How to use points and miles for travel to Germany in 2024

This series on credit cards, points and miles, and travel budgeting is presented in collaboration with The Points Guy.

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When you think of Germany, whether it’s Oktoberfest, the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle, or Berlin’s vibrant nightlife, it undoubtedly deserves a spot on your travel bucket list.

Germany is an excellent destination for families, couples looking for a romantic escape, beer garden lovers, or anyone curious about the nation’s rich history and culture. You can also explore it on a budget by leveraging points and miles for your flights, accommodations, and car rentals.

Here’s all you need to know about using points and miles for travel to Germany, along with some of our top recommendations for things to do there.

Finding the best award flights to Germany

Most flights from the U.S. land in Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), or Berlin (BER). The best deals are typically from major hub cities, particularly on the East Coast, although it largely depends on the airline you choose.

• Lowest economy class fare to Germany: 40,000 Air France / KLM Flying Blue miles for a round trip

• Lowest business-class fare to Germany: 88,000 ANA Mileage Club miles for a round trip

• Lowest first-class fare to Germany: 165,000 ANA Mileage Club miles for a round trip or 165,000 Alaska Airlines miles (from the East Coast)

Getting started with travel points and airline miles

Avianca LifeMiles

Booking award flights using Avianca LifeMiles with Star Alliance partners like United Airlines and Lufthansa can be a fantastic way to maximize your points.

United offers nonstop flights to Berlin (BER) from Newark (EWR), as well as to Munich (MUC) and Frankfurt (FRA) from Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington, DC (IAD).

Lufthansa provides numerous nonstop and seasonal flights from various U.S. cities to Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin, so be sure to check their website for the nearest departure point.

Here’s how many LifeMiles are required to travel from the U.S. to Germany:

• Economy Class: 60,000 miles for a round trip

• Business Class: 126,000 miles for a round trip

• First Class: 174,000 miles for a round trip

Boost your Avianca LifeMiles balance by transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio or from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, or Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Receive 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening your account.

• Citi Premier® Card: Get 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Receive 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*: Earn 60,000 Bonus Points and 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months. The Free Night is worth 50,000 points. Some hotels may charge resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Get 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after making $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card*: Receive 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

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Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer program

KrisFlyer miles from Singapore Airlines are an often-overlooked points currency that can be redeemed for flights to Germany with Star Alliance partners such as United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and TAP Portugal. Additionally, you can fly nonstop from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt on Singapore Airlines using these miles.

Keep in mind that you can only redeem KrisFlyer miles for business or first-class award tickets on Singapore Airlines, not for miles earned through partner airlines. However, booking economy seats on Singapore Airlines via its Star Alliance partners is relatively straightforward.

Here’s the KrisFlyer mileage needed to fly to Frankfurt on Singapore Airlines from the East Coast of the U.S. and Houston — to check rates from other U.S. locations, utilize the airline’s convenient miles calculator:

• Economy Class: 50,000 miles round-trip

• Business Class: 162,000 miles round-trip

• First Class: 194,000 miles round-trip

Here’s the KrisFlyer mileage required for the same journey with one of its Star Alliance partners:

• Economy Class: 61,000 miles round-trip

• Business Class: 162,000 miles round-trip

• First Class: 242,000 miles round-trip

If you're looking to quickly accumulate KrisFlyer miles, consider transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy at a rate of 3:1. You can also convert points from Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This equates to $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, which is worth $900 towards travel through Chase Travel℠.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of opening your account.

• Citi Premier® Card: Receive 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of opening your account.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Receive 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The Free Night is valued at 50,000 points, though some hotels may have resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of opening your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after making $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after making $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

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ANA Mileage Club with All Nippon Airways (ANA)

Members of Star Alliance can also utilize ANA Mileage Club miles to travel to Germany through partners such as United Airlines and Lufthansa.

Keep in mind that redemptions must be made for round-trip flights only (not one-way), and you should first verify availability on United’s website before confirming with ANA. Award flights can only be booked for yourself or immediate family members, not friends. Nonetheless, the redemption rates are quite appealing:

• Economy Class: 55,000 miles for a round-trip

• Business Class: 88,000 miles for a round-trip

• First Class: 165,000 miles for a round-trip

To quickly build up your ANA Mileage Club miles, consider transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio or from Marriott Bonvoy at a rate of 3:1.

Alternatively, the welcome bonus from The Platinum Card® from American Express provides sufficient points for a round-trip economy flight, while The Business Platinum Card® from American Express gives enough for a business-class journey.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 within the first six months of your account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after making $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

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Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Recognized as one of the most valuable points in the travel rewards landscape, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles can be redeemed for flights to Germany on partners such as American Airlines, British Airways, Condor, Finnair, Emirates, and Icelandair, among others.

Condor, for example, offers nonstop flights to various German cities from New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Anchorage (ANC), Miami (MIA), Seattle (SEA), San Antonio (SAT), Boston (BOS), Las Vegas (LAS), Baltimore (BWI), Minneapolis (MSP), Portland (PDX), and Phoenix (PHX).

Another partner, American Airlines, provides nonstop service to Munich and Frankfurt from Charlotte (CLT) and to Frankfurt from Dallas (DFW).

Starting in 2024, Alaska Airlines will implement a new award chart for its redemption flights, so be sure to use Great Circle Mapper to calculate the distance between your chosen airports before checking the mileage chart.

Here’s the number of Mileage Plan miles required to fly to Frankfurt on Alaska Airlines’ partners, covering routes from both the East and West Coasts of the U.S.:

• Economy Class: Requires 55,000 to 70,000 miles

• Business Class: Requires 110,000 to 140,000 miles

• First Class: Requires 165,000 to 210,000 miles

Consider applying for one of Alaska Airlines’ co-branded credit cards to take advantage of their attractive welcome bonuses. Additionally, you can transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy at a rate of 3:1 to enhance your balance.

• Alaska Airlines Visa® card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening — plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ starting at $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each year when you spend $6,000.

• Alaska Airlines Visa® Business Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles along with Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ starting at $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days of account opening.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Receive 60,000 Bonus Points and 1 Free Night Award after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The Free Night is valued at 50,000 points, though some hotels may have resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of account opening with your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after making $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after using your new Card to spend $6,000 within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

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Air France / KLM Flying Blue

While Air France and KLM don’t offer direct flights from the U.S. to Germany, you can still book cost-effective one-stop flights to Munich, Frankfurt, or Berlin (BER or TXL) via Paris with Air France or Amsterdam with KLM.

A useful calculator is available at the bottom of the Flying Blue Rewards page to determine the miles required for flights between cities. This page also lists Promo Awards, which feature discounted short-haul and long-haul flights available for booking with Flying Blue miles.

Here’s the number of Flying Blue miles required for a flight from New York (JFK):

• Economy Class: 40,000 miles required

• Business Class: 100,000 miles required

Flying Blue miles can be redeemed for flights with SkyTeam partners, including Delta Air Lines, which offers nonstop services to Frankfurt from Atlanta, Detroit, and New York (JFK) throughout the year. Additionally, Delta provides seasonal routes to Munich from Detroit and JFK (year-round from Atlanta) and to Berlin (BER) from JFK.

To enhance your Flying Blue mileage, consider transferring points from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1) or from Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and American Express Membership Rewards (1:1).

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Receive 60,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Award after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months. The Free Night is valued at 50,000 points, with certain hotels charging resort fees.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Special Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after making $5,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Receive 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Get 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, equating to $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, amounting to $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of account opening.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Receive 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership.

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Hotels in Germany where you can redeem points

Across Germany, you'll find hotels linked to loyalty programs like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt, Accor Life Limitless, and Choice Privileges. Enroll in each brand's loyalty program to earn points for future stays, or opt for their cobranded hotel rewards credit card to secure a generous welcome bonus and earn free nights.

For Hilton enthusiasts, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is a great option, offering $200 in statement credits to cover on-property expenses and resort fees at Hilton locations worldwide.

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Berlin

Explore Germany’s history in its capital, Berlin, home to landmarks like the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and Checkpoint Charlie.

In the western and central areas of the city, you'll find numerous IHG hotels, including Hotel Indigo Berlin – Ku’damm (25,000 points per night), Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre (starting at 27,000 points per night), and InterContinental Berlin (starting at 24,000 points per night).

On the eastern side of the city, the Crowne Plaza Berlin – Potsdamer Platz (starting at 26,000 points per night) and Hotel Indigo Berlin – East Side Gallery (starting at 29,000 points per night) are great options to consider.

Boost your points balance by transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards (1:1). Additionally, the welcome bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is sufficient for a two-night stay at any of these hotels.

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Munich

Whether you’re heading to Munich for the famous Oktoberfest festivities or as part of a broader journey through Bavaria and the Black Forest, you’re in for an enjoyable experience.

Consider staying at the Aloft Munich (starting at 31,000 points per night), Le Méridien Munich (from 42,000 points per night), or The Westin Grand Munich (also from 31,000 points per night). These Marriott Bonvoy hotels are conveniently located within walking distance of many Munich attractions.

You can quickly accumulate Marriott Bonvoy points by transferring from American Express Membership Rewards (1:1). The welcome bonus from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card would also be sufficient for three nights during your Munich visit.

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Frankfurt

Frankfurt offers several budget-friendly World of Hyatt hotels, making it an excellent choice to start or conclude your Germany adventure, particularly if you’re flying through its airport.

For early flights or a convenient city stay, consider the Hyatt House Frankfurt Airport (starting at 5,000 points per night) or the Lindner Hotel Frankfurt Main Plaza (from 8,000 points per night). If you have more time, the luxurious Schlosshotel Kronberg is available from 12,000 points per night, located just outside the city.

The sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or World of Hyatt Credit Card is sufficient for 12 nights at the Hyatt House Frankfurt Airport, seven nights at the Lindner Hotel Frankfurt Main Plaza, or five nights at the Schlosshotel Kronberg.

To further increase your points balance, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

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Activities and transportation options

Getting around Germany is simple with cars, buses, and trains. Regional trains and cable cars facilitate travel within and between major cities. For longer trips, visit the Deutsche Bahn website for schedules.

The Bayern Ticket offers unlimited travel throughout Bavaria for up to five people for one day. If you're in Munich, this ticket is perfect for a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, located near Füssen in Bavaria.

In Germany, driving is on the right side of the road from the left side of the vehicle. Experiencing a road trip on the Autobahn is unforgettable, especially since many sections have no speed limit. Remember, passing on the right is against the law.

Certain credit cards, like the Capital One Venture X and Capital One Venture, let members use miles to offset recent travel expenses at a rate of one cent per point, effectively “erasing” those costs. Others, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, provide a $300 annual travel credit, which can help cover travel-related expenses.

Cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve should utilize the Chase Travel℠ portal, which allows them to save on guided tours and car rentals by redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for 1.25 cents per point or 1.5 cents per point, respectively.

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Key takeaways

Traveling to Germany can be quite affordable, particularly when flying with airline partners. Be mindful of the welcome bonuses offered by travel credit cards and make sure to earn and redeem your points and miles effectively.

There’s something available for every traveler, regardless of style or budget, making it hard to go wrong. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Germany is a wonderful place to explore on its own or as a starting point for a broader European train adventure.

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* Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For more details, please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Editorial disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain. These entities have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content.