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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...
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...
With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
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If you’re tired of flying economy and want to fly business or first class (without paying crazy amounts of cash), you need to earn the right type of points and then use them in a smart way!
Follow these 3 steps and we’ll show you how to fly at the front of the cabin in no time.
Step 1 — Earn a Big Welcome Bonus Offer and You’ll Earn Lots of Points or Miles (Quickly)
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.
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
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 cardson 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.
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!
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.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points atU.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
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.
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.
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
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!
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 Cardis 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
2. Chase, Amex, and Citi points, as well as Capital One miles, are some of the most valuable rewards currencies on the market because they’re easy to earn and can be transferred to partner airlines and hotels (this is the key).
Step 2 — Earn Even More Points or Miles
The more points you earn, the more options you’ll have to use them for business and first class flights. Here’s a quick look at how some of the cards we’ve featured can help you earn even more points:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card can help you earn:
5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel
5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
3x points on dining, online groceries, and select streaming services
Bottom Line: We put ALL of our daily expenses (that don’t incur a fee) on our card so that we’re always earning points, whether it’s at restaurants, bars, department stores, or making any online purchases!
For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn 2x points on these types of non-Chase Travel purchases:
Airbnb and other house-sharing services
Airfare tickets booked directly through the airline or through third-party sites like Expedia, Booking.com, and more
Parking meters, lots, and garages
Timeshares
Tolls and bridges
Tours organized by travel companies
Trains, metros, buses, and other public transportation services
Cards from Amex, Citi, and Capital One have their own separate terms and conditions from Chase, but making regular purchases on these credit cards, especially in bonus categories, is how you continually rack up points or miles.
Bottom Line:
Build up your points or miles very easily on travel and dining. This means you can rack up lots of valuable rewards during the year to use on incredible redemptions. Choose the best cards, like the Amex Gold card, Capital One Venture card, Chase Sapphire Preferred card, or Citi Premier card.
Step 3 — Maximize Your Points or Miles With Transfer Partners (This Is How You Fly Business/First Class)
Each of the major flexible rewards programs, whether it’s Amex Membership Rewards or Capital One Miles, is capable of transferring rewards to travel partners (airlines and hotels).
Every bank maintains its own list of transfer partners, but it’s very common for airline frequent flyer programs or hotel loyalty programs to participate in multiple partnerships with credit card issuers.
For example, all 7 of the programs listed below transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue (at varying ratios). On the flip-side, certain frequent flyer programs may be exclusively associated with a singular program; for example, ANA Mileage Club only has 1 transfer partner with a 1:1 ratio — Amex Membership Rewards.
Here are the transfer partners associated with each rewards program:
Before we get into a few examples, each of these programs offers so many incredible ways to use your points for maximum value! Transferring your flexible rewards to airline partners is one of the best ways to fly business and first class.
Here are our top recommendations for using your points for business and first class flights.
1. Fly Singapore Suites One-Way From JFK to Frankfurt for Just 97,000 Miles
Transfer your points or miles directly to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and you could book an absolutely amazing experience in its Singapore Suites cabin using points and save thousands of dollars in cash.
The Singapore Suites class on the A380 aircraft has been impressing flyers since it was introduced in 2007, offering a full double bed to couples flying together in the middle cabin. Even better, Singapore Airlines has retrofitted some A380s and is continuing to retrofit its entire fleet.
The easiest way to experience this amazing flight is to transfer just 97,000 Amex, Capital One, Chase, or Citi points/miles to your existing or newly created Singapore KrisFlyer account. From there, redeem the KrisFlyer miles for a one-way Suites ticket from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA)!
Hot Tip: 97,000 miles correspond to Singapore Airlines’s Saver fares; its more expensive fares, known as Advantage fares, are easier to find if your schedule isn’t as flexible.
Want to continue all the way to the Far East and visit Singapore (SIN)? Save up to get 148,500 points and spend 20 hours in your own private suite in the sky for the ride.
2. Fly Delta One Business Class From the U.S. to Hawaii for 86,000 Miles Round-Trip
This is an awesome deal. If you transfer 86,000 of your points or miles to Flying Blue (a transfer partner of every major rewards program), you can fly round-trip from anywhere in the U.S. that Delta flies to Hawaii in Delta One business class.
With a high enough welcome bonus offer, you could book this just by meeting the minimum spend of a new card!
3. Fly Virgin Atlantic Upper Class From the U.S. to Europe for 117,000 Miles Round-Trip
You can experience Virgin Atlantic Upper Class to Europe using your Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles for less than flying on Singapore Airlines and have more options for your final destination.
You could take this flight, for example, from New York (JFK) or Washington, D.C. (IAD) to London (LHR).
Singapore Airlines partners with Virgin Atlantic and only charges 117,000 miles for a round-trip ticket in its Upper Class premium cabin. Best of all, you can transfer Amex, Brex, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy rewards to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
4. Fly Lufthansa First Class From the U.S. to Europe From 87,000 Points
Lufthansa has also been hailed as one of the best airlines for first class experiences. You can easily transfer your Amex, Bilt, Brex, Capital One, Citi, or Marriott Bonvoy points or miles to Avianca LifeMiles to book Lufthansa first class flights. LifeMiles charges 87,000 miles each way; however, LifeMiles does pass on fuel surcharges, so you’ll just have to pay the nominal taxes and fees of around $60.
Chase loyalists don’t need to panic because they can transfer their points to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio to book Lufthansa first class for 90,000 to 100,000 points!
One of the most sought-after flights for Lufthansa first class is on the A380, which connects Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), and San Francisco (SFO) to Frankfurt (FRA).
Looking for the ultimate first class experience? Be sure to use your miles to fly from Frankfurt to the U.S. if you want a chance to explore Lufthansa’s exclusive first class terminal where you can wine and dine at a full-scale restaurant, take a bubble bath with a Lufthansa rubber ducky, and be driven right to your flight in a luxurious private car from your very own personal assistant.
5. Fly ANA First Class Round-Trip From the U.S. to Tokyo for as Few as 110,000 Points
Arguably the best sweet spot in all of points and travel is the ability to book ANA’s legendary first class product between the U.S. and Tokyo for as few as 110,000 points round-trip.
Just remember that this particular sweet spot only works for flights to Tokyo — it will not work for flights via Tokyo to other destinations like Southeast Asia.
You can also book one-way tickets at half of the mileage price, which can be as low as 55,000 points for a one-way flight from the West Coast and 60,000 points for a one-way flight from elsewhere in the U.S.
The frequent flyer program you’ll want to use is Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which is transfer partners with Amex, Bilt, Chase, Citi, and Marriott Bonvoy. Capital One is transfer partners with Virgin Red, which can then be moved to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club at a 1:1 ratio.
This exclusive first class experience entails an intimate cabin of just 8 seats spread out across 2 rows with a 1-2-1 arrangement, top-class service, an enormous array of dining options of the highest caliber, Krug Champagne, and an exquisitely luxurious bed.
6. Fly Emirates Business Class One-Way From the U.S. to Europe for 72,500 Points
Emirates is best known for its lavish, over-the-top first class product. But its business class is simply stellar, too. In particular, its A380 business class has proven to be one of the best overall products, time and time again. Currently, this includes spacious, forward-facing seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with lie-flat capabilities.
Normally, travelers wouldn’t frequently encounter Emirates as a viable airline option unless they were planning on flying ultra-long-haul to the other side of the world. But Emirates has a couple of fifth freedom routes where you can savor the signature Emirates business class product on certain routes between the U.S. and Europe, so there’s no need to fly to the Middle East or Africa if you want to try out Emirates!
Currently, you can transfer 87,000 points or miles from every major rewards program to Emirates Skywards to book a one-way Emirates business class flight between New York (JFK) and Milan (MXP) or Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH). Taxes and fees are around $106 per person.
Best of all, it’s pretty easy to find solid business class availability, so this is a perfect way to dip your toes into Arab luxury using your points.
7. Fly Qatar Airways Qsuite One-Way From the U.S. to the Middle East for 70,000 Avios
Another terrific way to fly business and first class using points is on Qatar Airways Qsuite, which is one of the best business class products in the world.
This airline exclusively flies between the U.S. and Doha (DOH), the capital of Qatar.
Qsuite offers double beds (at certain seat numbers), amazing service, endless amenities, and wonderful inflight entertainment options. Its food and beverage program, in particular, is top-notch.
One of the best ways to book Qsuite is by transferring your points or miles to British Airways Executive Club. British Airways is transfer partners with Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy.
If you only have Citi points, transfer them directly to Qatar Airways Privilege Club. After that, link your Qatar Airways and British Airways account together and transfer your Avios from Qatar Airways to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio.
Right now, nonstop business class flights from the U.S. to Doha can be booked for just 70,000 British Airways Avios + ~$105 in taxes and fees.
8. Fly Iberia Business Class Round-Trip From the U.S. to Spain for as Few as 68,000 Avios
If flying to Spain is high on your to-do list, you’ll love this business class redemption. Iberia, the flag carrier of Spain, offers some amazing redemption rates for business class flights between the Midwest or Northeastern U.S. and Spain.
Specifically, you can redeem 34,000 Iberia Plus Avios each way for a business class flight during off-peak dates as long as the flights are between 3,001 and 4,000 miles in distance. You can transfer to Iberia Plus direction from Amex, Bilt, Chase, or Marriott Bonvoy. If your Iberia account is at least 90 days old, you can also transfer points into British Airways Executive Club and then into Iberia Plus at a 1:1 ratio.
The cities that offer nonstop service to Madrid (MAD) and fit the distance requirement are Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), New York (JFK), and Washington, D.C. (IAD). You’ll pay just $114 in taxes and fees for these flights.
Although Iberia’s business class product can’t quite compare to Emirates or Qatar Airways, it’s a comfortable way to fly to Spain at an astonishing price.
9. Fly American Airlines Flagship First Class Transcontinentally Within the U.S. Round-Trip for 65,000 Miles
Looking to stay within the U.S. when traveling? If you’ve got an appetite to travel from coast to coast, one of the best ways to get fantastic value is to book American Airlines’s Flagship First class product on select, premium transcontinental flights.
Right now, this is offered on the following routes:
Boston (BOS) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Miami (MIA) to Los Angeles (LAX)
New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX)
New York (JFK) to Orange County (SNA)
New York (JFK) to San Francisco (SFO)
If you can find award availability, you can transfer your points or miles to Etihad Guest from Amex, Capital One, Citi, or Marriott Bonvoy. Etihad Guest charges 32,500 points for a one-way flight, which translates to a round-trip cost of 65,000 miles. Taxes and fees will generally be around $10 one-way.
If you have Chase points, you can transfer them to British Airways Executive Club. British Airways charges slightly more for this flight, around 51,500 Avios one-way.
10. Fly Air France Business Class From the U.S. to Europe Round-Trip From 106,000 Miles
Air France offers a luxurious and classy business class product bookable using points. Better yet, its mileage prices are some of the best you’ll get on flights to Europe.
One-way flights can be booked for as few as 53,000 Flying Blue miles in business class, which means round-trip would cost as few as 106,000 miles!
You’ll want to transfer your points or miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, which happens to be partnered with every major rewards program. Taxes are fees are usually around $190 one-way, per person.
Bottom Line: As you can see above, there are many incredible redemption options for your points. In the examples above, if you use your points for those redemptions you’re getting between $3,000 to $9,500 in value!
Remember, if you have a spouse or partner, you can each get your own card and double your earnings!
Using these cards for daily purchases can multiply your rewards compared to if you just used these cards for travel purchases. Whether it’s dining, groceries, or gas, you can get more points on purchases you’re making anyway.
You will also be able to maximize the value of your points significantly by transferring your points to select travel partners and trying some of the most exclusive travel experiences out there, including business and first class flights on legendary airlines like Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa. It’s really hard to beat this.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
You can book ANA first class for as few as 110,000 points round-trip to Tokyo! Also, you can book Singapore Airlines First Class Suites for 97,000 miles one-way or Lufthansa first class for as few as 87,000 points one-way.
How many points do you need for a business class ticket?
It depends on what airlines you want to book. For example, Iberia allows you to book some business class flights for as few as 34,000 points one-way, and you can book Air France business class from 53,000 points one-way.
Can you fly business class with miles?
Yes! You can absolutely fly business class with points and miles. It probably requires a lot fewer points than you think. You can book a one-way business class flight for as few as 34,000 points one-way.
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.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.