Europe Award Flights Home - Need Advice!
Aug 29, 2014, 12:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Europe Award Flights Home - Need Advice!
Need to get from ATH to JFK, want to fly first class (or a really nice business class) for the longest possible part of that, and I know that most (if not all) intra-Europe flights will be economy only. Anybody have ideas on what the shortest intra-Europe flight would be to get me to a city that I could fly directly back to NY from (on an award)? I have more than enough points with either Chase or Amex to transfer to various programs, and 60k United miles as well.
I should add that we're already getting to Europe via Singapore Suites award, so I don't really need to do something THAT extravagant on the way back (although if it makes sense points-wise, I suppose why not).
I should add that we're already getting to Europe via Singapore Suites award, so I don't really need to do something THAT extravagant on the way back (although if it makes sense points-wise, I suppose why not).
Aug 29, 2014, 12:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Marriott Gold
Posts: 952
ATH-IST-JFK on TK (via Amex/UR to UA or AP)? Really nice business class with a chef on board. Probably one of the shortest routings in Euro business (334 miles, 1h30m) before transferring to International Business - and TK often flies proper "business" (pretty much domestic US first) class to their short-haul Euro destinations.
ATH-DOH-JFK on QR (BA points via Amex/UR), ATH-FRA/MUC-JFK on LH (via Amex points to either Aeroplan or UA), ATH-FRA-JFK on SQ F or J for the FRA-JFK (SQ points via Amex/UR) part are all possibilities.
ATH-DOH-JFK on QR (BA points via Amex/UR), ATH-FRA/MUC-JFK on LH (via Amex points to either Aeroplan or UA), ATH-FRA-JFK on SQ F or J for the FRA-JFK (SQ points via Amex/UR) part are all possibilities.
Aug 29, 2014, 1:02 pm
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
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But until next year, DL will charge the roundtrip mileage for a one-way award.
Originally Posted by 84fiero
DL has a non-stop ATH-JFK, transfer from MR points.
Aug 29, 2014, 1:30 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Any good short alternatives that don't route through a middle-eastern (i.e. potentially non-American-friendly) country? I know Turkey is technically partially in Europe, but there is a fair amount of unrest there and anti-American sentiment, and I had been considering booking a long layover and exploring whatever city I transfer in. Not sure I really want to do that in Istanbul at the moment.
Aug 29, 2014, 1:48 pm
#7
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Just look at the ATH airport Wikipedia entry for a list of all cities with nonstop service from ATH. If you're not willing to go via IST, then LH via Germany is probably your best bet, although ATH-Germany is a considerably longer flight than ATH-IST.
Just look at the ATH airport Wikipedia entry for a list of all cities with nonstop service from ATH. If you're not willing to go via IST, then LH via Germany is probably your best bet, although ATH-Germany is a considerably longer flight than ATH-IST.
Aug 29, 2014, 2:27 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: YVR
Programs: Marriott Gold
Posts: 952
Any good short alternatives that don't route through a middle-eastern (i.e. potentially non-American-friendly) country? I know Turkey is technically partially in Europe, but there is a fair amount of unrest there and anti-American sentiment, and I had been considering booking a long layover and exploring whatever city I transfer in. Not sure I really want to do that in Istanbul at the moment.
Or pretend to be Canadian, it seems to work to deflect attention.
Aug 29, 2014, 2:49 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Any good short alternatives that don't route through a middle-eastern (i.e. potentially non-American-friendly) country? I know Turkey is technically partially in Europe, but there is a fair amount of unrest there and anti-American sentiment, and I had been considering booking a long layover and exploring whatever city I transfer in. Not sure I really want to do that in Istanbul at the moment.
Aug 29, 2014, 3:58 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
As for IST it's perfectly safe and one of my favorite cities! Very friendly and hospitable people throughout Turkey, never experienced any issues as an American there. I'm not really sure what anti-American sentiment exists there that would be any cause for concern, certainly no risk in transiting for a connecting flight.
For that matter none of the other ME suggestions upthread would concern me either.