Our Team’s 8 Favorite Ways to Fly Lie-Flat to Europe

Here at Thrifty Traveler, we don’t just find great flight deals. We’re not above getting high on our own supply: We book those deals, too. 

Together, we’ve covered millions of miles, including in some of the swankiest business and first class seats on the planet. Now we need your help to settle a bet …

From Emirates’ legendarily luxurious lie-flat seats to JetBlue’s cool Mint business class, or even the sneaky-awesome Condor Business Class, there are tons of great ways to lie-flat to Europe. And each person on our team of writers and flight deal analysts thinks their favorite way to fly lie-flat to Europe is the best of the best. But only one of us can be right.

Of the dozens of options flying across the Atlantic, we picked out eight of our favorites. Some top the list for comfort and style, others for out-of-this-world amenities, and others because they’re such a darn good deal – one of them costs just 27,000 points each way! We’ve personally flown each and every one of them.

So help us decide: Which one do you want to fly … and which one of us is right? Sound off in the comments!

The Fanciest: Emirates Business Class (or First Class!)

Onboard the double-decker Airbus A380, Emirates Business Class shines on its unique fifth-freedom route from New York City (JFK) to Milan (MXP). The experience is nearly unmatched with crazy amenities like an onboard bar at the back of the cabin. While not quite perfect, the price is absolutely right for a luxurious ride across the Atlantic with Emirates.

Full review: Short But Sweet: Emirates Business Class Review, A380 New York to Milan

Better yet, you can book (or upgrade) to Emirates First Class on this exact same route and get the full Emirates treatment: Bottomless caviar, Dom Perignon champagne, and a shower at 38,000 feet. This is about as good as flying gets. 

How to book it: Emirates also flies between from Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH), but only the route between New York and Milan currently operates on an A380 with a far superior business class seat. 

On either route, you can book Emirates business class for as low as 108,000 miles roundtrip. Finding the award availability to actually book at these dirt-cheap rates can be tough, but it can be done. 

The best way to book for that low price is using Emirates Skywards miles. They’re incredibly easy to earn, as Emirates is a transfer partner with nearly all the major banks: You can turn Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, or Citi points into Emirates miles and book this. 

But wait, there’s more: You can also book Emirates First Class on these seats for a little bit more, too. It’ll cost you 102,000 miles each way – unlike back in business class, there’s no discount for booking roundtrip. There’s also a surprisingly excellent way to book business class, then upgrade to Emirates first class using miles.

Finding the award space to book these luxe seats is even harder – especially if you want to book for more than one passenger. We sent Thrifty Traveler Premium members an alert a few weeks back with some excellent award space for two later this year and early next.

Read our full review of Emirates First Class between Milan and New York!

The Most Unique: JetBlue Mint Suites

Many business class cabins flying across the Atlantic Ocean are shockingly similar. Many airlines use the same seats, contract with the same catering companies, and provide the same amenities.

And then there’s JetBlue, whose private and exciting Mint Suites flying to and from several major European destinations shocked us … in the best way possible. These fun, vibey seats are a real contender as the best business class flying to Europe thanks to second-to-none inflight dining and a convenient, smaller Airbus airplane for a sweet (or should I say “suite”) price. 

Full Review: Fine Dining at 36K Feet, JetBlue Mint Suite Review from Boston to Amsterdam

How to book it: To snag JetBlue Mint Suites, you’ll either want to wait for cash prices to drop under $2,000 roundtrip (which happens a few times a year) … or start stockpiling points with Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Wells Fargo, or Citi  – all of which you can transfer to either Qatar or British Airways to book JetBlue Mint Suites abroad for 78,000 points.

A current 30% transfer bonus from Chase to British Airways makes this deal even better: Just 60,000 points from a card like the *chase sapphire preferred* is all you need to book one of these awesome suites to Europe or back.

It gets even better. The first row of JetBlue Mint Suites seats are called JetBlue Mint Studios – an extra spacious upgrade for $299 each way. You can read our guide to see if we think it’s worth the extra money for the upgrade. 

The Best Value: Iberia Business Class

To put it simply: The price is always right for Iberia business class.

It’s not as fancy or luxurious as other lie-flat seats on this list … but other lie-flat seats won’t charge you just 34,000 points each way. That’s right: As low as 34,000 points is all you need for a lie-flat ride to Spain. Regular transfer bonuses to Iberia (or British Airways) mean you can book for even less: Just 27,000 miles each way!

Even at that ultra-low rate, Iberia business class is mroe than solid. You’ll get a lie-flat seat with direct-aisle access no matter what plane you’re on. The Spanish airline also has newer Airbus A350s with suites, decked out with doors for more privacy. And Iberia has a brand-new Airbus A321XLR on the way with a single aisle of business class suites coming, too.

Full Review: Iberia Business Class Airbus A330 Chicago to Madrid

How to book it: You’re going to want to stack up some Avios with either British Airways or Iberia Avios. Lucky you, that’s easy: Amex, Bilt, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Capital One points all transfer to those programs.

To get the lowest rate, you’ll want to fly to Madrid (MAD) from one of four U.S. cities: Boston (BOS), New York City (JFK), Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD), and Chicago-O’Hare (ORD). You’ll also want to fly during the off-peak season to get the lowest rate – though even during peak summer, Iberia’s 50,000-mile rate for a one-way in business class is cheap compared to the alternatives.

The Sneakiest: Condor Business Class

Low-cost German carrier Condor was a long-shot to offer some of the finest business class in the game, but here we are.

On each and every one of Condor’s routes to Germany, you’ll find state-of-the-art seats, 4K seatback screens with Bluetooth headphone pairing, tasty meal service (including Jagermeister onboard!), and much more. If you ask us, Condor is the business class you haven’t heard much about … but one that you should absolutely consider for your next trip to Europe. 

Full Review: Condor Business Class Review, A330-900neo Toronto to Frankfurt

How to book it: To snag these seats, you’ll want Alaska miles, which have suddenly just gotten a lot easier to earn thanks to its takeover of Hawaiian Airlines. Because Hawaiian is an Amex transfer partner, you can send points from cards like the *amex gold* to Hawaiian, then kick them over to Alaska.

You can also transfer Bilt points straight to Alaska.

Whether you’re flying from the East Coast, San Francisco (SFO) or Seattle (SEA), or all the way from Anchorage (ANC), you’ll need just 55,000 Alaska miles to make these seats yours.

Like with JetBlue Mint’s Studio, the front seats of the Condor business class cabin are called “Prime Seats” with far more space and additional amenities. As of publication, you can upgrade to pick one of those Prime Seats for $360 each way. 

The Newest: Lufthansa Allegris

When it comes to business class, Lufthansa used to feel like it was 15 years behind its competitors … but then came its new “Allegris” business class cabin.

The dynamic, modern, lie-flat offerings come in many different seat types for all travelers: There are private window seat, ridiculously spacious “throne seats” in the middle of the cabin, paired seats for companions, and more. On top of Lufthansa’s quantum leap in comfort and privacy, the tech inside these seats is second to none.

You’ll only find these new business class seats flying on a select few routes between the U.S. and Germany right now, but that’s expected to change in 2025.

Full Review: Worst to First – A Review of the New Lufthansa Allegris Business Class

How to book it: The easiest, most convenient, and cheapest way to book Lufthansa business class is by booking through Air Canada Aeroplan. Don’t worry: You can earn those points by transferring from your Amex, Bilt, Capital One, or Chase accounts to make one of these seats yours.

The shorter the flight, the fewer points it will cost you: Air Canada charges anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000 points to fly Lufthansa business class. 

For now, make sure you look for the Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)-to-Munich (MUC) flights to ensure you’re getting Allegris in the short-term. The routes where Lufthansa flies its Allegris-equipped jets are subject to change, though – hopefully, that means a lot more opportunities for U.S. travelers are coming soon. 

The Loveliest: Air France Suites

Air France has long been one of the best business class seats flying across the Atlantic Ocean. But the French airline has one-upped itself with new business class suites. 

These closed-door suites feature such high-tech amenities like wireless charging, Bluetooth-connected headphones, and high-end French food and drink offerings – all inside your own private space. They’re some of the most beautifully designed business class seats you’ll find in the sky – and spacious, too.

Full Review: A Review of the New Air France A350 Business Class Suites

How to book it: Air France and KLM’s own Flying Blue loyalty program should be your go-to here – for one good reason. 

While seemingly every other airline is raising award rates left and right, Flying Blue has done the opposite: It cut prices, down as low as just 50,000 points each way for a business class ticket. It couldn’t be easier to earn those 50,000 points, either – you can transfer them from all the major banks like Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi, or Wells Fargo.

The Weirdest: Singapore Business Class to Europe?

Yes, it’s odd, but stick with us.

Legendary Singapore Airlines runs a fifth-freedom route from New York City (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA). In fact, it runs a second route to Europe between Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) and Manchester (MAN) in England, though that one is set to end in late March 2025. 

You can book either one at pretty affordable rates – a fraction of what it would cost to fly the five-star carrier all the way to Singapore. And that ticket comes with all the tasty food from the Book the Cook menu and outstanding service the Southeast Asian carrier is known for, too. 

Full Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class 777, Singapore to Los Angeles

How to book it: You’ve got a few options to book these fares:

• You can occasionally book them through Air Canada Aeroplan for just 60,000 points each way (or 70,000 points for the Houston-to-Manchester route)
• Singapore’s own Krisflyer program is a better bet at 81,000 miles each way – or, better yet, when the airline slashes the rate down to just 56,700 miles with its Spontaneous Escapes promo pricing
• We also routinely see cash rates on these routes tumble – including deals as low as $2,500 or less roundtrip!

The Unicorn: Lufthansa First Class

We saved the hardest for last. 

It’s not the newest or fanciest seat on this list, but there’s something special about Lufthansa First Class. Caviar service in the nose of a Boeing 747? An incredibly cozy bed with a rose waiting at your seat? Your very own terminal – not just lounge, terminal – in Frankfurt followed by a ride on the tarmac straight to your flight? 

Check, check, and check. No wonder weirdos like us obsess over Lufthansa First, right? 

Read our full review of Lufthansa First flying from Chicago to Frankfurt!

How to book it: Patience isn’t just a virtue – it’s absolutely essential for booking Lufthansa First Class using your points. 

Officially, you can only book Lufthansa’s fanciest seats within 14 days or so of departure. Unofficially, you can typically only book Lufthansa First using miles from partner carriers like United or Aeroplan just three to four days before departure … and even then, it’s no sure thing.

So consider yourself warned: This is not for the faint of heart. Unless you’re comfortable running dozens (if not hundreds) of searches manually, using an award search tool like seats.aero can help you find the needle in the haystack.

Once you do find a flight you can actually book with miles, your best bet these days will almost always be Air Canada Aeroplan. The Canadian carrier typically charges 90,000 to 100,000 points each way – or more on the longer flights from the West Coast to Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC).

For example, you can book this flight from Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA) for 100,000 points and $56 … if you’re ready to depart tomorrow. 

Avianca Lifemiles was previously the best way to book Lufthansa First – by far. But after a devaluation earlier this year, the Colombian carrier now charges a whopping 136,000 miles for this exact same route. Ouch.

Bottom Line

These are all fantastic, comfortable, and (in many cases) surprisingly affordable ways to fly lie-flat to Europe. That’s why they’re our favorites. 

But there can only be one – one best way to fly to Europe in a business or first class seat. Which one would you pick?