slug: use-points-first-class-upgrades-guide

title: "How to Use Points for First Class Upgrades: The Complete Guide"

description: "Learn exactly how to use credit card and airline points for first class upgrades—including which programs work, transfer partners, and step-by-step booking tips."

category: Money

tags: ["first class", "points upgrades", "travel rewards", "airline miles", "luxury travel"]

author_slug: faroway-team

cluster: credit-cards

reading_time: 9 min

Sitting in first class on a long-haul flight used to mean paying $4,000–$15,000 for a single seat. Today, savvy travelers book the exact same seats for 50,000–70,000 points and $100 in taxes. The gap between coach and first class has never been wider—and neither has the gap between people who know how to bridge it and people who don't.

This guide walks through the mechanics of using points for first class upgrades and awards: which programs work, which to avoid, and the step-by-step process to actually get yourself into a lie-flat seat.

First Class Upgrades vs. First Class Awards: Know the Difference

Before anything else, clarify what you're actually trying to do:

Upgrade with points: You hold a paid economy or business ticket and use miles/points to move up to first class. Most airlines allow this only on their own metal and only on select fare classes.
Book first class with points (award ticket): You use miles to book a first class seat outright—no paid ticket required. This is almost always better value.

For maximum value, award tickets beat upgrades almost every time. Here's why: upgrade award rates are often set at the difference between cabin redemption rates, which can be expensive and inventory-limited. A full first class award typically offers better availability and a more predictable cost.

The Best Programs for First Class Award Bookings

1. Air France/KLM Flying Blue — Best for Cheap Business/First on Air France

Flying Blue frequently runs "Promo Rewards" where partner first class seats drop to 50,000–55,000 miles one-way on transatlantic routes. Even outside promos, long-haul first class to Europe runs 70,000–90,000 miles one-way.

Credit card transfer partners: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou

2. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club — Best for ANA First Class

ANA's first class cabin (Tokyo to New York or London) is widely considered the best in the world. ANA's own program charges 110,000 miles one-way. Virgin Atlantic charges 110,000 miles too—but Virgin points transfer from Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Citi, giving you far more flexibility in earning them.

3. Avianca LifeMiles — Best for Lufthansa First Class

Lufthansa First Class is another bucket-list product, but Lufthansa's own Miles & More program is notoriously stingy with partner availability. Avianca LifeMiles sells miles in bulk and allows first class redemptions on Lufthansa for 87,000 miles one-way to Europe from the US—when it becomes available (usually 15 days before departure).

4. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer — Best for Singapore Suites

Singapore Airlines' Suites product (available on the A380 routes to Singapore) is the gold standard of commercial air travel. KrisFlyer charges 77,000–92,500 miles one-way depending on origin, for the New York–Singapore or London–Singapore routes. Transfer partners include Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Citi.

5. American Airlines AAdvantage — Best for Cathay Pacific First Class

Cathay Pacific's first class and Qantas first class can be booked via AAdvantage miles. Cathay Pacific long-haul first class costs 70,000 miles one-way from the US. AAdvantage miles are earned via Citi and Barclays cards.

Points Comparison: First Class One-Way Awards

Route Type	Program	Miles Required	Est. Cash Value
US → Europe (Lufthansa F)	Avianca LifeMiles	87,000	$4,000–$8,000
US → Japan (ANA F)	Virgin Atlantic	110,000	$7,000–$15,000
US → Singapore (Suites)	KrisFlyer	92,500	$8,000–$20,000
US → Europe (Air France F)	Flying Blue	70,000–90,000	$3,500–$7,000
US → Hong Kong (Cathay F)	AAdvantage	70,000	$5,000–$10,000

At these redemption rates, you're getting 7–20 cents per point—versus the typical 1–1.5 cents per point on domestic economy.

Best Credit Cards to Earn Points for First Class

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earning rate: 3x on travel and dining, 1x elsewhere
Transfer partners: United, Air France, Singapore, Virgin Atlantic, Avianca, and more
Sign-up bonus: 60,000–75,000 points (often enough for a one-way first class award alone)
Annual fee: $550 (offset by $300 travel credit)

Amex Platinum Card®

Earning rate: 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel
Transfer partners: Air France, Singapore, ANA (via Aeroplan), Virgin Atlantic, Avianca, and more (18+ partners)
Sign-up bonus: Often 80,000–125,000 points
Annual fee: $695 (offset by $200 airline credit, $200 hotel credit, lounge access)

Capital One Venture X

Earning rate: 10x on hotels and rentals through Capital One Travel, 5x on flights, 2x everywhere else
Transfer partners: Air France, Singapore, Avianca, Turkish Airlines, and others
Sign-up bonus: 75,000 miles
Annual fee: $395 (offset by $300 travel credit + 10,000 bonus miles annually)

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Earning rate: 3x on flights, hotels, restaurants, and grocery
Transfer partners: Air France, Singapore, Virgin Atlantic, Avianca, and others
Sign-up bonus: 60,000–75,000 points
Annual fee: $95

Step-by-Step: How to Book First Class with Points

Step 1: Identify the Airline You Want to Fly

Start with the experience, not the program. What first class product do you want? ANA, Singapore Suites, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Air France, Qantas? Each has a partner program that prices it most favorably.

Step 2: Search for Award Space

Use the airline's own website or award search tools:

ANA First Class: Search on ANA.com (allows 355-day advance booking)
Singapore Suites: Search on KrisFlyer or use Kiwi/seats.aero for availability
Lufthansa First: Check 15 days before departure via Avianca LifeMiles or book 6 months out on Miles & More

Pro tip: seats.aero and Awayz.com aggregate award availability across programs so you can see open seats without logging into multiple accounts.

Step 3: Transfer Points to the Right Program

Once you've confirmed award space, transfer your flexible points (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi) to the partner program. Most transfers are instant or take 1–3 business days.

Important: Only transfer points after confirming seat availability. Points cannot be transferred back.

Step 4: Book the Award

Log into the partner program, search the specific flight on the date you confirmed, and book. Have your credit card handy for taxes and fees (typically $50–$200 one-way for international first class).

Step 5: Plan the Full Trip

Once your first class flights are locked in, you need hotels, activities, and ground transport to match the level of your journey. That's where Faroway comes in—the AI trip planner that builds personalized itineraries around your flights, budget, and travel style. Drop in your flight details and let it plan the rest.

Upgrade vs. Award: When Each Makes Sense

There are scenarios where using miles to upgrade a paid ticket does make sense:

You need flexibility: Award tickets can have change/cancellation fees. Upgrading a fully refundable paid ticket keeps your flexibility.
Partner availability is blocked: Some airlines only release first class upgrade space to their own flyers, not partner redemptions.
Mixed-cabin itinerary: You want to sit in economy for the short domestic leg and first class for the international connection—upgrades let you target a single segment.

For most people on most routes: Book the award outright. Better value, more predictable.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Transferring points before confirming availability. Always lock in the seat first. Award space disappears constantly.

Ignoring taxes and surcharges. British Airways Avios and some Air France bookings carry fuel surcharges of $500–$900. Avianca LifeMiles and AAdvantage typically pass through only government taxes.

Booking too early or too late. Singapore Suites often releases space close to departure; ANA opens award space 355 days out and it goes fast. Know the release window for your target airline.

Using miles on domestic first class. Domestic first class on US carriers is worth maybe $200–$400 more than coach. International first class is worth $5,000–$20,000 more. Save your premium redemptions for international.

Quick Reference: Transfer Ratios

All major flexible points currencies transfer to airline miles at a 1:1 ratio to most partners. Exceptions:

Amex → Flying Blue: 1:1
Chase → United: 1:1
Capital One → Air France: 1:1
Citi → Singapore: 1:1

Some programs (like Marriott Bonvoy) transfer to airlines at worse ratios (3:1) and generally aren't worth using for first class redemptions.

The Bottom Line

First class with points isn't a secret—it's a skill. The core formula: earn flexible points (Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Citi), identify the first class product you want, search for award space through the right partner program, and transfer. Do it right and you're getting $8,000 seats for 110,000 points and $100.

Once your flights are booked, use Faroway to build the complete trip around them. Tell it your destination, travel dates, and travel style—it generates a full day-by-day itinerary that makes the most of your time on the ground, not just in the air.

How to Use Points for First Class Upgrades: The Complete Guide