Best Ways to Fly to Greece With Points and Miles

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Looking to explore Greece’s ancient wonders and stunning islands? Discover how to maximize your points and miles for an affordable Greek getaway with these strategic redemption options.

How to Fly to Greece

Flying to Greece from the United States with points and miles is surprisingly affordable. Athens International Airport (ATH) serves as the main gateway and tends to offer solid award availability across multiple airline alliances.

The key to saving the most money is understanding which loyalty programs offer the best value for your specific route. Some programs excel at business class redemptions, while others shine for economy bookings.

Your main options include:

• Direct bookings: American Airlines operates seasonal nonstop flights from various U.S. cities to Athens.
• One-stop connections: European hubs such as Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid and Frankfurt, Germany offer convenient connections.
• Alliance partners: Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam each provide multiple routing options.

Award availability typically opens 330-360 days in advance, depending on the airline you want to book through. For the best selection, search as early as possible, especially for summer travel when Greece is most popular. Additional availability is often released at the last minute if the airlines have unsold seats.

Cheapest Way to Fly to Greece

The most cost-effective redemptions to Greece depend on your cabin class preference and mile balances. Here’s how to stretch your points further:

Economy sweet spots:

• American Airlines awards starting at 22,500 miles one-way
• ANA Mileage Club round-trips starting at 55,000 miles
• Avianca Lifemiles one-way trips from 40,000 miles (watch for promotional sales and check out the Avianca award chart)

Business class values:

• ANA Mileage Club round-trips at 100,000 miles
• American Airlines off-peak business class at 57,500 miles one-way

Pro tips for saving miles:

• Book off-peak when possible (typically late fall through early spring, excluding holidays).
• Consider booking flights to and from major hubs for more departure options.
• Mix cabin classes on the same ticket—fly business transatlantic and economy on short European segments to increase options and, in some cases (like with Lifemiles), use fewer miles.
• Search multiple programs for the same flights, as award pricing varies significantly.

Best Credit Card to Use in Greece

When traveling in Greece, you should consider reward-earning potential, acceptance and fee structures in your credit card strategy.

Top cards for Greece travel:

It’s essential to choose a card with no foreign transaction fees. Cards charging 3% fees will quickly cut into your travel savings. Choose cards such as:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• American Express® Gold Card

Visa and Mastercard offer better acceptance than Amex. While major hotels, restaurants and tourist areas in Athens accept American Express, smaller establishments and Greek islands typically have more limited Amex acceptance. Carry a Visa or Mastercard as your primary card.

Consider cards with travel protections:

• Trip delay and cancellation insurance (crucial for flights and ferry travel between islands)
• Lost luggage coverage
• Travel accident insurance
• Car rental insurance if you’re exploring with a rental car

Cards with lounge access enhance your experience. Priority Pass membership (included with Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Capital One Venture X) provides access to five different lounges at Athens International Airport. You’ll have access if your flight is out of Hall A, Hall B or the Satellite Terminal.

Keep cash on hand. Despite Greece’s push toward cashless payments, many tavernas, beach clubs and small shops remain cash-only. Your credit card should have reasonable ATM withdrawal terms for the occasions you need euros.

Best Airline Alliance for Flying to Greece

Your choice of airline alliance significantly impacts award availability, routing options and the number of miles required.

Star Alliance

Star Alliance offers the most comprehensive coverage to Greece with multiple daily flights through various European hubs.

Key advantages:

• Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines operate frequent services from their Frankfurt (FRA), Zurich (ZRH) and Vienna (VIE) hubs, respectively.
• United Airlines provides seasonal nonstop services from Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD) and Chicago-O’Hare (ORD).
• Aegean Airlines offers domestic Greek island connections.
• ITA Airways offers Rome (FCO) connections with reasonable surcharges.

Best for: Travelers based on the West Coast or those seeking business and first-class redemptions.

Oneworld

Oneworld provides solid options, particularly through American Airlines and its European partners.

Key advantages:

• American Airlines operates seasonal nonstop flights from Charlotte (CLT), Chicago-O’Hare (ORD), Philadelphia (PHL) and New York-JFK (JFK). A new route from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) will launch on May 21, 2026.
• British Airways and Iberia offer extensive European connections.
• Qatar Airways provides a luxurious Middle East connection option (though this routes through Doha [DOH]).

Best for: East Coast travelers and those seeking nonstop flights.

SkyTeam

SkyTeam offers the fewest options but can still provide good value, especially when other alliances have limited availability.

Key advantages:

• Delta Air Lines operates seasonal nonstop services from New York-JFK (JFK), Boston (BOS) and Atlanta (ATL).
• Air France and KLM provide reliable European connections.

Best for: Delta loyalists and travelers seeking specific European routings.

The verdict: Star Alliance edges ahead for most travelers due to superior coverage and routing flexibility. However, Oneworld often wins for East Coast travelers seeking nonstop flights or those with American Airlines miles.

Best Airline to Fly to Greece

Choosing the right airline program to book your Greece flights depends on your priorities: award cost, availability, routing and overall experience.

1. American Airlines AAdvantage

Why it’s great: Off-peak economy pricing and reasonable business class rates make AAdvantage highly competitive. The seasonal nonstop flights eliminate European connections entirely if you can find availability.

Award pricing:

• Economy starting at 22,500 miles (off-peak) or 30,000 miles (standard) one-way
• Business starting at 57,500 miles one-way
• Low taxes and fees on American-operated flights—watch out for flights on British Airways, which will have higher taxes

Best routes:

• Chicago (ORD) to Athens (ATH) nonstop
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Athens (ATH) nonstop
• New York (JFK) to Athens (ATH) nonstop

How to book: Search on AA.com, then book online.

Earning miles: There are more options than ever to earn American Airlines miles. You can earn through American Airlines’ co-branded cards:

• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®

You can also earn American Airlines miles through the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® if you have a qualifying business.

Citi ThankYou Points can be transferred to American Airlines at a 1:1 ratio. The following cards earn Citi ThankYou Points:

• Citi Strata Premier® Card
• Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Read more: How much are AAdvantage miles worth?

2. Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards

Why it’s great: Alaska’s partner award chart offers some of the best business class value to Europe, especially on American Airlines. The ability to book a stopover, even on one-way awards, can add even more value if it works for your trip.

Award pricing:

With Alaska Airlines Atmos, the cost of your redemption will depend on how long your flight is. You can generally find prices from the U.S. to Greece in the following ranges:

• Economy at 55,000-70,000 miles round-trip
• Business at 110,000-140,000 miles round-trip
• Minimal fuel surcharges on most partners

Best routes:

• Any American Airlines nonstop or one-stop route
• British Airways via London (LHR) (though fuel surcharges are high)

How to book: Search for availability on alaskaair.com, add your stopover if desired and then book.

Earning miles: You can earn Alaska Airlines miles through Alaska’s co-branded cards:

• Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature® Card
• Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Card

If you have a qualifying business, you can earn miles through the Atmos™ Rewards Visa Signature® Business Card.

You can also access Alaska miles via transfer from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1) or Bilt Rewards (1:1).

3. ANA Mileage Club

Why it’s great: ANA’s round-trip pricing for business class between the U.S. and Europe offers some of the best value in miles and points, assuming you can find round-trip flights that work for you. You can essentially get business class for what many programs charge for economy. You can also book one-way, but round-trip is a solid option.

Award pricing:

• Economy starting at 55,000 miles round-trip
• Business starting at 100,000 miles round-trip
• Reasonable taxes around $118+

Best routes:

• Chicago (ORD) to Warsaw (WAW) to Athens (ATH) on LOT Polish Airlines
• Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) on United
• Any Star Alliance route with low fuel surcharges

How to book: Search on United.com first, then confirm availability and book on ANA’s website.

Earning miles: The easiest way to access ANA miles is via transfer from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Note that transfers typically take two to three days, and award availability can change within this timeframe, so there is some risk in booking through ANA.

Top cards we recommend for earning ANA miles include:

• American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
• American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees)

4. Avianca Lifemiles

Why it’s great: Lifemiles doesn’t pass along fuel surcharges on most partners, making it excellent for booking Lufthansa first and business class. The program frequently offers sales that allow you to buy miles at a discount, and you can combine different classes of service on the same ticket to save miles.

Award pricing (one-way):

• Economy starting at ~40,000 miles
• Minimal taxes ($118+)

Best routes:

• Any Lufthansa route through Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC)
• United flights for domestic connections
• TAP Air Portugal via Lisbon (LIS)

How to book: Search on United.com, then look for the same flights on Lifemiles and book directly.

Earning miles: Avianca Lifemiles are an easy currency to access. In addition to their regular mileage sales, you can transfer from American Express, Capital One, Bilt and Citi at a 1:1 rate or Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 rate.

Some of our top card recommendations for earning Lifemiles include:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Maximizing Rewards With Airline Partners

Understanding airline partnerships and transfer options increases your redemption opportunities significantly.

Transfer partners unlock flexibility: Bank programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou allow you to transfer points to multiple airline partners. This flexibility means you can:

• Compare award pricing and availability across programs before committing to spending your points
• Take advantage of limited-time transfer bonuses to get the best price
• Access last-minute award space through different programs

Booking through partners offers better rates: Sometimes booking a United flight through ANA costs fewer miles than booking directly with United. The same flight can require different mileage amounts depending on which program you use. Familiarize yourself with the programs you have access to, and compare pricing before you book.

Partner airline stopover rules vary: Some programs such as Alaska Airlines allow stopovers on partner awards, letting you visit two European cities for the price of one.

Consider these strategies:

1. Compare before transferring: Points transfers are usually instant or complete within one to three days, giving you time to confirm award space before moving points. If point transfers aren’t instant, know that there’s a risk that award space could disappear while your transfer is processing, and ensure you have a backup plan.
2. Watch for transfer bonuses: American Express, Chase and Citi periodically offer 15%-30% transfer bonuses to select partners.
3. Mix and match programs: Book your outbound flight on one program and return on another to capture the best award pricing for each direction.
4. Use the right tool for the search: Not every airline partner will show up on every airline’s search tool. Check for limitations with the search tool you’re using before you conclude there’s no availability.

Transfer times to know:

• Amex to most partners: Instant to two days
• Chase to most partners: Instant
• Citi to most partners: 24 hours to six days
• Capital One to most partners: Up to 36 hours
• Marriott to airlines: Two to seven days (at 3:1 ratio, with 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points)

Best Airports for Connecting Flights to Greece

Your connecting airport can significantly impact award availability, routing time and the overall flight experience.

European Hubs

Frankfurt (FRA) – Lufthansa hub:

• Multiple daily connections to Athens
• Tends to have excellent Star Alliance award availability
• Modern, efficient airport with great lounges

Amsterdam (AMS) – KLM hub:

• Frequent Athens service
• Efficient, easy-to-navigate airport
• Access to SkyTeam award space via KLM connections

Paris (CDG) – Air France hub:

• Numerous daily Athens flights
• Premium lounge options
• Can be challenging for tight connections

Madrid (MAD) – Iberia hub:

• Growing Athens service
• Efficient terminal for connections
• Competitive Iberia Avios rates

Munich (MUC) – Lufthansa hub:

• Alternative to Frankfurt with similar service
• Quieter, less crowded airport than FRA
• Excellent business class lounge

U.S. Gateway Cities

New York (JFK/EWR):

• Seasonal nonstop service on Delta and American
• Many European connections available
• Best for East Coast travelers

Chicago (ORD):

• American Airlines and United seasonal nonstop
• European connections on many other carriers available
• Best for Midwest travelers and West Coast travelers

Boston (BOS)

• Seasonal Delta nonstop
• European connections on multiple carriers
• Best for Northeast travelers and SkyTeam flyers

Washington, D.C. (IAD):

• Seasonal United flights
• Various Star Alliance routing options
• Best for East Coast travelers

Lounge access matters: When connecting through European hubs, having lounge access through Priority Pass, airline status or premium credit cards significantly improves the experience. Frankfurt, Munich and Amsterdam offer exceptional Star Alliance lounges, while Madrid and Paris have strong Oneworld and SkyTeam options. Priority Pass lounges are available at many European airports.

Allow enough connection time: European airports typically require minimum 90-minute connections for Schengen-to-Schengen flights and two or more hours for U.S. arrivals. Allow extra time, especially during summer peak season, for a stress-free travel experience.

Navigating Award Booking Challenges

Award travel to Greece presents common obstacles, but understanding how to work around them ensures booking success.

Limited Availability

The problem: Greece is a peak summer destination, and award seats to Athens disappear quickly, especially in business class. There aren’t many nonstop flights from the U.S., and all of them are seasonal.

Solutions:

• Search 10-11 months out when award space opens.
• Check multiple dates around your preferred travel window.
• Consider shoulder season travel (April-May or September-October) for better availability.
• Be flexible with departure cities—sometimes routing through a different U.S. gateway opens up space.
• Use ExpertFlyer or award search tools to set alerts for your desired routes.
• Be flexible with routing options for a higher likelihood of success.

High Fuel Surcharges

The problem: Some European carriers, particularly British Airways, impose significant fuel surcharges that can reach $400-$600 per person.

Solutions:

• Avoid British Airways by flying Iberia or American instead.
• Choose United, TAP Portugal, or LOT Polish for Star Alliance options with minimal fees.
• Compare the total cost (miles + cash) across different programs before booking.

Complex Award Charts

The problem: Many programs have eliminated published award charts, making it difficult to know what the up-front price should be and if you’re getting a good deal.

Solutions:

• Use historical data from blogs and award booking tools to benchmark pricing.
• Search across multiple programs to compare costs for your travel dates.
• Book during off-peak periods when dynamic pricing may be lower.
• Consider programs with fixed charts, such as ANA, for predictable pricing.
• Compare award prices to cash prices.
• Join online communities such as 10xTravel Insiders where members share current award rates.

Mixed-Cabin Itineraries

The problem: You want business class for the transatlantic segment but are willing to fly economy for short European connections.

Solutions:

• Avianca Lifemiles allows you to select the cabin class for each segment independently.
• Most programs price based on the highest cabin class flown, so book all segments in your preferred class. Occasionally, splitting your itinerary into two different tickets can save miles.

Last-Minute Changes

The problem: Award tickets sometimes come with change fees and restrictive policies.

Solutions:

• Book programs with free changes and cancellations, such as American AAdvantage and United MileagePlus, especially if you’re unsure of your travel plans.
• Consider purchasing refundable or flexible award tickets, depending on the price difference.
• Book two one-way awards instead of round-trip for easier modification.
• Keep award cancellation and redeposit fees in mind ($150-$300 for some programs).

Partner Booking Restrictions

The problem: Some programs don’t show full partner availability online or require phone bookings.

Solutions:

• Use various search tools to compare availability: United.com and Avianca for Star Alliance, British Airways and American Airlines for Oneworld, and Air France and Delta for SkyTeam.
• Call the airline’s award desk with specific flight details already identified.
• Be prepared for long hold times—call early in the morning or use callback options.
• Be prepared to pay a phone booking fee if you choose to call.

Greek Islands: Connecting Flights and Ferry Options

After arriving in Athens, many travelers want to explore Greece’s famous islands. Here’s how to use points and miles to reach paradise.

Inter-Island Flights

Aegean Airlines dominates domestic Greek travel with extensive island service. As a Star Alliance member, you can book Aegean flights using:

• United MileagePlus: Starting at 6,000 miles one-way
• ANA Mileage Club: Include as part of your U.S.-Greece round-trip routing with a stopover

Popular island routes:

• Athens (ATH) to Santorini (JTR): ~45 minutes
• Athens to Mykonos (JMK): ~45 minutes
• Athens to Crete/Heraklion (HER): ~50 minutes
• Athens to Rhodes (RHO): ~60 minutes

Booking tips:

• Domestic award space on Aegean tends to be more open compared to international flights.
• Summer weekend flights fill quickly—book as early as possible.
• Consider flying from Thessaloniki (SKG) for northern island access, depending on your itinerary.
• Weight restrictions on island flights can be strict—pack light or pay fees.
• Compare award prices to cash prices prior to booking.

Ferry Connections

While you can’t use points for ferries, understanding the ferry system helps you navigate your Greek adventure and can be a fun way to mix things up.

Major ferry routes:

• Athens (Piraeus port) to Santorini: Five to eight hours
• Athens to Mykonos: 2.5 to five hours
• Athens to Crete: Six to nine hours
• Island hopping routes connecting Cyclades islands

Why consider ferries:

• More flexible schedules than flights
• Often more affordable than award flights (€30-€80 per person)
• Scenic journey through the Aegean
• Can transport rental cars and more luggage

Ferry booking platforms:

• FerryHopper
• Direct Ferries
• Individual ferry line websites

Strategic approach: Fly into Athens, take an award flight to your farthest island destination and then ferry-hop back toward Athens, or fly to one island and ferry to others before returning to Athens.

Airport Lounges in Greece

Athens International Airport (ATH)

In Athens, you have many lounge options:

• Priority Pass lounges: Goldair Handling CIP Lounge (both Schengen and non-Schengen areas)
• Star Alliance: Lufthansa lounge (business class and Star Gold)
• Oneworld: Various lounges accessible with business class tickets or status
• SkyTeam: Air France/KLM lounge

Island Airports

Most island airports are small and lack lounges, though some do have Priority Pass lounges available:

• Mykonos (JMK)
• Rhodes (RHO)
• Heraklion (HER)

Start Planning Your Greek Getaway

Greece offers incredible value for points and miles travelers who plan strategically. By choosing the right loyalty program for your needs, you can experience ancient history, stunning islands and Mediterranean cuisine without breaking the bank.

Quick recap of the best strategies:

• Best overall value: ANA Mileage Club for business class round-trips at 100,000 miles
• Best nonstop options: American Airlines AAdvantage for seasonal nonstop services from several U.S. cities
• Best flexibility: Avianca Lifemiles for low surcharges and mixed-cabin bookings
• Best for East Coast travelers: American AAdvantage for off-peak economy
• Best for premium experience: American Airlines AAdvantage bookings for business class on American

Action steps:

1. Check your transferable point balances: Chase, Amex, Capital One and Citi all transfer to multiple airline partners.
2. Set award search alerts: Use ExpertFlyer or similar tools to search your desired dates.
3. Search multiple programs: Compare pricing for the same flights across different loyalty programs.
4. Book early: Award space to Greece disappears quickly, especially for summer travel.
5. Consider shoulder season: April-May and September-October offer better availability and lower rates.

Greece’s combination of history, culture, natural beauty and cuisine makes it a bucket-list destination. With the right points strategy, your Greek adventure is closer than you think.

Ready to start earning points for your Greece trip? Check out the recommended credit cards above to build your balance quickly.