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The Best Ways To Fly to Seychelles With Points and Miles

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Michael McHugh
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Michael McHugh

Former Content Contributor

63 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 15U.S. States Visited: 32

Michael fell in love with points and miles back in 2014 and since then has built up a vast knowledge of award programs and has striven to show readers how to receive the maximum value when using their...
Edited by: Kellie Jez
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Kellie Jez

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Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...

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Seychelles is an African destination that ranks high on the exotic beach scale. Similar to Bora Bora and the Maldives, Seychelles is a remote place offering secluded beaches and incredible views.

Located in the Indian Ocean off of the coast of East Africa, Seychelles is known for its beaches, reefs, and rainforests. Its main airport is located in Mahé (SEZ), which is where all international flights fly into.

In this guide, we’ll show you how best to use your points and miles to fly from the U.S. to Seychelles!

Best Programs To Use To Book Flights

Seychelles does not have any nonstop flights to or from the U.S., which is one of the main reasons why American travelers may look elsewhere for their beach fix.

But if you’re planning a honeymoon, crave exotic beach spots, or just want to get away from hordes of tourists, this is one of the best spots to do so.

As is the case when booking most long-haul flights, it’s best to search for award availability far in advance to increase your chances of booking the flights that you want.

What you may have not realized is that Seychelles is serviced by all of the major airline alliances in Oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam, as well as non-alliance airline partners like Emirates.

As we dive into the article, keep in mind that all award pricing shown is one-way unless otherwise specified (ANA only allows round-trips).

Here are all of the major airlines that operate 1-stop flights from the U.S. to Mahé (SEZ):

Aeroflot via Moscow (SVO)

  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Moscow (SVO) – Seychelles (SEZ)
  • Miami (MIA) – Moscow (SVO) – Seychelles (SEZ)
  • New York (JFK) – Moscow (SVO) – Seychelles (SEZ)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Moscow (SVO) – Seychelles (SEZ)

Air France via Paris (CDG)

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Boston (BOS) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Dallas (DFW) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Denver (DEN) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Houston (IAH) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Miami (MIA) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Minneapolis (MSP) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • New York (JFK) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Newark (EWR) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Philadelphia (PHL) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ)

EL AL via Tel Aviv (TLV)

  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Tel Aviv (TLV) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Miami (MIA) – Tel Aviv (TLV) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • New York (JFK) – Tel Aviv (TLV) – Mahé (SEZ)

Emirates via Dubai (DXB)

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

Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa (ADD)

  • Chicago (ORD) – Addis Ababa (ADD) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Addis Ababa (ADD) – Mahé (SEZ)

Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi (AUH)

  • Chicago (ORD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • New York (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ)

Kenya Airways via Nairobi (NBO)

  • New York (JFK) – Nairobi (NBO) – Mahé (SEZ)

Qatar Airways via Doha (DOH)

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Dallas (DFW) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Houston (IAH) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Miami (MIA) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • New York (JFK) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Newark (EWR) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Philadelphia (PHL) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Seattle (SEA) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ)

SWISS Air and Edelweiss Air via Zurich (ZRH)

  • Boston (BOS) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Miami (MIA) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • New York (JFK) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Newark (EWR) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ)

Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (IST)

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Boston (BOS) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Dallas (DFW) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Houston (IAH) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Miami (MIA) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • New York (JFK) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Newark (EWR) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ)

There are plenty of routes you can fly to Seychelles, and even more frequent flyer programs you can use. So to avoid completely overwhelming yourself, stick to the frequent flyer programs outlined in the next sections to get the best prices and experiences.

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Inaugural World's Shortest A380 First Class Window Suite Cherag Dubash
Travel like absolute royalty when you book Emirates first class to Seychelles. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

Our top method to fly to Seychelles with points and miles is, undoubtedly, the most glamorous option available.

Emirates first class is world-famous for its opulence, including showers aboard its A380 aircraft, seemingly unlimited food, a phenomenal wine selection, fantastic service, and so much more.

In the case of Seychelles, Emirates first class is literally the only airline that operates first class itineraries the whole way from the U.S. to Seychelles (via Dubai).

So if you find yourself sitting on a ton of points, want the best luxury experience, and have an appreciation for 100% first class tickets, this will be the best option.

When you book first class award tickets using Emirates miles, you can add a complimentary stopover in Dubai for no additional cost, thanks to the Flex Plus fare type you’re booking.

You’ll spend around $300 in taxes and fees one-way, a relative steal compared to the $10,000+ in cash prices. Here are some phenomenal routes you can book using points:

  • Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates first class for 168,750 Skywards miles + ~$320 in taxes and fees
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates first class for 168,750 Skywards miles + ~$320 in taxes and fees
  • New York (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates first class for 160,000 Skywards miles + ~$320 in taxes and fees
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates first class for 168,750 Skywards miles + ~$320 in taxes and fees
  • Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates first class for 168,750 Skywards miles + ~$320 in taxes and fees
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates first class for 160,000 Skywards miles + ~$320 in taxes and fees

Follow these directions to book your Emirates first class flight online:

  1. Visit Emirates’ website.
  2. Toggle the box on the homepage’s search box that says Classic rewards.
  3. Enter your flight information, and click Search flights.
  4. After finding an available flight, redeem your Skywards miles and a credit card to pay for taxes and fees.

Earning Emirates Skywards Miles

Emirates miles can be earned multiple ways since the program is a Chase transfer partnerAmerican Express transfer partnerCiti transfer partnerBrex transfer partnerCapital One transfer partner, and Marriott transfer partner.

As you can tell, it’s easier than ever to earn Emirates miles.

Emirates is 1:1 transfer partners with Chase, Amex, Brex, Capital One, and Citi. All of these partners process transfers instantly.

Marriott Bonvoy is 3:1 transfer partners with Emirates, and transfers take 3 business days. Plus, if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Emirates, you’ll get a bonus of 5,000 miles.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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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 huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
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 Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
21.49%-28.49% Variable
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)

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®

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.
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.
60,000 points
$1,200
$550
22.49%-29.49% Variable
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)

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 TravelSM
  • 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

ANA Mileage Club

Turkish Airlines Boeing 787 9 Business Class Middle Aisle Seats
Use ANA miles to fly Turkish business class. Image Credit: Greg Stone

A Star Alliance airline program to keep your eye on is the ANA Mileage Club program. This program is known for having a competitive award chart when booking its own and partner airline flights.

SCROLL FOR MORE
Cabin ClassANA Miles Cost (Round-Trip)Taxes & Fees
Economy65,000~$73
Business104,000~$73

The main drawbacks with ANA are that partner award flights must be booked round-trip and its search engine isn’t the easiest to navigate.

ANA considers the Seychelles part of its Africa and the Middle East region, joining the likes of South Africa, Mauritius, Jordan, and Lebanon, among others.

When you’ve built up enough points and miles to book a flight, here are a couple of options to consider:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 104,000 ANA miles in Turkish Airlines business class
  • Denver (DEN) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 104,000 ANA miles in Turkish Airlines business class
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 104,000 ANA miles in Turkish Airlines business class
  • Miami (MIA) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 104,000 ANA miles in Turkish Airlines business class
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 104,000 ANA miles in Turkish Airlines business class
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 64,000 ANA miles in Turkish Airlines economy class

With the ANA miles in your account, it’s helpful to follow these steps when you going through the booking process:

  1. Go to the United website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and the number of passengers.
  3. Confirm the same availability on the ANA website.
  4. Book the flight, and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning ANA Miles

ANA doesn’t offer a co-branded credit card, so the best way to earn ANA miles is to transfer them since they are an Amex transfer partner and a Marriott transfer partner.

When you have enough points to book one of these award flights, transferring from Amex to ANA takes 2 to 3 days at a 1:1 ratio and the Marriott to ANA point transfer takes 4 days at a 3:1 ratio (you’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus when you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points).

If you’re looking for recommendations on American Express credit cards, here are the ones we recommend:

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The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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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.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

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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.
Earn 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
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
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)

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.

Financial Snapshot

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

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BEST FOR DINING
American Express® Gold CardTerms 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!

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!
Earn 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
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
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)

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

  • 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.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Bottom Line: ANA has the most competitive award pricing; however, Aeroplan and United allow you to book one-way Star Alliance award flights while ANA is less flexible with its round-trip requirement.

United MileagePlus

Edelweiss Air business class
Fly SWISS Air and Edelweiss Air business class to Seychelles with United miles. Image Credit: Edelweiss Air

One of the least-known secrets of the United MileagePlus program is the ability to book Edelweiss Air and SWISS Air award flights on the same itinerary.

Admittedly, this is a bit niche, but if you love SWISS Air and want to fly to Seychelles, one of the only ways to book a single itinerary is with United miles; Aeroplan and Avianca don’t partner with Edelweiss!

Here’s how much it will cost (relatively similar to the 78,000 LifeMiles charged by Avianca in business class):

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Cabin ClassUnited Miles Cost (One-Way)Taxes & Fees
EconomyFrom 44,000~$21
BusinessFrom 80,500~$21

If you’re wanting to use your United miles, below are a couple of example flights that you can book:

  • Chicago (ORD) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ) for 80,500 United miles in SWISS Air and Edelweiss business class
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ) for 44,000 United miles in SWISS Air and Edelweiss economy class
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ) for 80,500 United miles in SWISS Air and Edelweiss business class
  • Tampa (TPA) – Zurich (ZRH) – Mahé (SEZ) for 80,500 United miles in Edelweiss business class

When the time comes to book your next flight with United, use the steps below:

  1. Go to United’s website.
  2. On the homepage, check off the box that says Book with miles. Fill in the search details. Click Find flights.
  3. Log into your United MileagePlus account.
  4. Select your flights and reserve them by paying with United miles and any taxes with your credit card.

Hot Tip: If you’re wanting to book a SWISS Air business class flight and are struggling with connecting your itinerary to Seychelles, use the United MileagePlus program to be able to fly on Edelweiss Air onwards from Zurich to Seychelles! 

Earning United MileagePlus Miles

United is both a Chase transfer partner and a Marriott transfer partner. The points that you earn in each of these programs can be transferred directly to United MileagePlus to book an award flight.

Points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio for Chase. It’ll take around 3 business days for your Marriott Bonvoy points to transfer at a 3:1 ratio; and if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll receive a 5,500-mile bonus.

You’ll want to consider the United co-branded credit cards if you’re looking to earn United miles directly:

One additional way to earn more United miles is to buy them when a bonus is offered (up to 100%).

Air Canada Aeroplan

Emirates Inaugural World's Shortest A380 First Class Window Suite Cherag Dubash
Use Aeroplan points to book Ethiopian business class. Image Credit: Ethiopian Airlines

The Air Canada Aeroplan program is best known for the ability to maximize open-jaws and stopovers and should be on the radar for those looking to fly Star Alliance partner airline flights.

Also, Aeroplan has a handy partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways that could be instrumental in helping you plan a vacation to Seychelles. That’s because Etihad Airways has a solid business class product, and you can even book Etihad Airways first class from select U.S. cities using Aeroplan points!

Currently, Air Canada Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart for flights between the U.S. and the Atlantic region (which includes Seychelles):

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 Aeroplan Points Cost 
Distance (Miles)EconomyBusinessFirstTaxes & Fees
0 to 4,00035,00060,00090,000~$41
4,001 to 6,00040,000 70,000100,000
6,001 to 8,00055,000 85,000120,000
8,001+70,000 100,000130,000

If you’re ready to book a flight, below are a couple of example flights that can be booked with Aeroplan points:

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 70,000 Aeroplan points one-way in Turkish Airlines economy class (add 5,000 points for a stopover in Istanbul)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) for 100,000 Aeroplan points one-way in Etihad Airways business class (add 5,000 points for a stopover in Abu Dhabi)
  • Chicago (ORD) – Addis Ababa (ADD) – Mahé (SEZ) for 70,000 Aeroplan points one-way in Ethiopian Airlines economy class (add 5,000 points for a stopover in Addis Ababa)
  • Houston (IAH) – Istanbul (IST) – Mahé (SEZ) for 100,000 Aeroplan points one-way in Turkish Airlines business class (add 5,000 points for a stopover in Istanbul)
  • New York (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) for 130,000 Aeroplan points one-way in Etihad Airways first class and business class (add 5,000 points for a stopover in Abu Dhabi)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) for 130,000 Aeroplan points one-way in Etihad Airways first class and business class (add 5,000 points for a stopover in Abu Dhabi)
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Addis Ababa (ADD) – Mahé (SEZ) for 100,000 Aeroplan points one-way in Ethiopian Airlines business class (add 5,000 points for a stopover in Addis Ababa)

With Aeroplan points, you’ll want to focus your efforts on booking Ethiopian through Addis Ababa (ADD), Turkish Airlines through Istanbul (IST), or Etihad Airways through Abu Dhabi (AUH).

When you have enough Aeroplan points in your account, the steps below will help you to book your next award flight:

  1. Go to the Aeroplan homepage.
  2. Enter your travel dates, origin and destination airports, number of travelers, and desired class of booking.
  3. Book the flight on the website and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning Aeroplan Points

It’s easy to earn Aeroplan points because the airline partners with Chase, American Express, Capital One, and Marriott Bonvoy.

You can also opt to acquire the co-branded Chase Aeroplan® Credit Card, which earns 3x points per dollar spent on dining, groceries, and Air Canada, as well as 1x point per $1 spent everywhere else.

For those of you looking to transfer points from Amex, Chase, Capital One, and/or Marriott Bonvoy to Aeroplan, keep these transfer ratios and transfer times in mind: Amex, Capital One, and Chase points transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy point transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio.

To earn more Capital One miles, here are some of the personal cards that we recommend:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit 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.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
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 (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
  • Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit 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 Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
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 (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros

  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
  • Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
  • Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

 

Cons

  • $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

 

  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

American Airlines AAdvantage

Qatar Airways Boeing 777 Qsuite Business Class Cabin
Qatar Airways Qsuites are a sight to see. Image Credit: Greg Stone

The first Oneworld member on our list is American Airlines. The AAdvantage program has been gutted over the years of many of its sweet spots, however, you may be able to find value when booking its partner airline flights (such as Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways) to the Middle East.

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Cabin ClassAmerican Airlines Miles Cost (One-Way)Taxes & Fees
Economy40,000~$16-$67
Business75,000~$16-$67

For flights to Seychelles, American Airlines considers Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania among those in its Africa region.

Here are a couple of flight options to consider if you have the necessary American Airlines miles to book a flight:

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 75,000 American Airlines miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 40,000 American Airlines miles in Qatar Airways economy class
  • Chicago (ORD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 40,000 American miles in Etihad Airways economy class
  • New York (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 75,000 American Airlines miles in Etihad Airways business class
  • Philadelphia (PHL) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 75,000 American Airlines miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Seattle (SEA) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 75,000 American Airlines miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 75,000 American miles in Etihad Airways business class

You’ll want to follow the steps below to a flight with American miles:

  1. Head to the American Airlines website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and the number of passengers.
  3. Book the flight and pay the taxes and fees with a credit card.

Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles

It’s easy to earn American Airlines miles due to the number of co-branded American Airlines credit cards that are available and its partnership with Marriott Bonvoy.

The easiest way to earn miles is by putting your spending on an American Airlines credit card. A second way to earn American miles is to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, and then transfer those points to American Airlines.

For those looking to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to American Airlines, the point transfer takes 2 days at a 3:1 ratio.

We provide an in-depth analysis of the various Marriott credit cards available.

Bottom Line: Delta and United have now moved their award programs to dynamic award pricing. Both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have kept award charts, however, based on some award pricing we’re seeing on the American Airlines website, dynamic award pricing seems eminent.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

QSuites, 777, Alex Miller of Upgraded Points
Use Cathay Pacific miles to fly Qatar business class. Image Credit: Alex Miller

Our second Oneworld program to use to book flights to Seychelles is Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, known for its ability to book Qatar Airways Qsuites flights at reasonable mileage prices.

However, keep in mind that you’ll be responsible for hefty fuel surcharges of $450 to $550 each way.

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Cabin ClassCathay Pacific Asia Miles Cost (One-Way) Taxes & Fees
Economy47,000~$450 to $550
Business90,000~$450 to $550

The Cathay Pacific Asia Miles program doesn’t have an award chart when you’re flying 1 Oneworld airline partner. To figure out the number of miles needed for award flights to Seychelles, you’ll need to use the flight awards calculator.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

  • Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 90,000 Asia Miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Dallas (DFW) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 90,000 Asia Miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Houston (IAH) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 90,000 Asia Miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 90,000 Asia Miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Miami (MIA) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 90,000 Asia Miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • New York (JFK) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 94,000 Asia Miles miles in Qatar Airways economy class
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 90,000 Asia Miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites
  • Seattle (SEA) – Doha (DOH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way for 90,000 Asia Miles in Qatar Airways Qsuites

For those who want to book a flight with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, use the steps below to your next award flight:

  1. Head to the British Airways website.
  2. Search for your routing, dates of travel, cabin class, and the number of passengers.
  3. Select the flight that you want.
  4. Call Asia Miles at 866-892-2598 to confirm award availability.
  5. Book the flight and pay the taxes and fees with your credit card.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Asia Miles partners with American Express, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, making it easy to earn Asia Miles.

For each of these programs, keep the transfer ratios and transfer times in mind: American Express point transfers take 1 to 4 days at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One mile transfers take 36 hours at 1:1 ratio, Citi point transfers take 24 hours at a 1:1 ratio, and Marriott Bonvoy point transfers take 5 days at a 3:1 ratio.

Cathay Pacific also offers a co-branded credit card from Synchrony Bank for another way to earn Asia Miles. When you spend money on this credit card, you will earn miles directly with your spending.

Citi Premier® Card

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.

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

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Premier® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
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.
60,000 points
$960
$95
21.24% - 29.24% Variable
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)

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

Air France 777 Business Class Seat 5L
Air France business class. Image Credit: Nick Ellis

The very last frequent flyer program is Air France/KLM Flying Blue, which is essentially the only program you should use to book SkyTeam flights.

In almost all cases, Flying Blue has better award pricing than Delta SkyMiles — plus, it has more transfer partners than Delta, so it’s almost all upside.

The most relevant airlines to examine for flights between the U.S. and Seychelles are Air France via Paris (CDG), Kenya Airways via Nairobi (NBO), and Aeroflot via Moscow (SVO).

Although Flying Blue doesn’t publish an award chart, you can click here to access an award flight calculator.

Here are some of our favorite redemptions you can make:

  • Boston (BOS) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Dallas (DFW) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Denver (DEN) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Houston (IAH) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Miami (MIA) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
  • New York (JFK) – Nairobi (NBO) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Kenya Airways business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Seattle (SEA) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
  • Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Paris (CDG) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Air France business class for 91,000 Flying Blue miles

Follow these instructions to book a SkyTeam ticket using Flying Blue miles:

  1. Visit Air France’s U.S. site.
  2. In the top-right corner, click Log in and enter your login credentials.
  3. Once you’re back on the homepage, click the Book with Miles button on the top-left of the flight search bar.
  4. Choose Round trip or One-way.
  5. Enter your flight information.
  6. Click Search flights.
  7. Find your preferred flight itinerary and redeem your Flying Blue miles and use a credit card for any taxes and fees.

Earning Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles

Earning Flying Blue miles is easier than ever, thanks to transfer partnerships with Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.

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

Marriott transfers in around 3 business days at a 3:1 ratio with a bonus of 5,000 miles if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue.

Final Thoughts

Seychelles is an exotic place that you’ll hear and see on many travelers’ lists. It’s not the easiest to get to from the U.S., but once you’re there, you’ll experience some of the best beaches on the planet.

What’s important to know is how best to get there. With this article, you have all of the award programs at your fingertips and an outline of how to earn points and miles to get you to Seychelles.

The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit 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.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Oneworld airline program offers the cheapest economy and business class to the Seychelles?

If you’re looking to fly business class, American Airlines, Asia Miles, and Japan Airlines will offer the cheapest options.

Iberia Avios is the cheapest award program to use to book economy flights.

Which Star Alliance airline program offers the cheapest economy and business class to the Seychelles?

ANA is the best award program to check out to book both economy and business class flights to Seychelles. However, ANA passes on fuel surcharges on all bookings, so avoid Lufthansa, SWISS Air, and other airlines that charge massive surcharges.

Alternatively, you can redeem Aeroplan points or Avianca LifeMiles to get around the issue of fuel surcharges entirely.

Which SkyTeam airline program offers the cheapest economy and business class to the Seychelles?

Air France/KLM Flying Blue is the primary SkyTeam partner that you can use to book SkyTeam partner flights to Seychelles.

Even though Korean Air offers better mileage pricing, it’s incredibly difficult to earn Korean Air miles.

Delta SkyMiles is also an option, but its prices are almost always going to be higher than Flying Blue.

Which non-alliance airline program offers the cheapest economy and business class to the Seychelles?

Our only non-alliance frequent flyer program to make this list is Emirates, simply because it offers incredible first class opportunities.

With that said, Emirates Skywards is definitely not the cheapest option — it’s best for those who want a first class experience from beginning to end and are willing to redeem more points.

Michael McHugh's image

About Michael McHugh

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.

Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare.  That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.

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