How to Find Award Flights to Croatia’s Historic Port of Dubrovnik

Nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps, this stunning Croatian resort town is known for its natural beauty and tranquility as well as its rich history and cultural heritage.

Dubrovnik , known as the pearl of the Adriatic, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. The Dubrovnik Cathedral dates back to the 7th century, while the Old Town walls—one of the most visited tourist sites in the city—were built in the 13th century.

Dubrovnik Airport is the third biggest airport in Croatia, after Zagreb and Split. No airline flies there directly from the U.S., but getting a connecting flight isn’t too difficult, especially since the nation’s flag carrier, Croatia Airlines, is a member of the Star Alliance.

Something to keep in mind while planning your trip is that almost all flights are seasonal as Dubrovnik is a summer resort.

How to get there using United Mileage Plus miles

United Airlines has excellent coach availability to Dubrovnik. Most award itineraries will involve some combination of Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Air Canada and Croatia Airlines.

Below is a complete list of Star Alliance and other United partners that serve Dubrovnik Airport:

• Aegean Airlines
  
• Aer Lingus
• Austrian Airlines
• Brussels Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Scandinavian Airlines

Below are the costs for one-way award tickets in different cabins:

• 30,000 miles in coach
• 57,500 to 70,000 miles in business class
• 80,000 to 110,000 miles in first class

How to get there using American Airlines AAdvantage miles

There are fewer oneworld alliance airlines that serve Dubrovnik, but you can still get there using AAdvantage miles. Just remember to avoid using British Airways for your transatlantic flight as they have very high fuel surcharges.

British Airways is a good option for flights within Europe though as they only charge a modest fee. For example, you can fly American to London, and take British Airways from there to Dubrovnik and avoid high surcharges.

Here are the oneworld airlines that serve Dubrovnik Airport:

• Air Berlin
• British Airways
• Finnair
• Iberia

You’ll have to call for flights on Iberia since you can’t book them through American’s website.

This is what you’ll pay for an award flight:

• 30,000 miles for coach
• 50,000 miles for business class
• 62,500 miles for first class

How to get there using Delta SkyMiles

Booking a flight to Dubrovnik on Delta Airlines is more difficult. Delta doesn’t fly there, and only one SkyTeam partner does: Alitalia. Delta doesn’t even recognize Dubrovnik Airport as a valid destination on their website, so you’ll have to call to book.

You can’t book first class seats using Delta SkyMiles. This is the cost of award tickets in other classes:

• 30,000 miles for coach
• 62,500 miles for business class

Whichever airline you choose, you can’t go wrong with Dubrovnik. It has all the staples of a great vacation: rich history, friendly locals, stunning vistas and great food. Use United for simplicity, American for savings in premium classes or Delta if you don’t mind calling to book.