How to Travel to Frankfurt from Canada With Points

You can easily travel to Frankfurt from Canada on points

Frankfurt is a vibrant city in Germany with a rich history, modern architecture, cultural attractions, and a lively atmosphere. Frankfurt’s skyline is dominated by impressive skyscrapers, earning it the nickname “Mainhattan.” The cityscape is a unique blend of historic buildings and contemporary architecture, creating a visually striking contrast.

Known for its cultural attractions and green spaces, Frankfurt, is an excellent place to relax and enjoy scenic views. The city offers a variety of shopping opportunities, from high-end designer boutiques to traditional markets. Frankfurt is also a culinary hub with a diverse range of restaurants offering both traditional German cuisine and international flavours.

For those who are interested in exploring Germany, Frankfurt’s central location makes it an ideal base for exploring other parts of the country. It is well-connected with excellent transportation infrastructure, including one of the busiest airports in Europe, making it easy to travel to and from the city.

Unfortunately, the cost of traveling to Frankfurt is expensive, and many Canadians simply view a vacation to this beautiful German city as out of their price range.

Fortunately, here in Canada, we have access to travel programs that can reduce the cost of your German vacation by upwards of 80%, leaving more money in your pocket, and more freedom to experience some of the world-class excursions that Frankfurt has to offer. 

In this post, we’ll show you how you can travel to Frankfurt from Canada on points, and the different ways to earn and use your travel points to ensure you’re getting MAXIMUM value on your redemption. 

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Our Theoretical Vacation

For this exercise, we’ll be booking a 5-night, 6-day vacation focusing on a stay in downtown Frankfurt

Our theoretical stay will be 5 nights at the Meridien Hotel in Frankfurt, a 4 Star hotel operated by Marriott.

We’ll show an itinerary for 1 individual. If you are traveling with someone, your traveling companion can use the same credit cards suggested below to earn even more points.

Flight Cash Value

Below, we can see the cash value of an Air Canada economy, and business class ticket to Frankfurt from Canada’s 3 major hubs (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal).

Note: prices are subject to change

HOW TO TRAVEL TO Frankfurt FROM CANADA ON POINTS

Flight Option #1: Fly to Frankfurt From Canada on Points with Air Canada Using Aeroplan

Your Complete Guide to Aeroplan

Aeroplan (and Air Canada) is Canada’s most popular travel currency, so it only makes sense that we determine the amount of Aeroplan points required for our flight to Frankfurt.

Aeroplan leverages dynamic pricing, meaning redemptions show a range of points for Air Canada flights. More popular flights cost more.

Note: redemptions are subject to change

Flight Option #1.B: Using Aeroplan Partner Airlines to Fly to Frankfurk from Canada on Points

While dynamic pricing can be terrible, the good news is that Aeroplan has several partner airlines that only require a fixed number of points.

All Aeroplan partner flights to Europe are subject to this award chart:

While this seems like an easy way to redeem your points, there are a limited number of award seats made available by partner airlines, and certain airlines only release economy-class award space.

There are a few partner airlines you can leverage for your trip to Frankfurt

Lufthansa

Lufthansa operates flights from Montreal, Toronto & Vancouver to Frankfurt

Lufthansa Airlines leverages the Aeroplan partner carrier award chart above, which usually means a cheaper flight. This is great for Economy class tickets with Lufthansa.

Unfortunately, Lufthansa only releases award space for business class flights 14-20 days in advance of the flight. While waiting for award space to open up may be difficult when planning a vacation, it usually provides the best use of your points in terms of value

Lufthansa also flies out of a number of US Cities:

• Boston
• New York
• Philadeliphia
• Washington
• Detroit
• Chicago
• Atlanta
• Dallas
• Austin
• Houston
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• San Fransisco
• Seattle

Other Aeroplan Partners You Can Take to Frankfurt

• Austrian Air flies out of Montreal to Vienna, and on to Frankfurt
• United Airlines flies out of Toronto to the Eastern United States, and on to Frankfurt
• TAP flies out of Toronto & Montreal, to Portugal and on to Frankfurt
• LOT Airlines flies out of Toronto, to Warsaw and on to Frankfurt

Earning Aeroplan Points

There are 2 ways to earn a large number of Aeroplan points here in Canada:

• Transferring American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio
• Earning Aeroplan points directly with a co-branded Aeroplan credit card

Which Credit Cards do You Need to fly to Frankfurt From Canada on Points

Regardless of whether you’re flying economy or business class, you’ll need to focus on collecting Membership Rewards and/or Aeroplan points. There are 2 credit cards that we’ll be focusing on to get you to Franfurt

Note: credit card signup bonuses vary over the course of the year. Please check for the latest signup offer.

1. The American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to Aeroplan 

The $699 annual fee (which comes with a $150 rebate through GreatCanadianRebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 90,000 MR points upon spending $7,500 in the first three months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 MR points per dollar spent at grocery stores & at restaurants 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel and 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Canacellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
  • $100 Nexus credit
  • Gold Status at Marriott Bonvoy & Hilton Honours
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the $699 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 90,000 Membership Rewards will get you to Frankfurt with one of Aeroplan’s partner airlines. Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $699 (minus the $200 travel credit) annual fee is worth spending after year two. The lounge access you receive from this card can go a long way to improving your travel experience.

2. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite. 

You can earn Aeroplan points with co-branded credit cards. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card is a great way to earn FREE Aeroplan points.

The Cost for the Card is $0 for the first year, and then $139 annually, & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 10,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase
  • 40,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
  • 20,000 Aeroplan points on renewal after spending $7,500 in the first year
    • Total of 70,000 Aeroplan points
• Earn Rate: 
  • 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on food, beverage, gas & travel
  • 1 Aeroplan point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $1,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Canacellation Insurance- up to $5,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • First bag free on Air Canada flights
  • Preferred pricing when redeeming Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights
  • $100 NEXUS credit
  • Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 you spend on the card

Flying to Frankfurt with Aeroplan – Financial summary

The average value of 1 Aeroplan point is 2.1 cents per point. We will hope to receive a higher value when redeeming Aeroplan points.

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$964		$8,344
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	53,200	1.81 cents/point	270,900	3.08 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	35,000	2.75 cents/point	70,000	11.92 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$935		$8,103
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	34,200	2.73 cents/point	276,800	2.92 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	35,000	2.67 cents/point	60,000	13.50 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$936		$8,104
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	32,500	2.88 cents/pont	258,600	3.13 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	35,000	2.67 cents/point	60,000	13.51 cents/point

As you can see, the best option to fly to Frankfurt from Canada on points is to leverage Air Canada’s partner airlines, especially if you can source a business-class ticket (which will take some travel flexibility on your end).

Flight Option #2 – Fly Using Air France Flying Blue Miles

Read: Your Complete Guide to Flying Blue

In the world of points redemptions, you need a certain level of flexibility. Sometimes, you’ll be planning a vacation only to find out that there is no award availability on a particular flight, or that the number of points needed has increased drastically (especially in the case of Air Canada’s dynamic pricing).

That’s why it’s great to have another option. 

We mentioned above the value of transferring your American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Thankfully, Membership Rewards can also be transferred to Air France/Flying Blue miles at a 1:0.75 ratio. 

KLM & Air France have flights to Frankfurt out of Vancouver Toronto and Montreal which connect to Amsterdam & Paris respectfully.

Note: Air France also flies out of Ottawa & Quebec City

Note: KLM also flies out of Calgary & Edmonton

Which Credit Cards do You Need to fly to Frankfurt From Canada on Points Using Air France/KLM

1. The American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to KLM/Flying Blue

The $699 annual fee (which comes with a $150 rebate through GreatCanadianRebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 90,000 MR points upon spending $7,500 in the first three months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 MR points per dollar spent at grocery stores & restaurants 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel and 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Canacellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
  • $100 Nexus credit
  • Gold Status at Marriott Bonvoy & Hilton Honours
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the $699 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 90,000 Membership Rewards will get you to Frankfurt with one of Aeroplan’s partner airlines. Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether

2. American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card is another great way to earn Membership Rewards.

The $250 (Reduced to $125 with a $125 rebate with Great Canadian Rebates) annual fee is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 5,000 MR points each month you spend $1,000 in the first 12 months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel, grocery, drugstore & gas stations 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000 (15 days of coverage)
  • Car Rental Insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $1,500
  • Trip Interruption Insurance – up to $1,500
  • Flight Delay Insurance – up to $500
  • Hotel Burglary Insurance – up to $500
  • Baggage Delay Insurance – up to $500
  • Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance – up to $500
• Perks
  • $100 Annual Travel Credit
  • Special discounts for cardholders, which are sent via email
  • $100 Nexus Credit
• Lounge Access
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (4 passes)

While the $250 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 60,000 Membership Rewards will earn you potentially multiple free flights. Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $250 (minus the $100 travel credit) annual fee is worth spending after year two.

HOTEL OPTION #1 = MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS

Read: Your Complete Guide to Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy points are the easiest hotel currency to collect in Canada. They also have the benefit of being a transfer partner of American Express. If you want to use points for your hotel stay, this is the easiest way to do it

If you’re traveling on points for an extended period of time, you should leverage Marriott’s “Fifth Night Free” promotion, which can go a long way in enhancing the value of your vacation. 

4 nights paid for with points = 5th night free.

If your goal is to use Bonvoy points for the entire duration of your hotel stay, staying 5 nights enhances your redemption by 20%. It’s something you should seriously consider if you’re going the points route

Below we can see the cash & points value of a 5 night stay at the Meridien Hotel 

What Credit Cards do You Need to Stay 5 Nights in Frankfurt on Points

1. The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card is Marriott’s sponsored card in Canada. 

Sign up here

The annual fee of $120 (reduced to $60 if you sign up through Great Canadian Rebates) is offset by the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 65,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• Eaimagern Rate: 
  • 5 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent on Marriott Bonvoy properties
  • 2 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $500,000
  • Car Rental Damage Insurance 
  • Baggage Delay Insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • 15 Elite qualifying nights & instant Silver status within Marriott’s loyalty program
  • Annual free night, up to 35,000 points

2. American Express Business Edge

The American Express Business Edge card offers a strong signup bonus, along with strong everyday earnings.

The cost for the card is $99 ($24 with a $75 rebate through Great Canadian Rebates), & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 45,500 Membership Rewards upon spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • 1,000 Membership Rewards each month in which you spend $3,000
  • 10 Membership Rewards on office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks within 6 months of cardmembership (up to 10,000 points)
    • Total of 67,000 Membership Rewards
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 Membership Rewards per dollar spent on eligible food & drink (groceries not included), office supplies, electronics & gas
  • 1 Membership Reward for everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • You can be insured for eligible items charged to your American Express Business Edge Card for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of accidental physical damage or theft
  • Automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year 
• Perks
  • Occasional discounts on select products

Here are a few considerations you should make for your trip:

1. One of the best (and cheapest) ways to fly business class to Frankfurt is with Lufthansa Airlines (or Aeroplan’s other partner airlines). Unfortunately, Lufthansa only releases award availability for business class seats 14-28 days before departure.It can be stressful/difficult for people to wait until the last minute to book a flight. If you’re one of these people, you can always book a refundable economy ticket (either with cash or points), and see if any business class seats open up on a Lufthansa flight, and then subsequently cancel your refundable ticket. 

2. If you have Aeroplan elite status, this would be a great opportunity to leverage your e-upgrade credits for an Air Canada flight (if you can’t get on a partner airline), as the cost of business class Air Canada tickets can be extremely high given Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing. 

3. If you’re focused on solely flying business class, you can book an Air France/KLM award flights up to a year in advance. As you can see from the Air France /KLM table, it is in your best interest to book the discounted (65,000,000 points) award flight. This will require some flexibility, as these discounted award flights are not offered daily

4. If are satisfied with economy bookings, the American Express Platinum and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite will be all that you need to fly to (and from) Frankfurt

FINANCIAL SUMMARY TABLE 

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee
American Express Platinum	90,000 Membership Rewards (108,000 Bonvoy points)	$549
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	55,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	60,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Business Edge
Total		$609

Flying economy, you can fly to and from Frankfurt from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Meridien Hotel, all for $609 + taxes & fees.

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee (with GCR rebate)
American Express Platinum	90,000 Membership Rewards (transferred out to Aeroplan + Marriott Bonvoy)	$549
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	55,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	65,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Business Edge	57,000 Membership Rewards (68,400 Bonvoy Points)	$24
Total		$633

Flying business, you can fly to Frankfurt from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Meridien Hotel, all for $633 + taxes & fees.

What Should I Do In Frankfurt?

Frankfurt, Germany, is a vibrant city with a rich history, modern skyline, and a variety of cultural attractions. Here are some recommendations for things to do in Frankfurt:

• Visit the Römer: The Römer is Frankfurt’s historic town hall, located in the heart of the city. It’s a beautiful medieval building and a symbol of the city.
• Stroll along the River Main: The River Main flows through Frankfurt, and walking along its banks is a pleasant way to explore the city. You can also take a boat tour to see the skyline from the water.
• Explore the Museumsufer: Frankfurt is known for its Museum Embankment (Museumsufer), which houses numerous museums. The Städel Museum, the German Film Museum, and the Senckenberg Natural History Museum are just a few worth checking out.
• Admire the Skyline: Frankfurt has one of the most impressive skylines in Europe. Head to the Main Tower for panoramic views of the city or enjoy the scenery from one of the many bridges spanning the River Main.
• Go to Palmengarten: This is Frankfurt’s botanical garden, featuring a wide variety of plants from around the world. It’s a peaceful and beautiful place to spend an afternoon.
• Visit the Goethe House: Explore the birthplace of the famous German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The Goethe House is a meticulously reconstructed museum that gives you a glimpse into 18th-century life.
• Enjoy the culinary scene: Frankfurt is known for its diverse culinary offerings. Try some traditional German dishes at a local restaurant, or explore the international food scene in the city.
• Shop on Zeil Street: Zeil is Frankfurt’s main shopping street, lined with department stores, boutiques, and restaurants. It’s a great place for shopping and people-watching.
• Attend a cultural event: Check if there are any concerts, performances, or events happening during your visit. Frankfurt has a lively cultural scene with theaters, music venues, and festivals throughout the year.
• Relax in Grüneburgpark: If you’re looking for a green escape, head to Grüneburgpark. It’s a large park where you can relax, have a picnic, or take a leisurely stroll.

Here is a video outlining some tourism options in Frankfurt by YouTuber Travelmoji

View More Tourism & Tour Destinations in Frankfurt with Viator