U.S. reopens: here's how to go for free Christmas using points and miles
The ban on Europeans, including Italians, entering the US lasted 18 months. A ban that did not stop [...]
Iberia
Emirates
British Airways
Oneworld
The ban on Europeans, including Italians, entering the U.S. lasted 18 months. A ban that did not stop passengers on the basis of passport, but on the basis of whether or not they had transited the Schengen area, the UK, Brazil and very few other nations in the world.
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Now that the Biden administration has made the reopening official to all vaccinated passengers, is the perfect time to peel off an award ticket and fly to the U.S. using miles.
There are so many opportunities and MR's 200k point superbonus could be the perfect excuse to become an American Express Platinum holder And fly to the U.S. without paying for a ticket taking advantage of the many benefits such as travel insurance, also Covid-19, included in the fee.
With the removal of the ban, it will be logical to expect an immediate response with the Companies that will immediately adjust their operating to meet what is sure to be a boom in demand for the first few months, including the Christmas season.
The news could not have come at a worse time for ITA, the new airline will start flying on October 15 and Has just received the green light from the U.S. Department of Transportation to operate flights to the States, but it is still far from taking off.
While Americans were able to travel to the European Union this summer, this was not the case for those who wanted to take the reverse route. It is not just tourism, but also all those business moves that are done without the specific visa rigmarole.
First of all, you need to apply for a visa
When the pandemic broke out and the Trump administration had imposed the ban for passengers from all over the world, all visas issued through the ESTA system had been canceled. This means that the first thing to do is to immediately apply for a new visa, because all those issued before Biden's new announcement have been canceled, even if the original expiration date (2 years validity) has not yet been reached.
So first renew your permit before you land in New York and get sent home.
How to go to the U.S. using points and miles
Never before has it been as easy as it is this year to fly to the U.S. using points and miles, usually award seats to and from the U.S. are the most complicated to book since they are taken months and months in advance, but this year everything is different, the world of travel has been turned upside down and for years to come it will not be the same.
For those who have accumulated hundreds of thousands of points in recent months. time has come to go through the checkout process and make real last-minute deals.
Direct flights from Italy to the U.S. are operated by American airlines, from Emirates, which connects Malpensa with New York and by Neos who started flying this summer also from MXP to Newark, the second major stopover for those flying to the Big Apple.
Travel insurance
In the new world having insurance that covers every possible contingency will be virtually mandatory, even for travel within the EU, let alone if the trip is overseas.
Amex Platinum includes a number of insurance coverages., including for issues related to Covid-19, and protects the entire family of the traveler free of charge. This insurance coverage alone can amortize over 50% of the annual credit card cost, or the fee of 60€/month. Not to mention that the insurance applies to all trips, not just one vacation.
Use points and miles or pay cash?
This is a question whose answer should normally be points and miles, but this year everything is different. In recent months we have seen hyper-discounted fares to fly in the USA in business class even at less than €1,000, however, this was before the opening of the borders. Now it is to be expected that with the increase in demand, companies will immediately try to collect as much money as possible, and therefore an increase in the cost of tickets can be expected.
Some ideas for flying using dots
A very interesting solution is definitely Iberia: if you opt for this company, my advice is to independently book a flight to the Iberian capital and book the award ticket from Madrid to the U.S. Tickets start at only 17 thousand Avios for the economy and by 34k for business class. Avios is one of the partner programs of American Express. it is then a breeze to convert Membership Rewards points into Avios points.
A very interesting tool To look for premium places is definitely Seatspy which allows you to check the availability and cost of award tickets from 7 airlines.
British Airways
Still staying with Avios, lots of availability with the British carrier going through London to go to the Big Apple, but BA has connections to so many U.S. destinations: from Los Angeles to Miami, Denver to Las Vegas.
The cost of the award ticket starts at 60k Avios points, much more expensive than Iberia, but puts many more flights and destinations at your disposal.
Emirates
A very attractive choice for Italians who want to Turn Membership Rewards points into airline flights is definitely to turn them into Skywards points.
Flying with one of the world's best airlines in business class is a real experience, the flight from Milan to New York has a cost that starts at 90k Skywards points per round trip + €134 in taxes.
Basically with the welcome bonus, those who become Amex Platinum holders. can peel off two tickets without paying (almost) anything and have a real experience at 30,000 feet.
Don't pay for the hotel and mooch food
There are not only flights that can be booked using points and miles. It is possible to sleep for free using points from hotel chains. Again by turning, for example, Membership Rewards points into points from the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs.
Possessing the Platinum card means you get lots of benefits at thousands of hotels worldwide. Complimentary room upgrades, breakfasts included in the room-only price, late check-out and more.
Just by being a holder, you will get dedicated rates and many benefits that result in significant savings, sometimes even halving what would be the cost of your stay.
In conclusion
After the news of the reopening of the borders, award seats for the Christmas season are going away at lightning speed. If December doesn't interest you, availability in 2022 from spring through summer is sky high, and there are real deals to fly to the U.S. with just a handful of points.
