UltimateRewards good, bad, and ugly to Europe
Aug 7, 23, 11:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 6
UltimateRewards good, bad, and ugly to Europe
Hello, my fiancee are I are beginning planning a trip to Europe in September or October of 2024, and are wanting to use our miles in the best way possible. We are most likely wanting to travel to Paris, but have not travelled internationally together and are relatively new to the miles and points game. I have around 110,000 Chase UltimateRewards points right now and understand that it is a lower amount for any business / first class travel. I am used to travelling with United, which I know is a great travel partner with Chase, but am looking for any advice or stories on FlyerTalk about ways to maximize points flying MCO-CDG.
Here are my questions:
What travel partners should I check out aside from UA?
I have heard stories about people buying one way tickets using two different programs, is this something anyone has done and has had success in?
What are some general tips / pieces of advice for someone who is new to using points and miles to get to Europe that I should consider?
Here are my questions:
What travel partners should I check out aside from UA?
I have heard stories about people buying one way tickets using two different programs, is this something anyone has done and has had success in?
What are some general tips / pieces of advice for someone who is new to using points and miles to get to Europe that I should consider?
Aug 7, 23, 12:59 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 28,535
So are you resolved to flying in Economy Class, or are you still hoping to travel in Business? Business Class trans-Atlantic award travel tends to be very expensive these days. You can try doing some dummy award searches now on united.com, as.com, etc., for travel *this* September and October to get some idea.
I do not believe that there is any MCO-PAR nonstop service currently, so that would mean a one- or two-stop itinerary, unless you wanted to position yourselves to MIA (via bus, Amtrak, or car -- either your own, or a one-way car rental), where Air France flies MIA-CDG, and French Bee flies MIA-ORY.
There's no issue with using one FFP's miles in one direction, and another FFP's miles in the other, although some programs now charge less for a roundtrip, compared to the sum of two one-ways.
If you are credit-worthy, you could easily add to your MileagePlus balance by getting a Chase/UA credit card and meeting the minimum spend for the sign-up bonus. AA miles are also easy to get with Barclays and/or Citi credit cards.
Also, depending on how much time you can take off, and whether a cruise interests you, you can consider flying to Paris, and then taking a "repositioning" cruise back from Europe to Florida. Some of them are dirt cheap, but the crossing generally takes about two weeks.
I do not believe that there is any MCO-PAR nonstop service currently, so that would mean a one- or two-stop itinerary, unless you wanted to position yourselves to MIA (via bus, Amtrak, or car -- either your own, or a one-way car rental), where Air France flies MIA-CDG, and French Bee flies MIA-ORY.
There's no issue with using one FFP's miles in one direction, and another FFP's miles in the other, although some programs now charge less for a roundtrip, compared to the sum of two one-ways.
If you are credit-worthy, you could easily add to your MileagePlus balance by getting a Chase/UA credit card and meeting the minimum spend for the sign-up bonus. AA miles are also easy to get with Barclays and/or Citi credit cards.
Also, depending on how much time you can take off, and whether a cruise interests you, you can consider flying to Paris, and then taking a "repositioning" cruise back from Europe to Florida. Some of them are dirt cheap, but the crossing generally takes about two weeks.
Aug 7, 23, 1:22 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 6
So are you resolved to flying in Economy Class, or are you still hoping to travel in Business? Business Class trans-Atlantic award travel tends to be very expensive these days. You can try doing some dummy award searches now on united.com, as.com, etc., for travel *this* September and October to get some idea.
I do not believe that there is any MCO-PAR nonstop service currently, so that would mean a one- or two-stop itinerary, unless you wanted to position yourselves to MIA (via bus, Amtrak, or car -- either your own, or a one-way car rental), where Air France flies MIA-CDG, and French Bee flies MIA-ORY.
There's no issue with using one FFP's miles in one direction, and another FFP's miles in the other, although some programs now charge less for a roundtrip, compared to the sum of two one-ways.
If you are credit-worthy, you could easily add to your MileagePlus balance by getting a Chase/UA credit card and meeting the minimum spend for the sign-up bonus. AA miles are also easy to get with Barclays and/or Citi credit cards.
Also, depending on how much time you can take off, and whether a cruise interests you, you can consider flying to Paris, and then taking a "repositioning" cruise back from Europe to Florida. Some of them are dirt cheap, but the crossing generally takes about two weeks.
I do not believe that there is any MCO-PAR nonstop service currently, so that would mean a one- or two-stop itinerary, unless you wanted to position yourselves to MIA (via bus, Amtrak, or car -- either your own, or a one-way car rental), where Air France flies MIA-CDG, and French Bee flies MIA-ORY.
There's no issue with using one FFP's miles in one direction, and another FFP's miles in the other, although some programs now charge less for a roundtrip, compared to the sum of two one-ways.
If you are credit-worthy, you could easily add to your MileagePlus balance by getting a Chase/UA credit card and meeting the minimum spend for the sign-up bonus. AA miles are also easy to get with Barclays and/or Citi credit cards.
Also, depending on how much time you can take off, and whether a cruise interests you, you can consider flying to Paris, and then taking a "repositioning" cruise back from Europe to Florida. Some of them are dirt cheap, but the crossing generally takes about two weeks.
Aug 8, 23, 8:26 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: UA-1Kmm, AA-EX Plt mm-, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 1,091
Look at the transfer partners for Chase to give you an idea of who is available. Do not transfer points unless you know an award ticket is available immediately. Also, you can use your Chase points like cash for a paid ticket if you buy the ticket on the Chase Travel website. It also allows you to combine points with money if you are a bit short of your goal.
