Finding business-class award availability at good prices is often the toughest part of the points and miles game. There are a number of tools that can help you find award availability easier than in the past. However, the pickings remain slim with many airlines and routes when it comes to getting well-priced international business-class awards.
If you are struggling to find the business-class award that you want on United Airlines or another Star Alliance airline, know that some routes are much more generous with award availability than others.
If you can’t find what you want to your desired European destination, it may be worth it to check award flights from some United hubs like Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and O’Hare International Airport (ORD). They have flights to many European destinations like Amsterdam, Munich and Frankfurt. Saver business-class availability can be significantly better to and from those destinations.
If you can fly through or from Newark on your way to London, there are many date options; business-class award flights are readily available from 80,000 to 88,000 MileagePlus miles one-way on many dates.
Pro tip: Here are some of our favorite tools for finding award availability on your own.
Below are some routes to search if you want to find lots of Star Alliance business-class availability (sourced with data backed by Awayz) that you can book with United MileagePlus miles — or sometimes via even better-priced Star Alliance programs such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan.
Related: These are the best rewards card welcome offers of the month
Great business-class availability to Amsterdam through April 2025
Chicago to Amsterdam
We are seeing many award flights available from 80,000 miles plus fees and taxes from ORD to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in early 2025. This January round-trip nonstop itinerary is one example. It costs 160,000 miles plus $101.60 in taxes.
Houston to Amsterdam
There is also good one-stop availability in February 2025 from Houston to Amsterdam. You can fly round-trip (with a layover each way) from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to AMS for 160,000 MileagePlus miles, plus $107.20 in taxes.
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If you have a good stash of points with Star Alliance member Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, you can book business-class seats from Houston to Amsterdam via Munich or Frankfurt in November. They start at 70,000 miles, plus tax.
Washington, D.C., to Amsterdam
You can also book round-trip business class travel from IAD to AMS on United in March for 160,000 miles plus $101.60 in fees. Again, some of these are nonstop, and some are connecting (often through the aforementioned cities like Frankfurt and Munich).
Related: Best ways to travel to Europe using points and miles
Great business-class availability to Munich and Frankfurt through April 2025
Los Angeles to Munich
In the spring, you can find good availability for business-class awards from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Munich International Airport (MUC). Flights cost as few as 88,000 miles each way.
Chicago and Detroit to Frankfurt
There’s some good award space in February for flights from ORD to FRA for that same award price.
Through April 2025, there are business-class seats in the 80,000-to-88,000-mile range from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to FRA on Lufthansa-operated flights. These same flights are often bookable for 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles. (Remember, many types of credit card points transfer to Air Canada’s Aeroplan.)
Related: Best websites for searching Star Alliance award availability
Good business-class availability from Newark to London
It can be harder to find great business-class award availability on United flights to London from some of the carrier’s hub cities. Flying from (or through) Newark can make things much easier. We saw good availability into April 2025 on this route.
Sometimes the flight with the best availability is one of our favorites: the very late-night departure. It’s pretty much ideal if you have that lie-flat seat and can go straight to sleep.
Another thing you may notice is the price for United cardholders is sometimes much lower than for non-cardholders. This is a good reason to be sure you have a United credit card in your wallet.
Related: These are the best hotels in London
Bottom line
While these availability trends are commonly true, they can, of course, fluctuate. If a deal catches your eye, it’s always a good idea to go ahead and lock it in. This is especially true if you are booking with a program like United that makes it easy to change or redeposit award flights.
Earning points and miles is fun, but successfully turning them into a dream business-class award flight is even better. With this list of routes as a good starting point, you’ll be wheels-up to Europe (in comfort) in no time.
