I’ve always struggled when trying to figure out where to start searching for award flights. So I decided to begin compiling a list of the top destinations around the world that includes common departure airports from the US. If you’d like me to add a specific travel destination, comment below or drop a comment in my Facebook Group!
| Credit Card Company | Airline/Alliance | Country/City | Approx. Miles Needed (Economy) | Approx. Miles Needed (Business) | Transfer Timing | Departure Airports (USA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | United (Star Alliance) | Japan (Tokyo) | 35,000 | 70,000 | Instant | LAX, SFO, SEA, ORD, JFK |
| Amex Membership Rewards | ANA (Star Alliance) | Japan (Tokyo) | 55,000 | 88,000 | 1-3 days | LAX, SFO, SEA, ORD, JFK |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Qatar Airways (Oneworld) | Maldives (Male) | 40,000 | 75,000 | 1-2 days | ATL, JFK, ORD, IAH, DFW |
| Capital One | Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance) | Turkey (Istanbul) | 33,000 | 63,000 | Same day | ORD, JFK, LAX, MIA |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | Emirates (non-alliance) | UAE (Dubai) | 38,000 | 72,500 | Instant | JFK, LAX, BOS, DFW, ATL |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Air France/KLM (SkyTeam) | France (Paris) | 25,000 | 53,000 | Instant | JFK, BOS, ORD, ATL, MIA |
| Citi ThankYou Points | British Airways (Oneworld) | UK (London) | 20,000 | 50,000 | Same day | JFK, BOS, ORD, LAX, SFO |
| Capital One | Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance) | Singapore | 35,000 | 88,000 | 1-2 days | LAX, SFO, SEA, JFK |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | United (Star Alliance) | Australia (Sydney) | 40,000 | 80,000 | Instant | LAX, SFO, DFW, HNL |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Qantas (Oneworld) | Australia (Sydney) | 41,500 | 75,000 | 1-2 days | LAX, SFO, DFW, HNL |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | United (Star Alliance) | Italy (Rome) | 30,000 | 60,000 | Instant | JFK, BOS, ORD, MIA, ATL |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Air France/KLM (SkyTeam) | Italy (Rome) | 35,000 | 62,500 | Instant | JFK, BOS, ORD, ATL, MIA |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Lufthansa (Star Alliance) | Germany (Frankfurt) | 30,000 | 55,000 | 1-2 days | JFK, ORD, ATL, IAD |
| Capital One | Virgin Atlantic (non-alliance) | South Africa (Johannesburg) | 50,000 | 95,000 | 1-3 days | JFK, ATL, IAD |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | United (Star Alliance) | Thailand (Bangkok) | 40,000 | 75,000 | Instant | LAX, SFO, JFK, SEA |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Cathay Pacific (Oneworld) | Thailand (Bangkok) | 45,000 | 85,000 | 1-2 days | JFK, LAX, BOS |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance) | Egypt (Cairo) | 35,000 | 70,000 | 1-2 days | JFK, ORD, ATL |
| Capital One | Qatar Airways (Oneworld) | Qatar (Doha) | 40,000 | 75,000 | 1-3 days | JFK, DFW, ATL |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | Emirates (non-alliance) | Seychelles (Mahe) | 65,000 | 100,000 | Instant | JFK, LAX, BOS |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance) | Indonesia (Bali) | 38,000 | 88,000 | 1-2 days | LAX, SFO, SEA, JFK |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance) | Morocco (Casablanca) | 35,000 | 70,000 | 1-2 days | JFK, BOS, ATL, ORD |
| Capital One | Qatar Airways (Oneworld) | Kenya (Nairobi) | 45,000 | 85,000 | 1-3 days | JFK, ATL, DFW |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | United (Star Alliance) | Argentina (Buenos Aires) | 40,000 | 80,000 | Instant | MIA, ATL, IAH, JFK |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Air France/KLM (SkyTeam) | Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) | 35,000 | 75,000 | Instant | MIA, ATL, JFK |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Avianca (Star Alliance) | Colombia (Bogota) | 20,000 | 50,000 | 1-2 days | MIA, ATL, IAH |
| Capital One | British Airways (Oneworld) | Mexico (Cancun) | 12,500 | 30,000 | Same day | MIA, DFW, ATL, ORD |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | United (Star Alliance) | Switzerland (Zurich) | 30,000 | 55,000 | Instant | JFK, ORD, BOS, MIA |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Emirates (non-alliance) | New Zealand (Auckland) | 60,000 | 100,000 | 1-2 days | LAX, SFO, HNL |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Qatar Airways (Oneworld) | Maldives (Male) | 40,000 | 75,000 | 1-2 days | ATL, JFK, ORD, DFW |
| Capital One | Qatar Airways (Oneworld) | Vietnam (Hanoi) | 40,000 | 85,000 | 1-2 days | JFK, SFO, SEA |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance) | Greece (Athens) | 30,000 | 60,000 | Instant | JFK, BOS, ORD |
| Amex Membership Rewards | British Airways (Oneworld) | Spain (Barcelona) | 25,000 | 53,000 | 1-3 days | JFK, BOS, ATL |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Lufthansa (Star Alliance) | Austria (Vienna) | 30,000 | 60,000 | 1-2 days | JFK, ORD, BOS |
| Capital One | Virgin Atlantic (non-alliance) | India (Delhi) | 45,000 | 85,000 | Same day | JFK, SFO, ORD |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | Emirates (non-alliance) | Portugal (Lisbon) | 25,000 | 50,000 | Instant | JFK, BOS, ATL |
| Amex Membership Rewards | Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance) | South Korea (Seoul) | 35,000 | 88,000 | 1-2 days | LAX, SFO, SEA |
| Citi ThankYou Points | Air France/KLM (SkyTeam) | Iceland (Reykjavik) | 25,000 | 55,000 | 1-3 days | JFK, BOS, MIA |
| Capital One | Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance) | Philippines (Manila) | 45,000 | 85,000 | Same day | LAX, SEA, JFK |