In general the best award availability to Europe on United’s flights has long been to Brussels and to a certain extent Amsterdam. With premium cabin European travel down, and with Brussels having been affected by terror fears especially, this is doubly true now.

In fact, there’s widespread availability to and from both Brussels and Amsterdam from multiple United gateways for 4 or more passengers in business class next summer. And there are other routes where availability is great, as well.

The nice thing about Brussels is that it’s a Star Alliance hub city, Brussels Airlines can fly you to elsewhere in Europe (or North Africa) as part of the same award.

Here’s Chicago – Brussels for four passengers, a solid line means the day has coach availability and the dotted line means business class availability. This is a search for non-stop availability only.

Here’s Washington Dulles – Brussels again non-stop for four passengers.

Availability for four passengers in business class Newark – Brussels isn’t as good, but where it’s available I’d prefer connections here versus Chicago or Washington Dulles (despite always wanting to avoid New York airspace) because the flight is operated by a legacy Continental Boeing 777 rather than a legacy United one. Those old United birds, though fully flat, are eight-across in business class.

You’ll find great availability to Amsterdam from Houston, Newark, Washington Dulles and Chicago — with Chicago the weakest. Here’s what Dulles – Amsterdam availability looks like for four passengers in business class:

You’ll also find great availability for Newark – Hamburg and Newark – Berlin. And out of Houston there’s great space to London as well.

United is rolling out a new business class seat but most routes won’t have it yet. The soft product — bedding and meals — does start December 1 of this year however.

Award cost:

• Book United business class, including connecting flights in the US and in Europe, for 57,500 miles each way. Chase points transfer to United instantly.

• You can also book via Air Canada’s Aeroplan for 55,000 miles each way and Aeroplan doesn’t add fuel surcharges onto United award travel. American Express Membership rewards transfer to Aeroplan instantly.

• Avianca’s LifeMiles charges 63,000 miles each way, with no fuel surcharges, and sells miles cheap.

(HT: MileCards)