Journey to London with factors and miles in 2024

This sequence of articles about bank cards, factors and miles, and budgeting for journey is delivered to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

Advertiser Disclosure: This publish incorporates references to merchandise from a number of of our advertisers. We might obtain compensation once you click on on hyperlinks to these merchandise. Phrases apply to the affords listed on this web page. This relationship might affect how and the place hyperlinks seem on this web site. This web site doesn’t embody all monetary firms or all accessible monetary affords. All details about the Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire, the AAdvantage playing cards, Citi Premier® Card, and the Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Lonely Planet. These playing cards will not be accessible by Lonely Planet.

What involves thoughts once you consider London? For me, it’s a mixture of museums, historic websites and nerdy popular culture references that make incredible photo-ops — it’s residence to Abbey Street Studios, Harry Potter’s Platform 9¾ and a giant, blue “Physician Who” Tardis Police Field, in spite of everything.

Whereas a visit to London will be costly, it doesn’t essentially should be. Sticking to public transportation, testing free museums and attractions and using points and miles to fly and keep there could make an enormous distinction. 

There’s loads to see and do, whether or not it’s your first trip to London, you’re visiting with kids, otherwise you’re solely on the town for a fast metropolis break. It’s additionally an ideal vacation spot for those who’re simply getting started with points and miles.

Right here’s every part you want to find out about touring to London with factors and miles — plus a few of our favorite things to do there.

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

The most cost effective award flights to London

Don’t restrict your search to only one London airport, as most nonstop flights from the U.S. arrive at Heathrow Airport (LHR) or Gatwick Airport (LGW). 

Extra connections could also be accessible through different European hubs or to smaller British airports like London Metropolis Airport (LCY), Luton Airport (LTN) or Stansted Airport (STN) from different elements of the continent.

You’ll additionally discover one of the best nonstop offers from main U.S. airport hubs, so it is perhaps value doing a repositioning flight to New York (JFK), Dallas (DFW) or Los Angeles (LAX) for those who reside in a extra distant a part of the nation.

• Most cost-effective financial system class ticket to London: 20,000 Virgin Factors round-trip (from the East Coast, off-peak season)
• Most cost-effective business-class ticket to London: 88,000 All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Membership miles round-trip
• Most cost-effective first-class ticket to London: 136,000 British Airways Avios round-trip (from the East Coast, off-peak season)

The best travel credit cards

American Airways AAdvantage

Whereas not the most affordable redemption, it’s probably the most easy, letting you fly nonstop to Heathrow Airport from 10 U.S. cities on American Airways or any variety of mixtures through its Oneworld alliance companions.

Right here’s what number of AAdvantage miles you’ll must fly on American Airways:

• Economic system Class: From 50,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise/First Class: From 125,000 miles round-trip

You too can use AAdvantage miles to fly with British Airways, although you’ll find yourself paying greater gas surcharges than you’ll by flying on American. 

Right here’s what number of AAdvantage miles you’ll must fly on British Airways:

• Economic system Class: 45,000 to 60,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 115,000 miles round-trip
• First Class: 170,000 miles round-trip

Accumulate AAdvantage miles shortly by transferring factors from Bilt Rewards (1:1) or Marriott Bonvoy (3:1). You could possibly additionally join one of many airline’s cobranded bank cards to attain a profitable welcome bonus.

• Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Crimson World Elite Mastercard: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first buy and paying the $99 annual charge inside the first 90 days of account opening.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 inside the first 4 months of account opening.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases inside the first six months from account opening. Plus, earn as much as 14X complete factors for each $1 spent at 1000’s of resorts collaborating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 3 Free Night time Awards (every evening valued as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card*: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after you utilize your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases inside the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card*: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after you utilize your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases inside the first 6 months of Card Membership.

How to make a travel budget using points and miles 

British Airways Government Membership

When you can fly nonstop to Gatwick Airport from New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA), you’ll discover wider award availability for Heathrow Airport, which affords direct routes from 21 U.S. cities.

British Airways makes use of a distance-based award chart, so plug in your required airports on Great Circle Mapper’s website to calculate the mileage first. 

Remember that you just’ll should pay greater gas surcharges on award flights, although you may keep away from this by connecting through one other European metropolis — as an example, flying to Dublin through Aer Lingus or Madrid through Iberia, each companions, then redeeming Avios for a brief flight to London from there (or vice versa).

Right here’s what number of Avios you’ll want round-trip from New York or Los Angeles, starting from off-peak (fall and winter) to peak season (summer season and through faculty holidays):

• Economic system Class: 26,000 or 40,000 Avios from JFK; 39,000 or 60,000 Avios from LAX
• Enterprise Class: 100,000 or 120,000 Avios from JFK; 150,000 or 180,000 Avios from LAX
• First Class: 136,000 or 160,000 Avios from JFK; 204,000 or 240,000 Avios from LAX

British Airways Avios can be used to e-book flights with Oneworld companions like American Airways. Right here’s what number of you’ll must fly from JFK or LAX:

• Economic system Class: 41,500 or 51,500 Avios round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 124,000 or 154,500 Avios round-trip
• First Class: 165,000 or 206,000 Avios round-trip

To accrue British Airways Avios shortly, join the airline’s cobranded bank card to benefit from its welcome bonus. In any other case, switch factors from Chase Final Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Rewards or American Specific Membership Rewards (1:1) or from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

• British Airways Visa Signature® Card: Restricted time provide! Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That is $750 once you redeem by Chase Journey℠.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That is $900 towards journey once you redeem by Chase Journey℠.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 bonus factors after you spend $8,000 inside the first six months of opening your account.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® factors after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card inside the first 3 months of Card Membership.

The best credit cards for airport lounge access

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership

The trick right here is to solely use Virgin Factors to pay in your flight to London and both e-book your return flight with one other points-and-miles foreign money from this record or fly again to the U.S. from one other European metropolis to keep away from the excessive gas surcharges. Whereas they may not be too unhealthy for economy-class tickets, the associated fee will be astronomical for business- or first-class redemptions.

Test Virgin Atlantic’s rewards website for off-peak and peak season dates, which differ primarily based on the place and once you’re going.

Right here’s what number of Virgin Factors you’ll must fly from the East Coast, Midwest/South or West Coast:

• Economic system Class: 20,000, 25,000 or 30,000 miles round-trip (off-peak); 40,000, 45,000 or 50,000 (peak)
• Enterprise Class: 95,000 to 135,000 miles round-trip (off-peak); 115,000 to 155,000 (peak)

Virgin Factors can be used to fly with companions like Delta, which continues to be an honest deal regardless of a recent award devaluation, or Air France/KLM, amongst others.

Right here’s what number of Virgin Factors you’ll want for a Delta flight from the East Coast, Midwest/South or West Coast:

• Economic system Class: 30,000, 35,000 or 40,000 miles round-trip (off-peak); 50,000, 55,000 or 60,000 miles (peak) 
• Enterprise Class: 95,000 to 135,000 miles round-trip (off-peak); 115,000 to 155,000 miles (peak)

Virgin’s cobranded bank card affords a beneficiant quantity of factors to start out with. Factors can be transferred from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1) or Bilt Rewards, American Specific Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Capital One Rewards or Citi ThankYou Rewards through Virgin Crimson (1:1).

• Virgin Atlantic World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 30,000 bonus factors after you spend $1,000 inside the first 90 days of account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That is $750 once you redeem by Chase Journey℠.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That is $900 towards journey once you redeem by Chase Journey℠.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 bonus factors after you spend $8,000 inside the first six months of opening your account.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® factors after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card inside the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.

The best credit cards for airport lounge access

Air France / KLM Flying Blue 

When you can’t fly nonstop from the U.S. to London aboard Air France or KLM, Flying Blue miles present an honest one-stop possibility for award flights to the UK through Paris (CDG) or Amsterdam (AMS). They can be redeemed for nonstop flights with SkyTeam alliance companions like Delta and Virgin Atlantic.

Test the Flying Blue Rewards web site for Promo Awards and to calculate what number of miles you’ll want in your award flight.

Right here’s what number of Flying Blue miles you’ll must fly to London from the U.S.:

• Economic system Class: 40,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 100,000 miles round-trip

To accrue Flying Blue miles shortly, switch factors from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1) or Bilt Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, American Specific Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards or Capital One Rewards (1:1).

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That is $750 once you redeem by Chase Journey℠.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. That is $900 towards journey once you redeem by Chase Journey℠.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 bonus factors after you spend $8,000 inside the first six months of opening your account.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® factors after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card inside the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.
• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 inside the first three months of opening your account.

The best credit cards for airline miles

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Membership

Utilizing ANA miles to e-book flights with Star Alliance companions like United, Air Canada, TAP Portugal, LOT Polish Airways and SAS is an actual points-and-miles candy spot. 

Observe that whereas they can be redeemed for flights with Austrian Airways, Lufthansa or SWISS, the gas surcharges are typically a lot greater. Flying with United, reasonably, would imply redeeming extra miles however paying fewer charges.

Understand that solely round-trip redemptions are allowed with ANA, and you’ll solely e-book award flights for you and your loved ones members. It’s best to seek for award availability on United’s web site after which verify it with ANA. 

Right here’s what number of ANA miles you’ll must fly to London from the U.S.:

• Economic system Class: 55,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 88,000 miles round-trip
• First Class: 165,000 miles round-trip

Racking up ANA miles is straightforward, as factors will be transferred from Marriott Bonvoy (3:1) or American Specific Membership Rewards (1:1).

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London resorts you may e-book with factors

London is residence to heaps of factors resort chains, together with these by World of Hyatt, Marriott Bovoy, IHG One Rewards and Hilton Honors, amongst others.

Join your favourite model’s loyalty program so you may earn factors towards future stays — or think about making use of for a cobranded hotel rewards credit card and incomes free nights due to the welcome bonus.

Followers of Hilton resorts ought to think about the Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire bank card, which gives $200 in assertion credit, meant to cowl resort charges and different on-property expenses at properties worldwide.

Should you book travel with cash or points?

World of Hyatt

Select from a number of members-only World of Hyatt properties like The Academy, positioned in London’s stylish Bloomsbury neighborhood, with nightly charges from 20,000 factors. Between Covent Backyard and the Tower of London, the brand new Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars has rooms from 20,000 per evening.

Within the fashionable East Finish, the Andaz London Liverpool Road affords charges from 25,0000 factors per evening, placing you inside strolling distance of Brick Lane, residence to the best Bangladeshi food in London, and the legendary Ten Bells pub, of Jack the Ripper fame.

The welcome bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve or the World of Hyatt Credit Card gives sufficient factors for 3 nights at The Academy or the Andaz or two nights on the Hyatt Regency.

To prime up your factors steadiness, switch Chase Final Rewards factors to Phrase of Hyatt (1:1).

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Marriott Bonvoy

The Westin London Metropolis, inside strolling distance of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern, affords nightly charges from 62,000 factors. In Fitzrovia, The London Version is one other elegant possibility, sporting rooms from 89,500 factors per evening.

If practice station entry is a precedence, the St. Pancras Renaissance Resort London has luxurious rooms beginning at 52,000 factors per evening, placing you inside strolling distance of St. Pancras International and King’s Cross, residence of The Harry Potter Shop and the best photo-op of your life — Potterheads, that is your second to geek out as you “pass-through” the well-known Platform 9¾. 

The welcome bonus from the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express gives sufficient factors for one free evening at The Westin or the St. Pancras Renaissance and almost sufficient for a free evening at The London Version.

Factors will be transferred from American Specific Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) for those who nonetheless must bump up your steadiness.

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Hilton Honors

In Covent Backyard, The Waldorf Hilton, London, affords rooms from 75,000 factors, whereas the DoubleTree by Hilton London–Marble Arch close to Hyde Park has rooms beginning at 59,000 factors per evening. The DoubleTree by Hilton London–West Finish is a superb possibility, with charges from 60,000 factors per evening.

The welcome bonus from the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card affords sufficient factors for 2 nights at both resort, whereas the welcome bonus from The Platinum Card from American Express awards sufficient for a complimentary evening at every property.

Factors will be transferred from American Specific Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors (1:2) if you want to convey up your steadiness.

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IHG One Rewards

Only a stone’s throw from SoHo, Covent Backyard and The National Gallery, Resort Indigo London–1 Leicester Sq. has nightly charges beginning at 49,000 factors. Nearer to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, Resort Indigo London–Paddington affords rooms from 42,000 factors per evening. 

Followers of the royals can keep by Buckingham Palace on the InterContinental London Park Lane, which has nightly charges from 79,000 factors. Those that desire the stunning residential neighborhood of Russell Sq. ought to go for the Kimpton Fitzroy London, with rooms from 53,000 factors per evening.

The welcome bonus from the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Sapphire Reserve gives sufficient factors for a free evening on the Resort Indigo properties or the Kimpton. 

Switch factors from Bilt Rewards or Chase Final Rewards (1:1) to extend your steadiness.

Traveling to Europe using points and miles

Actions and floor transportation

Getting around London is tremendous simple due to the sprawling London Underground, extra generally often known as The Tube, and double-decker buses. Strolling and biking additionally make enjoyable methods to discover the town, as does cruising down the Thames. 

Cabs, mini-cabs and ride-share providers are additionally broadly accessible. For an actual deal with, strive a licensed black cab — its drivers have spent three to 5 years coaching and testing to study every part there’s to find out about London, so don’t be afraid to ask questions concerning the metropolis’s greatest eating places and websites.

The British capital is nicely linked to different elements of the UK by practice — and even Paris and past through Eurostar — making your choices for day trips from London seemingly countless. When you’re extra of a street journey particular person, be aware that automobiles listed here are pushed on the left aspect of the street (from the best aspect of the automobile) and the roads are pretty simple to navigate.

Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can verify the Chase Journey℠ portal to avoid wasting on automobile leases and guided excursions. Final Rewards factors are value 1.25 cents per level or 1.5 cents per level, respectively, so you would save an honest quantity.

Sure playing cards, just like the Capital One Venture and Capital One Venture X, allow you to redeem miles towards latest journey purchases at a price of 1 cent per mile. The Chase Sapphire Reserve additionally has a $300 annual journey credit score meant to “erase” journey bills.

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Backside line

With a bit thought and preparation, there’s no motive a trip to London has to interrupt the financial institution. By listening to airline alliances and credit card transfer partners, benefiting from welcome bonuses from cobranded and travel rewards credit cards and being strategic about your factors and miles, you’ll be capable of save a ton in your subsequent journey very quickly.

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*Eligibility and Profit degree varies by Card. Phrases, Situations, and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.

Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and affords. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and affords. Go to americanexpress.com to study extra.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, airline or resort chain, and haven’t been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of those entities.