On this page
- Why distance decides the price on Aeroplan
- Other programs to search
- Which US cards reach which program
- Worked example: Los Angeles to Europe, one or two travelers (published and hypothetical figures)
- The full round trip
- Premium economy as a middle option
- Timing your search
- For two travelers
- Booking steps
- Trade-offs
- If nothing shows up
- West Coast to Europe on points: FAQs
Start with Aeroplan, whose chart prices business class between North America and Europe at 75,000 points one way for 4,001–6,000 miles flown. Most West Coast nonstops to Western Europe fall inside that band. A connection that pushes the distance over 6,000 miles raises the price to 90,000. Then compare Flying Blue, which books Air France, KLM and Delta flights with variable prices, and Delta SkyMiles if you hold Amex points. Amex, Chase, Capital One and Bilt all transfer to Aeroplan and Flying Blue.
What we'd do first: list the nonstop routes from your airport to Europe, then search Aeroplan and Flying Blue for those nonstops on several dates. Note the distance of any connecting itinerary before you accept it.
Why distance decides the price on Aeroplan
Aeroplan prices partner awards by "the actual distance flown between origin and destination" (Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, PDF, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:47 Lima). Between North America and Europe the business-class bands are, one way per person:
- 0–4,000 miles: 60,000 points;
- 4,001–6,000 miles: 75,000 points;
- 6,001–8,000 miles: 90,000 points.
On most partners these are fixed prices. On Air Canada and its Select Partners, including United, they're "starting at" prices; in the 4,001–6,000 band the chart lists a median of 80,000 points for business. A partner booking fee applies to awards on partner airlines.
Approximate great-circle distances from the West Coast:
| Route | Approx. miles | Aeroplan business band |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle–London | 4,790 | 75,000 |
| Seattle–Paris | 5,000 | 75,000 |
| San Francisco–London | 5,350 | 75,000 |
| Los Angeles–London | 5,440 | 75,000 |
| San Francisco–Paris | 5,570 | 75,000 |
| Los Angeles–Paris | 5,660 | 75,000 |
| Los Angeles–Frankfurt | 5,790 | 75,000 |
| Los Angeles–Frankfurt–Paris | 6,070 | 90,000 |
That last line is the trap. A nonstop from Los Angeles to Frankfurt stays under 6,000 miles, but adding a connection to Paris pushes the total over, and the price rises by 15,000 points per person. Routing through a Canadian hub can add or save distance depending on the city, so check the total.
Other programs to search
Flying Blue (Air France-KLM). Flying Blue publishes "Starting from" prices and Promo rewards of "up to 25%" off, released "on the first day of each month" (Flying Blue: reward tickets, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:47 Lima). Prices vary by date. It can book Air France and KLM nonstops and connections via Paris or Amsterdam, plus partner flights.
Delta SkyMiles. Delta prices awards variably and shows an award calendar. Its award page says international awards "may include up to $600 for foreign government taxes and fees and/or carrier-imposed fees" (Delta: Travel with Miles, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:45 Lima). Among the five big US transferable currencies, only Amex lists Delta.
Programs with higher surcharges. Some programs pass on large carrier-imposed charges on certain airlines. We didn't verify specific amounts for this guide, so read the cash total on the final screen before you transfer.
Which US cards reach which program
| Program | Amex | Chase | Capital One | Citi | Bilt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | not listed | 1:1 |
| Flying Blue | 1:1 | 1:1 | 1:1 | listed (ratio at transfer) | 1:1 |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1:1 | not listed | not listed | not listed | not listed |
As listed on 13 November 2026: Amex (21:32 Lima), Chase (21:52), Capital One (21:55), Citi (21:32; ratios not public), Bilt (21:55). Check before committing.
Worked example: Los Angeles to Europe, one or two travelers (published and hypothetical figures)
Business class, one way. Hypothetical cash fare $3,800 per person; 2% cash-back baseline.
| Option | Points | Cash (hypo) | Cents per point vs cash (hypo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroplan partner nonstop LA–Frankfurt, 1 traveler | 75,000 (published) | $150 | 4.77¢ |
| Aeroplan partner LA–Frankfurt–Paris, 1 traveler | 90,000 (published) | $150 | 3.97¢ |
| Aeroplan partner nonstop, 2 travelers | 150,000 (published) | $300 | 4.77¢ |
| Flying Blue nonstop LA–Paris, 2 travelers | 180,000 (hypo) | $700 | 3.75¢ |
| Delta nonstop, 2 travelers | 300,000 (hypo) | $120 | 2.44¢ |
The math for the first line: ($3,800 − $150 − $76) ÷ 75,000 = 4.77 cents per point. Every option here beats our assumed 1-cent yardstick against a $3,800 fare, but the totals differ by up to 150,000 points for two people. Partner booking fees are extra on Aeroplan partner awards.
The full round trip
Put the whole trip in one line before transferring. On Aeroplan's published partner prices, a round trip in business from the West Coast to Western Europe on nonstops is 150,000 points per person, or 300,000 for two, plus taxes, fees and partner booking fees in both directions. If either direction needs a connection that takes you over 6,000 miles, add 15,000 points per person for that direction. Mixing cabins helps: business on the overnight eastbound flight and economy on the daytime return costs 75,000 plus the economy price for the band (42,500 on most partners), or 117,500 points per person round trip.
Taxes on the return can differ from those on the outbound, because each country sets its own departure charges, and some programs add carrier charges in one direction but not the other. Price each direction on its own and add them up.
Premium economy as a middle option
Aeroplan's chart lists premium economy on Air Canada and its Select Partners from 60,000 points in the 4,001–6,000-mile band, with a median of 89,500; the "all other partners" row shows no premium economy price. It's worth a look when business seats for two won't line up, but compare it with the business price: on some dates the gap is small enough that business is the better use of points.
Timing your search
Programs and airlines decide when award seats are released, and they don't publish a schedule. In practice, two habits help. Search early, as soon as your dates are firm, and keep checking. If you have flexibility, set alerts in a search tool rather than checking by hand every day.
For two travelers
Two lie-flat seats on the same flight are harder to find than one. Search a week of dates, consider each West Coast airport you can reach, and be ready to book as soon as both seats show. If only one seat appears, one option is to book one traveler in business and one in premium economy, then look for an upgrade later; another is to split across two programs on the same flight. Both add complexity, especially if plans change.
Booking steps
- Search Aeroplan for nonstops from your airport; note any routing over 6,000 miles.
- Search Flying Blue for the same dates and check that month's Promo list.
- If you hold Amex points, check Delta's award calendar.
- Confirm seats for every traveler, then transfer. Transfers are final.
- Book immediately and pay the taxes and fees with a card. The TSA security fee applies per one-way trip from a US airport, award tickets included (TSA: Security Fees, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:46 Lima).
Trade-offs
- Nonstop versus connection. Nonstops are simpler and, on Aeroplan, can be cheaper because of distance bands.
- Starting prices. On Air Canada and United, Aeroplan's prices are a floor, not a promise.
- Surcharges. They vary by program and airline; read the cash total.
- Return taxes. Departure taxes from Europe can differ; price the return separately.
If nothing shows up
Try Seattle or San Francisco if you're in Los Angeles (or vice versa), shift dates, or connect via a European hub that keeps you under 6,000 miles. Consider premium economy one way. Or pay cash and keep your points, using our cents-per-point method to compare. For the East Coast version, see business class from New York to Paris on points, and for search tools that can watch for seats, see how to find award availability.
West Coast to Europe on points: FAQs
Is London or Paris cheaper from the West Coast?
On Aeroplan's chart, both are in the same 4,001–6,000-mile band from LA, San Francisco and Seattle. Pick by schedule and surcharges.
Does connecting in Canada help?
Sometimes. Aeroplan prices by total distance flown, so it depends on the cities.
Can I use Chase points for Delta flights?
Not via Delta directly; Chase lists Flying Blue, which can book Delta-operated flights.