Best Ways To Book Thai Airways Business Class With Points [Step-by-Step]

Thai Airways is a unique airline. A member of the Star Alliance, the flag carrier of Thailand was previously known for its wild hodgepodge of aircraft, luxurious first class products, and exceptional service.

Due to a handful of wildly unprofitable years, Thai Airways has shifted its focus to fuel-efficient aircraft, sticking to the basics, and shrinking its fleet to one that’s more manageable.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the Thai Airways business class product, known as Royal Silk Class, and show you how to book these tickets with points.

A Look Inside Thai Airways Business Class

Thai Airways is a Star Alliance member airline with its main hub located at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

When you fly through Bangkok (BKK) in business class, you are entitled to access the Royal Silk Lounge, an impressive facility with self-serve dining, a noodle station, a full-service bar, and most importantly, a full-service spa. You can choose from a handful of complimentary 30-minute treatments and board your aircraft feeling energized and relaxed.

But if you’re not originating in Bangkok, you’ll still have access to Star Alliance partner lounges in the U.S. and abroad, such as the series of business class lounges by ANA in Tokyo.

Most of Thai Airways’ aircraft feature forward-facing staggered seats, similar to what you’d encounter in Asiana Airlines business class.

These seats are fully lie-flat, have direct aisle access, and are equipped with a side table with your own personal inflight entertainment monitor and remote.

For solo travelers, choose the window seats on either side of the aircraft. Companions traveling together should reserve middle seats, some of which are honeymoon seats. These honeymoon seats are situated right next to each other, so you can sit right next to your companion and easily chat.

Thai Airways’ service is incredible, so look forward to that!

How To Fly Thai Airways Business Class Using Points

Thai Airways business class is generally pretty difficult to book using points.

In general, business class award availability shows up 1 to 3 weeks before departure but generally not far in advance.

Additionally, you might see 1 or 2 seats available at a time, but your chances of snagging 4 business class seats at the same time are remote.

Thai Airways would rather fly its plane slightly empty or offer cash upgrades at the airport than release the majority of its empty seats for mileage redemption.

And although Thai Airways used to fly to the U.S. nonstop in the past, it no longer currently offers any nonstop service to the U.S.

Thai Airways’ levied fuel surcharges are pretty mild but can run in the $200s in some markets, especially to Europe.

Let’s take a look at our favorite frequent flyer programs to book Thai Airways business class.

ANA Mileage Club

Our absolute favorite frequent flyer program for Thai Airways business class flights is ANA Mileage Club.

This isn’t surprising because if you can stick to round-trip bookings (one-way bookings aren’t allowed with ANA miles), you can enjoy some excellent redemption prices.

Plus, you can complete your Thai Airways award booking completely online!

Here’s the award chart for Thai Airways flights to/from Bangkok:

Unfortunately, ANA passes on Thai Airways’ fuel surcharges. You’ll notice that the fuel surcharges to/from London are higher due to the U.K.’s air passenger duty fee (APD).

In general, we recommend finding award availability on a partner airline website like United before confirming your tickets on ANA’s website.

Here’s what we recommend:

1. Use United’s website to search for award availability for both segments.
2. Write down the flight details.
3. Go to ANA’s U.S. website.
4. Click Award Booking near the top of the search box on the left-hand side of the homepage.
5. Log into your ANA Mileage Club account.
6. You’ll be redirected to the search page.
7. Choose Round trip or Open-jaw and fill in your trip details from step 2. Click Search.
8. Pick your flights, redeem your ANA miles, and use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Here’s what a successful Thai Airways business class award search on ANA’s website would look like:

Earning ANA Miles

ANA Mileage Club is both an Amex transfer partner and Marriott transfer partner, making it easy to earn miles.

Amex transfers to ANA at a 1:1 ratio with most transfers taking around 3 business days.

Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 ANA miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at a time. Furthermore, transfers from Marriott Bonvoy to ANA take around 4 business days.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

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The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

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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.¤
• Terms Apply.

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

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American Express Membership Rewards

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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 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!

Learn More(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.

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles, nowadays, is one of the most popular frequent flyer programs in the world.

There are tons of ways to amass LifeMiles, great redemption prices, and absolutely no fuel surcharges.

LifeMiles has some quirks, though. Namely, the online search engine doesn’t show all available flights, and calling LifeMiles to try to make a booking over the phone is a huge pain.

Check out the following award chart for select Thai Airways flights to/from Bangkok using LifeMiles:

One quirk of LifeMiles is that it has hefty change fees and cancellation fees of $150 and $200, respectively.

Check out our recommended roadmap to book Thai Airways flights using LifeMiles:

1. Find award space using united.com.
2. Write down all the applicable flight details from your search.
3. Go to LifeMiles’ homepage.
4. Change the site from Spanish to English by going to the top-right corner, clicking the flag icon, and choosing English.
5. You’ll be redirected to the English site. In the top-right corner, use your LifeMiles Number and Password to log in.
6. Click Travel on the top banner after logging in successfully.
7. You’ll be directed to a flight search page. In the drop-down menu that says Smart Search, choose Thai Airways (Thailand).
8. Enter your flight details from step 2.
9. Choose One-Way or Round-Trip.
10. Click Find Flights.
11. Choose your travel dates.
12. Complete the booking by redeeming your LifeMiles and entering your credit card information for taxes and fees.

Earning Avianca LifeMiles

Avianca LifeMiles is, without a doubt, the currency on this list that’s easiest to earn.

LifeMiles has transfer partnerships with Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex, Citi, and Capital One transfer at a 1:1 ratio instantly while Marriott Bonvoy does so at a 3:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy takes 1 business day to process LifeMiles transfers. Brex transfers at a rate of 1.67:1.

One neat fact about these transfer partnerships is that they have the potential to get even more lucrative, thanks to transfer bonuses of 20% to 30%, mostly from Amex and Chase.

Additionally, you could double up on your savings by timing your award booking to line up with a LifeMiles award flight discount!

Recommended Citi Cards

Citi 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.

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Citi Premier^® Card

*The information regarding the Citi Premier card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Welcome Offer

No offer available

No offer available

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$0

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% 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 Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• No welcome offer available
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• 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: 21.24% - 29.24% variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Citi ThankYou Rewards

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada’s frequent flyer program is Aeroplan. It’s our favorite Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner, so if you only have Chase points, this is your best bet to book Thai Airways business class.

The Aeroplan award chart is incredibly complicated. Normally, you’d have to figure out which regions your route falls under and then locate the appropriate award chart. Finally, you’d have to figure out the flight distance within the appropriate award chart to ascertain the points price.

We’ve done the work to help you figure out the award chart for a handful of popular Thai Airways business class flights:

One unique perk about Aeroplan is that if you decide to book 1-stop connecting flights, you can add a stopover for just 5,000 points more.

If you do decide to add a stopover to your flight, you’ll need to first find availability on each segment and then call Aeroplan to book the ticket.

Aeroplan doesn’t pass on any fuel surcharges, bringing your out-of-pocket cost down to ~$40 one-way.

Here is our recommended set of directions to book Thai Airways business class using Aeroplan points:

1. Go to the Air Canada website.
2. Hover over the button in the top-right corner that says Sign in and click Sign in.
3. Log in using your Aeroplan details. Click Sign in.
4. On the homepage, toggle the button in the main search box that says Points.
5. Choose Round-trip or One-way.
6. Fill in your travel information and click Find.
7. Find the flight option you’d like to book, redeem your Aeroplan points, and use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.
   • To add a stopover for 5,000 miles extra, call Aeroplan at 800-361-5373 after finding availability for each segment separately to make your award reservation.

Earning Aeroplan Points

Air Canada Aeroplan is transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

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

Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 Aeroplan points when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Marriott Bonvoy to Aeroplan transfers take 5 business days to execute.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

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.

Learn More(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

20.99% - 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 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: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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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.

Learn More(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

21.99% - 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.

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.
• 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.
• 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 $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

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

United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus is the other Chase transfer partner besides Air Canada Aeroplan, but it generally has higher redemption rates, which limits its attractiveness.

However, United MileagePlus has a reliable search engine, which can simplify your award booking process significantly.

The problem is that United consistently devalues its miles, so we wouldn’t recommend transferring any points speculatively.

Here’s the United MileagePlus award chart:

Unfortunately, the traditional paradigm of United MileagePlus not passing on fuel surcharges, taxes, and fees isn’t valid on London routes, thanks to the hefty U.K. APD.

In all other cases, though, you’ll see total taxes and fees of less than $100!

Check out how you can book Thai Airways business class flights using United miles:

1. Go to United’s homepage.
2. On the site, check off the box that says Book with Miles in the middle of the screen.
3. Choose either Roundtrip or One-way.
4. Fill in the origin and destination airports, travel dates, number of travelers, and class of service.
5. Click Find flights.
6. Locate Thai Airways business class award availability, enter the traveler information, redeem your United miles, furnish your credit card details for any taxes and fees.

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

United MileagePlus has 2 transfer partnerships and a robust co-branded credit card offering that makes it easy to earn United miles.

It is transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 and 3:1 ratio, respectively.

Chase transfers instantly, while Marriott Bonvoy takes 3 business days to transfer.

Marriott Bonvoy also offers a bonus of 10,000 miles whenever you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United. That means if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United, you’ll end up with 30,000 United miles after all is said and done.

Recommended United Cards

There are many United credit cards available which we cover in our in-depth guide.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines has an interesting frequent flyer program called Miles&Smiles that can be used to book Star Alliance flights, including on Thai Airways.

The only drawback is that Turkish Airlines miles are a bit harder to earn since it’s not transfer partners with Chase or Amex.

That being said, the redemption prices are generally pretty attractive and one-way flights are allowed.

Here is the Turkish Airlines award chart for Thai Airways flights:

Unfortunately, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles passes on all fuel surcharges, and booking Thai Airways requires a phone call to Turkish Airlines.

Follow these steps to make it happen:

1. Visit the United website and find award availability.
2. Call Turkish Airlines at 800-874-8875, feed the agent your flight details, redeem your Turkish Airlines miles, and use a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Earning Turkish Airlines Miles

Turkish Airlines is one of the more niche loyalty programs, but its loyalty program has 2 neat transfer partners in Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One Miles.

Citi transfers at a 1:1 ratio in 1-2 business days, and Capital One transfers at a 1:1 ratio in around 24 hours.

Other Great Options for Booking Thai Airways

Plenty of other frequent flyer programs offer the ability to book Thai Airways business class using points.

These include EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and Miles & More.

Unfortunately, these partners are either not competitive in redemption prices, have no mainstream transfer partners, or feature a convoluted booking process.

The main programs we discussed have great redemption rates, relatively simple booking processes, and plenty of transfer partnerships to earn points through everyday credit card spending.

Great Thai Airways Business Class Redemptions

In this guide, we covered 5 main frequent flyer programs, all of which belong to Star Alliance airline partners.

The price you’ll pay in points will vary depending on what route you book. Here is a concise table illustrating the mileage costs for a handful of major Thai Airways routes:

Of course, this chart is not exhaustive because Thai Airways flies to so many more destinations than what we see above.

That said, if you analyze the chart above, the preferred frequent flyer program with the best deal will change depending on what route you’re booking.

If you have a bunch of ANA miles, you’ll get the best deals on flights between Thailand and Japan or the South Pacific. You’ll also get good deals on these routes when redeeming Avianca LifeMiles.

Turkish Airlines has the best redemption prices for flights between Europe and Thailand — it also has the added benefit of being able to book one-way flights (as opposed to ANA, which mandates round-trip award bookings).

All in all, if you have Amex points and can book round-trips, we love ANA Mileage Club as your first choice. If you can’t find round-trip award space or if there’s a transfer bonus available, we recommend Avianca LifeMiles.

If you have Chase points, we recommend Air Canada Aeroplan. You can add a stopover for just 5,000 miles more, and you won’t be liable for fuel surcharges.

United MileagePlus should generally only be used if you already have a stash of United miles or if you need the absolute simplest redemption process possible.

Turkish Airlines has the best redemption rates for Thailand-Europe routes, but it comes with all taxes and fees and a booking process that requires a phone call.

Here’s what each frequent flyer program has to say about stopovers:

• ANA Mileage Club allows 1 stopover and 1 open-jaw on every award ticket
• Avianca LifeMiles does not allow any stopovers
• Air Canada Aeroplan allows 1 stopover for an extra 5,000 miles, even on one-way award tickets
• United MileagePlus allows a stopover through the Excursionist Perk
• Turkish Airlines 1 stopover or 1 open-jaw, even on one-way award tickets

With all that being said, let’s take a glance at some of the best redemptions you can make in Thai Airways business class:

• Bangkok (BKK) – London (LHR) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 45,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$302 in taxes and fees
• Bangkok (BKK) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 50,000 Avianca LifeMiles + ~$52 in taxes and fees
• Bangkok (BKK) – Osaka (KIX) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 36,000 Avianca LifeMiles + ~$73 in taxes and fees
• Bangkok (BKK) – Sapporo (CTS) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 49,500 United miles + ~$27 in taxes and fees
• Bangkok (BKK) – Stockholm (ARN) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 45,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$184 in taxes and fees
• Bangkok (BKK) – Tokyo (HND) round-trip in Thai Airways business class for 60,000 ANA miles + ~$172 in taxes and fees
• Phuket (HKT) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Thai Airways business class for 45,000 Turkish Airlines miles + ~$184 in taxes and fees
• Seoul (ICN) – Bangkok (BKK) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip in Thai Airways business class with a stopover in Bangkok for 85,000 ANA miles + ~$115 in taxes and fees
• Seoul (ICN) – Bangkok (BKK) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Thai Airways business class with a stopover in Bangkok for 65,000 Aeroplan points + ~$42 in taxes and fees

How To Earn Enough Miles for Thai Airways Business Class

The fantastic news is that Thai Airways has enough partners so you can book its business class product using any type of transferable currency.

In this section, we’ll explore the numerous ways you can accumulate enough points for Thai Airways business class.

In general, ANA Mileage Club and Turkish Airlines will have the best redemption rates.

However, in theory, Avianca LifeMiles could end up being cheaper on certain rates if you time your award booking with a transfer bonus and/or an award flight discount.

That being said, Aeroplan is a great option if you have Chase points, and the added benefit is you can throw in a stopover for 5,000 miles more.

United is an option, too, though you’d generally want to use this only if you already have a lot of United miles sitting in your account.

Here is a summary of all the transferable rewards points you can earn to book Thai Airways business class:

• American Express Membership Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio to ANA Mileage Club, Avianca LifeMiles, and Air Canada Aeroplan. LifeMiles and Aeroplan transfers are instant. ANA transfers take around 3 business days.
• Brex Rewards transfers at a rate of 1.67:1 to Avianca LifeMiles. LifeMiles transfers are almost instant.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio almost instantly.
• Citi ThankYou Rewards transfers to Turkish Airlines and Avianca LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio. Turkish transfers take 1 to 2 business days LifeMiles transfers happen almost instantly.
• Capital One Miles transfers to Turkish Airlines, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Avianca LifeMiles at a 1:1 ratio. Aeroplan and LifeMiles transfer almost instantly while Turkish transfers within 1 business day.
• Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio to ANA Mileage Club (4 days), Avianca LifeMiles (1 day), and Air Canada Aeroplan (5 days). Marriott Bonvoy also transfers to United MileagePlus in 1 day at a 3:1 ratio with a 10,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.

Remember to be on the lookout for Aeroplan and LifeMiles transfer bonuses, as these generally happen more often than Turkish Airlines, ANA, and United.

When Should You Search for Award Space

Thai Airways is very stingy with award availability, so it can be frustrating to try to book a business class award ticket.

You’ll generally find 1 or 2 business class award seats available 1 to 3 weeks in advance, though Thai Airways, as a general rule, almost never releases award space far in advance.

Lastly, the airline doesn’t dump much award availability into the inventory last-minute, even if there are plenty of empty seats, which is unfortunate.

The best way to search for award space is using united.com.

What Makes Thai Airways a Great Redemption Business Class

Thai Airways has a diverse flight of long-haul aircraft, including the A350-900, 777-200ER, 777-300ER, 787-8, and 787-9.

In the past, it had upwards of 12 aircraft types, many of which had different business class seats, too!

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why Thai Airways business class is a great redemption.

Incredible Service

If there’s one thing that makes Thai Airways special, it’s the service. When you board the plane, you’ll be offered a warm towel and a pre-departure beverage.

After that, your crew will efficiently and professionally serve your meal service. Throughout the meal, if you have additional requests, be sure to let your flight attendant know, and they’ll happily accommodate you.

You will be profusely thanked for flying on Thai Airways, and everybody, from the cabin manager to the pilots will express their genuine appreciation for you.

Convenient Schedules Nonstop to Thailand

Bangkok is an international gateway with tons of airlines offering nonstop service.

While Thai Airways is just one of these airlines, it has several home-court advantages. Namely, the Thai Airways lounges in Thailand are top-notch, schedules are built and optimized around the airline, and the domestic connectivity within Thailand is second-to-none.

Also, Thai Airways boasts many nonstop, long-haul routes to/from its secondary hub in Phuket (HKT).

In total, Thai Airways flies to approximately 78 destinations in Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Complimentary 30-Minute Spa Treatments

Be sure to leave a bit of extra time at the Bangkok airport because those with an international business class ticket can book a complimentary, 30-minute massage.

The only wrinkle is that these massages can’t be booked in advance, so you have to hope that there’s enough time during your layover to get a treatment.

However, it’s one of the only airlines that offer a complimentary massage in business class.

In addition, the lounges have showers, clean restrooms, a diverse food selection, and more.

Final Thoughts

To book the best Thai Airways business class deals possible using points, you first need to figure out which route you plan on flying.

If you have Amex points and can the ability to find round-trip award availability, we recommend redeeming ANA miles.

The strongest Citi transfer partner is Turkish Airlines. Avianca LifeMiles is also a fantastic option, too.

Chase Ultimate Rewards loyalists should transfer to Aeroplan, except if you already have a bunch of United miles.

If you have Brex points, your best bet is to transfer to Avianca LifeMiles.

With Capital One miles, you can transfer to LifeMiles or Turkish Airlines miles.

When you fly on Thai Airways, you’ll enjoy a very good product from beginning to end. This includes lie-flat seats, good bedding, phenomenal service, and tasty food!