How to Combine Airline Miles and Hotel Points for a Multi-City Trip to London and Paris (2026)

You want to do London and Paris in one trip. Maybe a long weekend in each, maybe a full week split between them. The cash math is brutal: round-trip from the US to London in business class runs $4,000–$6,000. Three nights at a decent London hotel adds another $1,500–$2,500. Train tickets between London and Paris are $200–$400. Three nights in Paris adds another $1,200–$2,000. Total: easily $7,000–$11,000 per person, often more.

But this is exactly the kind of trip that points and miles were designed for. By strategically combining airline miles for the flights and hotel points for the accommodations and using the right programs for each leg-the same trip can cost you 130,000–180,000 transferable credit card points plus minimal cash. That’s roughly the value of a single Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus plus 12 months of typical category earning.

This guide walks through exactly how to combine airline miles and hotel points to build the most efficient London-Paris multi-city trip in 2026. Real numbers, verified programs, concrete booking sequences, and the strategic principles that separate a $2,000-points trip from a $5,000-points trip for the same itinerary.

The London-Paris Trip: What You’re Actually Booking

A typical London-Paris multi-city itinerary has five distinct components, each of which can be paid in different points or cash:

• The transatlantic flight to Europe (usually to London)
• Hotel nights in London (typically 2–4)
• The intra-European leg (London to Paris by Eurostar train or short flight)
• Hotel nights in Paris (typically 2–4)
• The transatlantic return flight to the US (usually from Paris)

Each of these is a separate redemption opportunity. Most travelers approach the trip linearly-book one component, then the next, then the next and end up overpaying because they didn’t optimize across components. The strategic approach is to think about the full trip as one redemption problem and pick the best program for each component.

The Two Core Strategies for the Flight Portion

There are two structurally different ways to handle the airline miles side of a London-Paris trip:

Strategy A: Open-Jaw Booking (Fly Into One City, Out of the Other)

Most multi-city travelers think they need to fly into London and out of Paris (or vice versa). This is called an “open-jaw” itinerary because the trip doesn’t return to the original arrival point on the same airline route. In 2026, every major airline loyalty program allows open-jaw award bookings at the same mileage cost as a round-trip, so this is essentially free flexibility.

Strategy B: United’s Excursionist Perk

The most underrated trick in 2026 award booking is the United Excursionist Perk — a feature unique to United MileagePlus that allows you to add a free third destination on a round-trip international award. The free segment must be in the same region as your destination (so London-Paris qualifies) and must be priced equal to or less than your main award.

The practical structure: US → London → Paris (free Excursionist segment) → US. This adds the London-to-Paris flight as a free third destination on your round-trip award, eliminating the Eurostar cost entirely.

This single feature can save you $200–$400 in train tickets or 15,000+ miles in a separate booking, depending on availability. United’s Excursionist Perk is a major reason MileagePlus is underrated for European multi-city itineraries.

For the full picture of how United’s loyalty program works in 2026, see the Flightpoints blog on What is An Airline Loyalty Program.

Flight Options: The Cheapest Ways to Reach London and Paris in 2026

Here are the verified 2026 redemptions worth considering for the transatlantic legs:

US to London (Business Class)

• Virgin Atlantic Upper Class: 47,500 Virgin Points off-peak one-way + ~$240. Cash value: $3,500+. Bookable from Amex MR, Chase UR, Citi ThankYou, Bilt, Wells Fargo at 1:1.
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue (via Paris): 60,000 Flying Blue miles + ~$241. Route through CDG with onward to LCY or LHR. All seven US transferable currencies transfer at 1:1.
• United Polaris (US to LHR direct): 80,000 MileagePlus miles Saver + ~$80. Bookable from Chase UR or Bilt at 1:1.
• British Airways Club Suite: 88,000 Avios off-peak + ~$400 (high fuel surcharges). Bookable from Amex MR, Chase UR, Citi ThankYou, Capital One, Bilt, Wells Fargo at 1:1.

US to Paris (Business Class)

• Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 60,000 miles Saver or 45,000 with Promo Rewards + ~$241. 
• Delta One (via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club): 47,500–70,000 Virgin Points + ~$240 in fees. Cash value: $4,000+.
• United Polaris to Paris CDG: 80,000 miles Saver + ~$80.

London to Paris (Intra-European Segment)

• United Excursionist Perk: Free as part of a round-trip US-Europe award (the most efficient option)
• British Airways Club / Avios: 9,000 Avios off-peak (Reward Flight Saver)
• Eurostar train (cash): $200–$400 per person depending on class and timing
• Air France or KLM: 10,000–15,000 miles via Flying Blue (worth considering only as part of a multi-segment award)

Hotel Strategy: The Critical Difference Between London and Paris Properties

The hotel side of a London-Paris trip is where 2026 program changes matter most. World of Hyatt is the only major hotel loyalty program that still uses a fixed category award chart in 2026. Every other major chain-Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards uses dynamic pricing, which means the same property can cost 20,000 points one week and 70,000 points the next.

The practical consequence: Hyatt points consistently deliver 1.8–2.5 cents per point of value in 2026, while Marriott, Hilton, and IHG points typically deliver 0.4–0.8 cents per point under dynamic pricing.

For a London-Paris multi-city trip, this means you should:

• Prioritize Hyatt for the highest-value redemptions — if your travel dates align with a Hyatt property in the right neighborhood, this is where your points stretch furthest
• Use Marriott, Hilton, and IHG strategically — for properties Hyatt doesn’t have, or when cash prices are high enough to overcome the lower per-point value
• Take advantage of free-night benefits — 4th night free on IHG cards, 5th night free on Marriott and Hilton awards

Verified 2026 Hotel Redemption Examples

London:

• Park Hyatt London-Bishopsgate (Andaz London Liverpool Street, Hyatt Place London City East, Great Scotland Yard): Category-based pricing typically 20,000–35,000 points per night. Cash rates often £400–£700.
• InterContinental London Park Lane: Approximately 123,000 IHG points per night peak season 2026 (cash ~£523). 4th night free for IHG card holders effectively reduces the average rate.
• Marriott Bonvoy properties (St. Pancras Renaissance, JW Marriott Grosvenor House): Typically 60,000–110,000 points per night under dynamic pricing.
• Hilton London Bankside (or Conrad London St. James): Typically 70,000–110,000 Hilton Honors points per night under dynamic pricing; 5th night free on award stays.

Paris:

• Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme: 30,000–40,000 World of Hyatt points per night (Category 7). One of the best Hyatt redemptions in Europe.
• Hotel Lutetia (Marriott Bonvoy): Typically 80,000–100,000 points per night.
• InterContinental Paris Le Grand or InterContinental Paris-Champs Élysées Étoile: Typically 70,000–100,000 IHG points per night.
• Hilton Paris Opéra or Conrad Paris: Typically 70,000–100,000 Hilton Honors points per night.

The Complete Booking Sequence: A Worked Example

Here’s a realistic, fully-priced London-Paris multi-city trip in 2026-paid almost entirely with points and miles:

Trip parameters:

• 7 nights total (3 in London, 3 in Paris, plus travel day)
• 1 traveler in business class
• Mid-shoulder season (April or October)
• Goal: minimize total points cost while maintaining premium experience

Bookings:

1. US to London (transatlantic flight, business class) Virgin Atlantic Upper Class: 47,500 Virgin Points + ~$240 Transfer from Amex MR or Chase UR at 1:1

2. Hotel: 3 nights in London Park Hyatt London-Bishopsgate (Category 7, off-peak): 30,000 points × 3 nights = 90,000 World of Hyatt points + minimal taxes (or 4 nights via Hyatt’s “Stay 4 / Pay for 4” with no fifth night free-Hyatt doesn’t offer the consecutive-night free benefit) Transfer from Chase UR at 1:1

3. London to Paris (intra-European segment) If your transatlantic flight was on United (Polaris), use the Excursionist Perk and add this segment for free Otherwise: Eurostar train ($200–$400 cash) or 9,000 Avios via BA Club

4. Hotel: 3 nights in Paris Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme (Category 7): 30,000 points × 3 nights = 90,000 World of Hyatt points (Total Hyatt redemption: 180,000 points across both cities)

5. Paris to US (transatlantic return, business class) Air France business class via Flying Blue: 60,000 Flying Blue miles + ~$241 (or 45,000 if Promo Rewards is active for your dates) Transfer from any of seven US transferable currencies at 1:1

Total Cost

• Airline miles/points: 107,500–155,000 transferable points (depending on flight choice)
• Hotel points: 180,000 World of Hyatt points
• Cash out-of-pocket: ~$500–$700 (taxes on flights + Eurostar if not using Excursionist Perk)

Total point cost equivalent: Approximately 290,000–340,000 transferable credit card points

Cash equivalent value of the trip: Approximately $9,000–$12,000 (business class flights $5,500 + 6 hotel nights at $400–$700 each + Eurostar $200–$400)

Effective value per point: Approximately 2.6–4.1 cents per point-well above the 2-cent baseline for Chase UR and Amex MR points.

For a deeper look at evaluating whether a redemption is genuinely good value, see the Flightpoints blog on Best Ways to Sweet Spot Award Redemptions.
Use the CPP Calculator on Flightpoints to verify your trip math

How to Build Up the Point Balance You Need

Looking at the math, this trip requires roughly:

• 180,000 World of Hyatt points (for the hotels) → equivalent to 180,000 Chase UR points at 1:1 transfer
• 107,500–155,000 transferable miles for the flights

That’s roughly 290,000–340,000 transferable credit card points total. Here’s how that breaks down in 2026 earning:

Quick paths to ~300,000 transferable points:

• Capital One Venture X Business: 75,000 bonus miles + 75,000 additional after $30,000 spending in 6 months = 150,000+ miles
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: ~60,000–100,000-point welcome bonus (varies)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: 60,000–80,000-point welcome bonus
• Amex Platinum or Gold: 75,000–150,000 Membership Rewards welcome bonus
• Bilt Mastercard: No welcome bonus but earns transfer-eligible points on rent payments
• Citi Strata Premier or Strata Elite: Variable welcome bonuses, transfers to multiple airline/hotel programs

A combination of two welcome bonuses (such as Chase Sapphire Preferred + Amex Platinum) can easily deliver 200,000+ points in a few months, with regular category spending filling the rest of the gap over a year.

Important Note on Combining Points

As of May 17, 2026, Citi no longer offers point sharing between accounts. This means you can’t combine Citi ThankYou Rewards between household members the way you previously could. Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Capital One Miles still allow transfers to authorized users’ loyalty accounts, which is useful for family trips.

Strategic Principles for Combining Miles and Points on Multi-City Trips

Five principles that separate efficient redemptions from inefficient ones:

1. Don’t transfer points until your booking is confirmed. Once you transfer Chase UR points to Hyatt or to an airline program, the transfer is irreversible. Verify the award is available on your target date before initiating the transfer.

2. Watch for transfer bonuses on both the airline and hotel programs. Chase UR → Hyatt at 1:1 is already strong, but the bonuses to Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic, or LifeMiles can stack to reduce your effective points cost on the flight side significantly.

3. Use Marriott or IHG as a backup, not a primary, hotel currency. Both programs are now dynamic-pricing, which means the per-point value is often poor. Use them only when Hyatt doesn’t have a property where you need to stay.

4. Book hotels first, then flights. Hotel point inventory in major cities like London and Paris is more constrained than airline award inventory. If your hotel dates don’t work, your whole trip falls apart-so confirm the accommodation side first.

5. Use Flightpoints to compare across programs. The same flight may be available at dramatically different mileage costs across the partner programs that can book it. A multi-program search reveals which booking path produces the lowest total cost for your specific itinerary.

Common Mistakes That Cost Points

Five errors casual travelers make on multi-city trips, with concrete fixes:

Mistake 1: Booking two separate round-trips instead of an open-jaw. Don’t book US-London round-trip and then a separate London-Paris-London side trip. Use a single open-jaw or multi-city booking instead.

Mistake 2: Burning Hyatt points on cash-cheap properties. Hyatt’s fixed pricing makes the program valuable when cash prices are high. Don’t burn 30,000 Hyatt points on a $300 cash night-that’s 1 cent per point, well below Hyatt’s potential.

Mistake 3: Failing to verify Promo Rewards on Flying Blue. Flying Blue offers monthly Promo Rewards discounting select routes by 25–50%. If your London or Paris dates align with a Promo Rewards window, the cost can drop from 60,000 to 45,000 miles.

Mistake 4: Booking flights and hotels on the same airline program when partner programs are cheaper. The flight redemption and hotel redemption don’t need to use the same currency. Use the best program for each component.

Mistake 5: Not setting Instant Alerts for last-minute availability. Award space appears in irregular waves. Setting Flightpoints Instant Alerts for your specific routes and properties catches the opening the moment it appears.

FAQs

Q: Can I book a London-Paris multi-city trip entirely with points?
A: Yes, and for most routes you can do it with primarily transferable credit card points. The total typical cost is 290,000–340,000 transferable points (split across flights and hotels) plus $500–$700 in cash for taxes, fees, and any train segments. The equivalent cash trip would run $7,000–$11,000+ per person.

Q: What’s the best hotel loyalty program for a London-Paris trip?
A: World of Hyatt is generally the best choice if their properties match your locations. The program is the only major hotel loyalty program still using a fixed award chart, and points consistently deliver 1.8–2.5 cents per point of value. Marriott Bonvoy and IHG have more London/Paris property coverage but use dynamic pricing that typically delivers only 0.4–0.8 cents per point.

Q: How do I get from London to Paris on points?
A: Three options. (1) Use the United Excursionist Perk if you booked your transatlantic flight on United MileagePlus — adds the London-Paris segment for free as part of your round-trip. (2) Use 9,000 Avios for a Reward Flight Saver on British Airways. (3) Book a Eurostar train with cash ($200–$400 one-way). Most travelers find the Eurostar most convenient given the city-center-to-city-center timing.

Q: Is it better to fly into London or Paris?
A: For points value, slightly into Paris. Flying Blue’s standard 60,000-mile business class to Europe is among the cheapest transatlantic redemptions, and the taxes ($241) are lower than BA’s fees from London ($400+). For convenience, London tends to have more US-direct routes and shorter average flight times. The best of both worlds is an open-jaw: fly into one city and out of the other.

Q: Should I use Marriott points for London or Paris properties?
A: Only if you’re stretched for other currencies or if a specific Marriott property is your top choice. Marriott points typically deliver 0.5–0.8 cents per point under dynamic pricing in 2026. World of Hyatt or transferring Chase UR/Amex MR directly to airlines provides better value in most cases.

Q: Can I combine points from multiple credit card programs?
A: Yes, but indirectly. You can’t transfer Amex MR points directly to Chase UR points (or vice versa). What you can do is transfer multiple credit card programs to the same airline or hotel program. For example, transferring 50,000 Amex MR points + 50,000 Chase UR points to Flying Blue gives you 100,000 Flying Blue miles for a single booking. As of May 17, 2026, Citi no longer offers point sharing between accounts.

Q: How far in advance should I book a multi-city trip with points?
A: For peak summer or holiday dates: 8–12 months in advance. For shoulder seasons (April–May, September–October): 4–6 months in advance is usually enough. Hotel award space in London and Paris is more constrained than airline space, especially during peak travel periods, so confirm hotel availability first.

Q: What if my points are spread across multiple credit cards?
A: This is normal, most points collectors have balances across 2–4 different credit card programs. Use Flightpoints’ Points Calculator to map your full portfolio against your target redemptions. The calculator shows which transfer routes get you to your target programs at the best ratios, including any active transfer bonuses.