How We Booked Our Africa Flights With Points (Step by Step, No Guesswork)
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post..
Flights were the hardest part of planning our Africa trip — and the part that scares most families away before they even start.
Africa isn’t one easy nonstop away. Award space can be limited, routes are long, and when you’re traveling as a family, you need multiple seats on the same flights. Add holiday travel into the mix, and it can feel impossible.
What made this work for us wasn’t chasing one airline or one perfect redemption. It was understanding transferable points, airline alliances, and knowing which programs unlock Africa — even when you’re flying economy.
This post breaks down exactly how we booked our flights to Africa with points, step by step.
Our Full Flight Route
Here’s what we flew, start to finish:
- Kansas City (MCI) → LaGuardia (LGA)
- LaGuardia → JFK (positioning overnight)
- JFK → Cairo → Nairobi
- Nairobi → Zanzibar
- Zanzibar → Nairobi → JFK → Kansas City
Yes, that’s a lot of flights — but we did not book them all the same way, and that’s the key.
Step 1: Positioning to New York With Points
We live in the Midwest, and flights to Africa are far easier (and cheaper with points) when you start from a major international gateway.
We used Southwest points and Companion Passes to fly from Kansas City to LaGuardia on Christmas Day. This let us save our transferable points for the long-haul flights where they matter most.
From LaGuardia, we took an Uber to the Hyatt Regency JFK and stayed overnight before our international departure. We used Hyatt free night certificates for two rooms, and thanks to my Hyatt Globalist status, we had complimentary Regency Club breakfast the next morning.
Positioning like this:
- Reduced stress
- Protected us from same-day delays
- Opened up far more award options
Step 2: JFK to Nairobi With a Cairo Layover
Our long-haul flights from JFK to Nairobi were booked using Air Canada Aeroplan points, flying on EgyptAir.
- Cost: 55,000 points per person
- Taxes and fees: $89 CAD per person
- Cabin: Economy
- Routing: JFK → Cairo → Nairobi
We intentionally chose a routing with a long layover in Cairo so we could leave the airport and do a guided layover tour. Instead of dead time, Cairo became a highlight of the trip.
Important note: EgyptAir isn’t flashy. The experience was a little rough around the edges, but totally fine — and worth it for the routing and price.
Step 3: Nairobi to Zanzibar Using Flying Blue
For our intra-Africa flights, we booked Kenya Airways flights using Air France / KLM Flying Blue points.
- Nairobi → Zanzibar
- Cost: 10,000 points per person
- Airline flown: Kenya Airways
- Program used: Flying Blue
Flying Blue is one of the most powerful programs for Africa because it partners with airlines that actually operate within the continent.
Step 4: Booking the Return Home as One Award
Instead of booking multiple one-way flights, we booked our entire return — Zanzibar → Nairobi → JFK → Kansas City — as a single award through Flying Blue.
This included:
- Kenya Airways flights within Africa
- A transatlantic flight back to JFK
- A final U.S. domestic Delta connection home
Booking it as one award simplified logistics and pricing, even though it involved multiple airlines.
Why Air Canada and Flying Blue Are Africa Powerhouses
This is the single most important takeaway from this post:
All four major transferable points programs can transfer to Air Canada and Flying Blue.
That means you don’t need one specific airline card or loyalty account to book Africa.
Transfer partners that made this trip possible:
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue
Points programs that feed into them:
- Capital One Miles
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi ThankYou Points
This flexibility is what allowed us to:
- Book multiple seats
- Travel during peak season
- Use transfer bonuses to stretch our points further
How We Earned the Points
The majority of the points used for our flights came from Capital One miles, earned through welcome offers and everyday spending.
Capital One miles are especially powerful for international travel because they transfer easily to both Air Canada and Flying Blue — two programs that consistently show Africa availability.
Instead of locking ourselves into one airline ecosystem, we focused on earning flexible points that gave us options when award space opened up.
The Role of Transfer Bonuses
Transfer bonuses were a huge reason this trip worked.
We took advantage of:
- A 30% transfer bonus to Air Canada
- A 30% transfer bonus to Flying Blue
When you’re booking:
- Six seats at a time (remember my mom and aunt went with us)
- Multiple long-haul routes
Those bonuses add up fast.
This is why patience matters. We didn’t rush to transfer points the moment we earned them. We waited until bonuses appeared and award space made sense.
Airline Alliances (Without the Overwhelm)
You don’t need to memorize alliances, but here’s the simplified version that helped us:
- Star Alliance → Air Canada → EgyptAir
- SkyTeam → Flying Blue → Kenya Airways
Once you understand that airline programs can book partner airlines within the same alliance, Africa opens up in a big way.
Comfort Matters — Even in Economy
We flew economy the entire trip, but we did pay cash to upgrade seats on long-haul flights, including:
- Bulkhead seating
- Extra-legroom rows
This was a small added cost that made a huge difference on overnight flights with kids.
Points covered the flights. Cash improved the experience.
What I Want Families to Know
Africa flights with points are not simple — but they are doable.
You don’t need:
- Elite airline status
- A travel agent
- A luxury budget
You do need:
- Flexible points
- Willingness to position
- Patience with routing
- Comfort piecing things together
And if a two-teacher family can do this during Christmas break, you can too.
What to Read Next
To keep planning your own Africa trip, these posts will help:
- How We Booked a Multi-Country Africa Safari With Points
- How to Do a Cairo Layover Tour (Step by Step)
- How We Stayed at JW Marriott Masai Mara With Points
- Africa Travel Logistics With Kids: Visas, Transfers, and Safety
Affiliate Disclosure (Suggested Placement)
Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you choose to apply for a card or book through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only share strategies and tools we personally use and trust.
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
I found out about points and miles accidentally.
I was researching index funds and happened upon the points and miles community through creators who also post about budgets, financial independence, and investing.
Points and miles allowed those people to travel and work toward financial independence simultaneously.
Thank goodness I got started when I did. The past almost two years of travel have been something we will never forget.
Earning points and miles through credit cards is only a good choice if you have the financial discipline to use them, like cash/debit cards.
Since we started traveling with points and miles, we have had more money going into our investment and savings accounts than ever.
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