European (Re)Union. Great Deals to Germany, Italy, and Switzerland with Miles or Cash

July 2021
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Deals from $2,070 or 100,000 miles.

We know you’re keener than sauerkraut to travel again, especially you Europhiles (and I’m one). Good news – we found some pockets of availability and opportunity for those raring to go to Western Europe sometime soon.

We found 20 routes with availability to Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, all bona fide bucket list busters or places to revisit for the tenth time if you get out much.

But despite this availability, fares are often high, so as you’d expect from FCF, we have some scenic workarounds to help you make the best of it.

The hills are alive

Generally speaking, high-priced Business Class destinations (meaning $3,400 to $6,200+) offer the best value for your points and miles. FCF published a special report on when it’s best to use your miles here.

It’s pretty much always the case that it’s hard to find great premium travel deals on the exact airline you want, for the exact dates you want, and for the exact route you want (do you ever win the lottery?). So we’ll show you what’s out there and you can take your best swing. Who knows, it might be a home run.

That said, we’ve reported many unprecedented mileage deals and flash fares over the past few months for travel to Europe here and here.

LOCK In Now, LUCK In Later

Many airlines allow fare holds that prevent you from missing that amazing fare find. This gives you time to do more research and then make the call. If so, buy the ticket; if not, cancel the hold. The best time to buy a ticket is when your hold fare is lower than the current “live” fare. For more information, read How to Lock in Amazing Premium Flash Fares Long Enough to Decide If They’re Right for You.

Germany

Wunderbar Deutschland. From the Brandenburg Gate to Oktoberfest, from bratwurstto Formula One, there’s something for everyone in Germany. As of June 20, 2021, residents of the United States are allowed to enter Germany (requirements here).

Here are a few charts with all the routes FCF has found discount award availability…

FCF's Treasure Map

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Cost to burn miles you have, buy the miles you don't, or just pay the published fare...

Cost to burn miles you have, buy the miles you don’t, or just pay the published fare…

Comparing Purchase Methods

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Italy

Ahhh, Italy. Preferito. Land of endless pastabilities. The food, the culture, the scenery, the Vespas. And now, availability, as this bene chart reveals...

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Comparing Purchase Methods

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When visiting Italy, you are required to present the COVID-19 Green Certificate showing that you have completed the prescribed anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination cycle at least 14 days prior, that you have recovered from COVID-19 (the certificate of recovery is valid for 180 days from the date of the first positive swab), OR that you have taken a negative molecular or antigen swab test in the 48 hours prior to entering Italy. Children under 6 are exempt.

Switzerland

If the cuckoo clocks or holey cheese don’t get you, the mountains and lonely goatherds surely will. It’s all the alp you’ll need to get over a travel-challenged year. Let’s get the cable car rolling with availability that includes…

FCF's Treasure Map

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Comparing Purchase Methods

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Travelers entering Switzerland by aircraft must present a negative PCR test. Children under 12 are exempt from testing.

Bridge Route Connections

Keep in mind that when using the available discounted long-haul award flight as a “bridge,” the connecting flight from the U.S. and/or international hub can be either booked in Business Class or economy, based on availability. If only economy is available on the short connecting flights, it’s no Katastrophe, as the most important part is getting the long-haul flight in the class you want first. More here on “If you don’t see your home airport or destination in an FCF report.”

Risk and Return

American, Delta, Emirates and United are currently offering a “travel fee waiver,” including for award flights. That means it won’t cost you anything to cancel or change your ticket. Read more about it here.

[["Airline","Business Class From\/To","Depart","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["American","Charlottte - Frankfurt","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug. to April<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug. to Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">March, April<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Charlotte - Munich","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov. to May<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov. to May<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Dallas - Frankfurt","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.,<\/span> Oct., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">March to May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug., Nov.,<\/span> April","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Sept., March to May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April, May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct.,<\/span> April"],["United","Chicago - Frankfurt","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Nov., Dec., March,<\/span> May","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","Jan., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov., Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan. to March,<\/span> May"],["#rowspan#","Denver - Frankfurt","Aug., Feb, March","","","","",""],["#rowspan#","Houston - Frankfurt","Aug., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","","Aug., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Houston - Munich","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Newark - Berlin","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov., Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May<\/span.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan. to April<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov. to May<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Newark - Frankfurt","","Feb.","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March, May<\/span>","March","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Newark - Munich","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Feb.,<\/span> March"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco - Frankfurt","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","","Jan.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","San Francisco - Munich","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> March","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","Feb."],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC - Munich","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","","Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">May<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan. to March<\/span>"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>
[["Airline","To\/From","Cost In Miles","Cost to Buy Miles When on Sale","Cost If Buying Miles","Regular Published Fares"],["American","Charlottte - Frankfurt","115,000","1.8 cents","$2,070","$3,702 "],["#rowspan#","Charlotte - Munich","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,975 "],["#rowspan#","Dallas - Frankfurt","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,593 "],["United","Chicago - Frankfurt","120,000","#rowspan#","$2,160 ","$4,031 "],["#rowspan#","Denver - Frankfurt","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$4,231 "],["#rowspan#","Houston - Frankfurt","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$4,031 "],["#rowspan#","Houston - Munich","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,868 "],["#rowspan#","Newark - Berlin","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,650 "],["#rowspan#","Newark - Frankfurt","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,681 "],["#rowspan#","Newark - Munich","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,668 "],["#rowspan#","San Francisco - Frankfurt","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$4,231 "],["#rowspan#","San Francisco - Munich","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$4,218 "],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC - Munich","120,000","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,968 "]]
[["Airline","From\/To","Class","Depart","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["American","New York - Milan","Business","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">March, April<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov. to Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">July, Aug.,<\/span> Sept., Oct., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July, May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov. to April<\/span>"],["Delta","New York - Milan","Business","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec., Feb.<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","New York - Rome","#rowspan#","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., <\/span><span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>"],["Emirates","New York - Milan","First","Feb.","Jan.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>","","Jan.","Feb., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March<\/span>"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>
[["Airline \/ Amex Partner","To\/From","Miles","Amex Mileage Cost","Cost to Buy Miles","Regular Published Fare"],["American \/ Cathay Pacific","New York - Milan","122,000","2.5 cents","$3,050 ","$6,192 "],["Delta \/ Virgin","New York - Milan","100,000","#rowspan#","$2,500 ","$3,448 "],["#rowspan#","New York - Rome","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,463 "],["Emirates\nFirst Class","New York - Milan","170,000","#rowspan#","$4,250 ","$6,192 "]]
[["Airline","Business Class From\/To","Depart","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["American","Philadelphia - Zurich","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.,<\/span> Feb., March, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">April<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">April, May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">April<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov., Dec.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.,<\/span> March"],["United","Newark - Zurich","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Aug., Feb., March<\/span>"],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC - Zurich","Aug., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">March<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Feb.<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb., March<\/span>"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>
[["Airline","To\/From","Cost In Miles","Cost to Buy Miles When on Sale","Ticket Cost When Buying Miles","Regular Published Fare"],["American","Philadelphia - Zurich","115,000","1.8 cents","$2,070 ","$3,702 "],["United","Newark - Zurich","120,000","#rowspan#","$2,160 ","$3,593 "],["#rowspan#","Washington, DC - Zurich","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","$3,893 "]]