Amazing first-class seats you can book with points and miles

If you’re preparing for the ultimate points and miles redemption in 2025, a few airlines still offer genuine domestic and international first-class experiences.

The best part is you can use your points and miles to book these luxurious first-class seats. While availability can be scarce, 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 various 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 board its retrofitted 777-300ER aircraft, you’ll find its first-class product effectively gives you a full room on the plane. There are a huge lie-flat seat, a large entertainment screen and an en suite minibar with refreshments. Plus, you’ll be treated to delicious inflight food and excellent service.

The older A380 product that normally serves many U.S. routes isn’t half-bad either and offers the same top-notch onboard service.

The airline restricts first-class bookings to its loyalty program, Emirates Skywards. The price for first class varies by route and booking type, but, as an example, you can reserve a seat from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Dubai International Airport (DXB) for as low as 163,500 miles one-way, plus taxes and fees — which, admittedly, can be astoundingly high (think: over $800 each way, in some cases) — when booked as part of a round-trip itinerary.

Emirates also operates fifth-freedom routes between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Athens International Airport (ATH) in Greece and between New York City’s John F. 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 — though you can also upgrade paid or award tickets in lower classes.

You can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points, Bilt Rewards Points, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Marriott Bonvoy points to Emirates.

Related: When does it make sense to transfer Marriott points to airlines?

ANA first class

All Nippon Airways’ first class is another great product to book with points and miles.

The airline flies first class on a handful of U.S. routes, namely, ORD, JFK and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). On board, you’ll find a great product, hospitable service and excellent food-and-drink options. Watch for flights operating ANA’s new The Suite product — it’s truly a sight to behold.

The best way to book this flight is using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points. First-class awards to its Tokyo hubs start at just 72,500 points one-way from the West Coast and 85,000 points one-way from the East Coast. One-way pricing for all flights is in the table below.

To book, find award space using a 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, Bilt Rewards, Capital One (to Virgin Red), Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Wells Fargo Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Related: Virgin Atlantic Flying Club dynamic pricing is now live: Major takeaways from the program changes

Japan Airlines first class

Japan Airlines — commonly called JAL — is another major airline in Japan. It operates flights to nine U.S. cities and offers a first-class cabin on select flights. That said, award space usually doesn’t open until the last minute. If you book it, you’ll be showered in luxury from the moment you enter the JAL first-class lounge.

One of the best ways to book JAL first class is with American Airlines AAdvantage. A one-way flight from the U.S. to Japan costs 80,000 miles, plus nominal taxes and fees.

American Airlines miles are among the hardest miles to earn. Your best bet is using an American Airlines credit card or transferring 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 favorite. It offers consistently fantastic service in all its cabins, but first class is truly amazing. Its first-class lounges at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) are relaxing. The onboard service includes incredible food, Champagne, caviar and even its own custom-brewed beer.

You’ll find Cathay Pacific first class on select routes from the U.S. to Hong Kong. With Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, a one-way first-class ticket generally 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, though Alaska changed its award structure to a distance-based chart in early 2024. Therefore, you may 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 boost 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 within 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. Bilt Rewards points also transfer to Alaska Airlines.

Singapore first class

Singapore Airlines’ first-class cabin is one of the most well-known first-class products in the sky. Its refreshed Suites product features a single bed and a seat, giving you a full bedroom in the sky. Plus, you’ll be treated to excellent food, drinks and inflight service and access to first-class lounges at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

Aside from the renowned suite product, Singapore also features an excellent standard first-class product. From the U.S., these planes operate routes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT). As you’d expect, you can continue to Singapore if you’d like.

Singapore Airlines is a Star Alliance member but generally restricts premium-cabin award space to its Singapore KrisFlyer loyalty program. From the U.S., you’ll find the best pricing 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 to 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 this incredible award ticket.

You can transfer Amex, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Marriott points and miles to Singapore KrisFlyer.

Lufthansa first class

Even though it isn’t the most modern product, Lufthansa first class remains one of the best ways to fly between the U.S. and Europe.

You’ll generally get the best deal when booking with Air Canada Aeroplan. A one-way Lufthansa first-class flight from the U.S. 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 only opens first-class award space to partners within 14 or 30 days of departure. You’ll have to book at the last minute if you don’t have Lufthansa Miles & More miles.

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. Plus, the airline recently announced a new first-class seat for select planes.

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 over $1,000 in fuel surcharges.

Meanwhile, you can book the same flight for 100,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and approximately $222 in taxes and fees. So, do the math and see if you’d rather 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 U.S. airline that offers a true first-class product. You’ll find its Flagship First product on several four-cabin international flights and transcontinental routes like JFK to LAX and SFO. You can expect upgraded lounge access, seats and service in Flagship First.

However, American does have plans to retire this product over the coming years, so time is running out to experience it.

You’ll generally want to book with American Airlines AAdvantage to fly Flagship First.

Etihad Airways first class

Finally, we have Etihad Airways’ first class. The airline operates a true first-class cabin on several routes — though only one that serves the U.S., from the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub at Zayed International Airport (AUH) to JFK. You can connect to many international destinations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East from AUH.

U.S.-based travelers have two good options for booking Etihad first class: American Airlines AAdvantage and Air Canada Aeroplan. Both loyalty programs offer significantly lower award costs than the Etihad Guest loyalty program.

However, Etihad has been restricting partner first-class award space, so you might not find any options to redeem, especially with Aeroplan.

If you find award space, you’ll pay 115,000 American miles for a one-way flight from the U.S. 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 with American’s and Air Canada’s network of airline partners. Since Aeroplan is a distance-based program, you could pay more points if you add a connecting ticket. AAdvantage will charge the same amount of miles regardless of if 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.

Bottom line

International first class isn’t as common as it once was, but several airlines still offer it.

Though booking first-class tickets can set you back thousands of dollars, you can use your points and miles to score an excellent deal. This can make for a memorable (and more comfortable) international trip.