Some programs let you add stopovers. Namely, you can add stopovers on one-way tickets booked with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Air Canada Aeroplan. You can also add them to round-trip tickets booked with ANA Mileage Club.
It depends. If you can find an inexpensive ticket between your desired cities it could be worth paying cash. Alternatively, use points if flights are expensive.
That depends on where you’re traveling and your preferences. If a train or bus route is available and convenient, it’s worth considering. That said, it’s worth flying if you’re traveling long distances or if a train or bus isn’t practical.
The information regarding the Aeroplan® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding The New United℠ Explorer Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding The New United Club℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Chase Sapphire Reserve® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
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Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs but now lives in Queens, New York.
He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 40 countries, 20 travel credit cards and 3 airline statuses under his belt. Andrew was formerly a Senior Editor at The Points Guy and CNN Underscored.
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