I mentioned last week that I’m already thinking of ideas for a Summer Europe trip next year. Chase Ultimate Rewards are some of the best points you could use for a trip to Europe. You can transfer your Ultimate Rewards 1:1 to United miles, Virgin Atlantic miles, and British Airways Avios, which unlocks flights on those airlines and their dozen-plus partners with service to and within Europe.
81,000 Ultimate Rewards is enough for a trip to Europe with a stopover, an open jaw, and one direction in flat bed business class.
The Idea
The idea for this trip maximizes three of Chase’s transfer partners: Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, and United. The trip takes advantage of:
- Virgin Atlantic’s cheap one way awards to London with very low fuel surcharges
- British Airways’ super cheap intra-Europe awards with no fuel surcharges
- United’s fairly priced business class awards between Europe and the United States and its great availability out of Brussels
Virgin Atlantic to London (18,000 Ultimate Rewards)
Virgin Atlantic flies from JFK and Newark (my home airport) to London-Heathrow daily with excellent award space in economy. There are fuel surcharges on the flight, but they’re pretty small in economy at $129 one way.
I recommend that you use Virgin Atlantic miles for one way flights in economy to London to dodge the bigger fuel surcharges on Upper Class flights and to dodge the huge taxes for returning from London to the United States.
I easily found award space in Virgin Atlantic economy from Newark to London for 17,500 miles + $134.60 on May 1. I’d need to transfer 18,000 Ultimate Rewards to Virgin Atlantic to book the flights (must transfer in increments of 1,000.)
Virgin Atlantic serves 11 North American destinations, all for less than 30,000 miles one way in economy, the going rate on other airlines.
British Airways to Copenhagen (5,000 Ultimate Rewards)
When most people think of British Airways Avios, they think of fuel surcharges, but British Airways does not impose fuel surcharges on its own flights within Europe. It doesn’t collect taxes either. It just collects a flat fee, $27.50 for economy flights, in addition to the tiny number of miles needed for short flights. Any flight with this icon will not have fuel surcharges.
I searched for award space from London to Copenhagen on May 7, and there is award space on several flights.
The flights cost only 4,500 Avios + $27.50. That would require the transfer of 5,000 Ultimate Rewards.
United home in Business Class (58,000 Ultimate Rewards)
United has amazing award space on its routes out of Brussels. I found this flight on May 20 with award space in every cabin.
I don’t mind United BusinessFirst, which features fully flat beds. I would need to transfer 58,000 Ultimate Rewards to United miles plus pay only $54 in taxes because Belgium is a country with very low aviation taxes.
The Whole Trip
The trip starts at my home airport of Newark and flies to London for six days. Then it moves on to Copenhagen. Thirteen days later, it returns from Brussels to Newark in Business Class.
There is no connection from Copenhagen to Brussels, so I would need to book separate flights or trains.
The total cost of the flights is 81,000 Ultimate Rewards + $216.50.
Of course, I can’t imagine myself away for that long, but it sure is fun playing around with the possibilities for now.
I’ve never flown Virgin Atlantic before (nor have I visited London), so that’s a strong possibility!
Tweaks
If you don’t live near Newark, that’s not a problem. You can fly Virgin Atlantic from other cities for the same number of miles or just a few thousand more. You can return from Brussels to anywhere in the United States except Hawaii for the same 57,500 United miles.
If you prefer to return in economy, you can use all your leftover Ultimate Rewards for Hyatt points for free hotel stays in Europe.
Curious to hear of other ideas as well. First… I need to settle on a destination!
Angelina
I am planning a similar trip for 2015. Using ultimate rewards pts. I am putting together a trip to Brussels, Dublin and returning to Newark from Scotland. It all looks doable on UAL metal for about 57,500 miles in business. We live in AZ but retraining to EWR so we can spend a week at the Jersey shore with family.
BTW, flew Vorgin from London to LAX last year. A nice flight but the best part was their lounge, The Playroom, in Heathrow. After spending a month in Europe I needed a haircut and they have a salon in the club, along with a full restaurant and bar. Very nice.
Had you searched for Virgin Atlantic space a week or two ago, VS had a sale! Less than 14000 miles EWR-LHR. I took advantage of this sale for a few trips to Europe next year! I know it’s economy but I’m ok with that for a 6-7 hour flight.
I’d also watch what is currently happening with the ebola outbreak. Only two major airlines are still flying to Liberia (Royal Air Maroc and Brussels Airlines). Of the two, only one is part of a major alliance and that is Brussels Airlines; which does make it a reality that transiting through BRU may pose as a danger if you’re in the wrong place a the wrong time.
I know your trip is still a year away but just putting it out there.
Bravo,
I love the way you look at miles…you are brilliant!
Can you confirm that the 3 mo. spending time starts not when you activate a card, but when they issue it.
How soon after reaching the spending are the miles usually available?
Once we know where we are going, would you consider helping us figure it all out…we have significant miles with avios, amex, united, marriott,
Is it ever wise to sell miles?
I much appreciate your blog!!!!!