[Expired] 5 Amazing First Class Flights You Can Book With the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s 100K-Point Bonus

Update:

The information below has expired or is no longer available.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is currently featuring its highest-ever welcome offer. For points and miles enthusiasts, that means one thing: access to luxurious first class cabins.

Instead of redeeming points through the Chase Travel portal or for cash-back, you can transfer rewards to airline partners and book experiences that routinely sell for $10,000 — or more. From private suites and caviar service to some of the most exclusive seats in commercial aviation, this single welcome bonus offer can go surprisingly far.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card’s Record-High 100K Bonus Is Back

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has been in my wallet for more than a decade, thanks to its strong lineup of airline and hotel transfer partners and its reasonable $95 annual fee.

Now, Chase has brought back its best-ever publicly available welcome offer: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. But it’s set to end very soon on Thursday, July 30, at 3 p.m. Eastern.

That’s a very generous welcome offer from a single credit card bonus with a nominal annual fee, and for points and miles enthusiasts, it opens the door to some of the most aspirational travel experiences in the world.

We value Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each, which makes a 100,000-point welcome bonus offer worth at least $2,000 in travel, and much more in many cases as you’ll read below.

However, booking international first class awards isn’t as easy as it once was. Airlines have become more restrictive with award availability, some carriers reserve their most coveted seats for elite members, and competition for premium cabin awards has never been higher. Still, opportunities remain for travelers who know where to look.

1. Book Singapore Airlines First Class to Europe ($9,000+ Value)

Singapore Airlines is renowned for offering one of the world’s best premium cabin experiences, and you don’t have to fly all the way to Southeast Asia to experience it. The carrier operates a fifth-freedom route between New York (JFK) and Frankfurt (FRA), allowing travelers to book Singapore Airlines First Class on a transatlantic flight.

Even better, this exclusive cabin features just 4 seats, making it one of the most intimate first class experiences in commercial aviation.

Award rates start at 106,500 KrisFlyer miles one-way. After meeting the minimum spending requirement for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s 100,000-point welcome bonus offer, that pretty much allows you to have enough points to book this aspirational redemption.

The best way to book this redemption is by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Singapore KrisFlyer at a 1:1 ratio. Since KrisFlyer is a Chase transfer partner, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can move points directly to Singapore Airlines and book this award online.

Cash fares often exceed $9,000 one-way, making this an excellent opportunity to extract seriously amazing value from a single credit card welcome offer.

With just 4 seats in the cabin, Singapore Airlines’ first class almost feels like a private jet, thanks to its world-class service, exceptional dining, and renowned attention to detail.

2. Fly Lufthansa First Class and Visit the Famous First Class Terminal ($15,000+ Value)

The Lufthansa first class is an experience that starts long before boarding.

One of the biggest perks is access to Lufthansa‘s legendary first class terminal in Frankfurt (FRA), where passengers get private security screening, à la carte dining, premium champagne, and even chauffeur service directly to their aircraft.

You can book Lufthansa first class with points from the U.S. to Europe for just 90,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points one-way. Since Aeroplan is a Chase transfer partner, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can transfer points at a 1:1 ratio and book directly through Aeroplan.

Cash fares often exceed an eye-watering $15,000 one-way, making this one of my favorite ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

It’s important to know that Lufthansa typically releases first class award space only a few days before departure. That requires some flexibility, but this can be one of the most rewarding last-minute redemptions in the points-and-miles world if you can time it up right.

Hot Tip:

See our review of the Lufthansa first class lounge and terminal, as well as a look at first class aboard the A380 from FRA to SIN and aboard the Boeing 747-8 from BOS to FRA in our detailed reviews. 

3. Travel to Japan in ANA First Class ($12,000+ Value)

Japan is one of the hottest destinations in the world right now, and this redemption is a fantastic way to get there in style.

I recently found ANA first class award availability from Honolulu (HNL) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) aboard ANA‘s Airbus A380. While the flight was available for 90,000 Aeroplan points and about $56 in taxes and fees, there was an even better option.

The same seat can often be booked through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for just 57,500 points, making this one of the best sweet spots in the points-and-miles world.

ANA consistently ranks among the world’s best airlines, and its first class product is known for impeccable service, exceptional Japanese and Western dining, and spacious seats that transform into comfortable beds. Add in the chance to fly the iconic Airbus A380 — the world’s largest passenger jet — and you’ve got a bucket-list experience before you even arrive in Japan.

Booking requires a little extra effort, since ANA first class awards through Virgin Atlantic typically can’t be reserved online. Instead, call Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to confirm award space. Once the agent verifies availability, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic and lock in the reservation.

On the dates I found, the same flight was selling for more than $12,000.

That’s a huge return from a single welcome bonus offer (with a good chunk of points to spare) and one of the best ways to find value from your points and miles. Between ANA first class, the Airbus A380, and a trip to Japan, this redemption reminds me why I got into points and miles in the first place.

4. Hop to London in British Airways First Class ($14,000+ Value)

British Airways first class may not be the most over-the-top first class product in the sky, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth considering. I recently found British Airways first class award availability from the East Coast to London for as little as 88,000 to 93,500 Avios one-way.

The downside is the roughly $1,533 in taxes and fees, which isn’t cheap, but it can be way easier to stomach when the same ticket regularly sells for $14,000 (or more).

While not the smallest first class cabin in the sky, British Airways‘ 14-seat first-class cabin on many Boeing 777s still feels noticeably more exclusive than the airline’s Club Suite business class.

The best way to book is to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to British Airways Club at a 1:1 ratio and redeem Avios for the award. If you’ve always wanted to experience international first class but don’t want to chase ultra-rare award availability, British Airways first class offers one of the more accessible ways to do it with points — even with the hefty taxes and fees.

Hot Tip:

One of the biggest perks of booking British Airways first class isn’t the flight but the ground experience. First class passengers departing London (LHR) get access to the exclusive Concorde Room, British Airways’ most premium lounge. If you’re curious about what makes it special, check out our guide on how to access British Airways lounges, including the Concorde Room.

5. Book Thai Airways First Class Within Asia ($2,500+ Value)

Not every first class redemption has to start or end in the U.S.

If you’re planning a larger trip through Asia, one of the best ways to travel between 2 of the region’s most popular destinations is in Thai Airways Royal first class. I recently found first class award availability between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Bangkok (BKK) for just 60,000 points plus roughly $63 in taxes and fees one-way.

What makes this redemption especially interesting is that Thai Airways doesn’t currently fly to the U.S., meaning many American travelers never get the chance to experience the airline’s premium cabin products. The carrier earns rave reviews for its warm hospitality, attentive service, and excellent onboard dining, which is why we included it in our roundup of the best international first class airlines.

It may also be a product worth prioritizing sooner rather than later, as Thai Airways has outlined plans to retire first class entirely, making these seats a bit of a disappearing luxury.

The flight is operated by one of Thai Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, featuring an intimate 8-seat first class cabin in a 1-2-1 configuration. While the seats aren’t the newest (or most private) suites in the sky, they still convert into fully flat beds and offer a comfortable way to spend the roughly 6-hour journey between Japan and Thailand.

On the dates I found, the same flight was selling for more than $2,500 one-way.

That’s a solid return for just 60,000 points, especially considering it includes priority airport services, lounge access, elevated dining, and one of the most comfortable ways to travel between 2 of Asia’s most exciting destinations.

Final Thoughts

Let’s be honest: Booking international first class awards isn’t as easy as it used to be. But if you’ve earned 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, some exceptional experiences can be within reach. This includes sipping Champagne in Singapore Airlines first class, flying ANA’s Airbus A380 to Japan, or even trying Thai Airways’ soon-to-disappear first class.