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

Updated: December 7, 2023, 3:55pm CST

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

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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 Royal Silk business class — Image Credit: Thai Airways

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:

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Bangkok (BKK) To/From	Cabin Class	ANA Miles Cost (Round-Trip)	Taxes and Fees
London (LHR)	Economy	59,000	~$297
Business	94,000	~$604
Melbourne (MEL)	Economy	45,000	~$115
Business	72,000	~$115
Paris (CDG)	Economy	59,000	~$181
Business	94,000	~$386
Sydney (SYD)	Economy	45,000	~$115
Business	72,000	~$115
Tokyo (HND)	Economy	35,000	~$107
Business	60,000	~$172

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:

Use United’s website to search for award availability for both segments.
Write down the flight details.
Go to ANA’s U.S. website.
Click Award Booking near the top of the search box on the left-hand side of the homepage.
Log into your ANA Mileage Club account.
You’ll be redirected to the search page.
Choose Round trip or Open-jaw and fill in your trip details from step 2. Click Search.
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:

Thai Airways ANA Mileage Club — Image Credit: ANA

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

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

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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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 OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on 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

Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

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

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card^®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

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Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

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American Express^® Gold Card

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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!

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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 OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,320

Annual Fee

$250

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
No lounge access

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.

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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:

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Bangkok (BKK) To/From	Cabin Class	Avianca LifeMiles Cost (One-Way)	Taxes and Fees
London (LHR)	Economy	55,000	~$53
Business	78,000	~$53
Melbourne (MEL)	Economy	27,500	~$53
Business	50,000	~$53
Paris (CDG)	Economy	55,000	~$53
Business	78,000	~$53
Sydney (SYD)	Economy	27,500	~$53
Business	50,000	~$53
Tokyo (HND)	Economy	20,000	~$53
Business	36,000	~$53

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:

Find award space using united.com.
Write down all the applicable flight details from your search.
Go to LifeMiles’ homepage.
Change the site from Spanish to English by going to the top-right corner, clicking the flag icon, and choosing English.
You’ll be redirected to the English site. In the top-right corner, use your LifeMiles Number and Password to log in.
Click Travel on the top banner after logging in successfully.
You’ll be directed to a flight search page. In the drop-down menu that says Smart Search, choose Thai Airways (Thailand).
Enter your flight details from step 2.
Choose One-Way or Round-Trip.
Click Find Flights.
Choose your travel dates.
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

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

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Citi Premier^® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
Access to Citi transfer partners
Annual hotel credit
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

$95 annual fee

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
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:

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Bangkok (BKK) To/From	Cabin Class	Aeroplan Points Cost (One-Way)	Taxes and Fees
London (LHR)	Economy	50,000	~$40
Business	80,000	~$40
Melbourne (MEL)	Economy	25,000	~$40
Business	45,000	~$40
Paris (CDG)	Economy	50,000	~$40
Business	80,000	~$40
Sydney (SYD)	Economy	25,000	~$40
Business	45,000	~$40
Tokyo (HND)	Economy	25,000	~$40
Business	45,000	~$40

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:

Go to the Air Canada website.
Hover over the button in the top-right corner that says Sign in and click Sign in.
Log in using your Aeroplan details. Click Sign in.
On the homepage, toggle the button in the main search box that says Points.
Choose Round-trip or One-way.
Fill in your travel information and click Find.
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)

POPULAR FIRST CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating

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

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros

5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt

Cons

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

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy beneﬁts such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating

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 OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-850)

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

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 March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel^SM
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis

Cons

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

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$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 $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: 22.49%-29.49% 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:

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Bangkok (BKK) To/From	Cabin Class	United Miles Cost (One-Way)	Taxes and Fees
London (LHR)	Economy	49,500	~$172 to $320
Business	115,000	~$172 to $320
Melbourne (MEL)	Economy	27,500	~$39
Business	66,000	~$39
Paris (CDG)	Economy	49,500	~$23 to $69
Business	115,000	~$23 to $69
Sydney (SYD)	Economy	27,500	~$46
Business	66,000	~$46
Tokyo (HND)	Economy	22,000	~$27
Business	49,500	~$27

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:

Go to United’s homepage.
On the site, check off the box that says Book with Miles in the middle of the screen.
Choose either Roundtrip or One-way.
Fill in the origin and destination airports, travel dates, number of travelers, and class of service.
Click Find flights.
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 3:1.1 ratio, respectively.

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

Marriott Bonvoy also offers a bonus of 5,500 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 27,500 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:

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Bangkok (BKK) To/From	Cabin Class	Turkish Airlines Miles Cost (One-Way)	Taxes and Fees
London (LHR)	Economy	30,000	~$297
Business	45,000	~$604
Melbourne (MEL)	Economy	52,500	~$115
Business	75,000	~$115
Paris (CDG)	Economy	30,000	~$181
Business	45,000	~$386
Sydney (SYD)	Economy	52,500	~$115
Business	75,000	~$115
Tokyo (HND)	Economy	20,000	~$107
Business	35,000	~$172

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:

Visit the United website and find award availability.
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:

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Route (Round-Trip)	ANA Miles Cost	Avianca LifeMiles Cost	Aeroplan Points Cost	United Miles Cost	Turkish Airlines Miles Cost
Bangkok (BKK) – London (LHR)	94,000 + ~$604	156,000 + ~$146	160,000 + ~$81	230,000 + ~$492	90,000 + ~$604
Bangkok (BKK) – Melbourne (MEL)	72,000 + ~$115	100,000 + ~$146	90,000 + ~$81	132,000 + ~$78	150,000 + ~$115
Bangkok (BKK) – Paris (CDG)	94,000 + ~$386	156,000 + ~$146	160,000 + ~$81	230,000 + ~$92	90,000 + ~$386
Bangkok (BKK) – Sydney (SYD)	72,000 + ~$115	100,000 + ~$146	90,000 + ~$81	132,000 + ~$92	150,000 + ~$115
Bangkok (BKK) – Tokyo (HND)	60,000 + ~$172	72,000 + ~$146	90,000 + ~$81	99,000 + ~$54	70,000 + ~$172

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 slightly improved 3:1.1 ratio.

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

Thai Airways Royal Silk new business class — Image Credit: Thai Airways

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

Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge. Image Credit: Thai Airways

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!

The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to book Thai Airways business class?

The best way to book Thai Airways business class with points is to redeem ANA miles, Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan points, United miles, or Turkish Airlines miles.

ANA and Turkish Airlines generally have the lowest mileage costs, but all fuel surcharges are passed on.

Aeroplan is the best Chase transfer partner, followed by United MileagePlus.

Lastly, Avianca is a solid all-around option with no fuel surcharges, lots of ways to earn miles, and an easy booking process.

What credit cards can help me fly Thai Airways business class?

It depends, but you can’t go wrong with cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards points.

You can even redeem Citi ThankYou Rewards points, Capital One miles, and Brex points for these flights!

Amex is transfer partners with ANA, LifeMiles, and Aeroplan.

Chase is transfer partners with Aeroplan and United.

Citi is transfer partners with LifeMiles and Turkish Airlines.

Brex is transfer partners with LifeMiles.

Capital One is transfer partners with LifeMiles, Aeroplan, and Turkish Airlines.

Marriott Bonvoy is transfer partners with ANA, LifeMiles, Aeroplan, United, and Turkish Airlines.

What do I get when flying Thai Airways business class?

Although Thai Airways has an inconsistent business class product, you’ll consistently get an amazing ground experience with business class lounge access and a complimentary spa treatment, a fantastic cabin crew, tasty food, and decent amenities.

You’ll also enjoy some soft bedding on long-haul flights for maximum comfort.

How good is Thai Airways business class?

Thai Airways business class is a better-than-average business class product. It lacks a few finishing touches but excels in all of the fundamentals — service, food, comfort, and privacy.

Does Thai Airways have first class?

Thai Airways does have first class, but all of its first class-equipped aircraft are grounded due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and may be retired at any time.

What is Royal Silk Class Thai Airways?

Thai Airways’ moniker for its business class product is called Royal Silk Class, so Thai Airways business class and Thai Airways Royal Silk Class are pretty much interchangeable terms.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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