The 11 Best Ways to Fly Business Class to Europe on Points

Amongst points collectors, flying in business class to Europe remains one of the most popular travel objectives. After all, Europe is always a great destination to visit year-round, since it offers so much diversity in a relatively small geographical area.

In this article, we’ll outline the best airlines for redeeming points for a luxurious flight across the Atlantic. For each airline, we’ll look at ideal points currency to use, which routes to search for, and the general availability patterns.

What ranks a transatlantic airline among the “best”? Well, all of the airlines listed alphabetically here allow you to fly directly from North America across the Atlantic in a lie-flat seat, in such a way that provides a good value for miles that you can easily collect.

1. Air Canada

Air Canada offers Canadians the most options for flights to Europe with direct flights from hubs in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. If you’re travelling from the United States, it’ll be an easy connection to one of the Canadian hubs before heading onwards.

Most of the long-haul routes offer lie-flat pods in Air Canada Signature Class, meaning that you’ll be entirely comfortable for the ride across the Atlantic.

The easiest way to earn and redeem points for flights with Air Canada is with Aeroplan points. 

Aeroplan points may be earned by transferring on a 1:1 ratio from American Express Membership Rewards or through one of many co-branded credit cards, such as the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card.

In the United States, Aeroplan is a transfer partner of American Express US Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Chase Ultimate Rewards. Furthermore, there’s the Chase Aeroplan Card, which comes with many unique features.

Flights to Europe are priced in four distance-based bands on Aeroplan’s North America–Atlantic chart.

When redeeming for business class flights with Aeroplan, you’ll need to consider both the actual distance flown and the dynamic price.

Many flights to Europe from Toronto or Montreal fall within the first distance band of 0–4,000 miles. Dublin, London, Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon all clock in at fewer than 4,000 miles, too.

With dynamic pricing, you may be able to book any of these routes for 60,000 Aeroplan points in Air Canada Signature Class, but you may also see the cost rise to the other end of the spectrum at 160,000 Aeroplan points or more.

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