Blog #7: 01/19/23: Aviation Blog - News - 6 of the Very Best First Class Seats You Can Book with Award Miles
Good evening! Tonight’s aviation news details six of the very best first class seats/suites you can “technically” book with award miles; Welcome back to another episodic blog of Brooke In The Air!
Today’s (01/19/2023) blog features Aviation News! The top source for news in commercial aviation!
Evaluated first by CNN Underscored, then by CNN Money Matters and confirmed by Chase - where applicable- Business, like First Class, is often marketed as the height of luxury air travel, especially in the West, where First Class is increasingly disappearing in lieu of an expanded Business Class. Examples include United Airlines’ International Polaris class, and Air Canada’s Signature class. The latter I’ve flown domestically in Canada and it is phenomenal though the service was honestly mediocre, especially on the 787-9 Dreamliner.
The world’s top airlines continue to strive to outdo one another, from airport services to lounges, and the airline seats are absolutely no exception. These include cutting edge, state-of-the-art true First Class cabins (you won’t find any of these seats in North America) and invite you to relax in the lap of pure luxury. Without further ado, I present, the six bst seats you can now book with award miles, saving tens of thousands of your hard-earned dollars!
SQ’s A380 suite
Emirates Airlines 777-300ER
First Class Suite with Style!
An interior look at Cathay Pacific’s First Class option on the Boing 777-300ER
All Nippon Airways (ANA) The Suite on the 777-300ER
A future rendering for Lufthansa’s business and first class product. Right now, it’s very…lackluster.
Singapore Airlines A380 Suite
You’ll see why Singapore Airlines’ A380 is the world’s best airline when you book this flagship suite. A comfortable, reclining, leather swivel chair is the centerpiece of the suite, front-mounted towards a 32-inch OLED TV. Incredible amenities are included, as well as a dine-when-you-want option including caviar, blinis, high-end champagne (such as Dom Perignon and Krug), next to the chair is an actual high-number thread count bed. You can order such outstanding dining delicacies as Lobster Thermidor or anything off their lavish menu. If you want a flight full of appetizers, that’s entirely your choice. The Chicken Satay is particularly good. The Singapore cabin crew is renowned for being iconically excellent, bar none, providing exceptional service and making you feel right at home. It doesn’t take a lot to snag a seat on the iconic Best Seat in the Skies, nly 86,000 KrisFlyer miles, and as a member of the Star Alliance there’s multiple ways to arrange this, excluding taxes and fees (around $6 USD). - Affiliated credit cards: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You Rewards, and Capital One Miles. The only catch is: Singapore is pulling out of North America by June of 2023.
Emirates First Class on their famous Boeing 777-300ER
The “Game Changer” suite for international First Class, Emirates’ product urged other airlines to up their game. From Groundside airport service, including lounge access, to virtual windows in the middle seats, zero-gravity seats, customizable mood lighting and in-suite temperature controls. You get First Class amenities such as noise-canceling headphones, skin care essentials (often by Byredo), an amenity kit from Bvlgari and luxury meals complete with cavier and high-end champagne! You won’t find Emirates 777 on routes to the US. so you will have to travel to London (London-Stansted - STN) to travel to its home base (and hub) of Dubai. Though Emirates does still fly its gigantic A380 on routes to the US. Cost: 85,000 Emirates Skywards miles (Emirates is not affiliated with any airline alliances HOWEVER they have partnered with United, allowing MileagePlus members to book on Emirates through United’s site). Affiliated Credit Cards: AMEX Platinum Cards, Capital One miles, Citi Thank You Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards
Air France La Premiere on the Boeing 777-300ER
I’ll preface this by saying it is technically possible to book La Premiere, but it is highly exclusive and there only 4 seats on the plane. Groundside service includes a private airport transfer, private security screening, a red carpet treatment when departing the hub of Paris - Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and private lounge access. You can enjoy a chef-curated menu while at the lounge. Once on board, you’ll find La Premiere grants you access to one of four exclusive seats in a single-row cabin. The seats, as most business- and first-class seats do, offer lie-flat bedding options, with a super-comfy mattress pad, memory-foam mattress, monogramed bathrobe, slippers, and of course, luxury French dining at 35,000 feet. Platinum status with Air France’s Flying Blue (their frequent flyer) program, is required to book La Premiere plus you need to find award availability. A one-way trip between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and New York-JFK starts at 220,000 miles, plus taxes and fees. But if you can meet these requirements, it IS possible.
All Nippon Airways “The Suite” on the Boeing 777-300ER
Otherwise known as “The Room”, the airline known as the “Inspiration of Japan” offers one of the best business-class products in the world and one of the very few airlines to offer an enclosed suite, ANA took inspiration from 5-star hotels when designing their product. The partition can always be lowered for traveling companions, while the look and feel feel of the suite exude comfort and relaxation with enchanting minimalist details to provide a luxury experience unlike any other in the skies, including a massive feature: a 43-inch OLED TV display. ANA is renowned for best-in-class catering, allowing you to choose between Asian and Western cuisine, or you an mix-and-match. Booking is possible with either Star Alliance membership airlines (booking through that airline’s site) or Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club, as Virgin Atlantic and ANA are partner airlines. Cost: 60,000 miles each way, or 120,000 roundtrip. Affiliated Credit Cards: American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi Thank You Rewards,
The last two airlines are similar in qualifications to the above four so I won’t delve into much detail.
Lufthansa First Class - Boeing 747-8i or Boeing 777-300ER
Not exactly cutting edge but German hospitality and red carpet treatment can’t be beat on its route from Frankfurt (FRA), including chauffeur service across the tarmac to your waiting plane. Cost: Many ways to book, as Lufthansa is a member of the Star Alliance, you’ll still end up paying around 1,700 USD because of surcharges Lufthansa places on award tickets. Around 174,000 and 104 USD on average for a roundtrip ticket, or around 87,000 for a one-way trip. It’s best to be flexible with your travel plans if you’re planning to fly Lufthansa, looking about 15-days from departure. EDIT: Significant negative reviews across various sites have been leveraged against Lufthansa who has failed to respond to them or improve on services rendered, or lack thereof.
Cathay Pacific First Class - Boeing 777-300ER
Exclusive and luxurious, you can’t get much better in Southeast Asian airlines than Cathay Pacific. The seat can, of course, like others, be converted into a lie-flat bed. The seat is convertible to lounge mode, like other business- and first-class accommodations; it was a comfortable ottoman that slides out or converts into another albeit small seat so you can have a meeting, host a friend, or have a shared dining experience. Cost: As a member of the One-World Alliance, the easiest way to book is with Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan miles - a one-way trip will cost 70,000 miles, 140,000 for a roundtrip ticket though Alaska Mileage Plan miles are fairly easy to acquire.
Until next time, this is Brooke from Brooke In the Air, and I’ll see you in the air! Remember to visit my YouTube channel for travel videos, and like, comment, subscribe!
A glimpse of Air France’s La Premiere suite on the 777-300ER
