Best Ways to Fly Europe to Japan Using Points & Miles
Europeans have multiple excellent options for reaching Japan, with strong programs from Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and Asian carriers. Here's your complete guide.
Route Overview
Typical flight times:
- London to Tokyo: ~11.5 hours
- Paris to Tokyo: ~12 hours
- Frankfurt to Tokyo: ~11 hours
- Amsterdam to Tokyo: ~11 hours
Major carriers with nonstop service:
- Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Munich)
- British Airways (London Heathrow)
- Air France (Paris CDG)
- KLM (Amsterdam)
- Finnair (Helsinki - shortest route!)
- ANA, JAL (Various European cities)
Best Programs for Europeans
Miles & More (Lufthansa Group)
Award chart to Japan:
| Cabin | Miles Required (one-way) |
|---|---|
| Economy | 35,000-52,000 |
| Premium Economy | 50,000-65,000 |
| Business | 70,000-90,000 |
| First | 105,000-150,000 |
Partners: ANA, United, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines
Tips:
- Book ANA for better availability
- Lufthansa First Class is exceptional
- Transfer from Amex (varies by country)
British Airways Avios
Distance-based pricing to Tokyo:
| Cabin | Avios Required (one-way) |
|---|---|
| Economy | 39,000-65,000 |
| Business | 78,000-130,000 |
| First | 117,000-195,000 |
Partners: JAL (Oneworld), Finnair, Qatar
Tips:
- Book JAL for excellent product
- Combine with Qatar for luxury stopover
- Transfer from Amex, Chase
Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
Pricing to Japan:
| Cabin | Miles Required |
|---|---|
| Economy | 40,000-60,000 one-way |
| Premium Economy | 55,000-80,000 |
| Business | 72,000-115,000 |
| First | 150,000+ |
Tips:
- Promo Rewards offer discounts
- Korean Air is a partner
- Good availability on partner flights
Finnair Plus
The Helsinki shortcut:
- Shortest flight path to Tokyo (9.5 hours from HEL)
- Connect from anywhere in Europe
- Good Oneworld partner access
Pricing:
- Economy: 45,000-60,000 one-way
- Business: 80,000-100,000 one-way
Country-Specific Strategies
From UK
Best options: 1. BA Avios on JAL - Book Tokyo direct or via Helsinki 2. Virgin Atlantic on ANA - Transfer from Amex UK 3. Finnair connection - Often cheapest business class
Credit cards: Amex UK, Chase Sapphire UK (limited)
From Germany
Best options: 1. Miles & More on Lufthansa - First Class is legendary 2. Miles & More on ANA - Better availability 3. Eurowings Discover - Budget alternative
Credit cards: Amex Germany, Miles & More cards
From France
Best options: 1. Flying Blue on Air France - Direct to Tokyo 2. Flying Blue on Korean Air - Via Seoul 3. JAL via Avios - Oneworld option
Credit cards: Amex France, Flying Blue cards
From Netherlands
Best options: 1. Flying Blue on KLM - Direct to Tokyo/Osaka 2. Finnair via Helsinki - Short connection
From Scandinavia
Best options: 1. Finnair direct - Best positioning 2. SAS EuroBonus - Star Alliance partner access 3. Norwegian - Budget cash option (when available)
Luxury Options from Europe
Lufthansa First Class
- Frankfurt and Munich departures
- New "Allegris" First Class suites
- Book via Miles & More (105,000+ miles)
Qatar Qsuites via Doha
- Many European departures
- World-class business class
- Book via Avios or Asia Miles
Emirates via Dubai
- First Class suites available
- Longer routing but luxurious
- Book via Emirates Skywards
Singapore Airlines via Singapore
- A380 Suites Class
- Long detour but worth it for enthusiasts
- Book via KrisFlyer or partner programs
The Finnair Shortcut
Finnair deserves special mention:
Why it's great:
- Helsinki is closest European hub to Tokyo
- 9.5 hours vs 11.5+ from Western Europe
- Modern A350 fleet
- Good business class product
How to book:
- Finnair Plus (Oneworld)
- Avios on Finnair
- Qantas Points
- American AAdvantage
Fuel Surcharges Warning
European carriers often add significant fuel surcharges:
| Airline | Typical Surcharges |
|---|---|
| British Airways | £400-600+ |
| Lufthansa | €200-400 |
| Air France | €200-350 |
| Finnair | €150-300 |
| ANA (partner) | €50-100 |
Tip: Book ANA via partner programs to minimize surcharges.
Sample European Redemptions
Budget option:
- 45,000 Finnair Plus points
- Finnair economy via Helsinki
- Surcharges: ~€200
Business class value:
- 80,000 Avios
- JAL business London-Tokyo
- Surcharges: ~£300
Luxury splurge:
- 105,000 Miles & More
- Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt-Tokyo
- Surcharges: ~€350
Europeans have strong programs but need to watch fuel surcharges. Consider ANA and JAL via partner programs for the best value, or embrace Finnair's convenient Helsinki routing.