First, the flights
For our 17-year anniversary trip, we wanted to do something special—just the two of us. No kids, no economy seats, and definitely no middle row. I’d been dreaming of finding a way to fly to Italy on points, and this trip felt like the perfect time to finally make it happen.
Our home airport in Salt Lake City is big, but not huge. Every time I searched for business-class flights to Rome, everything from SLC was between 200,000 and 400,000 points per ticket. I love Italy, but not that much.
So I widened my search. Dallas (DFW) and Denver (DEN) are two of the biggest airports in the world, massive international hubs, and only a short flight from Salt Lake.
That’s when I found it: Air France business class from Dallas to Rome for 60,000 points and $256 in taxes.
All four major banks transfer to Air France, which makes it one of my favorite sweet spots-especially if you hit a promo reward.
👉 That means any of my favorite flexible travel cards would earn you points toward these flights-find them here.
And if you’re new to the idea of transfer partners (and why they matter), I break it all down in this post.
How We Got to Dallas
To position ourselves to Dallas, I booked a short flight using 15,000 Alaska miles on American Airlines (these are now called Atmos points). The cash price would have been about $550, so on paper it seemed like a solid redemption. In hindsight, it wasn’t my best move—economy was just 7,500 points and first class wasn’t worth double that for a short flight with no TVs and a meal we didn’t even need.
Why? Because the Capital One Lounge at Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) fed us really well before our long-haul flight.
This was my first time visiting the Capital One Lounge in Dallas, and it exceeded every expectation. The food was legitimately delicious, the cycling and yoga rooms were a fun surprise, and the beautful runway views made the layover fly by.
If you’re wondering how we got in, this is the card that gave us access—and it’s one of the few that offers free authorized users who can enjoy the same perks.
Fun fact: if you’re flying Air France business class out of DFW, you can also access this same lounge- no waiting list.
Capital One lounges are everyone’s favorite because where else are you going to hear: “Eat all our food—but also here’s a bag so you can take more for the plane.”
If you are curious about lounge access- find a full list of best lounge access cards for families in that link (because once you’ve experienced clean bathrooms and fresh food before a flight, there’s no going back).
Boarding Air France Business Class
When it was time to board, I’ll admit it—I felt like a total poser.
We were walking into Air France business class, complete with full suites, privacy doors, and more tech than my kitchen. I still could not believe we were flying to Italy entirely on points.
Everything about it felt designed for comfort. The giant TV screen, soft lighting, and that very French safety video (which looked more like a runway show than an evacuation guide) made me smile the entire time.
Even the windows dimmed at the touch of a button. It was sleek, modern, and surprisingly cozy.
The food was incredible. There was a full menu with appetizers, mains, and desserts, plus a buffet area available throughout the flight. The main dish ended up being my favorite meal of the entire day.
And yes, the seat converted to a lie-flat bed. Let’s be honest—it’s not the same as a real bed, but I did get enough sleep that I didn’t feel sick when we landed (which is always my biggest apprehension on long-haul flights-IYKYK).
If you’re sensitive to airline sleep masks crushing your eyelashes like I am, I always bring this one. It’s my favorite travel find of the year.
What It Cost (and Why It Was Worth It)
Our total cost for two round-trip tickets:
120,000 points + $512 in taxes.
The same flights were selling for around $2,800 each– or $5600 in cash.
It’s the kind of redemption that makes every hour I’ve spent learning about points completely worth it.
If you’re new to booking international flights, they can feel a bit tricky. Here’s my Transfer Partners Cheat Sheet to see which cards can help you book similar flights for your bucket list destination.
But if you’re REALLY new- you’ll want to start here.
Breakfast Over France
After a delicious breakfast as we approached France- we had a short connection through Charles de Gaulle Airport. This gave us time to peek into one of the Air France lounges there—beautiful, though crowded—and even squeeze in another croissant before our final flight.
By the time we landed in Rome, we were full (again), rested, and ready to explore.
If You’re Planning a Similar Trip
For a long flight like this, I swear by my luggage setup—lightweight, stackable, and easy to navigate through European airports—and my full Italy Packing List if you’re planning your own getaway and want to look a bit less- American 😜.
And if you want to learn how to earn enough points for flights like this, you’ll love my weekly newsletter where I share simple travel tips, current bonuses, and points sweet spots for families and couples alike.
The Moment It Hit Me
As we stepped out of the airport, the warm Roman air hit my face and I thought, We actually did it.
It’s one thing to read about business-class redemptions, but another to wake up over France after booking one yourself. This was our first big trip without the kids in years, and it couldn’t have been a better start to our anniversary getaway.
Stay tuned for the next post—How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in Rome on Points—for ideas on what to see, where to stay, and how to stretch those points even further before your cruise or next adventure in Italy.
Related Posts You’ll Love
- Why You Never Have Enough Miles (and How Transferable Points Solve That Problem)
- How to Use Points for a Cruise
- How to Get Hotel Upgrades
And if you’re ready to start earning points toward your next dream trip, check out my favorite flexible travel credit cards to get started.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
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