Nonstop business class award seats across the Atlantic
Nonstop business class award seats showed up on 52% of the 316 routes between the Americas and Europe in the October 2026 study, from at least one program; the other 153 were seen only with a connection. Whether nonstop cost more depended on the program, and the table below gives each one.
52%Transatlantic routes with a nonstop business award seat from at least one program
Updated October 5, 2026 · data from Business-class award prices by loyalty program, October 2026
How many transatlantic routes have nonstop business class award seats?
163 of 316, counting both directions. Across all 715 routes in the sample, every region pair included, 327 had a nonstop seat from at least one program. Data from the business-class award price study.
Do nonstop award seats cost more than connections?
| Program | Routes with a nonstop seat | Typical price, nonstop routes | Typical price, connections only | Dates with a seat, nonstop routes | Dates with a seat, connections only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atmos Rewards | 86 of 255 | 175,000 Atmos points | 175,000 Atmos points | 72% | 52% |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 61 of 209 | 235,500 miles | 206,500 miles | 95% | 83% |
| LifeMiles | 9 of 114 | 72,000 miles | 72,000 miles | 19% | 15% |
| British Airways Club | 50 of 50 | 99,000 Avios | none | 17% | – |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 36 of 36 | 350,000 Virgin Points | none | 72% | – |
| Thai Royal Orchid Plus | 7 of 16 | 82,500 miles | 82,500 miles | 20% | 14% |
Air France-KLM Flying Blue had a typical 235,500 miles on routes with a nonstop seat against 206,500 miles on connection-only routes; Atmos Rewards, LifeMiles and Thai Royal Orchid Plus had the same typical price on both kinds of route.
The two groups are different routes. They can differ in airline, distance and demand as well as in stops, so read the gap as what each program charged on those two kinds of route, not as a price for skipping a connection.
Are nonstop award seats harder to find?
No, the opposite: 4 of the 4 programs with enough routes in both groups had a seat on more dates on their nonstop routes. Atmos Rewards had a seat on 72% of dates on its nonstop routes and 52% on its connection-only routes. Air France-KLM Flying Blue had a seat on 95% of dates on its nonstop routes and 83% on its connection-only routes. LifeMiles had a seat on 19% of dates on its nonstop routes and 15% on its connection-only routes. Thai Royal Orchid Plus had a seat on 20% of dates on its nonstop routes and 14% on its connection-only routes.
One pattern stands out. On every route where it had a seat anywhere in the sample, British Airways Club and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club showed a nonstop seat. With those programs, a seat came with a nonstop option.
When are award flights with connections worth it?
When the nonstop is not there on your date, or costs far more. 153 transatlantic routes in the sample had no nonstop seat at all in the window, so for those a connection was the only award on offer.
- Keep the whole trip on one award booking. A connection booked on the same ticket is the program's problem if the first flight runs late; two separate tickets are yours.
- Look at the connection time and airport before you book. A short change at a large hub is where trips break.
- Check the cabin on every leg. A business award can include a short leg in economy where the plane has no business cabin.
- Weigh time against miles. A connection can add several hours door to door, which matters more on a day flight than on an overnight one.
If only nonstop flights will do, a MilesZone alert can be limited to nonstop seats; alerts are part of Pro (plans). Search over the next 60 days is free with an account. The full booking routine is in how to book award flights.
Where does this not apply?
- Only routes between the Americas and Europe are compared; other region pairs are not.
- One adult, one way, business class.
- For the cheapest routes regardless of stops, see cheapest business class flights to Europe.
Questions.
- Does a connection cost the same miles as a nonstop flight?
- Not always. Some programs price an award by zone or by distance, others by demand, so a connection can cost the same as the nonstop, more or less. The table shows what each program charged on the two kinds of route in this window.
- Can I ask for a nonstop seat only?
- In a search, read the stops on each result before you move points. A MilesZone alert can be set to nonstop flights only, so it stays quiet when only connections open.
Related guides.
See today's seats.
The study is a frozen month. A search shows the seats each program has now, in miles and cash, free with an account. Every guide is on guides.