Miles to the Rescue: Milan to Zurich

On my recent trip to Europe, finding a reasonably priced flight from Milan to Zurich proved to be quite a challenge.  There were very few direct flights between the two cities.  In fact, Swiss Air was the only airline to have a direct flight.

Milan to Zurich

Since the distance between the two cities is only 126 miles apart, one would think that this would be a pretty reasonably priced flight.  Think again.

Paid Fare

There was a direct flight on Swiss Air with an astonishing cost of $1,020 for a one way flight!

Unfortunately, Swiss Airlines is not part of the oneworld Alliance where British Airway Avios would have come in very handy.  Since this flight is less than 650 miles, it would have only cost 4,500 Avios per person in coach.

Miles Rate

Swiss Airlines happens to be in the Star Alliance, so I was able to use some United Airline miles.  At a cost of 12,500 per person I was still getting over 8 cents a mile with this redemption!

This is the great thing about having the ability to use miles - the ability to use miles while saving hundreds, and sometimes thousands of dollars.