If you’re gearing up for the ultimate points and miles redemption in 2025, some airlines still offer genuine domestic and international first-class experiences.
The best part is that you can use your points and miles to book these luxurious first-class seats. While availability may be rare, if you’re flexible with your dates, you may be able to snag one of these coveted award tickets using your hard-earned rewards.
This article will explore different options for using your points and miles to secure amazing first-class tickets.
Emirates First Class
Naturally, we must start with the most over-the-top first-class product in the sky: Emirates First Class. Emirates has an iconic first-class product. On its retrofitted 777-300ER aircraft, you’ll find that its first-class product effectively gives you full space on the plane. There is a large lie-flat seat, a large entertainment screen and an en-suite minibar with breakfast. Plus, you’ll be treated to delicious inflight food and excellent service.
The older A380 product that normally serves many US routes isn’t half bad and offers the same excellent onboard service.
The airline restricts first-class bookings to its loyalty program, Emirates Skywards. The price for first class varies by route and type of booking, but, for example, you can reserve a seat from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) for 163,500 miles one-way, plus taxes and fees. — which, admittedly, can be staggeringly high (think: more than $800 each way, in some cases) — as part of a round-trip itinerary when booked.
Emirates between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Athens International Airport (ATH) in Greece, and New York City’s John F. Also operates a fifth-freedom route between Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). First-class seats will set you back at least 102,000 miles on these flights, plus taxes and fees — although you can also upgrade to a paid or award ticket in a lower class.
You can redeem your American Express Membership Rewards Points, Built Rewards Points, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards Points, CitiThankYou Rewards Points, and Marriott Bonvoy Points. Can transfer to Emirates.
Related: When Does Transferring Marriott Points to Airlines Make Sense?
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ANA First Class
All Nippon Airways’ First Class is another great product to book with points and miles.
The airline flies first class to a handful of US routes, including ORD, JFK and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). On board, you will find excellent produce, hospitable service and excellent food and beverage options. Look for flights operating ANA’s new The Suite product — it’s truly a sight to behold.
The best way to book this flight is to use Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points. First-class awards to its Tokyo hub start at just 72,500 points one-way from the West Coast and 85,000 points one-way from the East Coast. The table below contains one-way prices for all flights.
To book, search for award space using the Star Alliance search tool and call Virgin Atlantic to lock in your flight. Confirm award space over the phone before transferring points to Virgin Atlantic. Most transfers process instantly, so you don’t have to worry about losing award space.
You can transfer points to Virgin Atlantic from American Express Membership Rewards, Built Rewards, Capital One (for Virgin Red), Chase Ultimate Rewards, CitiThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Dynamic Pricing Now Live: Key Takeaways from Program Changes
Japan Airlines First Class
Japan Airlines – commonly called JAL – is Japan’s second largest airline. It operates flights to nine US cities and offers first-class cabins on select flights. That said, award space doesn’t usually open up until the last minute. If you book it, you will be showered in luxury from the moment you enter the JAL First-Class Lounge.
A great way to book JAL First Class American Airlines Advantage. A one-way flight from the US to Japan costs 80,000 miles, plus nominal taxes and fees.
American Airlines miles are one of the hardest miles to earn. Your best bet is to use an American Airlines credit card or transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy to American.
Related: Best Uses of American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
Cathay Pacific First Class
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific is a TPG favourite. It offers consistently fantastic service in all its cabins, but first class is truly amazing. Its first-class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is comfortable. Onboard service includes fantastic food, champagne, caviar and even its own custom-brewed beer.
You’ll find Cathay Pacific First Class on select routes from the US to Hong Kong. with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, a one-way first-class ticket normally costs 125,000 miles from the West Coast and 160,000 miles from the East Coast to Hong Kong. You can also use Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles, although Alaska changed its award structure to a distance-based chart beginning in 2024. So, you can pay up to 130,000 miles each way depending on your origin airport.
You can transfer Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Marriott points and miles to Asia Miles. To increase your Capital One balance, you can open a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Right now, the Venture Card offers 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to HawaiianMiles, which can then be transferred to Alaska Airlines. Built Rewards points also transfer to Alaska Airlines.
Singapore first class
Apart from the famous suite product, Singapore also has an excellent standard first-class product. From the US, these aircraft operate routes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT). As you might expect, you can continue to Singapore if you want.
Singapore Airlines is a Star Alliance member but generally restricts premium-cabin award space to its Singapore KrisFlyer loyalty program. From the US, you’ll find the best price from JFK to Frankfurt Airport (FRA). This ticket costs 97,000 miles one-way, which is a solid deal considering paid flights are usually more than $5,000. You can continue Singapore for more miles.
Although still bookable, we found no saver award availability on the JFK-to-FRA fifth-freedom route. Keep a close eye on Singapore awards, and be flexible with your travel dates for your best shot at booking these incredible award tickets.
You can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Marriott points and miles to Singapore KrisFlyer.
Lufthansa first class
Even though it is not the most modern product, Lufthansa First Class is one of the best ways to fly between the US and Europe.
You’ll usually get the best deal when booking with Air Canada Aeroplan. A one-way Lufthansa first-class flight from the US to Europe will cost between 90,000 and 100,000 points, plus minimal taxes and fees. Since the program has a distance-based award chart, longer flights cost more points.
One thing to note: Lufthansa opens up first-class award space to partners within 14 or 30 days of departure. If you don’t have Lufthansa Miles and More miles you have to book at the last minute.
You can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, Bilt and Marriott points and miles to Aeroplan.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred Vs. Citi Premier: Which mid-tier travel card is better?
British Airways First Class
British Airways has first class on a number of its routes. It’s not as luxurious as other first-class products on this list, but it’s a great way to fly transatlantic in luxury. Also, the airline Recently announced new first-class seats for select aircraft.
A British Airways first-class seat from JFK to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) will set you back as little as 68,000 British Airways Avios. However, you can expect to pay more than $1,000 in fuel surcharges.
Meanwhile, you can book the same flight for 100,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and about $222 in taxes and fees. So, do the math and see if you want to spend more cash to save Avios or vice versa.
Again, you can transfer Amex, Capital One, Bilt, Chase, Citi and Marriott points and miles to Asia Miles. Meanwhile, you can transfer Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Marriott points and miles to British Airways Executive Club.
American Airlines First Class
American Airlines is the only US airline that offers a true first-class product. You will find it Flagship first product on four-cabin international flights and transcontinental routes such as JFK to LAX and SFO. You can expect upgraded lounge access, seats and service in Flagship First.
However, American plans to retire this product in the coming years, so time is running out to experience it.
To fly a flagship first, you’ll usually want to book with American Airlines AAAdvantage.
Etihad Airways First Class
Finally, we have Etihad Airways First Class. The airline serves the US from the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub at Zayed International Airport (AUH) to JFK, though only operates a true first-class cabin on one route. You can connect from AUH to many international destinations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
US-based travelers have two good options for booking Etihad First Class: American Airlines AAdvantage and Air Canada Aeroplan. Both offer significantly lower award costs than loyalty programs Etihad Guest Loyalty Program.
However, Etihad partners are restricting first-class award space, so you may not have an option to redeem, especially with Aeroplan.
If you get an award seat, you’ll pay 115,000 American miles for a one-way flight from the US to the Middle East in Etihad First Class when you book with AAdvantage. On the other hand, you’ll pay 120,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points for a one-way first-class ticket from JFK to AUH when you book with Aeroplan.
If you don’t live near New York, you can add connecting tickets to American and Air Canada’s network of airline partners. Since Aeroplan is a distance-based program, you can pay more points if you add a connecting ticket. AAdvantage will charge the same amount of miles regardless of where you connect.
You can transfer Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Marriott points and miles to Air Canada Aeroplan. You can also transfer Marriott points to American Airlines AAdvantage.
The bottom line
International first class isn’t as common as it once was, but many airlines still offer it.
Although booking a first-class ticket can set you back thousands of dollars, you can use your points and miles to score a great deal. This can make for a memorable (and more comfortable) international trip.