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When I first started looking into booking flights with points, I felt completely lost. Airline miles, transfer partners, bonus categories, award flights, schedule releases; it was overwhelming. I wanted a simple way to get my family overseas without paying $800+ per ticket or feeling like pulling my hair out.
The truth is, you don’t need to master every points program to book free (or almost free) international flights. You just need the right credit cards and strategy. The right cards will earn you points you can actually use for long-haul travel.
If you’re brand new, start with my Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles. It’ll give you the foundation you need.
What to Look For in a Travel Card
When it comes to international travel, the best credit cards usually share a few key features that can save you thousands of dollars (and a lot of stress):
Big welcome offers. The strongest travel cards often offer welcome bonuses big enough to cover a round-trip flight overseas, or even a one-way business class seat, typically around 60,000–70,000 points.
Flexible points + one airline card. Using just one card type can limit you, but combining a flexible points card (that transfers to multiple airlines) with one airline-specific card is often the sweet spot. Pair one flexible-points card (to move points to whichever airline actually has seats) with one airline card for practical perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.
Everyday earning. Look for cards that give bonus points on categories you already spend heavily in, like dining, groceries, gas, or travel. Those everyday purchases add up quickly, and the right multiplier means you’ll earn flights faster without having to change your spending habits.
International perks. The best cards remove hidden costs and add comfort to your trip. These perks really make your trip feel like a vacation:
- No foreign transaction fees (saves 3% on every purchase abroad).
- Airport lounge access so your family has space to relax, eat, and recharge if you have a layover.
- Companion certificates that can offset the cost of a second ticket each year.
- Trip protections like lost luggage insurance, trip delay coverage, and emergency medical benefits that can save you thousands if something goes wrong.
Get more for your points. With the right transfer partners, you can book premium cabins for fewer points. Family-friendly “sweet spot” programs to keep on your radar: Some of our favorites include Avianca LifeMiles, Virgin Atlantic, AirFrance/KLM Flying Blue, and ANA Mileage Club.
Understand Awards Flights
When I went to book my first international flight, I just assumed you could book any seat as an award seat. This is not true. Airlines don’t just release a bunch of awards seats. They use demand-based systems. So, for example, if a flight is selling well, fewer (or no) award seats appear; if it’s underselling, more may be released closer to departure.
- Saver-level awards: On many major airlines, only 2–5% of seats (like 2–4 in business class, 4–6 in economy) might be available at the lowest points price when booking opens.
- Guaranteed programs: Only a few airlines guarantee a certain number of award seats. British Airways releases 14 seats per long-haul flight (but has high taxes and fees); and Qantas guarantees a minimum number of reward seats.
- Dynamic pricing: Airlines like Delta, United, and Air France/KLM allow you to book almost any seat with miles, but the points cost can be high. Budget carriers like Southwest and JetBlue also tie awards to cash fares; seats are always available, but value varies.
Bottom line: Saver awards are limited, but with the right programs and timing, you can still lock in multiple seats for your family.
Three Easy Paths to Europe With Points
1) Use a Bank Travel Portal When Cash Fares Are Low
Europe sales appear often and trigger competitors. It’s common to see $400–$500 roundtrip tickets, depending on your home airport. In your bank’s travel portal, that can mean far fewer points than transferring to an airline. Plus taxes/fees are baked into the ticket price and you still earn airline miles if you add your loyalty number.
Capital One users: You can book via Capital One Travel (earn 5x on flights in-portal) and use miles to erase the purchase, or apply part of the annual travel credit from this card if you carry it.
Deal-finding tip: Set alerts in Google Flights or use the Explore map. Services like Thrifty Traveler (code: Rewardsmom) will also just send you great Europe fares, no work required!
2) Route Sweet Spots (Destination-First)
Instead of starting with your airline, start with your destination. Some routes regularly price far lower in points or cash than others, and those “sweet spots” can change by season, airline, and airport. Knowing a few examples can save you tens of thousands of points.
- East Coast to Europe: It’s common to see sub-20,000-mile one-way awards (plus minimal taxes) on carriers like American, United, Air France/KLM, Iberia, and Aer Lingus from New York, Boston, D.C., and other Eastern hubs to Paris, London, Dublin, and Amsterdam.
- Midwest Gateways: Airlines like Icelandair, Delta, or Lufthansa sometimes offer low off-peak rates from Chicago, Minneapolis, or Detroit to Reykjavik, Frankfurt, or Paris.
- West Coast to Europe: Programs such as Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic often run promos from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle to London, Paris, or Amsterdam in the 15,000-25,000-mile range one-way (plus taxes).
- Alternate airports: Flying into Dublin, Brussels, Madrid, or Milan can sometimes price cheaper than Paris or London, then add a short low-cost or award flight to your final stop.
Repositioning (when it helps): If prices or award space are far better from another U.S. hub, book a separate domestic hop (many families use Southwest + Companion Pass) to that city, then fly long-haul from there.
These examples change frequently, but the principle stays the same: search destination first, then decide whether to reposition. Tools like Google Flights, FlightConnections, or point.me can help you see which routes are pricing lowest in cash or points at any given time.
3) Book U.S. Legacy Airline Flights Through Partner Programs
A “legacy carrier” is simply a big, full-service U.S. airline like Delta, American, or United. They’ve been flying for decades, serve hundreds of destinations, and belong to global alliances. The good news is you don’t have to use those airlines’ own miles to fly them; you can often book the exact same seats more cheaply through a partner program.
Here’s why this matters:
- Flexible points make it easy. Most flexible bank points transfer to these partner programs. You can move points to whichever partner has the best deal once you’ve found award space.
- Lower mileage costs. Delta, American, and United use “dynamic” pricing, but many of their alliance partners still publish lower or fixed award rates.
- Lower fees. Booking through partners often avoids hefty surcharges, saving you cash for a family booking.
| If You Want to Fly | Book With This Partner Program | Typical One-Way Economy Rate* | Notes on Taxes/Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines to Europe | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 30k–35k miles vs. 50k+ with Delta | Generally low surcharges departing the U.S.; higher fees on returns from Europe. |
| American Airlines to Spain/Europe | Iberia Plus or British Airways Avios | Off-peak 22k–30k miles one way | Iberia has lower taxes than BA; watch fees on BA metal. |
| United Airlines to Europe | Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles | ~30k miles each way (often less with promos) | LifeMiles generally has low fees; Aeroplan sometimes adds small surcharges. |
*Rates vary by date, route, and promos. Partners often beat the U.S. airline’s own pricing.
How to Book Your First International Flight (Step-by-Step)
1) Decide your basics
Before you search, know the must-haves: destination, dates, cabin, and how many seats. Flexibility is your best friend. Being open by a few days or to repositioning to other airports makes it much easier to find space or good awards pricing, especially for families.
Always prioritize the long-haul portion when booking your international flight. Once you’re in Europe or Southeast Asia, for example, budget carriers like Ryanair or easyJet make it inexpensive to hop around. Sometimes we build in a day or two where we land (mini vacation!) then continue on to our main destination.
Find your non-stops: If you aren’t sure where to start, put your home airport into FlightConnections.com and note every nonstop route (airlines, frequency, seasons). Build around those flights first.
2) Open the right loyalty accounts
Most searches require you to be logged in to the airline’s loyalty program (free to join). If you’re booking for multiple people, look for programs with family or household pooling, like United MileagePlus or British Airways Executive Club.
3) When award flights are released
Airlines generally load award seats 330–360 days in advance, though some release extras closer to departure based on demand like I talked about earlier. If you need multiple seats, it’s smart to start looking as soon as the booking window opens.
4) Where and how to search
Think in alliances:
- Star Alliance (United, Lufthansa, ANA, etc.) → search United.com or Air Canada Aeroplan
- oneworld (AA, Alaska, BA, JAL, etc.) → search AA.com, BA.com, or Qantas.com
- SkyTeam (Delta, Air France/KLM, Korean, etc.) → search Air France/KLM Flying Blue
Pro tip: search one passenger first, then increase to your whole party to see how many seats are really available.
5) Transfer points
This is where families unlock the biggest savings with their flexible points cards. Don’t cash out points at a flat value (like 1¢ per point). By transferring to an airline program, you can often get 2–3 times more value.
- Example: 60,000 flexible points might cover a $1,200 Singapore Airlines economy flight, or even a one-way business class seat.
- Watch for transfer bonuses (often 20–30%). A 30% bonus makes 60k points = 78k Virgin Atlantic miles, sometimes the exact boost you need for a premium cabin.
Tip: Always wait to transfer until you’ve confirmed award space. Transfers are often one-way and irreversible.
6) Search smarter with tools and apps
- point.me → user-friendly search across programs
- Seats.aero → rapid scanning of dates/routes + alerts
- ExpertFlyer → advanced searches and alerts
These tools save time, but always confirm availability directly with the airline before transferring points.
7) Understand the fees
Keep in mind that although your points cover the cost of the flight for the most part, you’ll always pay taxes. Some airlines also add hefty “fuel” surcharges. Booking with programs like United or Avianca often avoids this, but if two options use the same miles and one has $400 in fees, pick the lower-fee choice!
You really should also check the cash prices just to make sure you are getting the best deal. Europe “sales” happen often, and sometimes the actual flight can be cheaper than taxes and fees from the right airport.
Quick “First Booking” Checklist
- Pick dates ±3 days and nearby airports
- Log into at least 1 site per alliance (United, BA, Flying Blue)
- Search 1 passenger → then your whole party
- Use point.me or Seats.aero if nothing shows
- Check cash prices on flexible dates and compare sales prices vs. point value
- Found seats? Transfer points and book immediately
- Save screenshots & confirmation (for change/cancel rules)
✨ Bottom line: Start early, be flexible, and think of points as a way to cover the big expensive flights. Use cash for little hops, transfer only after finding space, and let tools do the heavy lifting. Once you’ve done it once, booking international award flights feels much less intimidating.
Putting It All Together
Travel Smarter Tips
Here’s the simple approach that keeps things flexible, affordable, and repeatable for family international trips:
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Start with one flexible card + one airline card that match your home airport’s nonstop network. This combo gives you the flexibility to book that international flight when deals pop.
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Use FlightConnections to see nonstop routes, set Google Flights alerts, and don’t be afraid to reposition if it meaningfully saves points, money, or time.
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Compare portal prices vs. transfers before moving points, and always weigh fees vs. cash prices.
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Once you’ve done it once, international award bookings become a repeatable system. Confidence grows, and suddenly those big trips feel doable any time.
Want to start earning free family travel? Check out my free beginner guide.
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