Economy award fares to Madrid from New York started at 12,000 points one way, and half of the 25 New York economy finds were at or below 20,750. Business from New York started at 55,000 points, with half of the 62 finds at or below 75,000. These are PointsGPT's recorded finds, September to November 2026, for one traveler, one way, as of 3 November 2026. They were available when someone searched and may not be by the time you do. Award availability changes frequently.
What the recorded finds show
A recorded find is the cheapest award fare a PointsGPT search returned in the cabin and on the dates the person asked for. Figures are airline miles to Madrid Barajas (MAD). At a 1:1 transfer, miles and card points are the same number.
From New York (JFK, Newark and LaGuardia):
- Economy (25 finds, from 19 people): 6 of the 25 were 12,000 points, and the ones we list came through Virgin Atlantic with a connection. Half were at or below 20,750, and 14 of the 25 were nonstop.
- Business (62 finds, from 60 people): 8 of the 62 were 55,000 points, the lowest price recorded, and most of the ones we list were Alaska Atmos nonstops. Half were at or below 75,000, and 21 of the 62 were nonstop.
From Los Angeles (LAX and the nearby airports):
- Economy (8 finds): the two cheapest were 15,000 points through Virgin Atlantic, both connecting. Half were at or below 26,950. This is a small sample, so read it as a range.
- Business (35 finds): the lowest was 57,500 points through American Airlines AAdvantage, and half were at or below 90,000. None of the 35 was nonstop.
From other cities:
- Miami: economy from 12,000 points, premium economy from 24,000, and business from 55,000 through Alaska Atmos. 2 of the 24 Miami business finds were nonstop.
- Chicago: economy from 18,750 points through Flying Blue, and business from 57,500.
From every US departure city we recorded:
- Economy (74 finds): a quarter were at or below 18,750 points, half at or below 22,708 and three quarters at or below 26,600. The most common price was 25,000 (12 finds), then 12,000 (10 finds). 17 of the 74 were nonstop.
- Business (214 finds): the lowest was 55,000 points. A quarter were at or below 70,000, half at or below 90,000 and three quarters at or below 131,000. The most common price was 57,500 (21 finds). 25 of the 214 were nonstop.
| Recorded | Route | Cabin | Program | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2026 | JFK → MAD | Economy | Virgin Atlantic | 12,000 |
| 10 Oct 2026 | LAX → MAD | Economy | Virgin Atlantic | 15,000 |
| 2 Oct 2026 | ORD → MAD | Economy | Flying Blue | 18,750 |
| 13 Oct 2026 | MIA → MAD | Premium economy | Virgin Atlantic | 24,000 |
| 3 Oct 2026 | LAX → MAD | Premium economy | Flying Blue | 40,000 |
| 11 Oct 2026 | JFK → MAD | Business | Alaska Atmos | 55,000 |
| 25 Oct 2026 | MIA → MAD | Business | Alaska Atmos | 55,000 |
| 15 Oct 2026 | LAX → MAD | Business | American Airlines AAdvantage | 57,500 |
| 28 Oct 2026 | DFW → MAD | Business | American Airlines AAdvantage | 57,500 |
Which programs priced these fares
Each search shows a board of fares, and we recorded the program behind each one. Flying Blue appeared on the most Madrid boards (221 of the 332 finds), followed by United MileagePlus (120), Air Canada Aeroplan (114) and Qantas (85). Flying Blue also priced the most finds, 85 of the 332, ahead of United (38), AAdvantage (35) and Aeroplan (33).
These are the card points that reach each program, from the transfer grid PointsGPT uses:
- Flying Blue: Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Points, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Points, all at 1:1.
- Virgin Atlantic: Amex, Bilt, Chase and Citi at 1:1.
- Alaska Atmos: Bilt at 1:1.
- AAdvantage: Citi at 1:1.
- United MileagePlus: Bilt and Chase at 1:1.
- Aeroplan: Amex, Bilt, Capital One and Chase at 1:1.
Partner lists and ratios change, so check your card's current partner list before you transfer. A transfer cannot be undone.
Watch the cash part on Madrid fares
Every award fare carries taxes and fees paid in cash, and some programs add carrier surcharges on routes to Europe. On the Madrid finds, the cash part depended on the program.
- Economy: all 14 Virgin Atlantic finds carried three-figure cash charges, and so did 23 of the 24 Flying Blue finds. Delta SkyMiles was single-figure on 7 of 8, United on all 4, and AAdvantage on 3 of 5, with the other 2 at two figures.
- Business: all 42 Flying Blue finds were three-figure, and 25 of the 28 Qantas finds were four-figure. Aeroplan was two-figure on 20 of 30 and three-figure on 10. United was two-figure on 21 of 26 and single-figure on 5.
- Mixed programs: AAdvantage business was three-figure on 14 of 27, two-figure on 8 and single-figure on 5. Alaska Atmos business was two-figure on 13 of 20 and four-figure on 7, including fares from Chicago, Atlanta and Washington.
So the lowest points price is not always the cheapest trip. Add the cash part before you choose, and see the surcharge trap for why programs charge so differently for the same flight.
Plan your search
- Flexible dates: search a whole month first, then narrow it once you see where fares appear.
- Two or more travelers: search for everyone at once. One award fare does not mean the price is open for your whole party.
- Nonstop or one stop: the cheapest economy finds connected, while many New York finds were nonstop, so compare both.
- Flexible on where you land: our Lisbon guide shows the nearby route.
Points or cash?
Before you transfer, compare the points plus the cash part with the cash fare for the same flight. When the cash fare is low, paying cash can save your points for a trip where they cover more. Our guide to points versus cash covers the questions to ask.
How to search it in PointsGPT
Type the trip the way you would say it, for example:
Business class from New York to Madrid, any day in March, two travelers, I have Chase and Bilt points
- Tell PointsGPT which card points you hold, so it can mark the fares those points reach.
- Compare the points and the cash part on each fare, nonstop and connecting.
- Confirm the fare with the airline program before you transfer, because the transfer cannot be reversed.
You can start a search now, or see the programs PointsGPT searches first.
Ask PointsGPT what your points can reach