Best Ways To Book Garuda Indonesia Business Class With Points [Step-by-Step]

Indonesia’s flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, is a generally beloved airline. It has a long history, and started as a successor of KLM Interinsulair Bedrijf, due to Indonesia’s previous status as the Dutch East Indies.

At its peak in the mid-1990s, this full-service airline had extensive service to all corners of the world, including Australia, Egypt, South Africa, the U.S., and Europe.

Since then, Garuda Indonesia’s footprint has shrunk dramatically due to financial hardships.

Today, it’s the second-largest airline in Indonesia after Lion Air, but it’s essentially the country’s only full-service carrier, making it an attractive option for those looking to enjoy a luxurious premium cabin experience.

Let’s take a look at how you can book Garuda Indonesia business class using points.

A Look Inside Garuda Indonesia Business Class

Garuda Indonesia is a member of the SkyTeam alliance alongside partners like Delta Air Lines, Air France, KLM, and Korean Air.

Headquartered in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta, it maintains 4 hubs in Jakarta (CGK), Bali-Denpasar (DPS), Makassar (UPG), and Medan (KNO).

When flying through select airports like Jakarta (CGK), Bali-Denpasar (DPS), and Surabaya (SUB), you’ll have access to a premium ground experience, including access to excellent lounges.

When flying business class, you’ll be able to skip the long check-in lines, freshen up with a shower, indulge in a large selection of hot food and beverage choices, and more.

Even if you’re not originating in Indonesia, you’ll have access to a wide range of SkyTeam partner lounges, including business class lounges from KLM, Korean Air, and even SkyTeam-operated lounges!

When you board the aircraft, you’ll enjoy forward-facing staggered seats that recline completely flat, have direct aisle access, and are equipped with a personal side table.

Some newer aircraft even have reverse herringbone seats for more privacy!

How To Fly Garuda Indonesia Business Class Using Points

It’s important to note that while a few of Garuda Indonesia’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are equipped with an exceptional first class cabin, there’s no way to book award tickets besides using GarudaMiles (which has no U.S. transfer partners).

That being said, Garuda Indonesia business class is surprisingly easy to book using points.

You can generally find availability both far in advance and close to departure, and often you’ll find long-haul routes with 4 business class seats available at a given time.

Even if you couldn’t find award space all at once, Garuda routinely offers attractive cash upgrade deals at the airport.

Garuda Indonesia no longer offers direct flights from the U.S., but its international network reaches across Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Let’s dive into the best ways to book Garuda Indonesia business class with points.

ANA Mileage Club

Undoubtedly, ANA Mileage Club is the best frequent flyer program for booking Garuda Indonesia business class flights.

At first glance, it’s not an intuitive pick because ANA is in Star Alliance while Garuda Indonesia is in SkyTeam. But, ANA is actually one of Garuda Indonesia’s non-alliance partners, making it possible to redeem ANA miles for Garuda Indonesia flights.

Unfortunately, first class isn’t allowed, but we’ll “settle” for business class.

ANA Mileage Club only permits round-trip award bookings, but with an abundance of award availability, it shouldn’t be difficult to find outbound and inbound award tickets at the same time.

Also, ANA Mileage Club makes it easy to book award tickets completely online, which is a huge plus.

Here’s how much you can expect to pay for round-trip Garuda Indonesia flights to/from Jakarta:

ANA Mileage Club passes on fuel surcharges most of the time, but you’ll notice that the fuel surcharges levied by Garuda Indonesia are mostly reasonable to begin with.

Follow these steps to book your Garuda Indonesia flight completely online:

1. Go to ANA’s U.S. homepage.
2. On the left-hand side of the site, click Award Booking near the top of the search box.
3. Enter your ANA Mileage Club account login details.
4. On the redirected search page, click Round trip or Open-jaw. Enter the required travel information, and click Search.
5. Find your desired flights, redeem your ANA miles, and use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.
   • At the top of the search results, you have the option to choose Non Star Alliance Award. Be sure to toggle this option if you’re looking to book Garuda Indonesia flights.

Here’s what a successful Garuda Indonesia business class award search on ANA’s site would look like:

Hot Tip: ANA Mileage Club has a family account service that allows you to combine and redeem miles for award tickets. Adding 2 to 8 family members for Mileage Club members who reside outside of Japan comes with a registration fee of 1,000 ANA miles per person.

Earning ANA Miles

ANA miles are pretty easy to earn since the program is an American Express transfer partner and a Marriott transfer partner, which means you can rack up tons of miles quickly!

Amex transfers to ANA at a 1:1 ratio in 3 business days, while Marriott Bonvoy transfers to ANA at a 3:1 ratio in around 4 business days.

And when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to ANA at once, you’ll also get a bonus of 5,000 extra ANA miles!

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

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.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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 1,400 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

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 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 through American Express Travel using 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.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $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: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 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.
• 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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 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 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. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $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.
• $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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

Delta SkyMiles

The next program we’d recommend for booking Garuda Indonesia business class flights is Delta SkyMiles.

Although this loyalty program has been criticized for getting devalued frequently, it’s still one of the best options in the context of booking Garuda Indonesia flights.

In particular, you can get solid value for your points, as this table demonstrates:

Delta SkyMiles doesn’t pass on many fuel surcharges, except flights between Indonesia and Australia.

Another piece of good news is that Delta SkyMiles allows you to search and book these flights directly online, thanks to a easy-to-operate user interface. Here’s how to do just that:

1. Visit Delta’s website.
2. On the homepage, look for the banner at the top of the screen.
3. First, check off the box that says Shop with Miles. Then, click Advanced search. Under the Best Fares For box, choose Delta One.
4. Enter the airport codes, number of travelers, and travel date(s).
5. Perform your search, find available flights, redeem your Delta SkyMiles, and use a credit card to pay for the taxes and fees.

Hot Tip: When using Delta SkyMiles’ search engine, be sure to indicate My dates are flexible if you want to see the largest calendar view of award availability.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Earning Delta SkyMiles is easier than ever, thanks to Amex’s co-branded credit card offerings, in addition to Delta’s 2 transfer partners: Amex Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex transfers at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio in around 1 business day.

Recommended Delta Cards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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 card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free checked bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.

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.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free checked bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.

Welcome Offer

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

50,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$600

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

APR

19.99%-28.99% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Frequent Delta flyers will love the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card. The card offers great benefits that will help save you money, effectively mimics low-level elite status with Delta SkyMiles, and helps you earn miles even faster, all for a low annual fee. Let’s dive into the benefits to see if the Delta Gold card is a good fit for your needs.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• $100 Delta Stays Credit: You can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
• Receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year.
• Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.

Cons

• Moderate annual fee
• Earn rate for Delta flights is relatively low compared to other travel cards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• With Send & Split^®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99%-28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of 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.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$720

Annual Fee

$350

APR

19.99%-28.99% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning a handful of valuable benefits with the airline.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
• 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets

Cons

• $350 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: When you use your enrolled Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $10 back each month in statement credits.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Receive either a $120 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 Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99%-28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

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.

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

70,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$840

Annual Fee

$650

APR

19.99%-28.99% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its MQD Headstart towards status boost, lounge access, annual companion certificate, and many other great benefits.

Here is a full look at everything the Delta Reserve card can offer to you to help you decide whether the card deserves a place in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases.
• 1x SkyMile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
• Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights.

Cons

• $650 annual fee (rates & fees)
• No bonus categories other than Delta purchases

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club^® when you fly Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
• Receive four Delta Sky Club^® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion^® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99%-28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air SKYPASS gets a lot of love at Upgraded Points. That’s because even though the miles are pretty hard to earn, they can be used to get excellent value.

In the event you find yourself with a bunch of Korean Air miles, you can book round-trip award flights on any of Korean Air’s partners (one-way award tickets are only allowed on Korean Air-operated flights).

All fuel surcharges are passed on, but it isn’t such a big deal with Garuda Indonesia, since this airline doesn’t levy large fuel surcharges on most flights.

Here’s the redemption table for Garuda Indonesia-operated flights booked with Korean Air miles:

The other drawback, in addition to the difficulty in earning Korean Air miles, is the booking process.

SKYPASS allows you to book award flights only for up to 5 immediate family members, and you must provide proof of relationship through Korean Air’s website, via fax, or through a local Korean Air office.

Once you’re approved, you can book award flights for your children, spouse, children-in-law, parents-in-law, siblings, grandchildren, or grandchildren.

To book your Korean Air flights, follow these instructions:

1.  Visit Korean Air’s website.
2. In the top-right corner, click Log in. Enter your login credentials and click Log in. You’ll be redirected to the homepage after that.
3. In the search box on the right-hand side of the page, click the … icon to the right of Award.
4. Click SkyTeam awards.
5. Enter your search details, number of passengers, and choose Prestige Class.
6. Click Search Flights.
7. Find your desired business class flight on Garuda Indonesia.
8. Proceed with the travel booking and confirm the ticket.

Earning Korean Air SKYPASS Miles

Korean Air has just 1 transfer partner in Marriott Bonvoy.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio to Korean Air. Transfers may take up to 3 weeks, but they often take as few as 2 days to transfer.

Other ways to earn Korean Air miles include signing up for U.S. Bank’s co-branded Korean Air SKYPASS credit cards.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

There are several Marriott credit cards which we cover in-depth in our guide.

Aeromexico Rewards

One of the quirkier frequent flyer programs is Aeromexico Rewards, which belongs to Mexico’s flag carrier.

Unfortunately, this program is fairly complex due to unnecessarily complicated rules, making it a less-than-popular option for U.S.-based travelers.

Here’s how much Garuda Indonesia flights would cost if booked via Aeromexico:

You’ll notice there’s a seasonality element. The high season includes:

• The Monday before Easter season until the Sunday after Easter season (4 weeks)
• June 1 to August 18
• December 8 to January 16

If you decide to book a Garuda Indonesia business class flight from Tokyo-Haneda to Jakarta using Aeromexico points departing on July 15, you’ll redeem at the high season rate of 62,000 points instead of the low season rate of 56,000 points.

These prices appear to be on the higher end, especially for long-haul flights, but, as you’ll find out in the next section, you can transfer points at a better ratio than 1:1 to Aeromexico Rewards.

Whatever the case, Aeromexico Rewards requires all award tickets to be booked over the phone. Here are the recommended steps to take:

1. Perform an award search on Delta’s website to find suitable availability.
2. Give Aeromexico a call at 855-412-2650 and request to book a Garuda Indonesia business class flight.
3. Provide the representative with your itinerary, and confirm availability.
4. Use your points, provide all travelers’ information, use a credit card for taxes and fees, and process the ticket.

Earning Aeromexico Rewards Points

Earning Aeromexico Rewards points is easy, thanks to an abundance of transfer partnerships.

Amex transfers at a 1:1.6 ratio, while Citi, Brex, and Capital One transfer at a 1:1 ratio. Lastly, Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 points when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Aeromexico.

Amex transfers take anywhere from 2 to 12 business days, while Citi and Capital One transfers are almost instant. Brex takes around 1 business day, while Marriott Bonvoy takes around 4 business days.

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.

75,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.49% to 28.49% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Citi Rewards+^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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 no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Citi Rewards+^® Card

This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.

20,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$320

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% intro APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 15 months. After that, a variable APR of 17.99% to 27.99%.

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Rewards+ card is an excellent way to earn Citi ThankYou points with a $0 annual fee while receiving perks like point round-ups, a 10% point redemption rebate, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025
• 2x points on at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year
• Round up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase

Cons

• Doesn’t offer access to the entire collection of Citi transfer partners
• Charges foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
• Plus, as a special offer, earn a total of 5 Thank You^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.*
• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 17.99% to 27.99%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Earn 2X ThankYou^® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou^® Points on All Other Purchases.
• The Citi Rewards+^® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
• No Annual Fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 15 months. After that, a variable APR of 17.99% to 27.99%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

$200 cash-back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 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 cardapplication.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
• Flexible redemption options
• No annual fee

Cons

• No bonus categories
• 3% foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% to 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
• Citi Double Cash^® Card Travel Portal Special Offer
  Earn a total of 5 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal via cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711). Offer is valid through 12/31/2025.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.49% to 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, without an annual fee!

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, without an annual fee!

Welcome Offer

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%.

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 cardapplication.

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, with a $0 annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
• $0 annual fee
• Multiple redemption options

Cons

• Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
• Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
• Get 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
• No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
• $0 annual fee.
• Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash^® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.49%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

The last loyalty program we’ll discuss is Air France/KLM Flying Blue, which is one of the most popular SkyTeam frequent flyer programs.

Unfortunately, in this situation, it doesn’t make much sense to redeem points through Flying Blue, unless you only have Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Normally, this program has an attractive redemption scheme, especially for U.S. to Europe flights, but award fares are quite expensive on Garuda Indonesia’s main nonstop long-haul routes.

Flying Blue uses a dynamic award pricing structure, but here’s a look at the Saver award ticket pricing for Garuda Indonesia flights:

The good news is you can complete your award booking 100% online — follow these steps to do so:

1. Go to the Air France U.S. website.
2. Click Log in in the homepage’s top-right corner and log into your Flying Blue account.
3. On the redirected page, you’ll see a search box. Click Book with Miles on the top-left corner of the search box.
4. Click Round trip or One-way.
5. Fill in the search box and click Search flights.
6. Redeem your Flying Blue miles, use your credit card for taxes and fees, and confirm your ticket.

Earning Flying Blue Miles

Flying Blue miles are some of the easiest to amass because of the program’s long list of transfer partners, including the Amex Membership transfer partners, Chase transfer partners, Citi transfer partners, Brex transfer partners, Capital One transfer partners, and Marriott transfer partners.

Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Brex transfer at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.

Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at once to Flying Blue.

Lastly, Bank of America is the sole issuer of Flying Blue co-branded credit cards that earn miles directly.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% 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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 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, $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, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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 3x 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 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.74% - 28.74% 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 cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

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 out there.

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

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business Owner? Check out our article on the best Chase business cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points.

Other Options for Booking Garuda Indonesia

There are a number of other frequent flyer programs you can use, including Aeroflot Plus and China Eastern Eastern Miles.

Unfortunately, these programs may have an absence of transfer partners, high redemption prices, difficult booking processes, or a combination of these.

That’s why we recommend sticking to the airline programs mentioned in each section.

Bottom Line: Your first choice for booking Garuda Indonesia business class should generally be using ANA miles. But depending on what types of points and miles you’ve accumulated, you may have to look at other partners like Delta SkyMiles, Korean Air SKYPASS, Aeromexico Rewards, or Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

Great Garuda Indonesia Business Class Redemptions

Garuda Indonesia business class is readily bookable using a few different programs.

And while the exact program you choose will depend on what types of credit cards you have, what routes you’re planning on flying, and even your preexisting mileage balances, it’s incredibly valuable to compare each option head-to-head.

That’s exactly what we’ve done. In the table below, you’ll be able to see how much each program charges on specific Garuda Indonesia business class flights:

As you can see, ANA Mileage Club is the undisputed winner across all the major routes we looked at. Behind ANA, Korean Air is the runner-up, while Delta is a great option for intra-Asia flights. Aeromexico and Flying Blue also work, but they are generally significantly more expensive than their peers.

If you have Amex points, you should always be redeeming through ANA Mileage Club. With Chase, though, your best bet is Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

If you happen to have Citi ThankYou Points, Brex points, or Capital One miles and are flying intra-Asia, you should probably book through Aeromexico Rewards (if you feel confident in navigating its quirks).

If you have Citi ThankYou Points, Brex points, or Capital One miles and are flying between Asia and another continent, Flying Blue is a great choice.

Keep in mind that Flying Blue offers transfer bonuses of 15% to 30% relatively frequently — Aeromexico has also offered these from time to time.

Now, let’s talk about stopovers:

• Air France/KLM Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles do not allow stopovers.
• ANA Mileage Club allows 1 stopover and 1 open-jaw on award bookings.
• Korean Air allows 1 stopover on SkyTeam award bookings.
• Aeromexico Rewards allows 1 stopover on round-trip flights only.

Here are some example redemptions in Garuda Indonesia business class that ought to inspire you:

• Jakarta (CGK) – Amsterdam (AMS) round-trip for 115,000 Korean Air miles + ~$410 in taxes and fees
• Jakarta (CGK) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way for 56,000 Aeromexico Rewards points + ~$81 in taxes and fees
• Jakarta (CGK) – Seoul (ICN) round-trip for 62,000 ANA miles + ~$82 in taxes and fees
• Jakarta (CGK) – Sydney (SYD) one-way for 90,000 Flying Blue miles + ~$191 in taxes and fees
• Jakarta (CGK) – Tokyo (HND) one-way for 45,000 Delta SkyMiles + ~$31 in taxes and fees

How To Earn Enough Miles for Garuda Indonesia Business Class

As we mentioned, Garuda Indonesia business class is easy to book. It’s also easy to find award availability, as virtually all of its regional and long-haul routes have an abundance of award space.

You can book Garuda Indonesia business class using any transferable rewards program available.

The best program overall is ANA Mileage Club, while Korean Air SKYPASS is a solid runner-up.

ANA Mileage Club, Delta SkyMiles, Korean Air SKYPASS, and Flying Blue all allow you to make Garuda Indonesia bookings completely online, while Aeromexico Rewards requires a phone call.

Here’s what each transferable currency looks like, in light of its transfer partnerships:

• Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to ANA, Delta, and Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio, while transfers to Aeromexico come at a 1:1.6 ratio. Amex transfers to Delta and Flying Blue almost instantly, while ANA and Aeromexico take 3 business days and 2 to 12 business days, respectively.
• Brex Rewards points transfer to Flying Blue and Aeromexico almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio.
• Capital One miles transfer to Aeromexico and Flying Blue  at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.
• Citi ThankYou Points transfer to Aeromexico and Flying Blue almost instantly at a 1:1 ratio.
• Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to ANA (3 days), Delta (1 day), Korean Air (2 days), Aeromexico (4 days), and Flying Blue (3 days) at a 3:1 ratio. Some airlines also offer a bonus of 5,000 miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at a time.

One last consideration: transfer bonuses. If you can, time your transfers to align with a transfer bonus, especially with Flying Blue or Rewards. These transfer bonuses may give you anywhere from 15% to 30% bonus miles.

When You Should Search for Award Space

The good news with Garuda Indonesia is it doesn’t really matter when you search for award availability. In general, you should start searching when you have an idea of when and where you want to travel.

But, you shouldn’t have a problem finding last-minute award availability, either. We recommend searching on Delta’s website first, thanks to its easy-to-use search engine.

What Makes Garuda Indonesia a Great Redemption

Garuda Indonesia is Indonesia’s only full-service airline.

That means if you want airport lounges, a robust check-in kiosk, a customer service center, a quality premium cabin seat, and the ability to access award flights through partner frequent flyer programs, Garuda is your best bet.

The good news is that Garuda Indonesia’s business class seats are generally excellent, whether you’re on the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft or the newer Airbus A330-900neo planes.

You should expect direct aisle access, a quality food-and-beverage program, and more when you fly on any of these planes.

Here are some of the highlights of flying business with Garuda:

Convenient Schedules to Indonesia

Indonesia’s incredible landscape and culture make it one of the best countries to visit as a tourist!

If you want to hit the ground running, you ought to prioritize convenience — that’s one of the areas where Garuda Indonesia excels.

This airline optimizes its fleet, route network, and schedules for those who are flying into or out of Indonesia.

Although there are no nonstop flights between the U.S. and Indonesia, you can access convenient nonstop connectivity to Seoul, Tokyo, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and even the Netherlands.

Hot Tip: Learn about the best ways to fly to Southeast Asia and Bali with points and miles!

Excellent Service

Garuda Indonesia is constantly heralded as being one of the best airlines in the world for service.

The airline has a strong service culture with the cabin crew members going out of their way to make sure you’re treated with warmth and that you’re getting everything you need.

You’ll enjoy a comprehensive pre-departure service and have your needs anticipated and met with professionalism.

Final Thoughts

Garuda Indonesia is a fraction of the airline it once was, due to financial strains.

Still, this SkyTeam airline is one of the better business class airlines you can fly, especially to/from Indonesia.

And whether you have Chase, Amex, Brex, Citi, Capital One, or Marriott Bonvoy points, there’s an option to book award tickets using points.

We recommend transferring Amex points to ANA Mileage Club as our top choice, simply because of the great deals you can find on round-trip award tickets.

That said, you can absolutely explore other options like Delta SkyMiles, Korean Air SKYPASS, Aeromexico Rewards, or Air France/KLM Flying Blue.