8 Best Business and First Class Seats You Can Book With Points

Scoring a $10,000 flight for nearly free is pretty freaking baller if you ask me. And, it’s actually doable with the right points strategy.

In this guide, we’re sharing the best business and first-class seats you can actually book with points and miles. No unicorn redemptions like Air France La Première here. Just legit, top-tier cabins you can (and should) reasonably book with the right miles and a little planning.

Singapore Airlines

First Class

Singapore’s A380 Suites are truly in a league of their own… a real Tom Hanks situation. You’ll get a fully enclosed private room with a leather armchair, separate lie-flat bed, and even the option to combine two suites into a double bed setup.

You’ll need Singapore KrisFlyer miles to book, but don’t worry, it’s one of the easiest programs to earn. KrisFlyer is a transfer partner of all the major points programs, including Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt.

Award rates from West Coast cities like Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) to major Asian hubs like Singapore (SIN) or Tokyo (NRT) start at 146,500 KrisFlyer miles, while the New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) route can be booked from just 97,000 miles. You probably won’t score an A380 on these routes, but with service this good, I won’t complain.

And if you’re already in Asia, you could snag a first-class flight from 100,000 to 150,000 miles one-way between Singapore and destinations like Tokyo, Sydney, or Europe.

Business Class

Singapore’s long-haul business class is just as beautifully designed, with wide lie-flat seats and serious privacy. Plus, you can still expect a top-tier soft product, including Singapore’s famous “Book the Cook” feature and bottomless Piper-Heidsieck Brut Vintage 2018 (read: fancy champagne).

You can often find space for under 60,000 KrisFlyer miles one-way, especially on Singapore’s popular New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) route.

You can transfer points to Singapore from cards like these:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• Chase Sapphire Reserve® 

• The Platinum Card® from American Express 

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Emirates

First Class

Emirates first class has become harder to book with points… but this is Daily Drop, where nothing is impossible. 😎

You’ll usually need to be a Skywards elite to unlock the real award availability, but co-branded cards like the Emirates Skywards® Premium World Elite Mastercard® come with automatic elite status, which opens doors.

You can also upgrade from business to first class at reasonable rates during check-in… a little-known trick that can get you into one of the best cabins in the world, complete with on-board showers, “unlimited” caviar, and full-privacy suites.

Expect to pay 135,000 to 170,000 Emirates Skywards miles one-way from the U.S. to Dubai. You can transfer points from Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, or Bilt.

Business Class

While Emirates’ business class seats aren’t the most cutting-edge (i.e. no sliding doors), the refreshed A380s are pretty fly (pun intended), especially with the onboard bar. You can find business class seats between the U.S. and Dubai (DXB) for around 87,000 Skywards miles.

Transfer points to Emirates from cards like these:

• Venture X

•  American Express® Gold Card.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa’s business class is… fine (according to some). It gets you where you need to go, but the real reason to go after Lufthansa awards is the first-class experience.

Think fresh roses at your seat, an exceptional lounge experience with private car tarmac transfers, and a spacious open suite onboard.

If you’re booking with partner programs like Air Canada Aeroplan or United MileagePlus, you’ll need to wait about one to two weeks before departure since Lufthansa holds its first-class seats for its own elites until then.

Expect to pay around 87,000 Aeroplan points or 120,000 United miles from the U.S. to Europe. You can also book further in advance with Lufthansa Miles & More miles, but those are harder to earn unless you’re based in Europe.

Qatar Airways

Ahh, Qatar Qsuites — the gold standard of business class. We’re talking full privacy doors, mood lighting, and the ability to turn two seats into a double bed (or four into a pod for families or friends).

Award rates typically run 70,000 to 85,000 Avios from the U.S. to Doha (DOH) or Southeast Asia, and you can also book with American Airlines AAdvantage miles if you prefer.

Thankfully, all major points currencies (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt) all transfer to Avios.

Transfer points from cards like these:

• Sapphire Preferred

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• American Express® Gold Card 

I’ve personally flown on five Qatar Airways flights from using Ultimate Rewards alone (economy flights… but one day, y’all).

Etihad Airways

First Class

Etihad’s first-class apartment is insanely luxurious and includes a private suite with a separate armchair and bed, personal vanity, and access to a premium onboard shower. Occasionally, the ultra-rare “Residence” appears (which has a private living room and butler), and yes, you can sometimes upgrade to it at the airport if you’re already booked in First.

These awards are pretty rare these days, but they do pop up on routes like Abu Dhabi (AUH) to London (LHR) or JFK. Book with Etihad Guest miles, or transfer Amex, Citi, or Capital One miles. Award rates vary quite a bit, but expect to pay 110,000 to 140,000 miles one-way for first.

Business Class

Etihad’s Business Studio, which can be found on the A380 and 787, is super private, with fully flat seats and dine-on-demand service. On select routes, you’ll find space starting around 70,000 miles, and they sometimes run transfer promos through Amex and Capital One to make it even cheaper.

ANA (All Nippon Airways)

First Class

If you’re involved at all in the travel world, ANA’s “The Suite” should ring some bells. It’s known for its minimalist Japanese luxury with sleek lines, incredible service, and huge screens. It’s bookable with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which is one of the best deals in the game for just 55,000 to 60,000 points one-way from the West Coast to Japan (or 85,000+ from the East Coast).

Your best bet is transferring Amex Membership Rewards from cards like these:

• Amex Gold 

• The Platinum Card® from American Express

• American Express® Business Gold Card

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Business Class

ANA’s Business Class, especially on the A380 and 777, is a winner in every category. It’s spacious, private, and has consistently excellent service. You can often find space for 45,000 to 75,000 miles one-way, depending on the route.

Aeroplan and Virgin Atlantic offer the best booking options, with Aeroplan giving you more flexibility on multi-segment flights.

Japan Airlines (JAL)

First Class

JAL’s new A350-1000 First Class is one of the most impressive upgrades we’ve seen in years. It features massive screens, sliding privacy doors, and all the teeny tiny details you’d expect from a Japanese carrier, like the lounge’s insane sushi bar, for instance.

You can usually book with Alaska for around 70,000 to 80,000 miles from the U.S. to Japan, or with American AAdvantage miles. The hard part is finding availability, but it does exist 10 to 11 months out, especially from the West Coast.

Business Class

JAL’s new Business Class on the A350 is equally impressive with fully enclosed suites, lots of privacy, and other fun goodies.

Award rates cost around 60,000 to 70,000 miles one-way, with the best availability on Chicago or New York routes. You can transfer to British Airways Avios, then book through Japan Airlines, or just use AAdvantage miles directly.

United Airlines

United Polaris isn’t as flashy as some of the foreign carriers we’ve chatted about, but it’s one of the most consistent premium experiences across from a U.S. airline.

Every long-haul, international aircraft is either equipped or being upgraded with United’s signature Polaris seats. United will soon also start rolling out new Polaris suites with sliding doors. On the ground, you’ll get access to Polaris lounges, which offer a la carte dining and premium drinks.

Business Class awards start around 60,000 to 80,000 United miles one-way to Europe or Asia.

You can book with United miles from United’s own co-branded cards or through Star Alliance partners like Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles.

You can also transfer your points from other popular cards:

• Sapphire Preferred 

• Sapphire Reserve

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card)

Award space is solid, especially on secondary routes, and if you book far in advance.

Bottom Line

The world’s best business and first-class seats aren’t just for Taylor and Travis and Timothee and Kylie… With the right points strategy and a little planning, these dream seats can be within reach for us, too. 💁‍♀️

If you’re collecting flexible points from cards like the Sapphire Preferred, Amex Platinum, or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you’ve already got a head start.

And, if you’ve got the patience to map out your ideal itinerary and watch for transfer partners and bonuses, you could be slipping into some fancy PJs at 35,000 feet real soon.