The 15 “Best of The Best” Ways To Use Your Points & Miles [For Incredible Value]

High-value redemptions are available with all of the transferable point programs. You’ll have many options when redeeming points or miles from Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

The key to using points for award travel is to leverage the best travel partners within each program. We’ll look at some redemptions that maximize the value of your points to the extreme and provide amazing experiences, like Emirates first class and Cathay Pacific first class. You’ll be covered with a ton of choices and inspiration for your next big trip.

Earning Transferable Points

The first and most important thing to keep in mind when collecting points and miles is to focus on earning points for the program that you plan to use. We recommend focusing on transferable points, as they provide you with flexibility in case a program devaluation occurs or your travel plans change.

Our preferred option is to collect Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards. They are favored mainly because of the numerous ways to earn bonus points through credit card welcome offers and category spending. For example, their associated credit cards can provide lots of bonus points for dining and travel purchases.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

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.

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.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), 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

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of as high as 175,000 points with the Amex Platinum. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

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American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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 Now(at Amex's secure site)

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!

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, 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 & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer as high as 100,000 points with the Amex Gold card. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Business owner? See our list of the best Amex business credit cards.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

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Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.74% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

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 & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 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
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,500

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

Of course, Citi has credit cards that collect transferable Citi ThankYou Points, as does Capital One.

15 Best Of The Best Points and Miles Redemptions

1. Fly ANA First Class From the U.S. to Tokyo (Virgin Atlantic Flying Club)

If you’re looking for the golden ticket in first class, combining the best products in commercial aviation with the absolute best value for your points, you simply can’t go wrong by booking ANA first class using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points.

ANA first class is already an absolutely stellar, top-notch first class product. You’ll enjoy an enormous and lavish private suite, impeccable service, multi-course meals, and endless amenities.

But the feature of ANA first class that makes it so incredible is that this product can be booked using points from Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a mind-boggling rate:

• 72,500 Virgin Points one-way between the Western U.S. and Tokyo (including San Francisco and Los Angeles)
• 85,000 Virgin Points one-way between the Central or Eastern U.S. and Tokyo (including Chicago and New York)

Taxes and fees will run around $364 one-way, which is a drop in the bucket compared to the ticket’s cash price, which can easily exceed $13,000 in each direction. That’s a whopping redemption value of around 17 cents per point – simply incredible.

Now, keep in mind that ANA first class availability is very difficult to find (though not impossible), so stay committed in your award search! We recommend searching on United’s website and then calling Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at 800-365-9500 after you’ve located availability to book your tickets.

Virgin Atlantic is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. Also, if you link your Virgin Atlantic account to your Virgin Red account, you can transfer Capital One miles to Virgin Red to book these flights.

2. Fly Singapore First Class (Maybe Even Suites) From the U.S. to Australia (Singapore KrisFlyer)

The KrisFlyer award chart is zone-based for Singapore Airlines flights. As such, Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer offers incredible redemption rates for tickets between the U.S. and Australia.

For 188,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles, you can fly one-way from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) to Singapore (SIN) to Sydney (SYD) in Singapore Airlines first class, including Singapore Suites! The taxes on this route work out to only about $76, which is incredible!

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is transfer partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, which makes it easy to earn lots of KrisFlyer miles.

Hot Tip: As you might expect, award availability can be tough if you’re not searching far out in advance. With a little patience, you can fly for nearly 27 hours in Singapore Suites! 

3. Fly Etihad in The Apartments (American Airlines AAdvantage)

The Apartments from Etihad is one of the most premium seats you can book with points. Calling it a seat doesn’t come close to doing it justice — and as of 2025, you can fly these between London (LHR) and Abu Dhabi (AUH).

With 62,500 American AAdvantage miles, you can fly one-way from Europe to the Middle East in one of the best first class products available.

American Airlines AAdvantage miles transfer to Citi ThankYou Rewards at a 1:1 ratio or 1:0.07, depending on the card you have. Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Citi at a 3:1 ratio. You can earn AAdvantage miles through Barclays and Citi co-branded credit cards.

Hot Tip: We recommend searching for availability on American Airlines’ website and booking online when you find availability.

Need help booking this award? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Etihad first class.

4. Book Qatar Airways Qsuites From the U.S. to Africa via Doha (American Airlines AAdvantage)

Qatar Airways Qsuites is one of the most aspirational business class products in the world. For U.S.-based travelers, these flights connect in Doha (DOH), Qatar’s capital city, to destinations around the globe.

And even if you don’t have any plans to visit Qatar, you should try your best to book one of these tickets with a short connection in Doha en route to your final destination, such as Nairobi (NBO), Johannesburg (JNB), Cairo (CAI), and so on.

With 75,000 American AAdvantage miles, you can book one-way business class tickets between the U.S. and Africa via Doha (DOH) — if you were to cut out the Africa part and just fly to/from Doha, you’d redeem 70,000 miles. The challenge will be finding that elusive award availability!

Again, American Airlines AAdvantage is a transfer partner with Marriott Bonvoy and Citi ThankYou. Plus, both Citi and Barclays offer co-branded credit cards that earn AAdvantage miles directly.

Alternatively, you can book a Qsuites award to the Middle East using 70,000 British Airways Avios each way. British Airways is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

5. Fly Emirates First Class (Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, or Citi ThankYou points)

Flying Emirates first class is nothing short of majestic. You should do everything in your power to make it happen!

Emirates flies nonstop to Dubai (DXB) from the following U.S. airports:

• Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Orlando (MCO), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Starting at 163,500 Skywards miles, you can book a one-way Emirates first class seat from the U.S. East Coast to Dubai. Flights from the Central U.S. and West Coast will cost 186,000 miles each way.

The airline also flies nonstop from New York (JFK) to Milan (MXP) and Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) — you can book a one-way first class flight on these routes with as few as 102,000 Emirates Skywards miles.

The main downside to booking Emirates first class tickets is the taxes and fees. Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $842 one-way in taxes and fees.

As with any first class redemption, availability will be limited. The good news is that you can earn Emirates miles easily, since you can transfer points from Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou, and even Marriott Bonvoy.

Update:

As of May 12, 2025, Emirates first class awards are only available to Skywards Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite members. You can obtain Silver status with the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard^®, or Gold status with the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard^®.

Need help booking a trip? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Emirates first class.

6. Fly Qantas First Class From the U.S. to Australia or New Zealand (Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards)

Qantas flies nonstop from the following U.S. cities to Australia:

• Dallas (DFW) to Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), and Sydney (SYD)
• Honolulu (HNL) to Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD)
• San Francisco (SFO) to Sydney

With 130,000 Atmos Rewards points, you can book a one-way first class seat on Qantas from the U.S. to Australia. You can also book a one-way Qantas business class flight for 85,000 points.

The primary challenge with this redemption will be finding award availability. We recommend using ExpertFlyer to assist your award search, as these are popular long-haul routes in premium cabins.

Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $64 in taxes and fees to fly one-way in first class on Qantas.

Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards has a transfer partnership with Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards. Additionally, Bank of America offers co-branded consumer and business credit cards that earn Alaska points directly.

Need help booking this trip? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Qantas first class.

Bottom Line: Most long-haul flights in premium cabins will be tough to find award availability, and Qantas is no different. Reviewing our step-by-step guide will help you book this award ticket. 

7. Fly Cathay Pacific First Class From the U.S. to Asia or the Middle East (Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards)

Flying Cathay Pacific to both Southeast Asia and then to South Africa for the same number of miles is a unique opportunity. The reason you can do this is because of Alaska Airlines’ stopover rules.

Starting at 110,000 Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards points one-way, you can fly Cathay Pacific first class to Hong Kong (HKG). Business class starts at 75,000 points one-way and would also be a great way to use your Atmos Rewards points.

Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $139 in taxes and fees to fly one-way in first class from the U.S. to the Middle East or Asia with a stopover in Hong Kong.

The U.S. to Hong Kong flight is in first class, while the Hong Kong to the Middle East or Asia flight is in business class.

Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards is transfer partners with Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards. You can earn Atmos Rewards points by spending on Bank of America’s co-branded Alaska credit cards.

Need help booking this trip? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Cathay Pacific first class.

Bottom Line: Flying Cathay Pacific from the U.S. to the Middle East or Asia with a stopover in Hong Kong in 2 premium cabins at this price may be one of the best redemptions you’ll find when using your Atmos Rewards points. 

8. Fly Japan Airlines First Class From the U.S. to Asia (Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards)

Japan Airlines is known to have one of the best first class products in the industry. With Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards  you can enjoy one of these long-haul flights for an affordable amount of miles.

Japan Airlines flies nonstop to Tokyo (NRT/HND) from the following North American airports, giving you multiple cities to search for award flights:

• Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Honolulu (HND), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Vancouver (YVR)

Currently, there are 5 cities offering first class service: Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO).

Starting 110,000 Atmos Rewards points, you can book a one-way first class Japan Airlines flight from the U.S. to Japan. From 75,000 points, you can fly Japan Airlines business class on the same routes.

Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $18 in taxes and fees to fly one way in first class.

As mentioned previously, Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards offers co-branded credit cards from Bank of America that earn Alaska miles. In addition, you can transfer Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

Marriott Bonvoy points to Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

Need help booking this trip? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Japan Airlines first class.

9. Fly Lufthansa First Class From the U.S. to Europe (Asiana Airlines Asiana Club)

The Asiana Airlines Asiana Club award chart doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it should be on your radar.

Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) from the U.S. Here are some example airports the airline flies out of:

• Frankfurt (FRA): Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, D.C. (IAD)
• Munich (MUC): Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Currently, here are the routes with first class services:

With 50,000 Asiana Club miles, you can book a one-way first class flight on Lufthansa to Germany. For 40,000 miles, you can fly one-way in business class on Lufthansa. Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $875 one-way in taxes and fees to fly Lufthansa first class when booking through Asiana.

Need help booking this award? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Lufthansa first class, which also mentions other award programs that charge fewer taxes and fees, but more miles, to fly this amazing product.

Asiana Airlines has no flexible rewards transfer partnerships. However, you can still earn Asiana miles with a co-branded credit card and other ways.

Hot Tip: Award availability in a premium cabin on Lufthansa will be challenging to find. We recommend reviewing our step-by-step guide as well as the Asiana award program to help book this award ticket. 

10. Fly Business Class From the East Coast to Madrid on Iberia (Iberia Avios)

One of the absolute best sweet spots to book using points is on Iberia business class on select routes between the U.S. and Madrid, which is Spain’s capital city.

Club Iberia Plus Avios uses a distance-based award chart, but you can book a business class seat during off-peak dates between the U.S. and Madrid for as few as 40,500 Avios one-way!

These routes include:

• Boston (BOS) to Madrid (MAD)
• New York (JFK) to Madrid (MAD)

Taxes and fees are around $116 per person one-way, which makes for a phenomenal redemption value.

When you consider the fact that Iberia’s competitors on similar routes, such as United, American, and Delta, regularly price these same flights in business class for more than 200,000 miles one-way, you’ll start to appreciate the power of Iberia Avios.

Club Iberia Plus Avios can be transferred from Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. Additionally, if you link your Iberia and British Airways accounts together, you can also transfer Capital One Miles to The British Airways Club and then to Iberia Avios.

Lastly, you can earn Iberia Avios from Chase’s co-branded Iberia credit card.

11. Fly Business Class From the U.S. to Europe (Korean Air SKYPASS)

Korean Air offers one of the best business class award redemptions when flying to Europe. The Korean Air award chart groups Europe into 1 region, which opens up a significant number of opportunities on a SkyTeam partner like Delta.

With 80,000 Korean Air miles, you can fly round-trip from the U.S. to Europe. For 50,000 miles, you can enjoy a round-trip flight in economy.

Korean Air allows you to add in a stopover and an open jaw, which further increases this redemption value. The main downside of the program is that you must book round-trip when flying on a Korean Air partner, such as Air France. This can make finding award availability pretty challenging.

The taxes and fees will vary depending on the airline and route you are flying, but Korean Air generally passes on all fuel surcharges. We recommend using ITA Flight Matrix to estimate your taxes and fees before booking this award.

Korean Air doesn’t have any transfer partners, but there are plenty of ways to earn SKYPASS points, including with a co-branded credit card.

Need help booking a trip? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Delta One (business class), a Korean Air partner.

Hot Tip: Korean Air is one of the best ways to fly round-trip in business class to Europe. It can be challenging to search for availability on Korean Air’s website, so we recommend searching for SkyTeam availability first on Delta or Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue website. When you find availability, double-check the availability by searching for the flights on the Korean Air website. See our guide on how to complete your booking!

12. Fly Round-trip ANA Business Class From the U.S. to Japan (ANA Mileage Club)

We talked about the amazing value you can get by using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points to book ANA first class tickets above. But what about business class? Well, we think that it makes the most sense to transfer your points to ANA Mileage Club directly if you’re looking for ANA business class tickets. That’s because if you can commit to booking round-trip tickets only and have the patience to find availability for 2 long-haul segments, you can access some superb deals through ANA’s frequent flyer program.

ANA has several award charts, and the one to use for this redemption is the ANA international award chart. The program is nuanced, with the points required driven by departure and destination zones, and travel dats.

ANA flies nonstop to Tokyo (HND/NRT) from the following U.S. airports:

• Chicago (ORD), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, D.C. (IAD)

During the low season, you can fly round-trip in business class from the U.S. to Japan for 100,000 ANA Mileage Club miles. Flying round-trip in economy could be an even cheaper option at 40,000 miles in the low season.

ANA allows 1 stopover and 2 open-jaws on ANA flights. With these rules, you can add a connecting flight after you land in Japan. You can also fly out of a different airport than the one you landed in (e.g., fly into Narita and out of Haneda).

Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $762 in taxes and fees to fly round-trip in business class on ANA.

You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to ANA at a 1:1 ratio to book this award or transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to ANA at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer.

Need help booking a trip? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking ANA business class.

13. Fly From North America to Asia (ANA Mileage Club)

Another ANA redemption to consider is on the ANA award chart in the Zone 3 region. ANA groups Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Manila, among others, into this region.

During the low season, you can fly from the U.S. to these destinations in ANA business class for 108,000 ANA Mileage Club miles round-trip. For 45,000 miles, you can fly round-trip in economy during the low season.

Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $672 in taxes and fees to fly round-trip in business class on ANA.

You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy points to ANA Mileage Club.

Bottom Line: ANA is a great program if you’re putting together a trip to Asia. Flying during the low season on ANA can provide high value for your ANA miles. 

14. Fly Etihad in Business From the U.S. to the Middle East or Africa (Asiana Airlines Asiana Club)

Asiana has another high-value redemption with a one-way flight from the U.S. to the Middle East.

With 60,000 Asiana Club miles, you can book a one-way business class flight on Etihad to the Middle East. For 40,000 miles, you can fly one-way in economy on Etihad.

Based on a recent search, you’ll pay about $300 one-way in taxes and fees to fly Etihad business class.

Asiana doesn’t currently allow miles to be redeemed for the New York (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) route, so keep that in mind, too.

15. Fly United From the Continental U.S. to Hawaii (Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles)

The cheapest single way to fly from the continental U.S. to Hawaii is by using Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles. You can fly from anywhere in the continental U.S. to Hawaii for 30,000 miles round-trip in economy or 40,000 miles round-trip in business class. These flights are serviced by United, which offers lie-flat business class seats on some routes, meaning you could potentially nab a 6- to 10-hour one-way business class flight for 15,000 Turkish Miles&Smiles miles each way!

Turkish Airlines is transfer partners with Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. So there are plenty of options you can leverage to increase your Turkish mileage accrual through credit card spending and welcome bonuses.

Here are some example routes you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) – Honolulu (HNL)
• Denver (DEN) – Honolulu (HNL)
• Houston (IAH) – Honolulu (HNL)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Honolulu (HNL) 
• San Francisco (SFO) – Honolulu (HNL)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Honolulu (HNL)
• Newark (EWR) – Honolulu (HNL)

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to leverage award programs with your transferable points can open up some incredible redemptions. If flying in premium cabins is your goal, you have a number of options that can provide massive value for your points.

It’s important to factor in the taxes and fees, particularly with Emirates, Etihad, and Lufthansa. Even with high taxes and fees, these experiences may be worth the out-of-pocket spend and you’re still saving a ton compared to the full cash price of a ticket.