Follow These 3 Steps If You Want To Fly Business or First Class Using Points! [April 2024]
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If you’re tired of flying economy and want to fly business or first class (without paying crazy amounts of cash), you need to earn the right type of points and then smartly use them!
Follow these 3 steps and we’ll show you how to fly at the front of the cabin in no time.
Step 1 – Earn a Big Welcome Bonus and You’ll Earn Lots of Points (Quickly)
Yes, there are so many credit cards out there but we’ve helped thousands of people and always recommend travelers start by adding cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, American Express® Gold Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to their wallets.
There are 2 main reasons to get these specific cards over others out there:
1. You’ll earn a fantastic welcome bonus of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Amex Membership Rewards points, Citi ThankYou Rewards Points, or Capital One miles after spending completing a minimum spend requirement.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
- 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel worldwide
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
- 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
- Excellent travel and car rental insurance
- 10% annual bonus points
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred 80k or 100k Bonus Offer
- Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Score Requirements
- Military Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve
- Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesThe Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros
- The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
- 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
- Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
- Access to Amex International Airline Program
- No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Cons
- $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- Amex Platinum 150k Welcome Bonus Offer
- Benefits of The Amex Platinum
- How to Use 100,000 Amex Platinum Points
- Amex Platinum Card Requirements
- American Express Platinum Military Benefits
- Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Lounge Access
- Amex Platinum Benefits for Authorized Users
- Amex Platinum vs Delta Platinum
- Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Capital One Venture X vs Amex Platinum
- Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesAmerican Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Apply With Confidence
Know if you're approved with no credit score impact
If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
American Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros
- 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
- 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
- Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
- Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
- Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
- Access to American Express transfer partners
Cons
- $250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
- No lounge access
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.
Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.
Pros
- 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
- Access to Capital One transfer partners
Cons
- $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
- Limited elite benefits
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- How To Find the 75k or 100k Bonus for the Capital One Venture
- Travel Insurance Benefits of the Capital One Venture
- Capital One Venture vs Venture X
- Capital One Venture Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture
- Best Capital One Credit Cards
- Best Travel Credit Cards
- Best Everyday Credit Cards
- Best Credit Cards for Groceries and Supermarkets
- Best Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses
- Best High Limit Credit Cards
- Capital One vs. Citi Credit Cards – Which Is Best? [2024]
- Recommended Minimum Requirements for Capital One Credit Cards
Tip: Both you and your spouse can each get a card and earn the welcome bonus points, netting you a major stash of points.
Your welcome offer is typically worth more than $1,000, but under Step 3 we’ll show you how to get a lot more value than that!
2. Chase, Amex, and Citi points, as well as Capital One miles, are some of the most valuable rewards currencies on the market because they’re easy to earn and they can be transferred to partner airlines and hotels (this is the key).
Step 2 – Earn Even More Points
The more points you earn, the more options you’ll have to use them for business and first class flights. It’s really as simple as that!
What’s so great about the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is that you can earn:
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Tech
- 5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
- 3x points on dining, online groceries, and select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- 1x points on other purchases
Hot Tip: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a broader definition of travel than other cards, making it a lot more generous than other competing cards.
Meanwhile, what’s fantastic about the Amex Gold card’s rewards is the ability to earn up to 4x points:
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year)
- 3x points on airfare purchased directly from the airline or through Amex Travel
- 2x points on other travel purchased through Amex Travel
- 1x points on other purchases
The Citi Premier card also doesn’t joke around when it comes to earning rewards:
- 3x points at supermarkets, air travel, hotels, gas stations, and restaurants
- 1x points on other purchases
Lastly, the Capital One Venture card could be your best friend for miscellaneous purchases:
- 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
For example, if you’re purchasing non-Ultimate Rewards travel, you’ll earn 2x on these types of other travel purchases:
- Airfare tickets booked directly through the airline, or through third-party sites like Expedia, Booking.com, and more
- Trains, metros, buses, and other public transportation services
- Tolls and bridges
- Airbnb and other house-sharing services
- Parking meters, lots, and garages
- Tours organized by travel companies
- Timeshares
Cards from Amex, Citi, and Capital One have their own separate terms and conditions from Chase, but making regular purchases on these credit cards, especially in bonus categories, is how you continually rack up points or miles.
Bottom Line: Build up your points very easily on travel and dining. This means you can rack up lots of valuable points during the year to use on incredible redemptions. Choose the best cards like the Amex Gold card, Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Citi Premier card, or Capital One Venture card.
Step 3 – Maximize Your Points With Transfer Partners (This Is How You Fly Business/First Class)
Each of the major flexible rewards programs, whether it’s Amex Membership Rewards or Capital One Miles, is capable of transferring points to travel partners (airlines and hotels).
Every bank maintains its own list of transfer partners, but it’s very common for airline frequent flyer programs or hotel loyalty programs to participate in multiple partnerships with credit card issuers.
For example, Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One can all transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. On the flip-side, certain frequent flyer programs may be exclusively associated with a singular program; for example, ANA Mileage Club only has 1 transfer partner with a 1:1 ratio — Amex Membership Rewards.
Here are the transfer partners associated with each points program:
- Amex Membership Rewards
- Capital One Miles
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi ThankYou Rewards
Before we get into a few examples, each of these programs offers so many incredible ways to use your points for maximum value!
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our top recommendations to use your points for business and first class flights.
1. Fly Singapore Suites One-way From JFK to Frankfurt for Just 97,000 Points
Average retail cost in cash = $9,500!
Transfer your Chase points directly to Singapore Airlines and you could book an absolutely amazing experience in its Singapore Suites cabin using points, not ~$5k in cash!
The Singapore Airlines First Suites Class on the A380 aircraft has been impressing flyers since it was introduced in 2007 offering a full double bed to couples flying together in the middle cabin. Even better, Singapore Airlines has retrofitted some A380s and is continuing to retrofit its entire fleet.
The easiest way to experience this amazing flight is to transfer just 97,000 Amex, Capital One, Chase, or Citi points/miles to your existing or newly created Singapore KrisFlyer account. From there, redeem the miles for a one-way First Suites Class ticket from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA)!
Hot Tip: 97,000 miles correspond to Singapore Airlines’s Saver fares; its more expensive fares, known as Advantage fares, are easier to find if your schedule isn’t as flexible.
Want to continue all the way to the Far East and visit Singapore (SIN)? Save up to get 148,500 points and spend 20 hours in your own private suite in the sky for the ride.
2. Fly Delta One Business Class From the U.S. to Hawaii for 86,000 Points Round-trip
Average retail cost in cash = $3,000!
This is an awesome deal. If you transfer 86,000 of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Flying Blue (a transfer partner of Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Citi), you can fly from anywhere in the U.S. that Delta flies to Hawaii, round-trip. That would save you ~$3,000.
With a high enough welcome bonus, you could book this just by meeting the minimum spend of a new card!
3. Fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class From the U.S. to Europe for 117,000 Miles Round-trip
Average retail cost in cash = $8,000!
You can experience Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to Europe using your Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles for less than flying on Singapore Airlines and have more options for your final destination.
You could take this flight, for example, from New York (JFK) or Washington, D.C. (IAD) to London (LHR).
Singapore Airlines partners with Virgin Atlantic and only charges 117,000 miles for a round-trip ticket in its Upper Class premium cabin. Best of all, you can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Citi points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, all at a 1:1 ratio.
4. Fly Lufthansa First Class From the U.S. to Europe From 87,000 Points
Average retail cost in cash = $8,500!
Lufthansa has also been hailed as one of the best airlines for first class experiences. With your Amex, Capital One, or Citi points/miles, you can easily transfer your miles at a 1:1 ratio to Avianca LifeMiles to book Lufthansa first class flights. LifeMiles charges 87,000 points each way; however, LifeMiles does pass on any fuel surcharges, so you’ll just have to pay the nominal taxes and fees of around $60.
Chase loyalists don’t need to panic because you can transfer your points to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio to book Lufthansa first class for 90,000 to 100,000 points!
One of the most sought-after flights for Lufthansa first class is on the A380, which connects Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO) to Frankfurt (FRA).
Looking for the ultimate first class experience?
Be sure to use your miles to fly from Frankfurt to the U.S. if you want a chance to explore Lufthansa’s exclusive first class terminal where you can wine and dine at a full-scale restaurant, take a bubble bath with a Lufthansa rubber ducky, and be driven right to your flight in a luxurious private car from your very own personal assistant.
5. Fly ANA First Class Round-trip From the U.S. to Tokyo for as Few as 145,000 Points
Average retail cost in cash = $20,000!
Arguably the best sweet spot in all of points and travel is the ability to book ANA’s legendary first class product between the U.S. and Tokyo for as few as 145,000 points round-trip.
This is an incredible value proposition no matter which way you look at it because these first class tickets often retail for $20,000 round-trip, which nets you nearly a mind-boggling 14 cents per point redeemed!
Just remember that this particular sweet spot only works for flights to Tokyo — it will not work for flights via Tokyo to other destinations like Southeast Asia.
You can also book one-way tickets at half of the mileage price, which can be as low as 72,500 points for a one-way flight from the West Coast and 85,000 points for a one-way flight from elsewhere in the U.S.
The frequent flyer program you’ll want to use is Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which is 1:1 transfer partners with Amex, Chase, and Citi. Capital One is 1:1 transfer partners with Virgin Red, which can then be moved to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio.
This exclusive first class experience entails an intimate cabin of just 8 seats spread out across 2 rows with a 1-2-1 arrangement, top-class service, an enormous array of dining options of the highest caliber, Krug Champagne, and an exquisitely luxurious bed.
6. Fly Emirates Business Class One-way From the U.S. to Europe for 72,500 Points
Average retail cost in cash = $3,500!
Emirates is best known for its lavish, over-the-top first class product. But its business class is simply stellar, too.
In particular, its A380 business class has proven to be one of the best overall products, time and time again.
Currently, this includes spacious, forward-facing seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with lie-flat capabilities.
Normally, travelers wouldn’t frequently encounter Emirates as a viable airline option unless they were planning on flying ultra-long-haul to the other side of the world.
But Emirates has a couple of fifth freedom routes where you can savor the signature Emirates business class product on certain routes between the U.S. and Europe, so there’s no need to fly to the Middle East or Africa if you wanted to try out Emirates!
Even better, the U.S.-Europe routes offered by Emirates are convenient and cost-effective with points.
Currently, you can redeem 72,500 points or miles from Amex, Capital One, Chase, or Citi to book a one-way Emirates business class flight between New York (JFK) and Milan (MXP) or Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH). Taxes and fees are around $103 per person.
Best of all, it’s pretty easy to find solid business class availability, so this is a perfect way to dip your toes into Arab luxury using your points.
7. Fly Qatar Airways Qsuites One-way From the U.S. to the Middle East for 70,000 Avios
Average retail cost in cash = $8,000!
Another terrific way to fly business and first class using points is on Qatar Airways Qsuites, which is one of the best business class products in the world.
This airline exclusively flies between the U.S. and Doha (DOH), the capital of Qatar.
Qsuites offers double beds (at certain seat numbers), amazing service, endless amenities, and wonderful inflight entertainment options. Its food and beverage program, in particular, is top-notch.
One of the best ways to book Qsuites is by transferring your points or miles to British Airways Executive Club. British Airways is 1:1 transfer partners with Amex, Capital One, and Chase.
If you have Citi points, just transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to Qatar Airways. After that, link your Qatar Airways and British Airways account together and transfer your Avios from Qatar Airways to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio.
Right now, nonstop business class flights from the U.S. to Doha can be booked for just 70,000 British Airways Avios + ~$105 in taxes and fees.
8. Fly Iberia Business Class Round-trip From the U.S. to Spain for as Few as 68,000 Avios
Average retail cost in cash = $4,000!
If flying to Spain is high on your to-do list, you’ll love this business class redemption. Iberia, the flag carrier of Spain, offers some amazing redemption rates for business class flights between the Midwest or Northeastern U.S. and Spain.
Specifically, you can redeem 34,000 Iberia Plus Avios each way for a business class flight during off-peak dates as long as the flights are between 3,001 and 4,000 miles in distance.
The cities that offer nonstop service to Madrid (MAD) and fit the distance requirement are Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD). You’ll pay just $114 in taxes and fees for these flights.
Although Iberia’s business class product can’t quite compare to Emirates or Qatar Airways, it’s a comfortable way to fly to Spain at an astonishing price.
9. Fly American Airlines Flagship First Class Transcontinentally Within the U.S. Round-trip for 160,000 Points
Average retail cost in cash = $2,000!
Looking to stay within the U.S. when traveling? If you’ve got an appetite to travel from coast to coast, one of the best ways to get fantastic value is to book American Airlines’s Flagship First class product on select, premium transcontinental flights.
Right now, this is offered on the following routes:
- Boston (BOS) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Miami (MIA) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- New York (JFK) to Orange County (SNA)
- New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO)
If you can find award availability, you can transfer your points to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio from Amex, Capital One, or Citi. Etihad Guest charges 80,000 points for a one-way flight, which translates to a round-trip cost of 160,000 miles. Taxes and fees will generally be around $10 one-way.
10. Fly Air France Business Class From the U.S. to Europe Round-trip From 106,000 Points
Average retail cost in cash = $6,500!
Air France offers a luxurious and classy business class product bookable using points. Better yet, its mileage prices are some of the best you’ll get on flights to Europe.
One-way flights can be booked for as few as 53,000 Flying Blue miles in business class, which means round-trip would cost as few as 106,000 miles!
You’ll want to transfer your points or miles at a 1:1 ratio to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which happens to be partners with Amex, Capital One, Chase, and Citi. Taxes are fees are usually around $190 one-way, per person.
11. Book British Airways Business Class With Reduced Fuel Surcharges Between the U.S. to London From 61,000 Points
Average retail cost in cash = $4,000!
One of the most exciting business class products available is British Airways’s new Club Suites business class product, which represents an enormous upgrade over its older business class experience.
Currently, if you transfer points/miles from Amex, Capital One, or Citi to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, you can access business class award availability on flights between the U.S. to London for as few as 61,000 miles one-way.
Another benefit to using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles over another program like British Airways Executive Club is that you’ll pay significantly reduced taxes and fees. Instead of paying $900 one-way in taxes and fees alone, expect to pay around $300!
If you only have Chase points, you can transfer them to British Airways Executive Club and pay 50,000 to 75,000 Avios one-way, plus $900 in taxes and fees.
British Airways business class is one of the best airlines to book using points in business class because it actually guarantees at least 4 long-haul business class seats per flight! It’s just a matter of booking those seats as early as possible.
Bottom Line: As you can see above, there are many incredible redemption options for your points. In the examples above, if you use your points for those redemptions you’re getting between $3,000 to $9,500 in value!
Final Thoughts
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, Amex Gold card, Capital One Venture card, and Citi Premier card have some of the best welcome bonus offers on the market, plus industry-leading rewards on ongoing purchases.
Remember, if you have a spouse or partner, then you could each get your own card and double your earnings!
Using these cards for daily purchases can multiply your rewards compared to if you just used these cards for travel purchases. Whether it’s dining, groceries, or gas, you can get more points on purchases you’re making anyway!
You will also be able to maximize the value of your points significantly by transferring your points to select travel partners and trying some of the most exclusive travel experiences out there, including business and first class flights on legendary airlines like Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa. It’s really hard to beat this.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.