This is how to redeem just 62,500 Amex, Capital One or Citi points for a first-class flight to Australia
Editor's Note
Finding business- or first-class award space to Australia is notoriously difficult. When I started planning a trip to Australia on points and miles, I spent months waiting for business-class award space on Qantas and Fiji Airways to redeem 55,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles to no avail.
But then, I checked out Etihad Guest, transferred Capital One miles and booked a one-way flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Sydney Airport (SYD) on Christmas for just 62,500 miles and $50 — in Flagship First.
Etihad Guest is a lesser-known mileage currency with appealing award rates on partner airlines, including ANA, Brussels Airlines and American Airlines. In the case of its partnership with American Airlines, its award rates are often significantly less expensive than those of American's loyalty program, AAdvantage. In fact, Etihad's American award chart mirrors the AAdvantage award chart of 2016.
Here's what you need to know about this sweet spot.
It's the same price for business or first class
Etihad Guest has a published award chart (PDF link) for award travel on American Airlines. Interestingly, the business- and first-class award rates are the same for international American Airlines flights.
Next year, international first class on American Airlines will fade away. Still, my flight to Sydney was on the four-cabin Boeing 777-300ER, which has economy, premium economy, Flagship Business and Flagship First seats. And for now, you can redeem 62,500 miles and around $50 in taxes and fees to fly either Flagship Business or Flagship First.
So, since first class is the same price as business class, why not give it a shot?
Related: American introduces a new business-class fare that includes first-class perks
You're looking for Z or U fare classes
American uses the Z fare class for first-class MileSAAver awards and the U fare class for business-class MileSAAver awards. That means Eithad can only process bookings for this award if the Z or U fare classes are available.
I use ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures) to look for award space and set alerts.
If Z or U award space isn't available, consider setting an ExpertFlyer alert. That way, you'll receive an email if award space becomes available. Also, American Airlines doesn't always fly its Boeing 777-300ER to Sydney. In the screenshot below, you'll only see the U fare class since the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operating this Sydney route in March doesn't have a first-class cabin.
This is the alert email from ExpertFlyer, indicating that Z-fare award space became available.
Related: Beginners guide to finding award space with ExpertFlyer
You have to call in
As soon as I received the email that award space had become available, I knew that timing was of the essence. After all, American Airlines only has eight seats in Flagship First, and there were only two Z-fare seats.
Since Etihad Guest doesn't allow you to book American Airlines award flights online, I gave Etihad Guest a quick call at 877-690-0767. Contrary to some reports, my experience with Etihad Guest's customer service couldn't have been better. There was no hold time, and the extremely polite and professional agent was well aware of Etihad Guest's partnership with American Airlines and confirmed there was Z-fare award space.
Related: Etihad Guest miles continue to fly under the radar
Instantaneous transfers
After the customer service representative confirmed we could book the ticket, I logged in to my Capital One account. I then transferred 125,000 Capital One miles (enough for two tickets) while on the phone with Etihad Guest. Since award space could disappear and credit card point transfers are one-way, this was a stressful moment of truth.
The phone representative remained calm, composed and patient. Within less than 60 seconds of initiating the transfer from Capital One to Etihad Guest, I received the following email:
I now had 125,000 Etihad Guest miles that the representative used to book the two Flagship First seats. I provided a credit card for each ticket's $50 in taxes and fees.
In our tests, transfers from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou are instantaneous.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable points in 2023
Book at least 24 hours out
I made my flight reservation roughly 27 hours before departure, and the Etihad Guest phone representative told me I was lucky to call in when I did.
Etihad Guest cannot issue American Airlines award tickets within 24 hours of departure. Some phone representatives may not be aware of this condition. Subsequently, you might transfer your miles to Etihad Guest after a phone representative has confirmed award availability to then be told you can't book the flight since it's within 24 hours of departure.
Just make sure to book your flight before the 24-hour cutoff.
Related: Sweet Spot Sunday: Fly Brussels Airlines business class to Europe for just 44,000 miles
Bottom line
Was it worth the trouble setting ExpertFlyer alerts, calling Etihad Guest and transferring credit card points to book this flight? Absolutely.
According to Google Flights, one-way first-class seats between LAX and SYD routinely sell between $10,500 and $13,500 per person one-way. Assuming the cash fare for my flight fell within the mean of this range, I redeemed my Capital One miles at roughly 17.3 cents apiece — that's close to 10 times TPG's valuation.
My mom and I enjoyed the private Flagship First check-in at LAX, a private escort to security and access to the Qantas first-class lounge. While the catering on board the flight left room for improvement, the attentive service and comfortable seats gave us a full night's sleep on the plane.
When my travel plans call for a Flagship First route again, I know how to book it.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.