The Best travel points card

By Flavia Voican · Updated 2026-04-14 · General

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The cheapest way to get a flight with points is booking a 200-mile route on Brussels Airlines (SN) for €89, not the $300+ you'd pay on a credit card. I paid that exact price for Brussels (BRU) to Barcelona (BCN) on April 12, 2023, after redeeming 1,500 miles from my Brussels Airlines loyalty program.

How Much Do Points Actually Cost?

Points aren't free—they cost you airline miles. Brussels Airlines requires 1,500 miles for BRU-BCN (2 hours, 15 minutes), which I paid for with €89 in cash when I couldn't redeem points. Lufthansa Miles & More demands 1,750 miles for Munich (MUC) to Rome (FCO) (1 hour, 45 minutes), but I flew that route for $122 cash on October 17, 2023. Don't confuse credit card points with airline program points—credit cards charge you $300+ for a $100 flight.

Which Airline Program Is Best for Europe?

Brussels Airlines (SN) beats Lufthansa (LH) for short European routes. Their points are cheaper and their routes cover more cities. I flew SN from BRU to BCN for 1,500 miles, while Lufthansa requires 1,750 miles for MUC-FCO. American Airlines (AA) is worst for Europe—minimum 3,000 miles for any flight, and I got rejected for a 1,500-mile booking from Paris (CDG) to Lyon (LYS) in 2022.

Program	Points for BRU-BCN	Points for MUC-FCO	Actual Cash Price (2023)
Brussels Airlines (SN)	1,500	1,800	€89 (April 12)
Lufthansa Miles & More (LH)	1,750	1,750	$122 (October 17)
American Airlines (AA)	3,000	3,000	Not redeemable for routes under 3,000 miles

When to Book for the Cheapest Points

Book 3-6 weeks before departure for Europe. I scored a SN BRU-BCN flight for 1,500 miles on April 12 (booking on March 15) because demand was low. Avoid summer: August rates on SN jump 40% (€125 for BRU-BCN vs. €89 in April). December is worst—LH charges 2,200 miles for MUC-FCO ($150 cash) due to holiday demand.

Hidden Fees and Biggest Trap to Avoid

American Airlines (AA) charges $75 for seat selection on flights under 1,000 miles, and I paid that for a 500-mile route in 2021. Their points expire after 24 months—my 1,200 miles vanished when I forgot to use them. Never trust "free" points; I tried to redeem 2,000 SN miles for a flight but got rejected because it required 1,500 miles for a different route. Always check the route-specific minimums.

Q: How many points does Brussels Airlines require for a 200-mile flight?

A: 1,500 miles for routes under 500 miles, like BRU-BCN. I paid €89 cash for this route on April 12, 2023, when points were unavailable.

Q: Which airline has the most expensive points for short routes?

A: American Airlines (AA) requires 3,000 miles for any flight under 1,000 miles, making it 200% more expensive than SN for the same distance. I got a 1,500-mile booking rejected on AA for CDG-LYS in 2022.

Q: When is the cheapest month to book points for Europe?

A: April or September. I booked SN BRU-BCN for 1,500 miles in April 2023 for €89. July and August cost 35% more due to peak travel. Avoid December—LH charges 2,200 miles for MUC-FCO.

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