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Finding business-class award availability at a good price is the hardest part of the points and miles game. There are numerous tools that can help you find reward availability easier than in the past. However, when it comes to finding good-value international business-class awards, pickings remain slim with many airlines and routes.

If you’re struggling to find the business-class award you want on United Airlines or another Star Alliance airline, know that some routes are more generous with award availability than others.

If you can’t find what you want for your desired European destination, it’s worth checking out award flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and O’Hare International Airport (United hubs). ORD). They have flights to many European destinations such as Amsterdam, Munich and Frankfurt. Saver business-class availability can be significantly better to and from those destinations.

If you can fly to or from Newark on your way to London, there are several date options; Business-class award flights are readily available on many dates for 80,000 to 88,000 mileageplus miles one-way.

Pro tip: Here are some of our favorite tools for finding reward availability on your own.

If you’re looking to find more Star Alliance business-class availability, below are some ways to search (source with data supported by Aways) that you can book with United MileagePlus miles — or sometimes through better-priced Star Alliance programs like Air Canada’s Aeroplan.

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Excellent business-class availability to Amsterdam until April 2025

Chicago to Amsterdam

We are looking at several award flights available from ORD to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) starting in early 2025 at 80,000 miles plus fees and taxes. This is an example of a January round-trip nonstop tour. It cost $101.60 with 160,000 miles plus tax.

Houston to Amsterdam

There is also good one-stop availability from Houston to Amsterdam in February 2025. You can fly round-trip (with layovers each way) from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to AMS for 160,000 MileagePlus miles and $107.20 in taxes.

If you have a good collection of points with a Star Alliance member Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, you can book business-class seats from Houston to Amsterdam via Munich or Frankfurt in November. They start at 70,000 miles, plus tax.

Washington, DC, Amsterdam

You can also book round-trip business class travel from IAD to AMS on United in March for 160,000 miles plus a $101.60 fee. Again, some of these are nonstop, and some are connecting (often via the aforementioned cities like Frankfurt and Munich).

Related: Best Ways to Travel Europe Using Points and Miles

Excellent business-class availability to Munich and Frankfurt by April 2025

Los Angeles to Munich

In the spring, you can find good availability for business-class awards from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Munich International Airport (MUC). Flights cost as little as 88,000 miles each way.

Chicago and Detroit to Frankfurt

There is some good award space for the same award price for flights from ORD to FRA in February.

As of April 2025, Lufthansa-operated flights have business-class seats in the 80,000-to-88,000-mile range from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to FRA. These same flights can often be booked for 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles. (Remember, many types of credit card points Transfer to an Air Canada airplane.)

Related: Best Websites to Check Star Alliance Award Availability

Good business-class availability from Newark to London

Finding the best business-class award availability on United flights to London from some carrier’s hub cities can be difficult. Flying from (or through) Newark can make things even easier. We see good availability in April 2025 on this route.

Sometimes the flight with the best availability is one of our favorites: very late-night departures. It’s ideal if you have that lie-flat seat and can sleep upright.

Another thing you may notice is that prices for United cardholders are sometimes much lower than non-cardholders. This is a good reason to make sure you have one United Credit Card in your wallet.

Related: These are the best hotels in London

The bottom line

While these availability trends are generally correct, they can, of course, fluctuate. If a deal catches your eye, it’s always a good idea to go ahead and lock it up. This is especially true if you’re booking with a program like United that makes it Easy to change or redeposit award flights.

Earning points and miles is fun, but successfully turning them into a dream business-class award flight is even better. With this list of routes as a good starting point, you’ll be wheeling-up to Europe (in comfort) in no time.