Planning a trip abroad? Use points and miles to book these popular international flights in 2025

Using your hard-earned airline miles and credit card points can be confusing. When you’re traveling on popular international routes like New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), there are plenty of airlines, cabins and taxes to be aware of. As a result, knowing which airlines offer the most lucrative rewards is worth your while.

We searched for one-way tickets on some of the most popular international nonstop flights from the US to find out which programs offer the most attractive award prices. That said, many loyalty programs are moving away from fixed-value rewards charts in favor of variable-value rewards. Because of this, some of these award rates are introductory prices, while others are fixed prices for a specific flight.

Here’s a look at what we found. Note that prices and prize availability were accurate at the time of writing and may have changed by the time you read this.

Related: 7 fun places for the best flights

Book a flight from New York to London

The New York-to-London corridor is one of the most competitive and profitable international routes, with dozens of daily non-stop flights from many American and British airlines. Here are some options to redeem your points and miles to travel from New York to London.

American Airlines

British Airways

Delta Air Lines

• The economy: 28,000 Delta SkyMiles and $6
• Premium economy: 72,000 SkyMiles plus $6
• Business: 250,000 SkyMiles and $6

JetBlue

• The economy: 23,400 JetBlue TrueBlue points and $6
• Business: 152,200 TrueBlue points and $6

United Airlines

• The economy: 34,600 United MileagePlus miles and $5.60
• Premium economy: 50,000 United miles and $5.60
• Business: 127,500 United miles and $5.60

Virgin Atlantic

• The economy: 6,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points and $72
• Premium economy: 10,500 Virgin points plus $102
• Business: 57,500 Virgin points plus $455

Related: The complete guide to flying to London with points and miles

Book a flight from Honolulu to Tokyo

Flights between Tokyo’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND) have largely returned to their pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.

There are also flights from HNL to other airports in Japan, such as Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO). Consider checking out these routes if you’re having trouble finding availability.

Here are some of the best ways to redeem your points and miles from Hawaii to Japan.

Delta Air Lines

• The economy: 34,000 SkyMiles plus $6
• Premium economy: 58,000 SkyMiles plus $6
• Business: 190,000 SkyMiles and $6

Hawaiian Airlines

• The economy: 35,000 Mileage Plan miles plus $6, 37,500 AAdvantage miles plus $6, or 40,000 HawaiianMiles plus $6
• Business: 65,000 AAdvantage miles plus $6

Japan Airlines

• The economy: 30,000 Mileage Plan miles plus $19
• Premium economy: 40,000 Mileage Plan miles plus $19

Related: Save money: How to book flights to Hawaii using points and miles

Book a flight from New York to Toronto

Many people travel regularly from JFK to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) for work or pleasure. Be careful here – as we mentioned earlier, some of these awards have variable pricing, which means you can get lower or higher award prices depending on your travel dates. This route is susceptible to fluctuating prices during conferences and other major events in New York and Toronto.

Air Canada

• The economy: 10,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points and $30
• Business: 16,400 Aeroplan points and $30

American Airlines

• The economy: 7,500 AAdvantage miles and $6
• Business: 15,000 AAdvantage miles plus $6

Delta Air Lines

• The economy: 8,500 SkyMiles plus $6
• Business: 24,500 SkyMiles plus $6

United Airlines

• The economy: 15,000 United miles and $6
• Business: 36,700 United miles and $6

Related: How to use Aeroplan points for maximum value

Book a flight from New York to Paris

Air France is a great way to fly from New York (and other major US cities) to Paris, as it operates multiple daily flights between the two cities. Its loyalty program – Air France-KLM Flying Blue – often offers rock-bottom prices to Paris from various US cities through its monthly Promo awards. However, standard award rates have recently been reduced in value.

Here’s what to expect when you use points and miles to fly from New York to Paris.

Air France

• The economy: 25,000 Flying Blue miles and $94
• Premium economy: 40,000 Flying Blue miles and $145
• Business: 66,000 Flying Blue miles and $217

American Airlines

• The economy: 19,000 AAdvantage miles and $6
• Premium economy: 39,000 AAdvantage miles and $6
• Business: 56,000 AAdvantage miles and $6

Delta Air Lines

• The economy: 26,500 Flying Blue miles plus $33, or 33,000 SkyMiles plus $6
• Premium economy: 98,000 Delta SkyMiles and $6
• Business: 225,000 Delta SkyMiles and $6

United Airlines

• The economy: 34,600 United miles and $6
• Premium economy: 62,100 United miles and $6
• Business: 142,000 United miles and $6

Related: How points and miles made my son’s Paris travel dreams come true

Book a flight from New York to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is another popular international destination from New York. As with Toronto, flights on this route are often subject to variable pricing, so award prices for your travel dates can vary greatly.

Here are some options for using points and miles to fly between JFK and Santo Domingo’s Las Americas International Airport (SDQ).

Delta Air Lines

• The economy: 11,000 SkyMiles and $54
• Business: 35,000 SkyMiles plus $54

JetBlue

• The economy: 11,200 TrueBlue points and $54
• Business: Not provided for this route

United Airlines

• The economy: 12,200 United miles and $54
• Business: 35,000 United miles and $54

Related: The best all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic

Book a flight from Los Angeles to Sydney

With the world-famous Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and a luxurious lifestyle, Sydney has long been a popular choice for travelers to the Down Under. Here are some of the most affordable flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Sydney Airport (SYD).

American Airlines

• The economy: 35,000 AAdvantage miles plus $25, or 42,500 Mileage Plan miles plus $38

Delta Air Lines

• The economy: 33,000 SkyMiles plus $37
• Premium economy: 145,000 SkyMiles and $37
• Business: 410,000 SkyMiles and $37

Qantas

• The economy: 40,000 AAdvantage miles plus $31, 41,900 Qantas Frequent Flyer points plus $95, or 42,500 Mileage Plan miles plus $44

United Airlines

• The economy: 50,300 United miles and $32
• Premium economy: 70,000 United miles and $32
• Business: 200,000 United miles and $32

Related: Best yachts in Australia and New Zealand

Book a flight from Miami to Buenos Aires, Argentina

Although it has historically been difficult to use points and miles to fly on Argentina’s flag carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas is a SkyTeam member. Therefore, Air France-KLM Flying Blue members can use Flying Blue miles for tickets from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Buenos Aires’ Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). However, award prices on its flights tend to be lower, so consider sticking with American Airlines.

Aerolineas Argentinas

• The economy: 35,500 Flying Blue miles and $33
• Business: Limited prize space, if any

American Airlines

• The economy: 23,500 AAdvantage miles and $6
• Premium economy: 38,000 AAdvantage miles and $6
• Business: 110,500 AAdvantage miles and $6
• First of all: 120,500 AAdvantage miles plus $6

Related: TPG’s favorite hotels in Latin America

Book a flight from San Francisco to Singapore

Despite the 16-hour marathon flight, there are usually four daily flights to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Singapore Airlines

• The economy: 42,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles plus $6, or 60,000 Aeroplan points plus $57
• Business: 87,500 Aeroplan points and $57

United Airlines

• The economy: 50,700 United miles plus $6, or 60,000 Aeroplan points plus $56.49
• Premium economy: 95,000 United miles and $6
• Business: 87,500 Aeroplan points and $57

Related: Is United Polaris business class worth going to Singapore?

Bottom line

As you can see, loyalty programs can charge different prices for the same route. Some programs face higher fuel costs that can ruin what would otherwise be a good use of points and miles. In some cases, one loyalty program may charge more for a premium economy seat than another program charges for a premium business class seat on the same route. It pays to know your options.

Flexibility with travel dates, airports and airlines is key to successful award redemption. Earning transferable points can give you more flexibility, allowing you to transfer to the best program for your specific flight. Just remember that transfers are irreversible, so make sure your desired dates have award space before transferring your points.

If you can’t find an award seat, consider setting up an alert with ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures) so you’ll be notified when an award seat becomes available.