How to use frequent flyer points to fly first class

SHE paid 10 times less than the average price of a first class ticket, drank endless champagne and dined on lobster in the sky, here’s how it’s done.

EVERYONE dreams of flying first class at least once in their lives.

Don’t get me wrong, I love travelling and flying economy doesn’t bother me. I can fall asleep anywhere and I’m happy to pay for the cheapest seat in the house when I go on holidays.

But when walking through business or first class to get to my seat, I’ve often looked at the wide, lush armchairs and wished for a magical upgrade.

Lucky for me, my husband loves flying and knows every trick in the book to get a better seat.

And his points dorkiness really paid off when we started our honeymoon by flying first class to France.

For the bargain price of $1200 and thousands of frequent flyer points, he scored us bookings in first class from Sydney to Paris and in business class for the return.

A return first class fare in Europe peak’s season usually costs around $12,000 per ticket, so we paid 10 times less than the asking price.

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For the Sydney to Paris leg in first class we shelled out 127,500 points each. And for the Paris to Sydney business class leg we spent 112,265 points each. A total of 239,765 for each person. We purchased the flights on saver fares which cost less points. Note: we bought the tickets before Singapore Airlines changed their redemption structure. Right now you currently need more miles, but you spend less money.

There’s no better way to fly.

If that hasn’t sold you, here are some of the extras that you can enjoy when you get to the pointy end of the plane:

• Free flowing champagne (Dom Perignon or Krug), which can cost $400 a bottle in a restaurant.

• A six-course meal with choices of lobster, caviar and foie gras, which you can eat facing your travel companion as you would when dining out.

• Most importantly, a bed complete with sheets and a duvet. We were also kitted out with Salvatore Ferragamo perfume and lotions, and comfy pyjamas.

Now depending on the aircraft, you may or may not get to fly Singapore Airlines’ Suites class. Exclusive to A380s, Suites offers enclosed private cabins with sliding doors to create a bed for two. Launched in 2007, at the time the service was the first and only commercial airline with a double bed in the sky.

The food was phenomenal.

Thanks to careful research and more hours on hold from my husband, we flew Suites out of Singapore, where the experience became even more luxurious.

In Changi airport first class has a completely separate terminal for check-in and security: no queues and no waiting. From there, we were escorted to the Krisflyer lounge and within that, The Private Room: a lounge which offers an exclusive dining room where we were served more lobster, champagne and other delicious dishes.

But all of this didn’t exactly fall from the sky — pardon the pun.

How can you get a first class ticket without paying full price?

1. READ UP ON YOUR EARNING PER SPEND

Firstly, make sure your credit card is earning you points. If you want to speed the process, opt for a card that has the highest value per dollar spent. It’s usually one reward per $1 spent, but some cards can earn you three points per $1.

2. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR BONUS OFFERS

If you’re considering switching credit cards pay close attention to bonus points. Depending on the card, you could earn yourself 20,000 to 100,000 points just for getting a new card. You’ll usually need to hold onto the card for a certain period to keep them, so be sure to read the fine print.

3. DON’T BUY THE VACUUM CLEANER

Think it’s worth cashing in your points for that shiny new juicer? Guess again. Buying goods from the frequent flyer catalogue is the worst way to redeem miles. After upgrades, using points for booking business and first class fares is one of the best ways to use your points, so skip on the toaster and keep saving towards your goal.

4. CONSOLIDATE YOUR POINTS

Put all your eggs in one basket and where you can, try and book flights with the airline’s partners. Also, make sure you give your frequent flyer number for every flight and double-check it’s included on the boarding pass.

5. PLAN AHEAD

Airlines set aside a limited amount of redeemable seats so to cash in your points on a business or first class fare, you’re going to have to book a few months in advance — you usually can’t make this kind of booking two weeks out.

Sabine Leroy is PR manager for travel, tech and shopping at finder.com.au.

This article originally appeared on Escape and was reproduced with permission.

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