Best Credit Cards for Booking Business Class Flights
Overview
Credit card rewards programs are one of the most accessible ways to reduce the cost of business class flights. Transferable points currencies—where points can be moved to airline frequent flyer programs—offer the highest value for premium cabin redemptions. This guide covers how credit card points work for business class bookings and examines the most relevant cards for this purpose.
How Credit Cards Help You Fly Business
The core mechanism is straightforward: earn points on everyday spending, transfer those points to an airline partner, and redeem them for business class award seats. The value per point varies by program and redemption, but well-executed transfers typically yield 1.5–3 cents per point—far exceeding the value of cashback or statement credits.
Key factors that determine a card’s usefulness for business class travel include the earning rate on common spending categories, the breadth of airline transfer partners, the transfer ratio (ideally 1:1), and supplementary travel benefits like lounge access and travel credits.
Top Cards for Business Class
Amex Platinum
The American Express Platinum Card earns 5× points on flights booked directly with airlines and on amextravel.com, and 1× on other purchases. Membership Rewards transfers at a 1:1 ratio to over 20 airline partners, including ANA, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada Aeroplan, and British Airways Avios. The card also provides access to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and airline-specific lounge programs. The annual fee is substantial, so the card is most valuable for travelers who use the bundled credits and travel frequently.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3× points on travel and dining and 1× on everything else. Ultimate Rewards transfers 1:1 to partners including United MileagePlus, Hyatt, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Air France–KLM Flying Blue. The card includes a Priority Pass membership, a $300 annual travel credit, and trip delay insurance. It is a strong all-around card with a lower effective annual fee after the travel credit.
Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X earns 2× miles on all purchases, with 10× on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Miles transfer 1:1 to a growing list of airline partners including Turkish Miles & Smiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, and Emirates Skywards. The card includes a $300 annual travel credit and access to Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass. Its flat 2× earning rate makes it appealing for those who prefer simplicity.
Points Earning Strategies
Maximizing points for business class requires deliberate spending allocation. Use the highest-earning card for each category: a 5× card for flights, a 3× card for dining, and a 2× card for everything else. Combine sign-up bonuses across multiple cards in the same points ecosystem to accelerate earning. For example, pairing a personal and business card in the Amex ecosystem can yield 150,000–200,000 points in the first year from bonuses alone—enough for a round-trip business class flight to Asia on ANA.
Pay attention to transfer bonuses, which airlines periodically offer (e.g., a 30% bonus when transferring from Amex to a partner). These bonuses can meaningfully reduce the points cost of a redemption.
FAQ
How many points do I need for a business class flight?
It varies widely by airline and route. As a general benchmark, a one-way long-haul business class award ticket costs 50,000–90,000 points through most airline programs. Some sweet spots exist, such as ANA round-trip to Japan for 88,000 Virgin Atlantic points or Turkish Airlines to Europe for 45,000 miles one-way.
Is it better to earn airline miles or transferable points?
Transferable points offer more flexibility because they can be moved to whichever airline program offers the best redemption rate for your specific trip. Airline-specific miles lock you into one program, which may not always have award availability on your preferred route and date.
Do credit card points expire?
In most transferable points programs, points do not expire as long as the account remains open and in good standing. However, once points are transferred to an airline program, they become subject to that airline’s expiration policy, which varies by carrier. Check the specific program’s terms before transferring.
Are annual fees worth it for these cards?
For travelers who book at least one or two business class trips per year, the value of earned points, lounge access, and travel credits typically exceeds the annual fee. For infrequent travelers, a no-annual-fee card with a lower earning rate may be more appropriate.