The 88 Best Ways to Use Amex Points for Maximum Value [2024]

Amex Membership Rewards is one of the most famous points systems in the world, along with Chase Ultimate Rewards. With a range of different ways to earn and redeem points, it’s easy to see why most people consider Amex points to be the most valuable out there.

And while there are ways to use Amex points for simple rewards like statement credits and gift cards, we believe that this is almost always a bad idea.

Instead, the best way to use Amex points is to transfer them to airline and hotel partners. The specific method to use your Amex points effectively is to book first and business class flights through these transfer partners.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you the complete list of fantastic ways to use your Amex points for maximum value.

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Amex Transfer Partners

American Express Membership Rewards maintains the largest list of travel partners. That’s one of the biggest reasons why Amex points are so valuable — when redeeming Amex points, you’ll often find that your business and first class award flights have the best mileage prices when booked with one of Amex’s partners.

If you leverage transfer partners, you’ll realize that booking business and first class travel is a lot less expensive than you thought.

It does take a lot of diligence, expertise, and time to find these deals, which is where a points consultant can become essential. 

Most of Amex’s partners maintain a 1:1 transfer ratio. This means that for every 1,000 Amex points transferred, you’ll get 1,000 airline miles or hotel points.

Also, Amex Membership Rewards runs transfer bonuses more often than any other points system out there, which is yet another way to maximize the value for your points. A 25% transfer bonus means you’d get 25% more airline miles or hotel points than you normally would. For example, if you are transferring points at a 1:1 ratio and you’re doing so with a 25% transfer bonus, you would earn 1,250 miles for every 1,000 Amex points transferred.

Amex’s Airline Partners

American Express has a giant list of transfer partners. Indeed, you can book almost any flight using American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners. You can access all 3 major alliances (Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam) with Amex points. Also, you can book some incredible flights on airlines that don’t belong to an alliance, including Emirates first class.

Here’s the full list of Amex’s airline partners:

Amex Airline Transfer Partner	Minimum Transfer Amount	Transfer Ratio	Transfer Time
AeroMexico Club Premier	1,000	1:1.6	1 day
Air Canada Aeroplan	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Alitalia MilleMiglia	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Aer Lingus AerClub	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Air France/KLM Flying Blue	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
All Nippon Airways Mileage Club	1,000	1:1	2 days
Avianca LifeMiles	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
British Airways Avios	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	1,000	1:1	2 days
Delta SkyMiles	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Emirates Skywards	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Etihad Guest	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Iberia Plus	1,000	1:1	2 days
JetBlue Plus	250	1:0.8	Almost Instant
Qantas Frequent Flyer	500	1:1	Almost Instant
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer	1,000	1:1	1 day
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant

Amex’s Hotel Partners

American Express has a few hotel partners, but we wouldn’t recommend transferring your points to hotels unless you’re a few thousand miles short of a reward booking you’re trying to make.

For example, if you need 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy points but only have 195,000 points, you have the option of transferring your Amex points to Marriott Bonvoy.

But in the overwhelming majority of situations, the best way to redeem Amex points is using Amex’s airline partners.

Here’s the full list of Amex’s hotel partners:

Amex Hotel Transfer Partner	Minimum Transfer Amount	Transfer Ratio	Transfer Time
Choice Privileges	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant
Hilton Honors	1,000	1:2	Almost Instant
Marriott Bonvoy	1,000	1:1	Almost Instant

The 3 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the hottest domestic tourist destinations for U.S. travelers. Let’s take a look at our favorite ways to redeem Amex points for premium flights to Hawaii!

Fly United Business/First Class to Hawaii (KrisFlyer)

One of the best ways to fly to Hawaii from the U.S. is aboard United Airlines.

With enough diligence, round-trip business class awards can be booked for 69,000 Amex points transferred to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. One-way tickets cost 34,500 miles, which is half the price of a round-trip ticket.

For comparison, United usually charges around 50,000-70,000 for a one-way business/first class award ticket!

Here are a few example routes you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) – Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in United first class for 69,000 Amex points transferred to Singapore KrisFlyer
• Denver (DEN) – Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in United first class for 69,000 Amex points transferred to Singapore KrisFlyer
• Houston (IAH) – Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in United first class for 69,000 Amex points transferred to Singapore KrisFlyer
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in United first class for 69,000 Amex points transferred to Singapore KrisFlyer
• San Francisco (SFO) – Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in United first class for 69,000 Amex points transferred to Singapore KrisFlyer
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Honolulu (HNL) round-trip in United first class for 69,000 Amex points transferred to Singapore KrisFlyer

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Hawaiian Airlines First Class To Hawaii (HawaiianMiles)

Hawaiian Airlines reliably offers lie-flat seats on most of its routes to the continental U.S. In fact, it’s one of our best domestic first and business class airlines!

Arranged in a 2-2-2 seating configuration, Hawaiian Airlines offers one of the most intriguing first class products you can fly to Hawaii.

Remember, HawaiianMiles has different levels of award redemptions, so you’ll need to search diligently for the lowest-level reward, which is 40,000 miles one-way. Be as flexible as you can if you want to access this price!

Here are a few example routes you can book:

• Austin (AUS) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Hawaiian Airlines first class from 40,000 HawaiianMiles
• Boston (BOS) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Hawaiian Airlines first class from 40,000 HawaiianMiles
• Las Vegas (LAS) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Hawaiian Airlines first class from 40,000 HawaiianMiles
• Orlando (MCO) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Hawaiian Airlines first class from 40,000 HawaiianMiles

Fly Delta First Class to Hawaii (Delta SkyMiles)

Delta often charges reasonable redemption prices for flights to Hawaii.

And if you are based out of a major Delta hub like Atlanta, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, or Seattle, then you can book convenient, nonstop flights for as little as ~41,000 Delta SkyMiles each way:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 95,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 43,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Kahului (OGG) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 43,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Kona (KOA) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 43,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Lihue (LIH) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 42,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Salt Lake City (SLC) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 52,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Salt Lake City (SLC) – Kahului (OGG) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 49,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Seattle (SEA) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 41,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Seattle (SEA) – Kahului (OGG) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 46,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Seattle (SEA) – Kona (KOA) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 50,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Seattle (SEA) – Lihue (LIH) one-way in Delta One/Delta first class from 48,000 Delta SkyMiles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

The 3 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly Short-Haul Within North America

Flying on a short hop within North America? Think twice before shelling out hundreds of dollars for a flight.

You can get stellar value when redeeming Amex points for short-haul flights within North America.

Fly United Domestically in Economy (Aeroplan)

Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is superb for a variety of reasons. But one of those reasons that fly under the radar is the fact that its short-haul award pricing is fantastic!

Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart for flights within North America, so the longer you fly, the more it will cost.

Here are a few example routes you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) – Honolulu (HNL) one-way in United economy class for 22,500 Aeroplan miles
• Houston (IAH) – Rapid City (RAP) one-way in United economy class for 6,000 Aeroplan miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Aspen (ASE) one-way in United economy class for 10,000 Aeroplan miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Jackson Hole (JAC) one-way in United economy class for 10,000 Aeroplan miles

Fly American Airlines Short-Haul (British Airways Avios)

If you’re most interested in booking American Airlines flights, we’ve got you covered, too.

British Airways Avios is the secret weapon for short-haul American Airlines flights — its distance-based award chart reveals some hidden gems on flights that would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars!

Here are a few great tickets you can book en route to a luxurious ski resort:

• Austin (AUS) – Washington D.C. (IAD) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 11,000 BA Avios
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Jackson Hole (JAC) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 9,000 BA Avios
• Phoenix (PHX) – Aspen (ASE) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 6,000 BA Avios
• Miami (MIA) – Monterrey (MTY) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 11,000 BA Avios

Fly Delta Short-Haul (Delta SkyMiles)

If you live near a Delta hub, don’t worry! It’s easier than ever to get exceptional value from your Delta SkyMiles when redeeming them for short-haul flights in North America.

You can book your flights 100% online — all you need to do is transfer your Amex points to Delta SkyMiles and search for availability.

Remember, Delta SkyMiles has variable award pricing, which means the exact date you’re looking to book might not have the same prices as other dates around it. So be sure to search for multiple dates!

Here are a few example routes you can book:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Myrtle Beach (MYR) one-way in Delta basic economy class from 13,500 miles one-way
• Boston (BOS) – Charleston (CHS) one-way in Delta basic economy class from 8,000 miles one-way
• Detroit (DTW) – Mexico City (MEX) one-way in Delta basic economy class from 14,000 miles one-way
• Minneapolis (MSP) – San Jose del Cabo (SJD) one-way in Delta basic economy class from 10,000 miles one-way

The 4 Best Ways to Redeem Amex Points to Fly Transcontinentally

Flying from coast to coast? Some of the most comfortable first and business class seats are flown on these premium routes. Think New York to Los Angeles or San Francisco to Boston!

Here are the best ways to redeem Amex points to fly transcontinentally.

Fly American Airlines Flagship First and Business Class (Etihad Guest)

Arguably, the most premium first class experience available in the U.S. is American Airlines Flagship First Class.

It offers an elevated experience from beginning to end, starting with the Flagship First Check-In, then the Flagship Lounge and Flagship First Dining experience, followed by the exclusive lie-flat seats in a 1-1 configuration.

The most cost-effective way to book these tickets using Amex points is to transfer them to Etihad Guest.

Here are a few example routes you can book:

• New York City (JFK) – Los Angeles (LAX) one-way in American Airlines Flagship First Class for 32,500 Etihad Guest miles
• New York City (JFK) – Los Angeles (LAX) one-way in American Airlines Flagship Business Class for 25,000 Etihad Guest miles
• New York City (JFK) – Orange County (SNA) one-way in American Airlines Flagship First Class for 32,500 Etihad Guest miles
• New York City (JFK) – Orange County (SNA) one-way in American Airlines Flagship Business Class for 25,000 Etihad Guest miles
• New York City (JFK) – San Francisco (SFO) one-way in American Airlines Flagship First Class for 32,500 Etihad Guest miles
• New York City (JFK) – San Francisco (SFO) one-way in American Airlines Flagship Business Class for 25,000 Etihad Guest miles
• Miami (MIA) – Los Angeles (LAX) one-way in American Airlines Flagship First Class for 32,500 Etihad Guest miles
• Miami (MIA) – Los Angeles (LAX) one-way in American Airlines Flagship Business Class for 25,000 Etihad Guest miles
• Miami (MIA) – New York City (JFK) one-way in American Airlines Flagship First Class for 32,500 Etihad Guest miles
• Miami (MIA) – New York City (JFK) one-way in American Airlines Flagship Business Class for 25,000 Etihad Guest miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Air Canada Signature Class (KrisFlyer)

If you happen to be flying from the U.S. to Canada or transcontinental within Canada, you’ll be pleased to hear that Air Canada offers a true business class experience dubbed Signature Class, which is one of our best business class seats.

The best way to book these flights using Amex points is to transfer your points to Singapore KrisFlyer.

Here are a few example routes you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada business class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada business class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles
• Vancouver (YVR) – Montréal (YUL) one-way in Air Canada business class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles
• Vancouver (YVR) – Newark (EWR) one-way in Air Canada business class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles
• Vancouver (YVR) – Toronto (YYZ) one-way in Air Canada business class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles

Fly United Polaris Business Class (KrisFlyer)

Ordinarily, United Airlines reserves its Polaris class product for international long-haul flights.

However, there are just a few flights that are serviced by United’s transcontinental Polaris business class.

Again, since United is a Star Alliance member airline, the best way to book these transcontinental flights is using KrisFlyer miles, just like when booking Air Canada above.

Here are a few great example routes you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Newark (EWR) one-way in United Polaris class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – New York City (JFK) one-way in United Polaris class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Newark (EWR) one-way in United Polaris class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – New York City (JFK) one-way in United Polaris class for 23,000 KrisFlyer miles

Fly Delta One Within North America (Delta SkyMiles)

Last, but not least, Delta is one of the U.S.’s most important carriers. Similar to American Airlines and United, Delta offers a better product on transcontinental flights.

Remember, lie-flat seats and the Delta One experience are not offered on Delta first class flights, so be sure to specify your search for Delta One, not first class.

Here are a few example redemptions you can make:

• Las Vegas (LAS) – New York City (JFK) one-way in Delta One business class from 47,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – New York City (JFK) one-way in Delta One business class from 45,000 Delta SkyMiles
• San Francisco (SFO) – New York City (JFK) one-way in Delta One business class from 46,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Seattle (SEA) – New York City (JFK) one-way in Delta One business class from 38,000 Delta SkyMiles

The 5 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Central and South America

If you’re interested in venturing to the Americas but have already been to the Americas, Central and South America offer some of the most exotic vacation spots.

This includes tropical destinations, mythical scenery, and unparalleled natural habitats.

So in this section, we’ll walk you through the best ways to redeem Amex points to fly to Central and South America.

Fly LATAM Business Class to South America (Asia Miles)

LATAM is one of the largest airlines in South America. And with many subsidiaries, you can begin to understand how crucial this airline is in connecting the rest of the world to Latin America.

LATAM offers a great 787-8 Dreamliner business class product in a 2-2-2 configuration and its flagship product on the A350-900 business class.

However, the A350-900 planes are typically flown to Europe, so the 787-8 business class is probably the best available product for U.S.-based travelers.

The best opportunity you have to book these flights is by redeeming Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (not Delta SkyMiles, as most would suggest).

Here are a few great redemptions you can make to cities like Santiago, Lima, and Sao Paulo:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Lima (LIM) one-way in LATAM business class for 61,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Santiago (SCL) one-way in LATAM business class for 75,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Lima (LIM) one-way in LATAM business class for 61,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Santiago (SCL) one-way in LATAM business class for 75,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Sao Paulo (GRU) one-way in LATAM business class for 61,000 Asia Miles
• Miami (MIA) – Sao Paulo (GRU) one-way in LATAM business class for 61,000 Asia Miles
• Orlando (MCO) – Sao Paulo (GRU) one-way in LATAM business class for 61,000 Asia Miles

Fly United Polaris Class to South America (ANA Mileage Club)

United offers a number of excellent business class flights to South America, though none of them depart from the U.S. West Coast.

Its flagship Polaris class product is on display here, and it can be booked for an absolute steal, thanks to ANA Mileage Club.

Transfer your Amex points here, and round-trip business class flights can be booked for an awesome 88,000 points! Remember, though, that ANA Mileage Club only allows round-trip bookings — one-way flights are not allowed.

Here are a few example routes you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) – Sao Paulo (GRU) round-trip in United Polaris class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Houston (IAH) – Buenos Aires (EZE) round-trip in United Polaris class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Houston (IAH) – Lima (LIM) round-trip in United Polaris class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Houston (IAH) – Santiago (SCL) round-trip in United Polaris class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Newark (EWR) – Sao Paulo (GRU) round-trip in United Polaris class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Sao Paulo (GRU) round-trip in United Polaris class for 88,000 ANA miles

Fly Aeromexico Business Class to Central and South America via Mexico City (Flying Blue)

Aeromexico offers a lie-flat business class product that is perfectly acceptable for a long-haul flight.

If you’re open to a short layover in Mexico City, you can get some great value by transferring Amex points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue for one-stop business class flights to Central and South America via Mexico City (MEX).

Here are a few great redemptions you can book:

• Seattle (SEA) – Mexico City (MEX) – Buenos Aires (EZE) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Mexico City (MEX) – Santiago (SCL) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• Las Vegas (LAS) – Mexico City (MEX) – Sao Paulo (GRU) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX) – Lima (LIM) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 50,500 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Mexico City (MEX) – Quito (UIO) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• Orlando (MCO) – Mexico City (MEX) – Bogota (BOG) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 46,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Mexico City (MEX) – Medellín (MDE) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Antonio (SAT) – Mexico City (MEX) – San Jose (SJO) one-way in Aeromexico business class for 34,500 Flying Blue miles

Fly American Airlines Business Class to South America (Etihad Guest)

Redeeming Etihad Guest miles for American Airlines flights is often better than redeeming American Airlines miles for American Airlines flights!

This might seem counterintuitive, but this is true because Etihad maintained its old partner award chart even after American Airlines devalued its own partner chart long ago.

American Airlines is one of the most active airlines in South America, thanks to its stronghold location in Miami.

Sure, there are nonstop flights from other international gateways, but the vast majority of them will depart from Miami.

Luckily, it’s not too difficult to find partner-level availability that can be booked using Etihad Guest miles.

But be sure to confirm that the availability matches what you can actually book with Etihad Guest miles — just because it’s available on the American Airlines website doesn’t mean you can redeem Etihad Guest miles for it!

Here are a few great example redemptions you can make:

• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Lima (LIM) one-way in American Airlines business class for 30,000 Etihad miles
• Miami (MIA) – Buenos Aires (EZE) one-way in American Airlines business class for 50,000 Etihad miles
• Miami (MIA) – Lima (LIM) one-way in American Airlines business class for 50,000 Etihad miles
• Miami (MIA) – Montevideo (EZE) one-way in American Airlines business class for 50,000 Etihad miles
• Miami (MIA) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) one-way in American Airlines business class for 50,000 Etihad miles
• Miami (MIA) – Sao Paulo (GRU) one-way in American Airlines business class for 50,000 Etihad miles
• New York City (JFK) – Santiago (SCL) one-way in American Airlines business class for 50,000 Etihad miles

Fly Delta One to South America (Flying Blue)

Delta is about the classiest way you can fly to South America, though to be fair, it’s in close competition with American Airlines’ Flagship business or first class.

Still, having sliding doors at your suite, high-quality Westin bedding, and a thoughtfully designed food and beverage program is a treat!

Here are a few example routes you can book to South America (keep in mind that not all routes will have Delta One Suites):

• Atlanta (ATL) – Buenos Aires (EZE) one-way in Delta One business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• Atlanta (ATL) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) one-way in Delta One business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• Atlanta (ATL) – Santiago (SCL) one-way in Delta One business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• Atlanta (ATL) – Sao Paulo (GRU) one-way in Delta One business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Buenos Aires (EZE) one-way in Delta One business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Sao Paulo (GRU) one-way in Delta One business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

The 9 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Europe

Europe is a gigantic melting pot of different cultures, histories, and heritages. Inevitably, you’ll be making your way to Europe.

There’s a ton of stiff competition among airlines competing for the best products, so in this section, we’ll walk you through our favorite ways to redeem Amex points for European luxury flights.

Some flights aren’t practical/feasible to book using points, including SWISS and Air France first class, so just keep that in mind!

Fly Lufthansa First Class to Europe (LifeMiles)

If you’re looking for a classy way to fly to Europe, one of the best ways to do so is on Lufthansa first class. Lufthansa first class includes the ability to experience one of the best airport lounges in Europe and even complimentary chauffeur service!

Offered only on flagship 747-8 aircraft, this product is incredibly comfortable, luxurious, and spacious.

It’s one of the few first class products left that you can book to Europe with points!

The trick here is that unless you have a ton of Lufthansa miles, you can only book these flights up to 15 days before departure.

In this case, the best way to redeem Amex points for Lufthansa first class is to transfer them to Avianca LifeMiles. With LifeMiles, you’d save nearly a thousand dollars in each direction on fuel surcharges.

If you transferred your points to ANA, for example, you’d have to pay $900+ in additional taxes and fees one-way or $1,800+ round-trip!

Here are a few example tickets you can book:

• Chicago (ORD) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 87,000 LifeMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 87,000 LifeMiles
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 87,000 LifeMiles
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 87,000 LifeMiles
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 87,000 LifeMiles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 87,000 LifeMiles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Singapore Suites to Germany (KrisFlyer)

Did you know that Singapore Airlines flies from the U.S. to Europe? Furthermore, Singapore Airlines flies its A380 first class suites on this lesser-known fifth freedom route! It’s truly one of our favorite first class seats out there, along with other familiar names like Emirates and Etihad.

Indeed, this flight is the only way to experience Singapore Suites from the U.S. It’ll be absolutely luxurious through-and-through, assuming you can find availability.

Singapore Airlines first and business class from the U.S. and pretty much only be booked using Singapore Airlines’s own KrisFlyer miles. Luckily, you can transfer Amex points to KrisFlyer for this redemption:

• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Singapore Suites for 86,000 KrisFlyer miles

Fly Emirates First Class to Athens or Milan (Emirates Skywards)

Emirates offers 2 fifth freedom routes from the U.S., which is great news for those looking for a top-notch first class experience without flying to the Middle East.

You can either fly to Greece or Italy from the U.S. East Coast aboard Emirates first class. Remember, the Athens flight is in Emirates 777 first class, while the Milan flight is in Emirates A380 first class (both have their pros and cons).

• Newark (EWR) – Athens (ATH) one-way in Emirates first class for 85,000 Emirates miles
• New York City (JFK) – Milan (MXP) one-way in Emirates first class for 85,000 Emirates miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly British Airways First Class via London (Asia Miles)

British Airways is one of the oldest airlines in the world — and certainly one of the most well-known. Even though its first class isn’t as opulent as Emirates or Lufthansa’s, it’s still a solid way to cross the Atlantic Ocean using points.

The benefit of British Airways is that there are nonstop flights to London from many secondary U.S. cities, so if you live outside of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, you don’t need to book a positioning flight.

Remember that British Airways first and business class comes with fuel surcharges, in excess of $330 if departing from the U.S. and $600 if departing from the U.K. Luckily, our recommended transfer partner, Iberia Avios, doesn’t always pass on the full amount of fuel surcharges. Further, the redepmtion rates for off-peak dates are very attractive: 

• Atlanta (ATL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• Boston (BOS) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 68,000 Iberia Avios
• Chicago (ORD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 68,000 Iberia Avios
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• Houston (IAH) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• Los Angeles (LAX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• Miami (MIA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• New York City (JFK) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 68,000 Iberia Avios
• Newark (EWR) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 68,000 Iberia Avios
• Philadelphia (PHL) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 68,000 Iberia Avios
• San Diego (SAN) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• San Francisco (SFO) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• Seattle (SEA) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• Phoenix (PHX) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 85,000 Iberia Avios
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – London-Heathrow (LHR) one-way in British Airways first class for 68,000 Iberia Avios

Fly Singapore Airlines Business Class to Manchester or Frankfurt (KrisFlyer)

Did you know that Singapore Airlines operates 2 fifth freedom flights to Europe? Since Singapore is geographically extremely far from the U.S., Singapore Airlines utilizes these routes to improve access to the U.S.

Luckily, these fifth freedom flights can be booked separately; you don’t need to book the entire journey to Singapore to get a taste of their award-winning business class.

Of course, Singapore Airlines’ business class departing from the U.S. can only be booked using Singapore KrisFlyer miles. Here are a couple of fantastic routes you can book:

• Houston (IAH) – Manchester (MAN) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 72,000 KrisFlyer miles
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Singapore Airlines business class for 72,000 KrisFlyer miles

Fly Air France Business Class to Paris (Flying Blue)

Air France offers a stellar business class product on almost all of their long-haul aircraft. This is especially true for Air France’s flights to/from the U.S.

Usually configured to have reverse herringbone seats for maximum privacy and comfort, Air France’s business class product is a stylish, tasteful way to fly to Europe in luxury.

Just like British Airways, Air France offers many nonstop flights to secondary cities in the U.S. Here are some awesome Air France tickets you can book with Amex points:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 66,500 Flying Blue miles
• Boston (BOS) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 63,500 Flying Blue miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 58,000 Flying Blue miles
• Detroit (DTW) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 68,000 Flying Blue miles
• Houston (IAH) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 66,500 Flying Blue miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 67,500 Flying Blue miles
• Miami (MIA) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 53,000 Flying Blue miles
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 72,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 57,500 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 71,000 Flying Blue miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Air France business class for 55,000 Flying Blue miles

Fly Delta One to Europe (Virgin Atlantic Flying Club)

Delta offers a gigantic European route network, primarily from the U.S. East Coast.

And it offers some unique nonstop services to European cities such as Edinburgh, Venice, and Nice.

The best way to redeem Amex points for Delta One flights to Europe is by using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points. Here are some great routes you can book using Amex points:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Barcelona (BCN) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Dublin (DUB) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Munich (MUC) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Rome (FCO) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Atlanta (ATL) – Venice (VCE) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Boston (BOS) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Boston (BOS) – Dublin (DUB) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Boston (BOS) – Edinburgh (EDI) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Boston (BOS) – Rome (FCO) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Cincinnati (CVG) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Detroit (DTW) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Detroit (DTW) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Detroit (DTW) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Salt Lake City (SLC) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Athens (ATH) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Barcelona (BCN) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Brussels (BRU) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Dublin (DUB) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Edinburgh (EDI) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Lisbon (LIS) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Milan (MXP) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Nice (NCE) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Venice (VCE) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Zurich (ZRH) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Salt Lake City (SLC) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Seattle (SEA) – Amsterdam (AMS) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Seattle (SEA) – Paris (CDG) one-way in Delta One for 50,000 Virgin Atlantic points

Fly Iberia Business Class to Europe (Iberia Plus)

Iberia is the Spanish flag carrier, and if you want to fly nonstop to Madrid, this is one of your best chances to do so.

Importantly, U.S. East Coast business class flights to Spain are incredible sweet spots for Amex points.

You can pay as little as 34,000 Amex points for nonstop business class flights to Madrid! The taxes and fees are generally very mild too, topping out at $200 one-way.

Here are a few great example redemptions you can make from the U.S. to Madrid:

• Boston (BOS) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 34,000 Iberia Avios
• Chicago (ORD) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 42,500 Iberia Avios
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 51,000 Iberia Avios
• Miami (MIA) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 42,500 Iberia Avios
• New York City (JFK) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 34,000 Iberia Avios
• San Francisco (SFO) – Madrid (MAD) one-way in Iberia business class for 51,000 Iberia Avios

Fly Swiss Air Business Class to Europe (ANA Mileage Club)

Swiss Air is a fantastically solid way to fly in business class to Europe. Whether your final destination is Zurich or elsewhere, you’ll have an enjoyable experience throughout the flight.

Swiss Air is one of those airlines where the seat you pick is super important. That’s because some seats are called throne seats, which essentially occupy the same amount of space as 2 seats, have 2 side tables, and are just better for privacy.

For the lowest mileage price, this Star Alliance airline is best booked using ANA miles, though you’ll pay ~$1,500 round-trip in taxes and fees.

• Boston (BOS) – Zurich (ZRH) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Zurich (ZRH) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Zurich (ZRH) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Miami (MIA) – Zurich (ZRH) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• New York City (JFK) – Zurich (ZRH) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Zurich (ZRH) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles

The 6 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Japan

Japan is one of the world’s hottest tourist destinations. Easily accessible from the U.S. West Coast, it’s no wonder people dream about visiting this cultural wonderland.

Japan is also home to 2 of the world’s best first class and business class airlines: ANA and Japan Airlines. Let’s get into the best ways to use Amex points to fly to Japan!

Fly ANA First Class to Tokyo (Virgin Atlantic Flying Club)

The single-best way to redeem Amex points to fly to Japan is by booking ANA first class to Tokyo.

This is one of the true sweet spots with points because you can book a first class ticket for less than what many airlines charge for a one-way ticket in economy!

Plus, your flights are on one of the best airlines in the entire world! That’s why this redemption method is our favorite way to fly to Tokyo using Amex points.

The airline you’ll want to transfer points to is Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. One quirk is you’ll have to find availability using a partner airline website like United Air Canada. Then, you’ll need to call Virgin Atlantic Flying Club to book the ticket once you’ve located availability.

Another quirk is that you can only book tickets to Japan because Virgin Atlantic Flying Club charges mileage per segment. So if you wanted to book an onward flight from Japan to southeast Asia, for example, you’d be charged for 2 plane tickets.

If this works for you, here are some phenomenal redemptions you can make using Virgin Atlantic points on ANA:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) one-way in ANA first class for 60,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Houston (IAH) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) one-way in ANA first class for 60,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) one-way in ANA first class for 55,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• New York City (JFK) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) one-way in ANA first class for 60,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) one-way in ANA first class for 55,000 Virgin Atlantic points
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in ANA first class for 60,000 Virgin Atlantic points

Fly Singapore Airlines First Class to Japan (KrisFlyer)

Singapore Airlines offers a fifth freedom flight to Japan aboard their 777-300ER aircraft. It offers an uber-exclusive first class cabin consisting of just 4 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration.

The seats are ridiculously spacious and the food is top-quality. The service is professional, and the staff is always friendly.

You’ll need to transfer Amex points to KrisFlyer to book this coveted first class ticket. Here’s the route you can book to Japan:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 107,000 KrisFlyer miles

If you want to add a stopover in Tokyo en route to Singapore, you’ll pay an additional $100 for the stopover and an additional 23,000 miles to add a first class flight to Singapore.

Fly Japan Airlines First Class to Tokyo (Iberia Avios)

Japan Airlines is one of the world’s best airlines. It doesn’t have the biggest seat or the most private pod out there, but what it does offer is an exceptional soft product, complete with Michelin star-quality dining, expensive Champagne and Japanese whisky, and amenities galore from designer brands like Shiseido and ETRO.

Currently, the best way to book Japan Airlines first class with Amex points is through Iberia Avios. The most cost-effective way to book one-way tickets using Amex points is with Asia Miles, but you’ll pay almost the same price as a round-trip ticket (120,000 Asia Miles one-way).

Here are some great redemptions you can make for Japan Airlines first class:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines first class for 150,000 Iberia Avios
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines first class for 150,000 Iberia Avios
• New York City (JFK) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines first class for 150,000 Iberia Avios
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines first class for 150,000 Iberia Avios

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly ANA Business Class Round-Trip to Tokyo (ANA Mileage Club)

If business class is more your style, you can’t go wrong with ANA’s spacious business class product. Plus, it gives you a chance to save points and potentially fly round-trip to Japan for rock-bottom prices.

When redeeming ANA miles, you’ll need to follow rules about seasonality. There are 3 price points for award tickets, low season, regular season, and high season. ANA releases a calendar of date ranges so you’ll know which dates fall into which season. In addition, you can only book round-trip award tickets when redeeming ANA miles — one-way itineraries are not allowed.

Here are some great redemptions you can make:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class for 75,000-90,000 ANA miles
• Houston (IAH) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class for 75,000-90,000 ANA miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class for 75,000-90,000 ANA miles
• New York City (JFK) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class for 75,000-90,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class for 75,000-90,000 ANA miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) round-trip in ANA business class for 75,000-90,000 ANA miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Delta One to Tokyo (Flying Blue)

Delta One and Delta One Suites are both bookable on flights to Japan. These are generally rare to find, but if you’re flying out of a Delta hub, having a nonstop flight could be worth the extra preparation.

Additionally, the award prices will generally be higher, but the best bet is booking flights via Air France/KLM Flying Blue. Here are some great redemptions:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Detroit (DTW) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Portland (PDX) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Japan Airlines Business Class to Japan (Iberia Avios)

Japan Airlines business class is a solid way to fly to Japan nonstop. It’s also one of the only airlines flying nonstop to Osaka from the U.S. Japan Airlines might be pricier than ANA business class round-trip using ANA miles, but there are some markets served by Japan Airlines that ANA doesn’t cover, such as Boston and San Diego.

So if you’d like a convenient nonstop itinerary to Japan, Japan Airlines business class can be best booked round-trip using Iberia Avios. Here are some fabulous redemptions you can make:

• Boston (BOS) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Osaka (KIX) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• New York City (JFK) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• San Diego (SAN) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios
• Seattle (SEA) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) round-trip in Japan Airlines business class for 100,000 Iberia Avios

The 3 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to the Maldives

The Maldives is arguably the most exotic beach destination in the world.

It gets a bad rap for being ridiculously expensive to access with 30+ hour itineraries to boot.

In this next section, we’ll show you the best ways to use Amex points to fly to the Maldives conveniently and in style. Let’s get into it!

Fly Emirates First Class to the Maldives (Emirates Skywards)

Our favorite way to fly first class to the Maldives is Emirates first class. It’s 1 of 2 airlines (the other being British Airways) that offers first class itineraries all the way to the Maldives. All other airlines have a business class segment on at least 1 segment.

If your goal is to book the most luxurious, picture frame-worthy flights to the Maldives and you have plenty of Amex points, redeem them for Emirates first class!

These are best booked by transferring Amex points to Emirates Skywards.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Etihad First Class and Business Class to the Maldives (Aeroplan)

Etihad Airways is one of the world’s best first class airlines. It offers some of the most premium aviation experiences in the world, even some of the world’s best airport lounges!

It’s also one of the few airlines that operates convenient, one-stop itineraries from the U.S. to the Maldives. In this case, the connection point is in Abu Dhabi, its hub in the Middle East.

If flying to the Maldives in luxury is your goal, this is one of the best ways to do it. You can book first class all the way to Abu Dhabi, and then business class on the short, 4-hour flight to the Maldives. The best transfer partner to leverage is Air Canada Aeroplan. If you’d like to book a short stopover in Abu Dhabi, you can do so by redeeming an additional 5,000 miles. Here are some great example routes you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Etihad first class then business class for 130,000 Aeroplan miles (add 5,000 miles for each stopover)
• New York City (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Etihad first class then business class for 130,000 Aeroplan miles (add 5,000 miles for each stopover)
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Etihad first class then business class for 130,000 Aeroplan miles (add 5,000 miles for each stopover)

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Qatar Airways QSuites to the Maldives (Asia Miles)

Qatar Airways’s sensational business class product is called QSuites. Available on select aircraft, it’s undoubtedly one of the best business class seats out there. And if you’re flying to/from the U.S. and the Maldives, you can book convenient 1-stop itineraries via Doha to maximize your time in paradise.

Here are some phenomenal redemptions you can make:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Houston (IAH) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Miami (MIA) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Philadelphia (PHL) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Doha (DOH) – Malé (MLE) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles

The 4 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to China

Is China on your bucket list? Or perhaps it’s a regular destination you visit for family? Regardless of the reasons, there are some fantastic ways to redeem Amex points to fly to China.

Fly China Eastern First Class to Shanghai (Qantas Frequent Flyer)

There aren’t a whole lot of double beds available in the sky. When you think about airlines offering double beds, you usually think about Singapore Airlines, Etihad (with its First Class Apartments), and Qatar Airways QSuites. But you probably didn’t realize that an airline called China Eastern offers exclusive double beds in first class!

So if you want to cross a double bed in an airplane off of your bucket list and you want to travel to China, this is the classiest way to do it!

On its 777-300ER aircraft, China Eastern offers an incredible first class hard product — though the soft product is lacking compared to Emirates and other top-tier airlines. There’s just 1 pair of seats that turns into a double bed out of 6 seats in total, so it’s truly one of the rarest first class tickets you can ever book.

And without a doubt, this is the best way to fly nonstop to China in first class. It’ll cost you a pretty penny, though, because you’ll need to transfer your points to Qantas Frequent Flyer to book. Here are some great example redemptions you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in China Eastern first class for 149,800 Qantas points
• New York City (JFK) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in China Eastern first class for 170,800 Qantas points
• San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in China Eastern first class for 149,800 Qantas points

Fly Delta One to China (Flying Blue)

If flying first class is out of your price range or if you’d just like to save points, Delta One Suites could potentially be right for you. It’ll still be quite pricey with points, but it’s a quality business class product with plenty of privacy and amenities. The food is nothing to sneeze at, too.

The best way to redeem Amex points for Delta One flights to China is via transfers to Air France/KLM Flying Blue. Here are some great tickets you can book:

• Detroit (DTW) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Beijing (PEK) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles

Fly United Polaris Class to China (ANA Mileage Club)

United Polaris class is the cheapest way to fly nonstop in a high-quality business class product. What’s the catch? Well, United Polaris class is notoriously difficult to find on itineraries to/from China.

So it’s probably not practical for most travelers, but for the discerning, flexible planner, you can redeem the fewest points on business class flights to China by transferring Amex points to ANA Mileage Club. Here are a few redemption options:

• Chicago (ORD) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Newark (EWR) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Newark (EWR) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Chengdu (CTU) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Beijing (PEK) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 95,000 ANA miles

Fly China Eastern Business Class to China (Qantas Frequent Flyer or Flying Blue)

The last option we’ll discuss is China Eastern business class. China Eastern is a solid reverse herringbone-based product with comfortable seats, decent amenities, and generally edible food.

Depending on which exact route you’re flying, you’ll want to transfer your Amex points to either Qantas Frequent Flyer or Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

To be specific, those originating in the U.S. West Coast should transfer their points to Qantas Frequent Flyer, while those on the East Coast should transfer their points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue.

Here are some example redemptions you can make:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in China Eastern business class for 104,500 Qantas Frequent Flyer points
• New York City (JFK) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in China Eastern business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG) one-way in China Eastern business class for 104,500 Qantas Frequent Flyer points

The 3 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Korea

If you’re checking out the land of K-pop and plan on savoring some incredible food, you’ll have plenty of options.

Korean Air is the only airline offering first class flights nonstop to Seoul — furthermore, Korean Air restricts first class award space strictly to redemptions made with its own mileage program: Korean Air SKYPASS. Unfortunately, this frequent flyer program isn’t transfer partners with Amex. So we’ll have to settle for business class unless you have a bunch of Marriott points.

Here are our favorite ways to use Amex points to fly to Korea.

Fly Asiana Airlines Business Class Round-Trip to Seoul (ANA Mileage Club)

The best way to fly round-trip in business class to Korea and maximize your value is on Asiana Airlines business class.

You’ll find spacious, staggered business class seats with direct aisle access. In a 1-2-1 configuration, all of these seats go fully lie-flat for maximum comfort. You’ll also enjoy some gourmet Korean catering and friendly service.

Asiana Airlines is great about releasing a generous amount of availability, so this should be one of the easier redemptions to pull off. You’ll want to transfer Amex points to ANA Mileage Club to book these tickets. Here are some great tickets you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) round-trip in Asiana Airlines business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• New York City (JFK) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) round-trip in Asiana Airlines business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) round-trip in Asiana Airlines business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) round-trip in Asiana Airlines business class for 95,000 ANA miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Korean Air Business Class to Seoul (Flying Blue)

Korean Air is one of the other airlines based in South Korea. It also happens to be the flag carrier and the only airline offering a nonstop first class product. Unfortunately, it’s not bookable with Amex points, so let’s focus on business class.

The business class product varies depending on what aircraft you’re on, but it’s a comfortable way to fly nonstop to Korea, which is probably what you care most about.

Plus, Korean Air’s route network in the U.S. is diverse. To redeem the fewest miles, transfer your Amex points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue. Here are some great redemptions you can make:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Boston (BOS) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Korean Air business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles

Fly Delta One to Seoul (Flying Blue)

The very last option we’ll be talked about is Delta One nonstop to Seoul. If you are located in any of Delta’s hubs, you might be able to fly nonstop to Seoul when redeeming Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles.

However, this is our last choice because its route network is pretty limited — if you live near any of these cities, then it’ll be a perfect fit for you. Here are the best redemptions you can make:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Detroit (DTW) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) one-way in Delta One for 115,000 Flying Blue miles

The 2 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Taiwan

It’s easy to fly nonstop to Taiwan. You can book either EVA Air or China Airlines nonstop from a variety of U.S. cities.

Let’s walk through the best ways to use Amex points for these flights.

Fly EVA Air Business Class to Taiwan (ANA Mileage Club)

The best way to book EVA Air business class is round-trip via ANA Mileage Club. EVA Air is world-famous for offering the amenities of a first class product in a business class ticket.

Between the Rimowa amenity kit, the comfortable pajamas provided, the high-quality dining, and the pricey Champagne, you’re bound to have a positive experience on EVA Air.

To make things even better, you can redeem less than 100,000 Amex points for round-trip business class on EVA Air! Here are the best routes you can fly:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Taipei (TPE) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Houston (IAH) – Taipei (TPE) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• New York City (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 95,000 ANA miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Taipei (TPE) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 95,000 ANA miles

Fly China Airlines Business Class to Taiwan (Flying Blue)

China Airlines is the main competitor to EVA Air. As the flag carrier of Taiwan, this airline represents a totally different character compared to EVA Air’s whimsical, playful Hello Kitty vibe.

China Airlines represents minimalist luxury, zen, and class. It has a smaller route network, and it’s significantly more expensive than EVA Air but it could make sense if EVA Air isn’t available or if you’re looking for something other than EVA Air.

Here are the possible redemptions available:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE) one-way in China Airlines business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) one-way in China Airlines business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) one-way in China Airlines business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles

The 5 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is an exotic wonderland. Between the tropical climate, the incredible food landscape, and the legendary scenery, there’s simply no shortage of things to see or do!

In this next section, we’ll show you the best ways to use Amex points to fly to Southeast Asia.

Fly Cathay Pacific First Class to Asia via Hong Kong (Asia Miles)

Cathay Pacific first class is perhaps the most luxurious (and certainly the most expensive) way to fly to Southeast Asia in first class. With tickets normally selling for $20,000+ round-trip, you definitely want to use points if possible.

The good news is that Cathay Pacific first class will get you most of the way to Southeast Asia in first class. But if your final destination is anywhere besides Hong Kong, you’ll also hop on a short business class flight to wherever you’re headed.

Here are a few fantastic Cathay Pacific first and business class itineraries you can book using Asia Miles transferred from Amex points:

• Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Mumbai (BOM) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 125,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 125,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Bali-Denpasar (DPS) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 125,000 Asia Miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 120,000 Asia Miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Singapore Airlines First Class to Southeast Asia (KrisFlyer)

Did you know that Singapore Airlines offers amazing first class products from the U.S. to Southeast Asia in both directions? Whether you’re flying across the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic ocean you can book entire first class itineraries using KrisFlyer miles for an opulent experience.

If you want to add a stopover on one-way tickets, all you need to do is pay an extra $100 per stopover. Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 130,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 104,000 KrisFlyer miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 130,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Singapore (SIN) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 132,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)

Fly EVA Air Business Class to Southeast Asia via Taipei (ANA Mileage Club)

EVA Air’s hub is located in Taipei, a strategically-placed city for fantastic access to Southeast Asia.

From many cities in the U.S., you can get to Southeast Asia while enjoying a luxurious business class experience and saving as much time as possible.

ANA Mileage Club is the best bet for booking business class between the U.S. and Southeast Asia. Of course, aboard EVA Air, the connection point is Taipei. Just remember that you can’t redeem for one-way trips; you’ll have to book a round-trip ticket using ANA miles.

One of the best perks about this redemption is you can book one complimentary stopover in Taipei — that way, you have the opportunity to visit Taiwan on the way there or on the way back.

Here are some great example itineraries you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE) – Bangkok (BKK) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Chicago (ORD) – Taipei (TPE) – Bali-Denpasar (DPS) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Houston (IAH) – Taipei (TPE) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• New York City (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Manila (MNL) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) – Phnom Penh (PNH) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Seattle (SEA) – Taipei (TPE) – Singapore (SIN) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 136,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)

Fly ANA Business Class Round-Trip to Southeast Asia via Tokyo (ANA Mileage Club)

If you’re traveling to Southeast Asia and want to stop over in Japan, there’s an amazing itinerary that perfectly fits your travel plans.

And if you stick with ANA the entire time, you can book a round-trip business class ticket from the U.S. to Southeast Asia for as little as 100,000 ANA miles! There are seasonality rules you’ll need to be cognizant of; low season tickets cost 100,000 miles, while regular season and high season cost 110,000 and 115,000 miles, respectively.

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Jakarta (CGK) round-trip in ANA business class for 100,000-115,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Houston (IAH) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Hanoi (HAN) round-trip in ANA business class for 100,000-115,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Yangon (RGN) round-trip in ANA business class for 100,000-115,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• New York City (JFK) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Singapore (SIN) round-trip in ANA business class for 100,000-115,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Bangkok (BKK) round-trip in ANA business class for 100,000-115,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Washington D.C. (IAD – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Kuala Lumpur (KUL) round-trip in ANA business class for 100,000-115,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)

Fly China Airlines Business Class to Southeast Asia via Taiwan (Flying Blue)

Our last preferred way to fly to Southeast Asia is on China Airlines, which is one of the best business class airlines out there.

When booking flights to Southeast Asia, your layover will be in Taipei. There aren’t any complimentary stopovers allowed, which is a bummer. For this flight, you’ll want to transfer your points to Air France/KLM Flying Blue. After that, you can book any one of these sample tickets:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE) – Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) one-way in China Airlines business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) – Jakarta (CGK) one-way in China Airlines business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Bangkok (BKK) one-way in China Airlines business class for 115,000 Flying Blue miles

The 2 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Dubai

Dubai is a glitzy wonderland of luxury and wealth. Whether you’re visiting Dubai as an entire trip or making Dubai a part of a larger trip, you’ll want to experience the legendary Emirates experience, which includes the best airport lounge experiences in the Middle East.

Here are our favorite ways to use Amex points to fly to Dubai.

Fly Emirates First Class to Dubai (Emirates Skywards)

Undoubtedly, the best way to fly to Dubai is on Emirates first class. It doesn’t get much better than that! This world-famous airline is favorited by many celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston and Roger Federer.

It’s relatively straightforward to book nonstop Emirates first class flights to Dubai, though it’ll probably cost more than you are accustomed to.

Here are some of the best first class flights you can book using Amex points transferred to Emirates Skywards (note: the A380 is only available on select routes):

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 136,250 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 136,250 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 155,000 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 155,000 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 155,000 Skywards miles
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 136,250 Skywards miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 155,000 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 155,000 Skywards miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 136,250 Skywards miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Emirates Business Class to Dubai (Emirates Skywards)

While Emirates is known for first class extravagance, business class is stellar, too. As long as you’re flying on the A380 with staggered, lie-flat seats, you’ll also have a great experience.

Typically, you’ll find the A380 utilized on Emirates flights to Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Boston (seasonally).

On other routes, you’ll most likely encounter the 777-300ER business class, which isn’t nearly as nice. The 777-300ER has business class seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and they don’t recline fully flat, which is woefully disappointing.

Here are the possible nonstop Emirates business class flights you can book from the U.S.:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 100,000 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 100,000 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 113,750 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 113,750 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 113,750 Skywards miles
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 100,000 Skywards miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 113,750 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 113,750 Skywards miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) one-way in Emirates Business Class for 100,000 Skywards miles

The 2 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Abu Dhabi

If your goal is to visit the U.A.E. and you can’t find availability to Dubai on Emirates, then why not consider flying to Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi is just an hour’s drive away from Dubai — plus, Abu Dhabi is the political capital of the U.A.E. and has different attractions!

Fly Etihad First Class to Abu Dhabi (Aeroplan)

Etihad’s glorious first class product is often compared to Emirates. And while Emirates likely has the upper hand in terms of service and amenities, Etihad is a life-changing experience in its own right.

Etihad first class is best booked by transferring Amex points to Air Canada Aeroplan. Here are the best first class routes you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad first class for 130,000 Aeroplan miles
• New York City (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad first class for 120,000 Aeroplan miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad first class for 120,000 Aeroplan miles

Fly Etihad Business Class to Abu Dhabi (Aeroplan)

Etihad’s business class is a perfectly fine way to fly to Abu Dhabi, too. This is especially true if you care about spending fewer miles and are satisfied with business class.

The best business class product is on the 787-9, and this is known as the Business Studio. If you fly on the 777-300ER, you’ll get a staggered business class seat, which is perfectly fine, but probably not as luxurious as the Business Studio.

Here are the best redemptions to book:

• Chicago (ORD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad business class for 85,000 Aeroplan miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad business class for 100,000 Aeroplan miles
• New York City (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad business class for 85,000 Aeroplan miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) one-way in Etihad business class for 85,000 Aeroplan miles

The Best Way to Use Amex Points to Fly to Qatar

Qatar is one of the world’s richest countries (per capita, anyway), and if you are interested in checking out some Islamic history, culture, and art, this is one of the best places to do it.

And if you’re involved in the oil industry, you might make your way over there for business.

Fly Qatar Airways QSuites to Doha (Asia Miles)

As we mentioned previously, QSuites is one of the world’s best business class products.

Not only can some of the middle seats be turned into double beds, but some rows of business class seats can actually be converted into Quad pods, which is essentially an enclave of 4 seats where everybody can see and communicate with each other.

Qatar Airways QSuites is also famous for its amazing Mediterranean dining, luxurious amenities, fantastic service, and plush bedding. It also the biggest U.S. route network for a Middle Eastern airline in the world. To book these award tickets, you’ll probably want to use Asia Miles. Here are some awesome redemptions you can make:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 75,000 Asia Miles
• Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 75,000 Asia Miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Houston (IAH) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites 90,000 Asia Miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways 90,000 Asia Miles
• Miami (MIA) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Philadelphia (PHL) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 75,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Doha (DOH) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 75,000 Asia Miles

The 3 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Israel

Israel is a hot tourist destination, especially for U.S. travelers. With so much history and culture, it’s no wonder all the major U.S. airlines have poured millions of dollars into flying to Israel.

Let’s get into our favorite ways to use Amex points to fly to Israel.

Fly Delta One Suites to Israel (Flying Blue)

Our favorite way to fly to Israel is aboard Delta One Suites business class. Delta doesn’t exactly have a large route network to Israel — in fact, they have just 1 nonstop flight. Still, if you want a comfortable experience, this is one of the best ways to go.

The frequent flyer program to focus on here is Air France/KLM Flying Blue:

• New York City (JFK) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in Delta One Suites for 95,000 Flying Blue miles

Fly United Polaris Class to Israel (LifeMiles)

United Airlines has been the dominant U.S. carrier in serving the Israeli market. And on these flights, you’ll enjoy the full-fledged Polaris experience, complete with bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue, high-tech, comfortable seating that reclines fully flat, a privacy shell, and great service. Don’t forget to savor the Polaris Lounges, which are some of the best lounges in the U.S.!

This is without a doubt, the swankiest nonstop business class flight you can take to Israel!

The best partner to transfer your Amex points to is Avianca LifeMiles. Here are some of the best example redemptions bookable:

• Newark (EWR) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in United Polaris business class for 78,000 LifeMiles
• Chicago (ORD) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in United Polaris business class for 78,000 LifeMiles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in United Polaris business class for 78,000 LifeMiles

Fly El Al Business Class to Israel (Qantas Frequent Flyer)

If you want to have an unapologetically Israeli experience to or from Israel, El Al business class is your best bet. In fact, it offers the only nonstop service to a couple of cities.

You’ll pay a premium in points, but it might be worth it for a nonstop itinerary. The best transfer partner to utilize is Qantas Frequent Flyer, and you can book the following tickets:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in El Al business class for 119,200 Qantas points
• Miami (MIA) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in El Al business class for 104,500 Qantas points
• New York City (JFK) – Tel Aviv (TLV) one-way in El Al business class for 90,000 Qantas points

The Best Way to Use Amex Points to Fly to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia isn’t the place for everyone. But if you find yourself planning a trip there, just remember that its flag carrier Saudia offers convenient, nonstop flights there.

Whether you’re planning a religious pilgrimage or just want to check out the largest country in the Middle East, make sure you keep this SkyTeam airline in the back of your mind.

Fly Saudia Business Class to Saudi Arabia (Delta SkyMiles)

Saudia is a dry airline, meaning it won’t serve alcohol on its flights. Also, while Saudia first class is available when booking with cash, there’s no simple way to book it using points.

Business class is easy to book, though! Business class consists of reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, and a solid overall experience — minus the absence of alcohol.

In this case, the best frequent flyer program to leverage is Delta SkyMiles. You can book nonstop Saudia flights on the following routes:

• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Jeddah (JED) one-way in Saudia business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Riyadh (RUH) one-way in Saudia business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• New York City (JFK) – Jeddah (JED) one-way in Saudia business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• New York City (JFK) – Riyadh (RUH) one-way in Saudia business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles

The 4 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to South Africa

South Africa is world-renowned for its incredible safaris, great wine, and cultural diversity. South Africa is also the economic hub in the continent, so both business and leisure travelers frequently travel there.

In this section, we’ll show you the best ways to use Amex points to fly to South Africa.

Fly Lufthansa First Class to South Africa With a Stopover in Germany (Aeroplan)

Our first South Africa redemption involves a stopover in Germany. Why? Because you can access 2 trips in 1 by transferring your Amex points to Air Canada Aeroplan. If you were interested in a stopover in Germany, Air Canada Aeroplan is the best bet.

Lufthansa is one of the only airlines that offer one-stop itineraries entirely in first class to South Africa.

You’ll need to fly into Johannesburg, no doubt, but even if Johannesburg wasn’t your final destination, it’s worth taking a detour to experience 20+ hours of amazing first class on Lufthansa.

Here are the best Lufthansa first class itineraries you can book to South Africa using your Amex points:

• Chicago (ORD) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 135,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class 135,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 135,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 135,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 135,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 135,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)

Fly Lufthansa First Class to South Africa Without a Stopover (LifeMiles)

Let’s say you wanted to fly Lufthansa first class to South Africa, but you weren’t interested in stopping over in Germany. In that case, the best deal is actually to transfer your Amex points to Avianca LifeMiles.

Because LifeMiles gets you access to the best mileage pricing without paying for fuel surcharges, this is the best way to reserve Lufthansa first class to South Africa.

You’ll save 30,000 points one-way when booking through LifeMiles compared to the 135,000 Aeroplan miles (including the extra 5,000 miles for the stopover). Here are the best redemptions you can make:

• Chicago (ORD) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Lufthansa first class for 105,000 LifeMiles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Emirates First Class to South Africa via Dubai (Emirates Skywards)

If Lufthansa first class isn’t feasible for you because you need to plan further out in advance or because you prefer to fly via the Middle East, then booking Emirates first class all the way to South Africa is the absolute best way to go. Plus, Emirates offers some of the best lounges in Africa!

You can fly Emirates first class entirely to South Africa, and you can choose between arriving in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Whatever the case, you’ll transfer your Amex points to Emirates Skywards. After that, you’ll want to book one of these itineraries:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 178,750 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Emirates First Class for 178,750 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 187,500 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Emirates First Class for 187,500 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 187,500 Skywards miles
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Emirates First Class for 178,750 Skywards miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 187,500 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Emirates First Class for 187,500 Skywards miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 178,750 Skywards miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Qatar Airways QSuites to South Africa via Doha (Asia Miles)

The best way to fly business class to South Africa from the U.S. is aboard the famed Qatar Airways QSuites.

You’ll transit through Doha in the Middle East, but your fun-filled flight will be in pure bliss — you’ll wish the flight never ended!

Similar to Emirates above, you can choose between Cape Town and Johannesburg as your final destination. Check out some of the best example redemptions you can make here:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Doha (DOH) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Houston (IAH) – Doha (DOH) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Doha (DOH) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites 90,000 Asia Miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Doha (DOH) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for  90,000 Asia Miles
• Miami (MIA) – Doha (DOH) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Philadelphia (PHL) – Doha (DOH) – Cape Town (CPT) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Doha (DOH) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles

Fly Swiss Air Business Class to South Africa via Zurich (ANA Mileage Club)

Swiss Air is one of the best airlines to fly solo, thanks to the business class throne seat. The service is consistent, the food is great, and the comfort is unreal.

This airline also offers generous award availability, which can come in handy if you’re planning a trip and having difficulty finding solid award space. With ANA miles, you’ll redeem the fewest points but will pay the full amount of fuel surcharges — around $1,100 for a round-trip ticket.

Here are the best example itineraries you can book on Swiss Air to South Africa using ANA miles:

• Boston (BOS) – Zurich (ZRH) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Zurich (ZRH) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Zurich (ZRH) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• Miami (MIA) – Zurich (ZRH) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• New York City (JFK) – Zurich (ZRH) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Zurich (ZRH) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip in Swiss Air business class for 88,000 ANA miles

The 2 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Seychelles

Known for its white-sand beaches, nature reserves, and rare wildlife, Seychelles is one of the most exotic destinations you can visit. It’s located off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean. Doesn’t that just sound exotic to you?

Nonetheless, getting there isn’t an easy feat. That’s why we’ll show you our favorite ways to use Amex points to fly to Seychelles.

Fly Emirates First Class to Seychelles via Dubai (Emirates Skywards)

Undoubtedly, the best way to fly to Seychelles is in Emirates first class. Offering fully first class itineraries, this is our top way to use Amex points to fly to Seychelles.

Thanks to Emirates, you can access this exotic destination with just 1 stop in Dubai! Here are the best redemptions you can make:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Etihad Business Class to Seychelles (Aeroplan)

If first class is out of your budget, Etihad offers a great business class itinerary to Seychelles, thanks to a 1-stop routing through Abu Dhabi.

In this case, the best transfer partner is Air Canada Aeroplan, and you can also redeem an additional 5,000 miles for a stopover in the U.A.E. Here are the top routes to book Etihad business class to Seychelles:

• Chicago (ORD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Etihad business class for 100,000 Aeroplan miles (add 5,000 miles for each stopover)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Etihad business class for 100,000 Aeroplan miles (add 5,000 miles for each stopover)
• New York City (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Etihad business class for 100,000 Aeroplan miles (add 5,000 miles for each stopover)
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Mahé (SEZ) one-way in Etihad business class for 100,000 Aeroplan miles (add 5,000 miles for each stopover)

The 4 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Egypt

Egypt is the land of the pyramids, the Nile River, ancient history, and the focal point of North Africa.

This huge tourist destination is at the top of many travelers’ wish lists. So in this section, we’ll show you how to get there using Amex points.

Fly Emirates First Class to Egypt (Emirates Skywards)

The theme to these redemptions is that if you’re flying to Africa, Emirates is basically the showstopping winner, thanks to a convenient 1-stop route network and literally offering the world’s best first class product available.

In this example, Emirates is the only airline offering 100% first class tickets to Egypt — all the other airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France have the connecting flight in business class.

To book these tickets, you’ll want to transfer your Amex points to Emirates Skywards. Here are some great tickets you can reserve:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 150,000 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 150,000 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 150,000 Skywards miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 150,000 Skywards miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Lufthansa First Class and Business Class to Egypt With a Stopover in Germany (Aeroplan)

Lufthansa offers reasonably convenient schedules to Egypt from the U.S. Your first leg will be ultra-luxurious aboard Lufthansa’s 747-8 first class, but your second leg will be a more typical European business class experience. That is, the flight from Germany to Cairo will basically be an economy ticket with the middle seat blocked off — not exactly the most luxurious, but at least your long-haul segment is terrific!

If you plan on stopping over in Germany, you’ll want to transfer your Amex points to Air Canada Aeroplan, where you can book any of the following itineraries:

• Chicago (ORD) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 125,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 125,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 125,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 125,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 105,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 125,000 Aeroplan miles (stopover in Germany)

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Lufthansa First Class and Business Class to Egypt Without a Stopover (LifeMiles)

If Frankfurt is just a transit point for you and you don’t wish to visit Germany, the best way to book Lufthansa first and business class to Egypt is to use Avianca LifeMiles transferred from Amex.

Here are the best example redemptions you can make:

• Chicago (ORD) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 105,000 LifeMiles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Lufthansa first class then business class for 105,000 LifeMiles

Fly Air France Business Class to Egypt (Delta SkyMiles)

Even though Air France’s first class product isn’t easily bookable using points, its business class is! And it’s often a great deal because Cairo is one of the cities where Air France has chosen to operate a widebody aircraft.

Thanks to that, you can enjoy lie-flat seats the entire way. Also, Air France schedules are usually very convenient. To book Air France business class to Africa, we’ll want to transfer our Amex points to Delta SkyMiles. You can then book any one of these itineraries:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Boston (BOS) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Detroit (DTW) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Houston (IAH) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Miami (MIA) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• New York City (JFK) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Paris (CDG) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Delta SkyMiles

The 3 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to the Rest of Africa

Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, and there’s much more to Africa than just South Africa, Egypt, and Seychelles.

So in this next section, we’ll show you the best ways to use Amex points to fly to the rest of Africa. Let’s get into it!

Fly Emirates First Class to Africa via Dubai (Emirates Skywards)

Have we already mentioned that we’re huge fans of Emirates first class?

Emirates has an incredible network of flights to various destinations in Africa. Whether you’re flying to Western Africa, Central Africa, or Eastern Africa, you can rest assured that the whole journey will be in first class.

As a reminder, the best transfer partner is Emirates Skywards, and here are some of the most unique, creative routes you can book to Africa in Emirates first class:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) – Lagos (LOS) one-way in Emirates First Class for 178,750 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) – Conakry (CKY) one-way in Emirates First Class for 178,750 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) – Lusaka (LUN) one-way in Emirates First Class for 187,500 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Entebbe (EBB) one-way in Emirates First Class for 168,750 Skywards miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Addis Ababa (ADD) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Casablanca (CMN) one-way in Emirates First Class for 178,750 Skywards miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Accra (ACC) one-way in Emirates First Class for 187,500 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Dar es Salaam (DAR) one-way in Emirates First Class for 160,000 Skywards miles

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Fly Lufthansa Business Class to Africa via Frankfurt or Munich (ANA Mileage Club)

Flying business class to Africa doesn’t have to be uber expensive. In the past, these countries were egregiously expensive to access; but thanks to points, we can cut down on our costs significantly.

Lufthansa offers a solid business class product with lie-flat seats, decent dining, and also a 1-stop schedule to many African countries. We can book round-trip business class flights for just 104,000 ANA miles transferred from American Express. But this doesn’t include the ~$1,700 in taxes and fees you’ll need to pay for this ticket. Just keep that in mind as you decide which redemption method to use.

With ANA Mileage Club, you’re entitled to a complimentary stopover, either in Frankfurt or Munich aboard Lufthansa. Here are some great example redemptions:

• Boston (BOS) – Munich (MUC) – Cairo (CAI) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Chicago (ORD) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Marrakesh (RAK) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Denver (DEN) – Munich (MUC) – Hurghada (HRG) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Addis Ababa (ADD) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Munich (MUC) – Cairo (CAI) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Nairobi (NBO) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Miami (MIA) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Mombasa (MBA) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Johannesburg (JNB) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• New York City (JFK) – Munich (MUC) – Hurghada (HRG) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Newark (EWR) – Munich (MUC) – Cairo (CAI) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Tunis (TUN) round-trip in Lufthansa business class for 104,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)

Fly Air France Business Class on Convenient 1-Stop Itineraries to Africa via Paris (Flying Blue)

If you’re traveling to Western Africa or any of the smaller countries, Air France is the MVP.

Because so many African countries were French colonies, there are still deep ties with the mainland to this day. That’s why Air France has tons of seemingly random flights to various places in Africa.

But this knowledge will pay off in spades if you’re planning to travel to Africa because you can book these flights with just 1 short layover in Paris!

Whether you’re traveling to Madagascar, Chad, or Gabon, chances are Air France flies there. Here are some great example redemptions you can make (we couldn’t list them all, as there were too many):

• Atlanta (ATL) – Paris (CDG) – Johannesburg (JNB) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Boston (BOS) – Paris (CDG) – Nairobi (NBO) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) – Lagos (LOS) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Detroit (DTW) – Paris (CDG) – Antananarivo (TNR) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Houston (IAH) – Paris (CDG) – Yaounde (NSI) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) – N’Djamena (NDJ) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Miami (MIA) – Paris (CDG) – Libreville (LBV) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Minneapolis (MSP) – Paris (CDG) – Accra (ACC) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Paris (CDG) – Abidjan (ABJ) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Paris (CDG) – Lome (LFW) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Paris (CDG) – Bamako (BKO) one-way in Air France business class for 85,000 Flying Blue miles

The 9 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to Australia

Visiting the land down under has its perks. Australia has one-of-a-kind attractions like the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and kangaroos, which should honestly be reason enough to visit the Great Outback.

Whether you’re into beaches, deserts, or just wide-open plains, Australia will have something that fits your tastes. So let’s figure out the best ways to use Amex points for flights to Australia!

Access Rare Award Availability to Fly Qantas First Class (Qantas Frequent Flyer)

The best way to fly nonstop to Australia is on Qantas first class. This is arguably the most exclusive, rare first class flight you can book using points. Known to be incredibly rare, Qantas first class is offered exclusively on A380 aircraft. Currently, Qantas’s A380 aircraft are grounded due to the prolonged COVID downturn.

But once it’s back in the air, you can bet that you’ll have access to perks like a first class lounge spa, a spacious (and private) first class suite, superb in-flight dining, awesome amenities, and much more.

One of the nuances of booking Qantas first class is that those who book via Qantas Frequent Flyer have access to first class availability 353 days in advance, compared to American Airlines (331 days) and Alaska Airlines (330 days).

When you also consider how rare Qantas first class flights are, you can realize that the best way to find award availability is by using Qantas’s own loyalty program. Just be prepared to pay a hefty premium in points for this luxury, though!

Here are the best flight options you can book using Amex points transferred to Qantas Frequent Flyer:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas first class for 162,800 Qantas points
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Qantas first class for 162,800 Qantas points
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas first class for 189,800 Qantas points

Book Qantas First Class With Partner Miles… If You’re Lucky (Asia Miles)

If you’re uber flexible and have the time to constantly search for award space, you might be able to book Qantas first class with partner miles.

This isn’t unprecedented, though — Qantas has released first class award availability in the past to partners around January 2020, October 2019, August 2018, October 2015, and January 2014.

We wouldn’t recommend holding out if you want to have any control over when you travel to Australia. But nonetheless, if you can find Qantas first class availability with partner miles, the best Amex partner is Asia Miles:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas first class for 120,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Qantas first class for 135,000 Asia Miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas first class for 135,000 Asia Miles

Fly Singapore First Class to Australia (KrisFlyer)

Singapore is much closer to Australia than the U.S. is. And with several connection points, you can book Singapore Airlines first class all the way to Australia!

You’ll need to redeem KrisFlyer miles for these flights, but you can add up to 3 stopovers for $100 each, which would enable you to also visit Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Frankfurt en route to Australia. Here are a few great redemptions you can make:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Singapore (SIN) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 167,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 167,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Singapore (SIN) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 167,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)

Fly Cathay Pacific First Class and Business Class to Australia (Asia Miles)

Hong Kong maintains very close economic relationships with Australia. That’s why hong Kong has some convenient flights to second-tier cities in Australia, such as Adelaide and Perth.

You can fly Cathay Pacific first class, then business class all the way to Australia by redeeming Asia Miles:

• Boston (BOS) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Adelaide (ADL) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 125,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Brisbane (BNE) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 125,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Perth (PER) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 125,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 125,000 Asia Miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Cathay Pacific first class then business class for 120,000 Asia Miles

Fly Emirates First Class to Australia via Dubai (Emirates Skywards)

If you’re interested in flying the long way to Australia via the Atlantic Ocean and the Middle East, then Emirates first class is perfect for you.

Just remember that you can also book a complimentary stopover in Dubai on your Emirates tickets, as long as you find award space. Here are some of the best redemptions you can make:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) – Perth (PER) one-way in Emirates First Class for 216,250 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 225,000 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Brisbane (BNE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles 
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles 
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Brisbane (BNE) one-way in Emirates First Class for 225,000 Skywards miles 
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles 
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Perth (PER) one-way in Emirates First Class for 225,000 Skywards miles 
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Emirates First Class for 225,000 Skywards miles 

Fly United Polaris Class Nonstop to Australia (ANA Mileage Club)

United Airlines has some great West Coast routes that operate nonstop to Australia.

The main drawback of these flights is that they are incredibly rare. But if you manage to find not 1, but 2 of them, you can redeem ANA miles at an incredible price:

• San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 120,000 ANA miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 120,000 ANA miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 120,000 ANA miles

Fly Qantas Business Class Nonstop to Australia (Asia Miles)

Qantas business class is a chic way to fly nonstop to Australia on a fantastic airline.

These seats are exceedingly comfortable and come with great amenities to help you arrive in Australia relaxed and recharged.

Here are some great redemption options using Asia Miles:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Brisbane (BNE) one-way in Qantas business class for 75,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas business class for 75,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in Qantas business class for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas business class for 90,000 Asia Miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Qantas business class for 75,000 Asia Miles

Fly Star Alliance Business Class to Australia (ANA Mileage Club)

Let’s talk about connecting flights to Australia. If you have decided that booking a connecting flight is worthwhile, then you’ll suddenly have tons of options!

If you fly in ANA business class the whole way, you’ll potentially redeem fewer miles. Just keep in mind the seasonality rules to maximize your value.

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – Sydney (SYD) round-trip in ANA business class for 105,000-120,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Houston (IAH) – Taipei (TPE) – Brisbane (BNE) round-trip in EVA Air business class for 120,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – Bangkok (BKK) – Melbourne (MEL) round-trip in United Polaris class and THAI Airways business class for 120,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• New York City (JFK) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Perth (PER) round-trip in ANA business class for 105,000-120,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) – Bangkok (BKK) – Sydney (SYD) round-trip in United Polaris class and THAI Airways business class for 120,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)
• Seattle (SEA) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Sydney (SYD) round-trip in Asiana Airlines business class for 120,000 ANA miles (1 complimentary stopover)

Fly SkyTeam Business Class to Australia (Flying Blue)

SkyTeam doesn’t have a strong presence in Australia, but it’s still possible to redeem Amex points for flights in this situation.

The best transfer partner to utilize is Air France/KLM Flying Blue, and here are some impressive flight options you can book:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Delta One Suites for 121,000 Flying Blue miles
• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Korean Air business class for 121,000 Flying Blue miles
• Boston (BOS) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in Korean Air business class for 121,000 Flying Blue miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Taipei (TPE) – Melbourne (MEL) one-way in China Airlines business class for 121,000 Flying Blue miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Taipei (TPE) – Brisbane (BNE) one-way in China Airlines business class for 121,000 Flying Blue miles
• New York City (JFK) – Taipei (TPE) – Sydney (SYD) one-way in China Airlines business class for 121,000 Flying Blue miles

The 6 Best Ways to Use Amex Points to Fly to New Zealand

New Zealand is famous for being one of the richest in natural scenery, indigenous Maori culture, and for being the film location of Lord of the Rings.

If you’re contemplating a trip to New Zealand, you’ll want to make sure you redeem Amex points as efficiently as possible to get the best travel booked!

Fly Singapore First Class to New Zealand (KrisFlyer)

If you’re open to making 2 stops en route to New Zealand, you can book Singapore Airlines first class or Suites!

You can add a stopover for $100 each, which would enable you to spend time in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Frankfurt before continuing to Auckland.

We’ll need to transfer Amex points to KrisFlyer, as the only way to book Singapore Airlines first class is with Singapore Airlines miles.

Here are the best redemptions you can make:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Singapore (SIN) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 167,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 167,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)
• New York City (JFK) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Singapore (SIN) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Singapore Airlines first class for 167,000 KrisFlyer miles (add $100 for a stopover on one-way tickets)

Fly Emirates First Class the Long Way to New Zealand via Dubai (Emirates Skywards)

In the mood for something absolutely ridiculous?

If you fly the long way around, you can do so in Emirates first class, one of the most luxurious experiences you can ever have. You’ll end up getting around 30+ hours of total travel time, and you can also book a complimentary stopover in Dubai.

Here are the tickets you can book:

• Boston (BOS) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 262,500 Skywards miles 
• Houston (IAH) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 262,500 Skywards miles 
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 262,500 Skywards miles 
• New York City (JFK) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles 
• San Francisco (SFO) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 262,500 Skywards miles
• Seattle (SEA) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 262,500 Skywards miles 
• Washington D.C. (IAD) – Dubai (DXB) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Emirates First Class for 243,750 Skywards miles 

Fly Air New Zealand Business Class Nonstop to New Zealand (ANA Mileage Club)

Air New Zealand is one of the most interesting airlines out there. Its relatively small fleet of planes makes it difficult to book award flights nonstop.

Specifically, this Star Alliance airline can be flown in business class via ANA Mileage Club. For 120,000 ANA miles, you can fly round-trip from the U.S. to New Zealand!

Just a word of caution, though: Air New Zealand business class award space is almost impossible to find! Here are the best routes to book:

• Chicago (ORD) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip in Air New Zealand business class for 120,000 ANA miles
• Houston (IAH) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip in Air New Zealand business class for 120,000 ANA miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip in Air New Zealand business class for 120,000 ANA miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip in Air New Zealand business class for 120,000 ANA miles

Fly United Polaris Class Nonstop to New Zealand (ANA Mileage Club)

United Airlines operates a single nonstop flight to New Zealand, which can also be booked using ANA miles. Keep in mind that finding award space on this route is just as hard as finding award space on Air New Zealand flights!

• San Francisco (SFO) – Auckland (AKL) round-trip in United Polaris business class for 120,000 ANA miles

Fly Qatar Airways QSuites the Long Way to New Zealand via Doha (Asia Miles)

Qatar Airways QSuites flights to New Zealand involve a layover in Doha, which makes this redemption a very long journey.

But if you have extra time and enjoy flying in luxury, this is the perfect itinerary for you. You’ll redeem Amex points by transferring them to Asia Miles:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Boston (BOS) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Houston (IAH) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Chicago (ORD) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• San Francisco (SFO) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Miami (MIA) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• Philadelphia (PHL) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles
• New York City (JFK) – Doha (DOH) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Qatar Airways QSuites for 90,000 Asia Miles

Fly SkyTeam Business Class to New Zealand (Flying Blue)

The very last way to fly to New Zealand that we’ll recommend is by booking Delta One Suites and then Korean Air, which is one of the only ways (if not the only way) to redeem Amex points for SkyTeam business class flights to New Zealand.

The transfer partner of choice is Air France/KLM Flying Blue. Here is a great example redemption you can make:

• Atlanta (ATL) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Auckland (AKL) one-way in Delta One Suites and Korean Air business class for 121,000 Flying Blue miles

3 Other Best Ways to Redeem Amex Points

So what if you don’t have a specific destination in mind, but you wanted to maximize the value of your points? Well, one of the ways to get the most value out of your Amex points is to use them for round-the-world award trips.

This redemption would only work if you had a lot of time to travel, were interested in seeing multiple countries, and had lots of Amex points.

So in this next section, we’ll walk you through the best ways to redeem Amex points for round-the-world trips in every alliance: SkyTeam, Oneworld, and Star Alliance.

SkyTeam Round-the-World Trips (Aeromexico Club Premier)

When you talk about getting tremendous value from a round-the-world award trip, it’s best to start with SkyTeam round-the-world trips bookable with Aeromexico’s frequent flyer program, Club Premier.

Also known as SkyTeam Go Round the World Award Tickets, these round-the-world trips are bookable with a flat price, regardless of the actual distance flown. 

Remember, Amex transfers to Club Premier at a 1:1.6 ratio, which means that while it costs 224,000 Club Premier points in economy and 352,000 Club Premier points in business, it would only require 140,000 Amex points in economy and 220,000 Amex points in business to book these tickets.

The rules are pretty straightforward:

1. You are allowed up to 15 stopovers and must have at least 3 stopovers
2. You are allowed up to 5 stopovers per continent
3. You must always travel in the same direction, either eastwards or westwards (no backtracking is allowed).
4. Travel must begin and return to the same country (but not necessarily the same city).
5. You must complete your travel within 1 year of ticket issuance 

Here is an example of a superb round-the-world ticket you can book using Aeromexico Club Premier points:

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Honolulu (HNL) on Delta first class
• Honolulu (HNL) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) on Delta One
• Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) on Korean Air business class
• Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Hanoi (HAN) on Vietnam Airlines business class
• Hanoi (HAN) – Moscow (SVO) on Aeroflot business class
• Moscow (SVO) – Cairo (CAI) on Aeroflot business class
• Cairo (CAI) – Paris (CDG) on Air France business class
• Paris (CDG) – Buenos Aires (EZE) on Air France business class
• Buenos Aires (EZE) – Santiago (SCL) on KLM business class
• Santiago (SCL) – Mexico City (MEX) on Aeromexico business class
• Mexico City (MEX) – San José del Cabo (SJD) on Aeromexico business class
• San José del Cabo (SJD) – Los Angeles (LAX) on Delta business class

In total, this itinerary spans 30,139 miles and allows you to book 7 unique airlines in business class and travel to 9 countries outside the U.S.! This is bookable using 220,000 Amex points transferred to Club Premier.

Here’s another itinerary you can book:

• New York City (JFK) – Amsterdam (AMS) in Delta One business class
• Amsterdam (AMS) – Cape Town (CPT) in KLM business class 
• Cape Town (CPT) – Victoria Falls (VFA) in Kenya Airways business class
• Victoria Falls (VFA) – Nairobi (NBO) in Kenya Airways business class
• Nairobi (NBO) – Jeddah (JED) in Saudia business class
• Jeddah (JED) – Jakarta (CGK) in Saudia business class
• Jakarta (CGK) – Seoul-Incheon (ICN) in Korean Air business class
• Seoul-Incheon (ICN) – Sydney (SYD) in Korean Air business class
• Sydney (SYD) – Los Angeles (LAX) in Delta One Suites
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Mexico City (MEX) in Aeromexico business class or Delta business class
• Mexico City (MEX) – New York City (JFK) in Aeromexico business class

This itinerary spans a whopping 38,297 miles in total distance traveled, which is an even more extreme example of a round-the-world trip you can book with Aeromexico Club Premier points.

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Oneworld Round-the-World Trips (Asia Miles)

If you’re looking to book a round-the-world trip on Oneworld airlines, redeeming Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is definitely the best bet. 

There are more rules and restrictions associated with Asia Miles’s round-the-world trips, also known as Oneworld multi-carrier awards:

1. If your itinerary doesn’t include Cathay Pacific as one of the carriers, you can use up to 2 Oneworld airlines
2. If your itinerary does include Cathay Pacific as one of the carriers, you can use 3 or more Oneworld airlines 
3. The maximum total flight distance allowed is 50,000 miles
4. You can have up to 5 stopovers, 2 layovers/transfers, and 2 open jaws
5. You must finish and start your trip in the same city

If you follow these rules, you’ll obey the award chart here: 

Here is a great example trip you can book:

• New York City (JFK) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Bali-Denpasar (DPS) in Cathay Pacific business class
• Bali-Denpasar (DPS) – Doha (DOH) – Johannesburg (JNB) in Qatar Airways QSuites
• Johannesburg (JNB) – London-Heathrow (LHR) in British Airways business class
• London-Heathrow (LHR) – Madrid (MAD) in British Airways business class
• Madrid (MAD) – Buenos Aires (EZE) in Iberia business class
• Buenos Aires (EZE) – New York City (JFK) in American Airlines Flagship Business Class

The total flight distance would be around 36,872 miles, which means you would redeem 240,000 miles in business and 150,000 miles in economy for this ticket. 

Another great example itinerary you can book is: 

• San Francisco (SFO) – London-Heathrow (LHR) in British Airways business class
• London-Heathrow (LHR) – Cape Town (CPT) in British Airways business class
• Cape Town (CPT) – Doha (DOH) – New Delhi (DEL) in Qatar Airways QSuites
• New Delhi (DEL) – Hong Kong (HKG) – Sydney (SYD) in Cathay Pacific business class
• Sydney (SYD) – Tokyo-Haneda (HND) in Japan Airlines business class
• Tokyo-Haneda (HND) – San Francisco (SFO) in Japan Airlines business class

The total flight distance would be around 34,474 miles, which means you would redeem 210,000 miles in business and 130,000 miles in economy for this ticket.

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Star Alliance Round-the-World Trips (ANA Mileage Club)

The very last method for booking round-the-world trips we’ll discuss is for Star Alliance flights. There are a couple of possible loyalty programs you can use, but the best, by far, is ANA Mileage Club. 

Here are the rules:

1. You must cross both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans once
2. You must fly in one direction (exceptions have been granted for positioning flights to a Star Alliance hub)
3. You are allowed up to 8 stopovers
4. Up to 4 ground transfers (open-jaws or airport changes) are allowed, but they count as 2 stopovers
5. Ground transfers do not count in the mileage calculation
6. The minimum trip duration is 10 days
7. You are allowed up to 12 segments
8. You must return to the continent on which you began your trip.

Here’s ANA’s round-the-world award chart:

Let’s go through a couple of example round-the-world trips that would be valid bookings:

• Chicago (ORD) – Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) in ANA business class or United Polaris class
• Tokyo-Haneda/Narita (HND/NRT) – Bangkok (BKK) in ANA business class or THAI Airways business class
• Bangkok (BKK) – Addis Ababa (ADD) in Ethiopian Airlines business class
• Addis Ababa (ADD) – Johannesburg (JNB) in Ethiopian Airlines business class
• Johannesburg (JNB) – Zurich (ZRH) in Swiss Air business class
• Zurich (ZRH) – Sao Paulo (GRU) in Swiss Air business class
• Sao Paulo (GRU) – Chicago (ORD) in United Polaris class

The total flight distance would be around 32,263 miles, which would cost 200,000 ANA miles in business and 140,000 ANA miles in economy.

As another example, you could book the following itinerary as an ANA round-the-world award trip:

• Houston (IAH) – Frankfurt (FRA) in United Polaris class or Lufthansa business class
• Frankfurt (FRA) – Cape Town (CPT) in Lufthansa business class
• Cape Town (CPT) – Nairobi (NBO) in Ethiopian Airlines business class
• Cairo (CAI) – Bangkok (BKK) in EgyptAir business class
• Bangkok (BKK) – Taipei (TPE) in EVA Air business class or THAI Airways business class
• Taipei (TPE) – Brisbane (BNE) in EVA Air business class
• Auckland (AKL) – Houston (IAH) in Air New Zealand business class

This trip would be 31,264 miles in total flight distance, which would also cost 200,000 miles in business and 140,000 miles in economy.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, there are a mind-boggling number of ways to use your Amex points for travel. The secret, though, is strategically utilizing Amex’s transfer partners. 

Amex has both airline and hotel partners, but the highest value you’ll get from your Amex points will undoubtedly be from redeeming them for business and first class flights. 

On the other hand, you can get some incredible value at luxury hotels if you have Chase points, especially when booking Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties!

Luckily, it’ll cost fewer points than you think to do so, as long as you follow the redemption tips in this guide above.

However, if you feel you would get tremendous value in outsourcing the planning of your points travel, consider using a points consultant.

Learn more about our points consulting services!

Featured Image Credit: AuPACS