The Five First-Class Cabins on This Travel Writer's Must-Fly List

The Points Guy's Eric Rosen says he flies economy as often as anyone, but he will jump on a first-class award when the value is right. His most recent win was a Qantas first-class ticket from Los Angeles to Melbourne for 130,000 miles plus about $20 in taxes — a fare that would have cost close to $15,000 in cash. He notes, however, that premium award availability is getting harder to find, citing Lufthansa's reported decision to cut off partner airlines from booking first-class awards and Emirates' restriction of first-class redemptions to elite Skywards members.

Rosen's shortlist includes five cabins: ANA's eight-suite “The Suite” product on Boeing 777-300ERs; Air France's redesigned La Premiere; Japan Airlines' first class on its Airbus A350-1000s; Singapore Airlines' A380 Suites; and Etihad's first-class Apartment on the A380. Each has its own booking quirks, from ANA's low-season pricing to Air France's requirement that award bookings come from Flying Blue Platinum members.

To secure these seats, Rosen leans on transferable points, direct bookings with airline loyalty programs, waitlisting where available, and one status match currently offered by Flying Blue. He also keeps an eye on JAL A350 routes and uses a Seats.aero alert to catch award space as soon as it appears. Future products, such as Cathay Pacific's Halo Suites, may join the list once Boeing 777-9 deliveries arrive — which he calls a fluid timeline.

Why Booking First-Class With Miles Now Takes Strategy

The Pattern Behind Tighter First-Class Award Access

Several reported details point to a clear trend. Lufthansa has reportedly stopped partner airlines from letting their members book first-class awards, and Emirates now limits first-class Skywards redemptions to members with elite status. In Rosen's telling, the consequence is that flyers must work harder — using an airline's own miles, earning status, or finding a status match like Flying Blue's $199 offer.

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That is an interpretation, but it fits the evidence in the story: direct bookings with ANA, Flying Blue, KrisFlyer and Etihad Guest are the paths he recommends, while partner-carrier awards are rare or restricted.

What the Booking Tactics Actually Require

Each strategy in the story has a specific trade-off. Booking ANA directly with 75,000 Mileage Club miles can be cheaper than using Virgin Atlantic points at 72,500–85,000, but only if availability exists. Singapore's waitlist approach is notable because it does not lock up miles at booking time; the points only need to be in the account when the award is waitlisted. Etihad, by contrast, offers little to partner programs, so Etihad Guest miles are the practical route. These are workable tactics, but they depend on flexible dates, existing balance, and, in some cases, elite status.

How to Chase These First-Class Awards With Your Own Points

These bookings are realistic only if you are flexible and already hold or are willing to acquire points. Based on Rosen's plans:

  • For ANA The Suite, search ANA's own site for low-season one-way awards at 75,000 miles, with an alternative of 72,500 Virgin Atlantic points from the U.S. West Coast or 85,000 from the East Coast.
  • Set Seats.aero alerts for JAL A350 first class, then book with 100,000 American Airlines miles plus about $5.60 in fees from the U.S., or roughly $60 the other way.
  • Consider Flying Blue's $199 status match from AAdvantage Platinum Pro to Gold, then earn 300 Experience Points on Air France-KLM flights to reach Platinum and unlock La Premiere awards.
  • Use KrisFlyer miles to waitlist Singapore Suites awards (148,000 miles each way to Europe, 98,000 to Australia, 61,500 to Delhi or Mumbai), keeping the required balance in your account.
  • For Etihad Apartment, book with Etihad Guest miles: 120,000–140,000 to London plus $360–$700 in taxes and fees, and 200,000 to Toronto plus around $600–$650.

Rosen notes that ANA first-class seats sell out quickly and that JAL awards on A350 routes often need an extra domestic leg, so flexibility on dates and a willingness to position yourself can be the deciding factor.