The best ways to travel to Italy with points and miles
Between pasta, pizza, wine, beaches, designer stores and some of the world's fastest supercars, Italy is the perfect place for both a relaxing getaway and a jam-packed adventure, no matter your interests.You can visit the historical sights in Rome, the canals in Venice and the famous art museums in Florence. And if high fashion is your thing, you can't miss Milan's high-end shopping.All three of the U.S. legacy carriers fly to Italy, and there is even a cool fifth-freedom route to make your trip a little more exciting. Some U.S. airlines have also started flying to smaller Italian cities. For example, United Airlines flies to Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO) and Delta Air Lines flies to Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport (CTA) in Catania.Today, we'll look at the best ways to travel to and stay in Italy using your points and miles.Booking American Airlines flights to ItalyZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYAmerican Airlines serves Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), Silvio Berlusconi Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Naples International Airport (NAP) and Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) from various U.S. hub airports. Italy is one of American's largest markets in Europe, with the airline serving the following routes (note some may be seasonal):Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)FCODallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)FCOVCEO'Hare International Airport (ORD)NAPFCOJohn F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)FCOMXPMiami International Airport (MIA)FCOPhiladelphia International Airport (PHL)NAPMXPFCOVCEAmerican Airlines' business-class product isn't the most luxurious way to fly from the U.S. to Italy, but you'll enjoy predictable service and lie-flat seats. You have a handful of options for booking these flights with miles, including with American's own AAdvantage loyalty program.The program uses dynamic pricing to price its flights, meaning that the price changes day-to-day depending on when you book, where you fly and other factors. While this means it may require a ton of miles to book American flights to Italy on some days, you can get a reasonable deal on off-peak dates.For example, on a random date next February, you can book a one-way, business-class flight from PHL to FCO for 65,000 American miles. Meanwhile, economy costs 19,000 miles and premium economy costs 39,000 miles on this date. You'll pay just $5.60 in taxes and fees on flights from the U.S. to Italy.AMERICAN AIRLINESUnfortunately, earning American miles isn't easy. You can earn them when you fly with American or its partner airlines, use its cobranded credit cards and leverage other partnerships.If saver award space is available, you can also book with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. This Oneworld loyalty program uses a distance-based award chart, so shorter flights cost fewer points. The Philadelphia-to-Rome flight mentioned previously cost 27,500, 35,000 and 55,000 miles for economy, premium economy and business class, respectively. There's an additional $19 in taxes and fees.ALASKA AIRLINESAlaska Airlines miles can also be tough to earn. Like AAdvantage, you can earn them by flying with Alaska and its partners, using its cobranded credit cards or spending with other partners. However, you can transfer Bilt Rewards points to Alaska at a 1:1 transfer ratio.Booking with Qantas Frequent Flyer is a reasonable deal if you want to redeem transferable points. Like Alaska Mileage Plan, the price will vary based on how long your desired route is. Using Philadelphia to Rome as an example, you can expect to spend 25,200, 51,300 or 68,400 miles for economy, premium economy and business class, respectively. There's an additional $239 in taxes and fees.QANTASYou can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou points to Qantas Frequent Flyer, all at a 1:1 transfer ratio. You can also earn points by crediting Qantas and partner flights to the loyalty program.Booking Delta Air Lines flights to ItalyZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYDelta Air Lines has an extensive route network to Italy, including seasonal routes to smaller Italian cities. Here's a look at all the routes that Delta currently operates, but note that some may only operate seasonally.Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)MXPNAPFCOVCEJohn F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)MXPNAPCTAFCOVCEMinneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)FCOBoston Logan International Airport (BOS)MXPFCOSeattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)FCODetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)FCOThe Delta One business cabin is often seen as one of the better products among U.S. airlines, with recently refreshed cabins on select planes. Regardless of the Delta plane you fly from the U.S. to Italy, you can expect good service, a lie-flat seat and access to the Delta One lounge if flying from an eligible airport.Delta SkyMiles prices all of its awards dynamically, and tickets in Delta One are often very expensive. For example, this flight from JFK to FCO costs as few as 29,000 SkyMiles in economy but as many as 255,000 in Delta One. However, these prices drop by 15% if you have an eligible Delta cobranded American Express card, thanks to the TakeOff 15 benefit. Taxes and fees are just $6.DELTA AIR LINESEarn Delta SkyMiles by using Delta's suite of cobranded American Express credit cards or by flying with Delta and its partners. You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 transfer ratio.You may be able to find a better deal if you book with Air France-KLM Flying Blue. This program also uses dynamic pricing for award tickets, but prices tend to be more reasonable than those of Delta SkyMiles. Finding Delta One space through Flying Blue is almost impossible, but you can often book Main Cabin economy tickets for under 30,000 points one-way, plus $33 in taxes and fees.AIR FRANCEEarning Flying Blue miles is remarkably easy. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards points to Flying Blue at a 1:1 transfer ratio.Booking Emirates flights to ItalyBEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUYEmirates offers a fifth-freedom flight from JFK to MXP aboard its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. This is the most luxurious way to fly to Milan in first or business class, thanks to Emirates' top-notch onboard service and over-the-top amenities in first class. Think an in-seat minibar and even an onboard shower in first class.Emirates Skywards recently restricted first-class award tickets to those with Emirates elite status. However, those without status can still book economy, premium economy and business-class award tickets — albeit at relatively high prices. You'll pay 17,500 miles and $49.50 for an economy ticket and 87,000 and $101.50 for a one-way business-class ticket from the U.S. to Italy.EMIRATESYou can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou points to Emirates Skywards. However, most transferable point programs will soon devalue their transfer rates to Emirates Skywards, so watch out.Further, Qantas and Emirates have a nonalliance partnership that offers decent rates on Emirates flights. The biggest advantage of booking Emirates flights through Qantas, however, is that the program doesn't restrict first-class award bookings to elite members. You'll pay 25,200, 75,000, or 107,700 miles for a one-way ticket on this route in economy, business class and first class, respectively. Taxes and fees range between $50 and $250 each way.QANTASAs mentioned earlier, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou points to Qantas Frequent Flyer. These transfers all process at a 1:1 transfer ratio.Booking ITA flights to ItalyZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYITA is Italy's flag carrier. It was recently acquired by Lufthansa Group and left SkyTeam, with plans to join Star Alliance soon. However, the airline has maintained partnerships with several loyalty programs that offer reasonable redemption rates.ITA Airways offers flights from Rome to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The airline also operates long-haul flights to Canada and various cities in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America.Now for the bad news: Finding ITA business-class award space is nearly impossible right now. After checking Seats.aero, we found no business-class seats available from the U.S. to Europe (or vice versa) through the end of the booking calendar. Thankfully, economy award space is plentiful.Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is generally your best bet for booking ITA Airways flights with transferable points. You'll pay 25,500 miles for an economy flight from the East Coast to Italy and 37,000 miles for a flight from the West Coast to Italy, plus under $100 in taxes and fees.VIRGIN ATLANTICYou can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio.Further, Air France-KLM Flying Blue maintains a partnership with ITA Airways, but you'll pay more for flights. ITA Airways economy flights from the U.S. to Italy start at 31,500 miles one-way. Further, you'll pay over $200 in taxes and fees. Flying Blue has the same transfer partners as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.AIR FRANCEBooking United Airlines flights to ItalyERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUYUnited Airlines also operates an extensive route network from the U.S. to Italy, including seasonal routes to some smaller Italian cities. Here's a look at all of the Chicago-based airline's routes to Italy, but note that some may not operate year-round.Denver International Airport (DEN)FCONewark Liberty International Airport (EWR)MXPNAPPMOFCOVCEChicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)MXPFCOSan Francisco International Airport (SFO)FCODulles International Airport (IAD)FCOVCEUnited's long-haul fleet is outfitted with the carrier's Polaris business-class seats, which offer lie-flat beds and direct aisle access on most planes. You'll also find upgraded dining and Saks Fifth Avenue-branded bedding, which we've found to be super comfortable.United MileagePlus uses dynamic pricing for award flights, with one-way economy awards usually starting at 20,500 miles, premium economy at 50,000 miles and business class at 80,000 miles. United adds minimal taxes and fees, with flights departing the U.S. adding just $5.60. Those with select United cobranded credit cards or United Premier elite status may get a mileage discount, too.UNITED AIRLINESYou can transfer Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 transfer ratio. You can also earn with United's extensive collection of cobranded credit cards or by flying with United and its partners.Another good option for booking United flights to Italy is Air Canada Aeroplan. This program now has dynamic pricing for United award tickets, but you'll generally pay 40,000 points for an economy ticket or 80,000 points for a business-class ticket, plus $60 to $100 in taxes and fees.AIR CANADAThe upside to booking with Air Canada Aeroplan is how easy it is to earn Aeroplan points. American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Air Canada also has a U.S. cobranded credit card that you can use to earn Aeroplan points.The best points hotels in ItalyROME CAVALIERI, A WALDORF ASTORIA HOTEL/FACEBOOKItaly is full of great points hotels from all major loyalty programs, especially in major cities like Rome, Venice and Milan. Here's a look at some of our favorites alongside their award pricing:The Tribune Hotel, Rome: Between 17,000 and 23,000 World of Hyatt points per night.Park Hyatt Milan: Between 35,000 and 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.Hilton Milan: From 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night.Waldorf Astoria Rome Cavalieri: From 85,000 Hilton Honors points per night.Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice: From 62,000 Hilton Honors points per night.The St. Regis Venice: From 103,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.AC Hotel Milano: From 23,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.Related: The 25 best hotels in Rome to book for your Italian holidayCredit cards to bring to ItalyItaly uses the euro, so it's essential to bring a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees when you spend abroad. This will save you money and let you earn points toward your next trip.Here are some cards to consider:Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees)Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardCiti Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees)Related: 9 types of cards you should pack for your next trip abroadBottom lineItaly is a top destination for American travelers — and it's easy to see why. From fantastic food and wine to art and cultural experiences, there's something for everyone. Plus, there are so many flights between the U.S. and Italy on various airlines.Booking your next trip to Italy with points and miles can save you thousands of dollars on airfare and hotels, especially when booking business-class seats and high-end hotels. Bookmark this guide and refer to it the next time your travel plans call for a trip to Italy.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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