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!
How to Use This Guide
The table below is organized by destination, but the real magic is in matching the credit card points you already have to the transfer partner that gets you there cheapest. Before you transfer anything, always confirm award availability directly with the operating airline — transferring points is a one-way street, so you want to know the seat is bookable before you move a single mile.
A few things to keep in mind as you scan the list:
- Mileage numbers are one-way in most cases — always double the number for round-trip pricing unless the program prices round-trips separately (British Airways Avios, for example, prices each leg individually).
- Transfer timing matters more than you’d think. If a program transfers “instantly,” you can grab an award seat the moment you spot it. Programs with 1–3 day transfer times (like Amex to ANA or Singapore Airlines) mean you need to have miles pre-positioned or accept that the seat may vanish while you wait.
- Watch for transfer bonuses. A 25%–30% bonus can turn a “meh” redemption into a great one — especially on programs that rarely offer them, like ANA or Singapore KrisFlyer.
- Taxes and fuel surcharges vary wildly. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic pass through hefty fuel surcharges on transatlantic flights, while Turkish Airlines, ANA, and Air Canada Aeroplan typically don’t.
If you’re brand new to this whole world, start with our complete points & miles masterclass before you transfer anything — it walks through the exact order of operations for turning credit card points into free flights.
The Full Transfer Partner Destination Table
| 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 |
Before you book: check the award space
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Asia: The Sweet-Spot Powerhouse
Asia is where transfer partners consistently produce the biggest jaw-drops. A long-haul business class seat to Tokyo, Bangkok, or Singapore in economy pricing? That’s the whole reason we play this game.
Japan (Tokyo)
Two solid paths get you to Tokyo. United MileagePlus (via Chase) prices Japan awards at 35K economy / 70K business one-way — and because Chase transfers to United instantly, you can act the moment you find availability out of LAX, SFO, SEA, ORD, or JFK. ANA Mileage Club (via Amex) is a phenomenal round-trip value at 88K in business class, but it prices round-trip only and has a 1–3 day transfer window, which is a real constraint on hot dates. If you want to plan the trip itself, the official JNTO travel guide is the definitive resource for visa info, seasonal weather, and regional itineraries.
Curious what the flight itself is actually like in the pointy end? I broke down my JAL Business Class A350-1000 review from Haneda to Dallas if you want a feel for the product before committing miles.
Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia & the Philippines
Southeast Asia is where United’s 40K/75K award pricing to Bangkok really shines, especially with instant Chase transfers from LAX, SFO, JFK, or SEA. If you’re chasing Bali, Amex to Singapore KrisFlyer (38K economy / 88K business) is your play, and you’ll fly Singapore’s beautifully-appointed A380 or 787 product with a layover in SIN. For Hanoi, Capital One to Qatar Airways gets you on a Qsuite for 85K one-way business — one of the best-in-class hard products in the sky.
South Korea & Singapore
Seoul via Singapore KrisFlyer (Amex) is 35K economy — a genuine steal from LAX, SFO, or SEA. Singapore itself is 88K business one-way from the West Coast on the Singapore Airlines A380, and while transfer times aren’t instant, the product justifies the wait.
Europe: The Everyman Redemption
Europe is where beginners score their first big wins. Most transatlantic awards run 20K–30K economy one-way, and business class hovers around 50K–63K — cheaper than a round-trip domestic ticket often costs in cash.
Paris, Rome, Barcelona & Lisbon
Air France/KLM Flying Blue (Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Citi all transfer) is the workhorse for Western Europe. Paris at 25K/53K, Rome at 35K/62.5K, and monthly Promo Rewards regularly slash those numbers by 20–25%. British Airways Avios (Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi) works beautifully for shorter flights out of the Northeast — Barcelona at 25K economy from JFK or BOS is a strong redemption.
London
London is the exception that proves the rule: British Airways Avios pricing looks fantastic (20K/50K), but the fuel surcharges on BA metal to LHR are punishing — often $500–$1,000+ in cash on business class. Aer Lingus (also Avios) via DUB avoids most of those surcharges, or use Virgin Atlantic (Capital One, Amex, Citi, Chase) on Delta metal to LHR for saner taxes.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland & Greece
Lufthansa (via Citi to Lufthansa Miles & More) to Frankfurt or Vienna is 30K/55K one-way, though Lufthansa First Class availability is famously hard to book more than 15 days out. Turkish Airlines (Capital One, Citi) to Athens at 30K economy / 60K business is arguably the single best sweet spot in this table if you can find phone-agent availability. Zurich via United is another 30K/55K value from JFK, ORD, BOS, or MIA.
Iceland
Reykjavik via Flying Blue (Citi, Amex, Chase, Capital One) at 25K/55K on Icelandair or KLM is a nice value if you’re targeting a Northern Lights or Ring Road trip out of JFK, BOS, or MIA.
One thing to do before moving any points: transfers are one-way and final, so confirm the award exists first. Check availability on Seats.aero for your dates, then transfer — not the other way round.
What that balance actually books
Earning the points is the easy part. Whether they turn into a seat depends on flight award space, which no transfer chart or earning guide will tell you. Seats.aero searches every major program at once so you can see what your balance books on real dates.
Middle East & Africa: The Business Class Playground
UAE, Qatar & Turkey
Dubai on Emirates (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi) at 72.5K one-way business class puts you on the Emirates A380 with the onboard bar and shower suites. Doha on Qatar Airways Qsuite (Capital One, Citi) at 75K one-way is arguably the best business-class hard product flying today.
Istanbul via Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (Capital One, Citi) is a phenomenal 63K in business — and Turkish’s onboard chef service is a legit differentiator. If you’re planning the ground portion, the official Go Türkiye tourism site is a good starting point for Istanbul, Cappadocia, and coastal itineraries.
Egypt, Morocco & Kenya
Turkish Airlines is your friend for both Cairo and Casablanca — 70K business one-way with a stopover in IST if you want to squeeze in a bonus destination. For Nairobi, Qatar Airways via DOH at 85K business is a spectacular way to reach East Africa.
South Africa, Seychelles & Maldives
Johannesburg on Virgin Atlantic (Capital One, Amex, Citi, Chase) is 95K business one-way, and Virgin frequently runs 30% transfer bonuses that bring the effective cost down significantly. Seychelles on Emirates at 100K is the splurge, and Male on Qatar Qsuite at 75K one-way is honestly the best way to reach the Maldives from anywhere in the US.
Oceania: Long Hauls Worth the Points
Sydney via United (Chase) at 80K business one-way is a rare all-year available saver on 14-hour flights out of LAX, SFO, DFW, or HNL. Qantas via Amex Membership Rewards is 75K business one-way but frequently prints last-minute award seats within the T-14 window. Auckland via Emirates at 100K business is heavy, but it’s one of the few reliable paths to New Zealand from the West Coast.
The Americas: Short Hops and Long Reaches
Cancun at 12.5K/30K on British Airways Avios (Capital One) is the cheapest redemption in the whole table — perfect for a long weekend and a great way to burn a smaller Avios balance. Bogota via Avianca LifeMiles (Citi) at 20K economy is another beginner-friendly value out of MIA, ATL, or IAH.
For deeper South America — Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro — United (via Chase) and Flying Blue (via Amex) both land in the 75K–80K business class range one-way.
Tips Before You Transfer
- Search award availability first, transfer second. Use the airline’s own website to confirm the exact seat, date, and cabin before moving points. Use United.com to search Star Alliance, AA.com or Qatar.com for Oneworld, and Flying Blue for SkyTeam.
- Watch monthly transfer bonuses. A 25%–30% bonus can turn 80K into 60K required — check our current transfer bonus guide to see which programs are bonusing right now before you plan around one.
- Don’t sleep on the T-14 window. Award inventory often dumps into space 2 weeks out — a decent chunk of last-minute business class opens up in that final window if you’re flexible.
- Business class often beats cash economy per dollar. A 70K point transfer that would cost $8,000+ in cash is a much higher cents-per-point value than a 30K economy ticket that would cost $700 cash. If you’re going to burn points, burn them where they multiply the most — the best business class sweet spots guide has current picks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which credit card transfer program is the most flexible for international award flights?
Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards are the two most flexible currencies because they transfer to the widest mix of Star Alliance, Oneworld, SkyTeam, and non-alliance partners (like Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, and Air France/KLM). Capital One and Citi ThankYou are close behind — Capital One especially shines because it transfers to Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways, two of the best sweet spots on this list.
Should I transfer points to an airline before I find award availability?
No — never transfer speculatively. Point transfers are almost always one-way and irreversible. Confirm you can see and hold (or immediately book) the specific award seat you want on the airline’s own website before you move a single mile. If the transfer isn’t instant (ANA, Singapore, Cathay), you accept some risk that the seat may vanish before your miles arrive.
Do these mileage numbers include taxes and fuel surcharges?
No. The numbers in the table are award mileage only. Cash taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges vary dramatically by airline. Turkish, ANA, and Air Canada Aeroplan tend to be low ($50–$150 for international economy). British Airways and Virgin Atlantic can be brutal, sometimes exceeding $700–$1,000 in surcharges on transatlantic business class. Always check the total taxes at the final booking step.
What’s the difference between “instant” and “1–3 day” transfer times?
Instant transfers (Chase to United, Air France, Emirates; Capital One to Turkish; Citi to Virgin Atlantic) let you grab an award seat the moment you see it, which is critical for hot dates and Star Alliance partner space. Programs with 1–3 day transfer times (ANA, Singapore KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific, Aeroplan in some cases) require either pre-positioned miles in the account or a willingness to accept that the seat may be gone by the time your transfer lands.
How many points do I need to get started booking international award flights?
You can book Cancun round-trip on British Airways Avios for as little as 25K total, and a one-way to Europe in economy runs 20K–30K. That means a single Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture welcome bonus (typically 60K–75K points) is genuinely enough to fund a real international trip. Start with one card, hit the minimum spend, and use the table above to plan the destination around the points you actually have.
If there’s a destination you’d like me to add — or a specific route pairing you’re trying to book — drop a comment below or in the Facebook Group and I’ll dig into it.
