Booking Business Class to Athens for $103: Exactly What I Did

What started as a mother daughter trip to Greece turned into a three generation adventure. Here is how points made it possible without a second thought.

It started as an annual trip for my Mom and me.

Greece had been on our list for a while and we finally decided to make it happen. But when my dad heard we were going to Athens, he wanted in…who doesn’t love Greek mythology? And when my daughter found out her grandparents and I were heading to Greece, there was no way she was staying home.

Suddenly our mother daughter trip became a three generation trip. Four of us. Athens, Greece.

And because of points, the answer to all of it was yes. Without hesitation. Without doing math at the kitchen table. Without anyone having to say "I don't think we can afford it."

Here is exactly how we made it happen.

First, Let's Talk About What This Trip Would Have Cost

Before I walk you through the steps, I want you to see the number that made my jaw drop.

Four Business Class tickets from Chicago to Athens on Lufthansa. On Lufthansa's own website right now that is over $5,300 per person. More than $21,000 for our family in cash.

What we actually paid: 280,000 points spread across three credit card programs and $412 in taxes/fees for all four of us. That is $103 per person out of pocket.

When my dad said he wanted to come, I did not have to think twice. That is what points do. They turn "I don't think we can afford it" into "of course you're coming."

Step 1: I Started With Google Flights

I knew we wanted Athens so I did exactly what anyone would do first. I opened Google Flights and searched Chicago to Athens.

Google Flights is free, fast, and the best way to see the full landscape of what is available before you ever think about points. I was not booking here. I was just doing research. Which airlines fly this route? How many stops? What does the schedule look like?

Lufthansa stood out as the strongest option for our dates. Non-stop from Chicago to Frankfurt, then a short connection to Athens. Great schedule, great aircraft, and most importantly, a great Business Class product on the Boeing 787.

Then I noticed something that changed the whole game. Lufthansa is a Star Alliance airline. And if you know anything about points, that means the seat is not just available through Lufthansa or United. It is potentially available through every Star Alliance partner portal. Which means I could shop around for the best price in points.

So that is exactly what I did.

Step 2: I Priced It Out on United First

I went to United's MileagePlus portal to see what the flight would cost in points. United showed me the flight: Chicago ORD to Athens ATH, Lufthansa Business Class, connecting through Frankfurt. The price: 200,000 MileagePlus miles per person plus $47.80 in taxes.

For four people that would have been 800,000 United miles. That is a lot. But I was not done shopping.

Step 3: I Shopped the Same Flight Across Star Alliance Partners

Here is the concept that most people do not know exists, and it is one of the most powerful moves in the points world.

When an airline is part of an alliance like Star Alliance, other member airlines can often book seats on that flight using their own points currency. That means the same Lufthansa Business Class seat that United is selling for 200,000 miles might be available through a completely different airline's portal for far fewer points.

So I checked Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. I checked ANA Mileage Club. I checked Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles. And I checked Air Canada Aeroplan.

Here is what I found for the same four Business Class seats on the same Lufthansa flight:

United MileagePlus: 200,000 points + $47.80 per person Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles: 165,000 points + $468 per person Air Canada Aeroplan: 70,000 points + $103 per person (the winner)

The winner was not even close. Aeroplan priced the exact same Lufthansa Business Class seat at 70,000 points per person. That is 130,000 fewer points than United and 95,000 fewer points than Turkish, which also came with $468 in taxes per person on top of it.

For four tickets, booking through Aeroplan instead of United saved our family 520,000 points. That is enough points for more trips.

This is why you never just book through the first portal you find. You shop around. Every time.

Step 4: I Confirmed Availability Before Transferring a Single Point

Once I identified Aeroplan as the best deal, I went to Air Canada's Aeroplan portal and confirmed that four Business Class seats were actually available on the flight before I moved any points.

This step is non-negotiable. Points transfers are one way and they are instant. Once you move points from Chase or Amex or Capital One into Aeroplan, they live there. You cannot transfer them back. So you never, ever transfer points until you have confirmed the award availability is sitting there waiting for you.

Four seats confirmed at 70,000 points each. Time to find the points.

Step 5: I Figured Out Which Programs to Pull From

Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, and Capital One Miles are not just credit card points. They are currencies that can be converted into airline miles and hotel points at a 1:1 ratio with dozens of travel partners.

Air Canada Aeroplan is a transfer partner of all three programs. That means:

1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point = 1 Aeroplan point 1 Amex Membership Rewards point = 1 Aeroplan point 1 Capital One Mile = 1 Aeroplan point

I needed 280,000 Aeroplan points total for four tickets. Here is how I covered it:

140,000 points from Amex Gold (2 tickets) 100,000 points from Capital One (covered most of the remaining 2 tickets) 40,000 points from Chase (topped off the balance)

Total: 280,000 points. Four Business Class seats. Done.

Step 6: I Transferred the Points in the Right Order

Once I knew exactly how many points I needed from each program, I transferred them to Aeroplan one program at a time.

I started with Amex since I was covering two full tickets from that account and wanted those points to land first. Then I transferred the Capital One points to cover the bulk of the remaining two tickets. Then I used Chase to top off the balance.

Once all 280,000 points were sitting in my Aeroplan account, I went straight to the booking.

Step 7: I Booked Through Air Canada Aeroplan

I went back to the Aeroplan portal, pulled up the same Chicago to Athens itinerary I had confirmed in Step 4, and completed the booking.

The flight: LH433 operated by Lufthansa, Boeing 787-9, Business Class, connecting through Frankfurt.

The cost: 70,000 Aeroplan points per person plus CAD $142.60 in taxes, which converted to roughly $103 USD per ticket.

Total out of pocket for four Business Class tickets to Athens, Greece: just $412.

Lufthansa Business Class on the 787 means a private pod, a lie-flat seat, and full meal service on a transatlantic flight. My mom, my dad, my daughter, and I are all flying over in those seats. For $412 total in taxes.

So Which Program Is Best: Chase, Capital One, or Amex?

The best program is the one you actually have points in. And the real answer is that they work best together, which is exactly what this booking proves.

Amex Gold Earns 4x points on dining and U.S. supermarkets. If you are spending money on food every week, you are earning fast. Amex Membership Rewards transfer to more than 20 airline and hotel partners including Aeroplan, Delta, British Airways, and Air France Flying Blue. The Gold is one of the best everyday earning cards available and it covered half of our Athens booking on its own. [Apply Here - AmEx Gold]

Capital One Capital One Miles have quietly built one of the strongest transfer partner lists available. They transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, and others at 1:1. The Venture X is the flagship card and earns 2x on everything, making it a strong card for purchases that do not fall into bonus categories. [Apply Here - Capital One Venture]

Chase Ultimate Rewards Chase is typically where I tell beginners to start because of the 5/24 rule. Chase is selective about approvals, and if you have opened too many cards recently they will turn you down. Getting your Chase cards first protects your options. Chase transfers to Aeroplan, United, Southwest, Hyatt, and more. [Apply Here - Chase Sapphire Preferred] [Apply Here - Chase Ink Business Preferred]

The Bottom Line

What started as a trip for my mom and me became a three generation adventure to Athens, Greece because the answer to "can we come too?" was easy.

Four Business Class tickets. Lufthansa Boeing 787. Private pods, lie-flat seats, meal service. Cash price: $5,300+ per person, $21,000+ for all four of us. Found on United for 200,000 points per person. Booked through Aeroplan for 70,000 points per person. Savings: 520,000 points by shopping Star Alliance partners. Total out of pocket in taxes: just over $400 for all four of us.

This is not a loophole. It is not going away. It is a system, and once you learn it, the answer to "can we come too?" gets a whole lot easier.

If you are ready to start, the free intro class at the link below will walk you through everything from the beginning.

Swipe smart. Go far. ✈️

Cassie Jemilo

3P Travel ✈️

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