How to Book First Class with Points and Miles

Booking first class with cash can easily cost $5,000–$20,000 per ticket. However, savvy travelers consistently secure these luxury seats for a fraction of the price—sometimes under $100—by using points and miles. These aren’t tricks or gimmicks, but well-documented redemption strategies backed by airline programs themselves.

Unlike economy award redemptions, first class seats offer outsized value per point. For instance, a $12,000 Lufthansa First Class ticket may only cost 100,000 miles—netting over 12 cents per mile in value (vs the typical 1–1.5 cents/mile in economy redemptions).

This guide goes far beyond generic advice. It shows you:

• Which loyalty programs and points currencies offer the best first class redemptions

• How airline alliances affect award availability

• Which websites/tools help you find first class award space

• The best-value redemptions currently available

• Insider tricks to secure those seats before others do

We’ll dive deep into the mechanics of award booking—from transfer partners like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards to specific examples like booking ANA First Class via Virgin Atlantic or Qantas First via Alaska Airlines.

With proper planning, even travelers based outside the U.S. can take advantage of these opportunities.

Whether your dream is flying Emirates First Class with shower spas or enjoying the ultra-private Singapore Suites, this guide provides the facts to make that dream possible.

How to Book First Class with Points and Miles

Booking first class with cash can easily cost $5,000–$20,000 per ticket. However, savvy travelers consistently secure these luxury seats for a fraction of the price—sometimes under $100—by using points and miles. These aren’t tricks or gimmicks, but well-documented redemption strategies backed by airline programs themselves.

Unlike economy award redemptions, first class seats offer outsized value per point. For instance, a $12,000 Lufthansa First Class ticket may only cost 100,000 miles—netting over 12 cents per mile in value (vs the typical 1–1.5 cents/mile in economy redemptions).

This guide goes far beyond generic advice. It shows you:

• Which loyalty programs and points currencies offer the best first class redemptions

• How airline alliances affect award availability

• Which websites/tools help you find first class award space

• The best-value redemptions currently available

• Insider tricks to secure those seats before others do

We’ll dive deep into the mechanics of award booking—from transfer partners like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards to specific examples like booking ANA First Class via Virgin Atlantic or Qantas First via Alaska Airlines.

With proper planning, even travelers based outside the U.S. can take advantage of these opportunities.

Whether your dream is flying Emirates First Class with shower spas or enjoying the ultra-private Singapore Suites, this guide provides the facts to make that dream possible.

How Airline Alliances and Partners Impact First Class Availability 

Airline alliances and partnerships are critical when booking first class awards because they let you use miles from one program to book flights on another.

There are three major alliances:

1. Star Alliance

• Includes: Lufthansa, ANA, SWISS, Singapore Airlines, United, Thai Airways.

• Example: Use United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan miles to book ANA or Lufthansa First.

2. OneWorld

• Includes: Qatar Airways, British Airways, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, American Airlines.

• Example: Use Alaska Airlines or British Airways Avios to book Qantas or Cathay First.

3. SkyTeam

• Includes: Korean Air, Saudia, China Eastern, Air France.

• Weakest alliance for first class.

• Korean Air’s own program (Skypass) is best for first class within SkyTeam.

Key Facts:

• Singapore Airlines and SWISS rarely release First Class to partners—must book via KrisFlyer and Miles & More, respectively.

• Some non-alliance partnerships matter too:

  • Virgin Atlantic → ANA First Class.

  • Emirates → bookable via Emirates or Qantas.

Practical Example: Book ANA First Class from JFK–Tokyo using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles (which are easier to earn via Amex/Chase/Citi) for just 55,000 miles one-way—but only if you know the partner arrangement.

Award availability differs based on route and airline. Lufthansa often releases First Class to partners only 14 days before departure, while ANA opens award seats 355 days out.

Tip: Check alliances before transferring points. A Chase Ultimate Rewards member might prefer United (Star Alliance) while an Amex user may use ANA or Air Canada for better rates.

Tools & Websites to Search First Class Award Availability 

Knowing where to search is half the battle. Many airline websites don’t show partner availability or limit searches. Use specialized tools for more accurate results.

Best Free Tools:

• United.com: Great for Star Alliance partner searches (Lufthansa, ANA, SWISS).

• AA.com: Excellent for OneWorld searches (Qantas, Cathay, Qatar).

• Aeroplan.com: Clean interface for Star Alliance.

• Avios.com / BA.com: For British Airways and OneWorld.

• Emirates.com: Only way to search Emirates First accurately.

Award Search Engines:

• ExpertFlyer (Paid): Best tool for detailed availability and alerts.

• Point.me (Paid): Aggregates availability across programs.

• SeatSpy: Good for British Airways, Virgin, and others.

• AwardLogic: Great for multi-airline award search and analysis.

Booking Tips:

• Search by segment. Direct routes are easiest, but you may find availability on mixed-cabin itineraries.

• Use airline program charts to assess "sweet spots" in point costs.

• Always verify on the airline’s own site before transferring any points.

Example: To book Lufthansa First Class using Aeroplan miles, check availability on United.com. Then, cross-reference on Aeroplan. If the seat shows, you’re good to book.

Note: Tools like AwardWallet and Seats.aero can show newly released first class seats—critical for airlines like Lufthansa, where award seats are released only close to departure.

Being flexible with routes and dates drastically improves your success rate. Consider alternative gateways like Chicago or Frankfurt instead of JFK or LAX.

Best Transfer Partners for Booking First Class 

Credit card points are the most flexible and powerful currency for first class travel—if you know how to transfer them smartly.

1. Amex Membership Rewards

• Partners: ANA, Air Canada, Emirates, Singapore Airlines.

• Best Uses:

  • ANA First via ANA or Virgin Atlantic.

  • Emirates First via Emirates Skywards.

2. Chase Ultimate Rewards

• Partners: United, Air Canada, British Airways, Singapore.

• Best Uses:

  • Lufthansa First via United/Aeroplan.

  • Singapore Suites via KrisFlyer.

3. Citi ThankYou Points

• Partners: Qatar, Turkish, EVA, Virgin Atlantic.

• Best Uses:

  • ANA via Virgin Atlantic.

  • Qatar Qsuite (if aiming for business class luxury).

4. Capital One Miles

• Partners: Turkish, Air France/KLM, Emirates, Aeroplan.

• Often offer transfer bonuses (e.g., 20–30% to Virgin or Aeroplan).

Important Tips:

• Only transfer points once you confirm award availability.

• Transfers are irreversible.

• Some partners take seconds (e.g., Amex to Aeroplan), others up to 5 days (e.g., Amex to ANA).

• Monitor for transfer bonuses to save miles.

Example: Booking ANA First via Virgin Atlantic:

• Search availability on United.com or Seats.aero.

• Transfer Amex MR or Citi TY points to Virgin.

• Book JFK–Tokyo for 55,000 points + ~$350 in taxes.

Having transferable points gives you leverage. You can pivot based on real-time availability and access multiple airline programs without being locked into one.

Conclusion: Plan Smart, Redeem Smarter

Booking first class with points and miles is no longer reserved for travel hackers or frequent flyers. With accessible credit cards, point transfer options, and partner booking strategies, almost anyone can experience top-tier luxury in the skies.

Here are key takeaways to make it happen:

• Know the programs: Use ANA, Air Canada, Alaska, and Virgin Atlantic for the best rates.

• Understand partnerships: Booking Singapore Suites? Use KrisFlyer. Lufthansa First? Wait until 14 days out and use Aeroplan.

• Search smart: Use tools like ExpertFlyer, United.com, and AA.com to find award space.

• Transfer wisely: Never move points until you’ve confirmed availability. Take advantage of transfer bonuses when possible.

• Be flexible: Open-jaw, mixed-cabin, or multi-stop itineraries may open up more redemption options.

By leveraging alliances, award charts, and point transfer portals, you unlock the potential to fly first class for the cost of a domestic economy ticket.

This isn’t just a guide—it’s a fact-based system used daily by points experts and travel bloggers alike. Whether your goal is to fly Singapore Suites, enjoy the Emirates A380 shower, or sip champagne in Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal, the path is clear:

• Learn the rules.

• Track the space.

• Transfer smart.

• Book fast.

Start collecting the right currencies, set award alerts, and plan around real-world availability. Booking first class with points and miles isn't a fantasy—it’s a strategic reward for travelers who value experiences over expenses.