Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

How to Fly Business Class to Italy Using Points and Miles

Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

Show Notes

Dreaming about sipping espresso in Milan, exploring the lakes of Northern Italy, or wandering the historic streets of Rome without paying thousands for airfare? In this episode, Travis is joined by Matt and Emily to break down some of the best ways to fly business class to Italy using points and miles. From nonstop routes to creative partner bookings, they explore multiple strategies that can help travelers reach Italy in comfort without paying business class cash prices.Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one placeYou will hear about airline alliances, sweet spots across different loyalty programs, and unique routing ideas that can open up more award availability. If flights are the biggest hurdle in planning a European trip, this conversation will help you understand how to approach your search and uncover opportunities you might have missed.Programs and redemption examples discussed:

Flying Blue business class to Europe starting around 60,000 points Avianca Lifemiles business class awards around 63,000 miles Virgin Atlantic partner awards around 75,000 miles Alaska Airlines awards around 55,000 miles Delta One via partner programs for significantly fewer miles than booking direct

If Italy is on your travel wish list, this episode will help you start building the strategy to get there using points.

Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome 00:40 Olympics Curling Chat 03:52 Italy Business Class Setup 10:26 Why Italy Is Worth It 16:18 Flight Options Overview 19:33 Repositioning Stories 20:40 United and Flying Blue Deals 24:48 Air Canada Cautions 25:05 Avoid Overpaying Segments 25:31 Reposition East vs West 26:55 Emirates Fifth Freedom 28:47 Delta One via Flying Blue 30:03 More Programs to Check 30:52 Lifemiles and Ethiopian Routes 32:57 Virgin Atlantic and Alaska Deals 36:47 Booking Timing and Fees 43:35 Cash Fares from Montreal 46:54 Final Takeaways Links and Resources from this Episode:Take Our Free Points and Miles Coursehttps://10xtravel.com/free-tools/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=Episode_72&utm_content=New To Points and Miles? Listen to Episodes 1-6 of the podcasthttps://10xtravel.com/new-here/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=Episode_72&utm_content=10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member todayhttps://10xtravel.com/10xtravel-plus/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=Episode_72&utm_content= How to Plan Your Points Redemption to Italyhttps://10xtravel.com/mapping-points-redemption-to-italy/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=sn&utm_campaign=Episode_72&utm_content=

More from Takeoff: A Points and Miles Podcast by 10xTravel

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Sep 9, 2026

We’re wrapping up the summer with the final episode from the archives, but this isn’t the end of the journey. On September 23, Takeoff: A Points & Miles Podcast by 10xTravel returns with something new, including a few exciting changes to the show!Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one placeBefore we get there, we’re revisiting past conversations with 10xTravel's Lovan Edwards, a frequent traveler who has a unique perspective on making points and miles work as part of everyday life. In the episode, Lovan shares his thoughts on a range of topics, from booking unique travel (like an African safari) to why he never checks bags on his flights.Learn from this travel pro, and stay tuned for what's coming next here on Takeoff!Original Episodes From This Episode:

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