Travel Hacking for Free Flights and Hotels in the EU

Travel hacking combines savvy loyalty-program strategies to unlock free travel. In Europe, this means mastering regional frequent-flyer and hotel loyalty programs, savvy credit-card use, and creative earning tricks.

Rather than only fixing your gaze on US-style hacking, EU residents can leverage Lufthansa Miles & More, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Avios, and top hotel programs (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards) to accumulate thousands of points.

By understanding how these programs work and using tools like AwardWallet or SeatSpy, you can stack miles and points from flights, hotels, credit cards, and shopping portals.

European travelers can also benefit from understanding how to plan a budget-friendly trip to make the most of every point earned and mile flown.

Top Frequent Flyer Programs in Europe

EU travel hackers focus on major European carriers’ loyalty programs. Key examples include:

• Lufthansa Miles & More (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) – Europe’s largest FFP, spanning Star Alliance. You earn award miles on Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and other partners, as well as through hotels, rental cars and co-branded credit cards. For instance, Lufthansa’s Miles & More offers a shopping portal where “fashion brands, fine wines and delicacies… earn award miles with every purchase (miles-and-more.com). Note the downside: Miles & More miles expire 36 months after credit if unused (​awardwallet.com) (though holding a Miles&More credit card can keep them alive).
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue – Pan-European program for AF/KLM (SkyTeam). Members earn 4–8 miles per € on flights (​wwws.airfrance.fr) and on partner airlines like Alitalia or Delta. Notably, Flying Blue miles never expire as long as you have at least one qualifying activity (typically one flight) every 2 years (​wwws.airfrance.fr). Flying Blue also runs monthly Promo Rewards offering deeply discounted awards; for example, recent promos priced intra-Europe one-ways at just 7,500 miles each way​ (thepointsguy.com).
• British Airways Avios – Despite Brexit, BA’s Executive Club is hugely relevant in Europe. Avios points are distance-based and extremely valuable on short-haul routes. You earn Avios on BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Finnair, and other OneWorld partners (and even by staying at certain hotel chains). BA’s official site notes that Avios can be earned “when spending with airlines, hotels or car rentals (​britishairways.com). Importantly, Avios never expire as long as you either earn or redeem at least some Avios every 36 months​ (britishairways.com). (A useful trick: UK credit cards like the Amex Nectar or Avios-branded cards often convert large sign-up bonuses into Avios.)

Other programs to know: SAS EuroBonus (Scandinavia), TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go, Iberia Plus, etc. Each lets you pool points into Star Alliance or OneWorld networks. For example, Iberia’s Avios chart charges only 4,500 Avios one-way for sub-650-mile flights, making city hops dirt-cheap.

Comparison of Key European FFPs:

Top Hotel Loyalty Programs

European travelers also maximize free nights via hotel chains:

• Marriott Bonvoy – Encompasses brands from budget (Courtyard) to luxury (St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton). Most stays earn about 10 points per US$ (5 base + 5 bonus) on participating brands (​marriott.com). Marriott offers award nights in fixed categories (usually 35k–60k points per night for mid-level properties) and occasional free-night certificates from credit cards or promotions. Points expire after 24 months of inactivity​ (awardwallet.com) (though Marriott has paused expiration recently).
• Hilton Honors – Virtually every Hilton (Hilton, Conrad, DoubleTree, etc) participates. Base earn is 10 points per $1 on stays (5 base + 5 bonus for elites). With Hilton’s 5th-night-free benefit for Silver/Diamond members, a 4-night award effectively costs only 80% of points. However, be aware Honors points expire after 24 months without any account activity​ (nerdwallet.com).
• IHG One Rewards – Covers InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, etc. Standard earn is 10 points per $1 on paid stays. Awards start as low as 10,000 points for Category 1 hotels (in Europe often small Holiday Inns) and up to 70,000+. IHG’s expiration policy is harsh: points expire after 12 months without any earning (unless you have elite status, which freezes expiration)​awardwallet.com.

(Other noteworthy programs: Accor Live Limitless (France-based Accor hotels; points expire after 18 months), Hyatt World of Hyatt (less presence in EU but strong redemption rates), and smaller chains.)

These loyalty programs frequently run promotions (e.g. bonus points for multiple stays or status challenges). Always book directly through the hotel’s website to earn points and elite credits (third-party sites typically forfeit points). If you have a branded credit card (e.g. the Marriott Bonvoy Amex in some countries), you may earn extra points on all hotel bookings.

Travel Reward Credit Cards in Europe

Europeans have fewer general-travel credit cards than in the US, but co-branded and flexible points cards abound. Key examples:

• Lufthansa Miles & More Credit Cards (issued by banks like DKB in Germany, Visa by Austrian Airlines, etc.) These typically earn ~1 M&M mile per €1 spent and include sign-up bonuses (e.g. 25,000 miles after a few thousand euros of spend). Holding an M&M card can also prevent mile expiration (​awardwallet.com).
• British Airways / Avios Cards – In the UK and Ireland, MBNA (Barclays) issues BA co-branded cards. For example, one UK MBNA Avios card offers around 30,000 bonus Avios after a few thousand pounds of spending. Also consider American Express cards that transfer to Avios: e.g. the Amex Preferred Rewards Gold (UK) offers 20,000 Membership Rewards points after £3,000 spending in 3 months​ (moneysavingexpert.com), which can convert 1:1 to Avios. The Amex Nectar card gives 20,000 Nectar points after £2,000 spending ​(moneysavingexpert.com), and since 400 Nectar = 250 Avios, that’s ~13,750 Avios (enough for multiple short flights).
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue Cards – Several European countries (Netherlands, Poland, etc.) offer a Flying Blue-branded card (often American Express) with miles per €1 and welcome miles. For instance, KLM’s Dutch site shows four tiers of Flying Blue AmEx cards (Entry through Platinum)​ (klm.nl), each earning miles on purchases.
• Other EU Travel Cards – Many local banks in Europe have credit cards with travel perks (e.g. discounts, lounge access) but focus on those that earn miles. In Italy, Allied Bank or Intesa may issue M&M cards; in France, a BNP Paribas Flying Blue card; in Spain, Iberia’s card; in UK, Virgin Atlantic Reward+ (points convertible to Delta).

When considering a card, compare annual fees, earning rates, FX fees (some EU cards waive foreign transaction fees), and whether points transfer to airline programs you value. As one UK guide notes, “Amex Gold gives 20,000 bonus points after £3,000 spend” and these points are transferrable to multiple airlines (moneysavingexpert.com).

Maximizing Your Earnings (Flights, Hotels, Shopping, and More)

To rack up points quickly, exploit all your travel and shopping spend:

• Airline Tickets – Always credit flights to the optimal program. For example, a cheap Air France flight can earn Flying Blue miles, whereas a Lufthansa flight can earn M&M miles. Remember partner earnings: you can credit any OneWorld flight to Avios, any Star Alliance flight to M&M, etc. Whenever booking flights, include your frequent-flyer number. Use mileage running or end-on-end flights if short on miles. Join airline alliances (e.g. Star, SkyTeam, OneWorld) to pool partner flights in one program. For beginners, these strategies align closely with backpacking basics for cheap travel, especially when maximizing every euro spent.
• Hotels – Stay loyal. Book directly through the hotel or loyalty site to earn points and elite status credit. Take advantage of hotel shopping portals (e.g. earning bonus points on hotel gift shops). Some chains offer points for non-stay promotions (e.g. depositing points for spa/dining credit). Keep an eye on package deals; sometimes booking a higher-category room and paying with points plus cash yields extra points back. Eco-conscious travelers may want to explore eco-friendly hotels to align sustainability with points earning potential.
• Shopping Portals & Partners – Nearly all European airlines have online malls. For instance, Lufthansa’s Miles & More Shopping portal lets you earn miles at dozens of retailers ​(miles-and-more.com). BA’s e-Store offers up to 30 Avios per £1 at over 800 shops​ (britishairways.com). Flying Blue has “Earn Online” for hundreds of global brands. Also link loyalty numbers to everyday partners: in the UK, Tesco Clubcard vouchers can convert to Avios at favorable rates, and Shell Drivers Club points (formerly convertible to Avios) encouraged fueling (though that program has ended). British Airways also allows linking hotel stays (e.g. Marriott, IHG) to earn Avios instead of hotel points. Stack rewards: use a travel credit card for purchases on these portals to earn both credit-card points and airline miles.
• Other Creative Avenues – Watch out for dining programs (some countries have credit-card dining networks); pay attention to “(milestone bonuses)” like bonus miles for multiple flights or nights in a year. Occasionally promotions allow buying points cheaply or getting bonus points for transfers. If you have family members flying, pool miles into one account (many programs allow household pooling or transfers). Use referral bonuses if available (some EU cards or programs have friend referral offers).

Redeeming Points Strategically

It’s not just about earning — using points wisely is key to free travel:

• Sweet-Spot Awards – Look for redemptions with outsized value. Avios’ distance-based chart makes very short flights (e.g. London–Edinburgh, Paris–Rome) cost very few points. For example, a sub-650-mile Avios award might cost only 6,500 miles one-way. Similarly, Flying Blue’s Promo Rewards often drop prices dramatically — one recent promo had intra-Europe economy flights for only 7,500 miles​ (thepointsguy.com). Use award charts and search tools to find underpriced routes.
• Upgrades and Premium Cabins – Sometimes it’s better to upgrade than book directly with miles. Lufthansa and other airlines let you upgrade to Premium Economy or Business with miles. After big airfare sales, buy a cheap economy and spend miles to upgrade.
• Hotel Free Nights – Use points for high-category hotels or peak weekends. Marriott’s chart isn’t great (up to 60,000+ points for top resorts), but Hilton and IHG often have lower award levels in Europe. Hilton’s Free Night certificates (earned via promotions) can cover Category 4 hotels (worth ~50,000–60,000 points) at no cost. And with Hilton’s 5th-night-free on awards, 5 nights cost only 4 award nights. For example, a 5-night Hilton stay that normally costs 150,000 points can be had for 120,000 points if you have Diamond status.
• Avoiding High Fees and Surcharges – Some awards have steep fees. British Airways-inflicted “carrier surcharges” can add €100+ to each ticket​(frequentmiler.com). Mitigate this by booking partner flights: for instance, using Avios on Aer Lingus or Iberia avoids BA’s surcharges, and Flying Blue flights typically carry only government taxes (no hefty fuel surcharges on AF/KLM flights). Always check the taxes before booking an award.
• Combining Points with Cash – If short on points, many programs allow mixed payments (e.g. Cash+Points bookings, or buying points at a discount). Airline programs like Lufthansa allow “Miles & Cash” awards. For hotels, points+cash awards can save points when partial payment is acceptable. However, beware devaluation: airlines sometimes increase “points needed” for popular awards (e.g. Miles & More is shifting to dynamic pricing in mid-2025 (miles-and-more.com). It often pays to book known fixed-chart awards now before any devaluations (or use points for short-haul where dynamic swings are smaller).
• Points Transfer Networks – Some European banks (or allied programs like American Express Membership Rewards) let you pool points into any partner. For example, a UK Amex Platinum’s points can transfer to Flying Blue, Avios, or Marriott at your choice, giving flexibility to find the best award. If one program spikes its rates, transfer your flexible points to a different airline or hotel.

Essential Tools and Apps

Several digital tools simplify travel hacking:

• AwardWallet (Web/App) – Tracks all your balances and expiration dates in one dashboard (​awardwallet.com). It can alert you when points are set to expire and even auto-update miles balances. In the EU, with many programs to juggle, AwardWallet ensures you never lose points to inactivity. To better manage travel budgets, consider pairing these tools with Mint or Trail Wallet, both excellent apps for tracking expenses while traveling.
• ExpertFlyer – A powerful site for award availability and upgrades. It searches flights on dozens of airlines (38+ international carriers including Lufthansa and British Airways​ (thepointsguy.com) and can send alerts when award seats open. Use it to find scarce Business/First award seats that phone agents may miss.
• SeatSpy – A UK-focused award-seating tracker for airlines like BA, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic ​(seatspy.com). It periodically scans and emails you when flights open up with reward seats. Good for BA/Avios in particular.
• Google Flights / Skyscanner – Not a points tool per se, but invaluable for spotting mistake fares and cheap cash tickets which you can often credit to a program. Use Google’s price alerts to nab error fares, then pay with your travel card to earn points (and potentially cancel/refund within 24 hours if needed).
• AwardHacker / PointHacks / Travel Blogs – Websites that compare award options. For example, AwardHacker.com finds which programs have the lowest redemption rate for a given route, while blogs like The Points Guy Europe or Head for Points often compile sweet-spot charts specific to UK/EU travel.
• Hotel Apps (Marriott, Hilton, etc.) – Always have the official hotel apps installed to check points nights availability. Some promotions are app-only (e.g. Marriott’s PointSavers specials), and apps will show real-time award night openings.

Pitfalls to Avoid (Devaluations, Expirations, Fees)

Travel hacking is rewarding but fraught with caveats. Insider tips include:

• Watch for Program Devaluations – Airline and hotel programs change terms frequently. For instance, Miles & More will replace its fixed award chart with a demand-based model in June 2025​ (miles-and-more.com). Although this may lower some economy mile costs, it could raise awards on peak routes and scrap current “sweet spots.” Always redeem ahead of announced changes if they’re going unfavorable. One way to protect your earnings is by understanding the reality behind whether travel credit cards are worth it, especially in the EU where benefits vary significantly.
• Manage Expiry Dates – Many programs expire points after a period of inactivity. Lufthansa’s M&M points lapse in 36 months​; Flying Blue miles lapse in 2 years without flight activity​ (wwws.airfrance.fr); Avios lapse in 36 months without activity. Hotels expire too: Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of dormancy​, Hilton Honors after 24 months (​nerdwallet.com), and IHG after just 12 months​. Avoid losing points by setting calendar reminders to earn or redeem something at least once a year (or use an activity, like a cheap award night or a small purchase through the shopping portal, to reset the timer).
• Beware Surcharges and Blackout Dates – Even “free” flights often incur taxes. BA’s surcharges can turn an Avios ticket into an expensive cash outlay​(frequentmiler.com). Similarly, low-cost carriers or specials (like Norwegian, Ryanair) usually don’t allow miles redemption, so plan around them. On the hotel side, beware of blackout dates (some chains limit award rooms during big events). Try alternate dates or do split bookings (e.g. use points for 4 nights and pay for 1 night if availability closes).
• Avoid Unnecessary Spending – Only spend to earn miles if the return justifies it. In Europe, high foreign-exchange fees or annual fees can nullify point gains. For example, a credit card with 3% FX fee means a €100 purchase costs €103, effectively reducing your “value” per point. Prefer cards that waive foreign fees (many travel cards in the EU and UK do) and don’t overspend just for a sign-up bonus (the incremental value should exceed any interest or fees).
• Don’t Stack “Same Airline” Mistakes – If booking through a travel agent or charter, ensure the operating carrier is loyalty-eligible. Code-shares can hurt: a flights booked as “BA flight” but operated by another might not earn Avios. Always double-check that your carrier and flight class earn at the expected rate (airline websites often list earning charts).
• Use Credit Cards to Lock in Value – Interest or fees on credit cards can negate points, so always pay cards in full monthly. Also, consider converting points to miles early if a devaluation looms (some programs occasionally let you transfer with a bonus, e.g. 15% extra miles).

Travel hacking in the EU is a continuous journey of learning. As travel blogger Andrew Collins notes, “Find every opportunity to earn points, then redeem them for the outsized experiences you otherwise wouldn’t afford.” Keep up with program changes, compare multiple sources for award charts, and network with fellow hackers for tips. With diligence and creativity, you’ll be well on your way to travel for (almost) free across Europe and beyond.