First Class Flights: The Best Deals For the Best Seats on the Plane

We might be called Thrifty Traveler, but our alter-ego – “Bougie Traveler” – just can't stop thinking about the finest flying there is: First class. 

Forget about the old recliner seats with drinks in plastic cups you see domestically here in the U.S. (although we've found some great deals flying those seats, too!): International first class is all about luxury. Think dedicated service and some of the finest food and top-shelf drinks you can find in the sky (think caviar and Dom Pérignon) – all served in private suites at the very front of the plane. Sometimes, you even get access to an extra-exclusive lounge or an onboard shower (yes, really!).

Many airlines are doing away with first class altogether and focusing on business class instead, but first class flights are still out there – and so are deals to book them with credit card points and airline miles. In fact, we've recently found some once-in-a-lifetime first class flight deals and sent them straight to the inbox of our Thrifty Traveler Premium members.

As fancy as first class might be, is it really worth shelling out $14,000? 

If you didn't wince in horror at that American Airlines First Class fare, then a website called “Thrifty Traveler” might not be for you … but if your mind immediately goes to, “I wonder what it would be if I booked it using my points and miles instead …” then you're right at home! 

While you'll need to fork over more points and miles than you will for a business class seat, you don't need a million miles or $14,000 to book the best of the best. In many cases, you can book for around 100,000 points … and sometimes less!

First Class vs. Business Class vs. Domestic First Class

So, what exactly are we talking about here?

When you think first class, you might think about the wider, recliner seats you typically see in the first five rows of your domestic flights. That's not what this is about.

Those recliners are domestic first class. U.S. airlines market these seats as first class when flown with the U.S., North America, and anywhere that's not a long-haul flight. They're more comfortable than the seats back in coach, don't get me wrong … but it's not the life of luxury that is international business class or even first class.

You may also wonder: “What's the difference between business class and first class on a long-haul flight?” 

Sometimes, it's not real clear. On many U.S. carriers like Delta and United, for instance, business class is as good as it gets: They don't offer a dedicated first class cabin anymore. That means the best, most luxurious seats on their planes are in their Delta One and United Polaris business class cabins. Even American Airlines is phasing out its own first class cabin soon.

But a handful of airlines do still offer first class on long-haul flights – especially overseas. The difference between Emirates business class and Emirates first class is huge. Same goes for Cathay Pacific First Class. A few other airlines still selling first class seats include Air France, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Etihad, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and more. 

 Comparing first class versus business class, here's a little taste of what you can expect:

• First class cabins often have fewer (and bigger) seats than business class, ensuring a more intimate experience
• While suites with closing doors for additional privacy have become popular in business class, it's a hallmark of flying first class
• Passengers can expect multi-course, restaurant-plated meals on both flight services – but on airlines that offer both cabins, they save the absolute best for first-class flyers, including the best meals, the best service, and even the top-shelf liquor and wine.
• Dine-on-demand service is typical in first class.
• Both first and business class get far better bedding blankets and pillows for long-haul flights, but first class often comes with a mattress pad for additional comfort, too.
• First class seats have better, private lounge access and even their own private terminal at some airports.
• First class could have other ridiculous amenities like an onboard shower or an onboard bar, too!

Read Next: Business Class vs. First Class: What's Best for You?

If you're looking to get yourself into one of these seats, it'll likely require more points and miles than your regular domestic first class or business class seat. That's a given.

But while airlines often charge $5,000, $10,000, or even $20,000 for a first class seat, you won't need a mountain of miles to book them – in many cases, it'll cost just a few thousand miles more than business class!

But you need to know where to look. Our team of flight deal analysts searches every day for the best first class flight deals for our Thrifty Traveler Premium members to use their hard-earned points and miles, and we've found some outstanding deals recently.

Read our full guide to booking first and business class with points and miles! 

American First Class from 64K Points

American Airlines is planning to sunset its Flagship First Class seats in the coming months. If your heart is set on flying American First Class before it disappears, you won't find a better deal than this one … for the price of business class! 

Sure, foreign airlines might have fancier first class seats. But we found some rare availability flying American First Class to and from London-Heathrow (LHR) for this low rate. And you can fly these seats all the way to Sydney, Australia (SYD) for less than 100,000 American AAdvantage miles, too! 

This Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alert included business class availability at 75,000 miles each way, but the first class seats could be booked starting at 85,000 miles each way – with dozens of dates under 100,000. 

For the long, long haul Down Under, I think this is one of the best redemptions there is. 

Japan Airlines First Class from 135K Points

Japan Airlines, the airline known for offering some of the best service on earth in economy … puts together some solid service up in these massive first class suites, too! 

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are the key to booking this seat that would otherwise cost you $10,000 for a one-way flight. You can also use British Airways Avios to book it for 137,000 miles! 

Read our full review of Japan Airlines First Class 777 from Tokyo to Chicago! 

The Etihad Apartment from 160K Points

Any first class seat is a treat. But the Etihad Apartment is about as over-the-top as it gets. It's called an apartment for a reason: Look at this.

It's one of the most spacious first class suites in the sky. Not shocking: Etihad has gotten notoriously stingy with actually letting travelers book these special seats using miles.

But we alerted our Thrifty Traveler Premium members to this deal earlier this year, allowing them to book the Etihad Apartment on the massive, double-decker Airbus A380 from Toronto (YYZ) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) for 200,000 Etihad Guest miles each way. 

For 160,000 miles, you could also fly on Etihad's still-fancy-but-not-A380-fancy Boeing 787 first class suites from New York (JFK), too. You can also easily transfer points from Capital One or Citi points to Etihad to get those miles.

That's a small price to pay for one of the best ways to fly.

Qantas First Class to Australia from 70K Points

Qantas first class isn't just the best way to fly all the way to Australia – it's also one of the coolest first class seats … and one of the hardest to actually book, too. 

You're welcome. 

We sent this alert to Thrifty Traveler Premium members last spring, so these seats are long gone. But it was outstanding: Not only was there ultra-rare availability to book Qantas first class from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD … you could even book it for just 70,000 Alaska Airlines miles! It's been years since we'd seen that option.

We dubbed this one a “Nerd Alert” because it didn't include return availability to fly home from Australia in first class. But for a deal this good, who cares if you need to find a different way home – or just stay in Australia! 

Cathay Pacific First Class from 125K Points

Maybe you want to head to Hong Kong (HKG). Or let's say you want to connect onward to Singapore (SIN), Bali (DPS), Bangkok (BKK), or other destinations throughout Southeast Asia. 

No matter where you're going, you can't beat the comfort of Cathay Pacific First Class.

These days, using Cathay Pacific's own Asia Miles is practically the only way to book these first class flights. Lucky for you, they're transferrable from Amex, Bilt, Capital One, and Citi so getting all the points you need is a cinch.

Best of all, you get access to the legendary first class lounges in Hong Kong to break up your journey or begin your trip home. I'm actually not able to stop talking about the five hours I spent in The Pier First Class Lounge in Hong Kong. Ask anyone. 

Qatar Airways First Class from 85K Points Each Way

If you haven't caught on by now, let me spell it out: The United States often isn't the best place to find first class flights.

You'll find far more planes equipped with first class cabins flying through other corners of the globe. And with more flights, that means finding award availability to book these seats is easier if you're not flying to or from the U.S.

But what's to stop Americans traveling abroad from booking them? Nothing.

This Qatar Airways first class deal is the perfect example. Just 100,000 American Airlines miles could put you on this nonstop, first class flight from Doha (DOH) to Perth, Australia (PER). It comes with this plush seat as well as access to what is one of best airport lounges in the world: Al Safwa First Class Lounge in Doha.

But we found an even better way to book this incredible seat: Flying first … for the price of business class!

For the same rate as flying business class the whole way, you could fly from the U.S. to Doha (DOH) on the best business class in the world (Quites), head to the Al Safwa First Class Lounge (the best airport lounge on earth), and then fly Qatar First Class on to Bangkok (BKK), Hong Kong (HKG), the Maldives (MLE), or Perth, Australia (PER).

What's the catch? There was none. It was just a pricing error we found on Qatar's website. Unbelievable. 

This deal has gotten harder to book in recent weeks, but it's still out there. 

Singapore Suites for 171K Points

Remember when I said that the best way to book many of these flights is to look wholly outside the U.S.? That's absolutely essential if you want to fly Singapore Suites: You won't find them flying to or from the U.S., period. 

But it's well worth working it in elsewhere when this is what you get.

Read our full review of Singapore Suites!

What could only be described as hotel room in the sky can be booked between Singapore (SIN) and Dubai (DXB) for 171,000 miles each way, which is … not a small chunk of miles. But if you simply have to experience this unbelievable airplane product, that's the cost of doing business!

Bottom Line

First class flying is the best of the best, and while you'll almost always have to pay more for it, there are crafty ways to get yourself in one of these incredible suites for your next luxurious adventure.

From the Etihad Apartment to American Airlines First Class, there are plenty of first class options to tantalize the bougie traveler inside all of us. And they're more affordable to book than you may think.