Skip to main content

How to Book a Family Trip to Europe With 100,000 Miles

By U.S. News & World Report

For families who have been dreaming of a trip to Europe but always thought it was out of reach, there is a way to get there largely using airline miles. Read on to find out how you can fly a family of four across the pond with 100,000 miles, as well as how to collect them.

[See: 12 Great Destinations in Europe You Can Afford.]

The Deal

Aer Lingus, the national airline of Ireland, offers a deal that allows you to fly to Dublin (or Shannon, Ireland, in a few cases) from several major U.S. cities, including Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., Newark, New Jersey, or Hartford, Connecticut, for 26,000 miles round-trip per person. That totals 104,000 miles for a family of four.

But the offer is only good for travel in the airline’s off-season, which is about two-thirds of the year. Off-peak dates for Aer Lingus run through June 16, 2017, (with about two-and-a-half weeks in April not included) and start up again September 11 through December 15, 2017, making fall, winter and spring ideal times to grab this deal.

From Dublin, you can take an inexpensive flight on discount carriers like Ryanair to other major cities in Europe or use additional miles and points to book more Aer Lingus or British Airways flights to other European destinations. Aer Lingus intra-Europe flights range from 4,000 to about 8,000 miles per way.

While your miles will cover the actual fare price, there are additional charges to consider. The most significant is the fuel surcharge, which ranges from $90 to $120 per person per flight, depending on your departure city.

Collecting the Miles

Aer Lingus is part of the Avios loyalty program, which also includes British Airways and Iberia. That means you can use British Airways loyalty points, also called Avios, to book Aer Lingus flights.

You can collect British Airways Avios quickly by signing up one or two travel credit cards. British Airways has a branded card through Chase, the British Airways Visa Signature Credit Card, which earns 50,000 Avios after you spend $3,000 on the card in the first three months. You can earn 50,000 more Avios for meeting additional spending minimums within the first year.

Other options are the Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These points can be instantly transferred to British Airways Avios. Both cards typically offer a 50,000-point bonus after card approval and a minimum spend of $4,000 on the cards.

Additionally, Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cards by American Express allow you to transfer Starwood loyalty points, called Starpoints, to British Airways and earn a bonus 5,000 points for every 20,000 points you transfer.

To reach your 100,000 Avios, you’ll need to sign up for two cards and meet the minimum spend on each, which earns you another point per dollar (or up to three points per dollar on some Chase Ultimate Rewards cards), or you could choose one card and continue spending on the card until you reach the required number of points.

[See: The 13 Most Family-Friendly Cities in Europe.]

Booking the Flights

Booking your flights using Avios requires a series of steps:

1. Set up British Airways and Aer Lingus Loyalty Accounts. First, you need to have loyalty accounts with both programs. If you’ve collected British Airways Avios, you will have an account with that airline but likely will need an Aer Lingus account. Aer Lingus’ loyalty program is called Aer Club, and you can join at AerLingus.com.

2. Transfer British Airways Avios to Aer Lingus Avios. Next, you will need to transfer your Avios from one program to another on Avios.com. Once there, log in with account details from either airline’s loyalty program. Select “My Account” and then “Combine My Avios” under the Overview tab. Choose the number of Avios you’d like to transfer from British Airways to Aer Lingus (you may need to provide log-in details for the other airline’s loyalty program), and then select “Confirm Transfer.”

3. Book your flights. On Avios.com, log in, choose “Spend” and enter your flight details. Choose “Search Flights,” and the resulting screen will show you available flight options. Once you select outgoing and incoming flights, at the bottom of the screen you will see the total Avios points required to book the flight along with taxes, fuel surcharges and fees to be paid in cash.

Choose “Continue with Booking,” and on the next screen, you have the option to book your flight with a combination of Avios and cash, so if you don’t have all the Avios you need, you can use what you do have and pay for the rest.

[Read: Why You Shouldn’t Let Terrorism Keep You From Traveling to Europe.]

4. Select your seats and other items. When booking on Avios.com, you are not allowed to pre-select your seats, which is available at no charge through Aer Lingus. Instead, you will have to call its customer service number, which at times can be very busy and difficult to get through. The best number is 1-800-IRISH-AIR, or alternately, you can trying reaching them on Twitter at @AerLingus, where they are often more responsive.

When calling, you may also want to book kid-friendly meals for your children for the flight, which are also available at no additional charge. Aer Lingus allows each person to bring one checked bag weighing no more than 20 kilograms, or 44 pounds, as well as one carry-on and one personal item at no charge.

That’s it! You’re on your way to international travel and introducing the world to your children.

More from U.S. News

8 Frugal Family Road Trips to Take This Summer

6 Pro Tips for Maximizing Rewards Points This Summer

10 Frequent Flier Secrets Every Traveler Should Know

How to Book a Family Trip to Europe With 100,000 Miles originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote