All this 10-year-old wants for the holidays are TPG's tips to fly Qantas first class
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
This time of year, most kids write letters to Santa and ask for new dolls, electronics or games. But there are children who write instead to The Points Guy with their holiday travel wishes.
Well, OK, maybe only one kid wrote to TPG this holiday season, but that kiddo has a points and miles wish list that puts many others to shame.
When 10-year-old Kyle Thomas wrote his holiday letter, he didn't ask for a gift card or a new Nintendo DS. He asked Brian Kelly, The Points Guy himself, how to redeem miles to fly in first class on the Qantas A380.
First, we have to say, great choice, Kyle. You are wise beyond your years.
Even better, Kyle, you're on the right track. Spending 70,000 Alaska Airlines MileagePlus miles (plus about $42) to fly 16 hours in Qantas first class on a route such as Dallas (DFW) to Sydney (SYD), is indeed the best option ... if you can find award space.
Kyle even knew about mileage running, and that getting the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is quick way to boost his mom's Alaska mileage balance.
Related: Review of Qantas A380 first class
The much harder part of the equation for Kyle (and the rest of us) is that scoring first class on Qantas routes between the U.S. and Australia is approaching unicorn territory. It can happen, but you're going to need lots of ExpertFlyer alerts, plenty of flexibility and even more luck. Or, just spend 10,000 more Alaska miles each way and instead fly Cathay Pacific first class to Australia, with a stop in Hong Kong (HKG). You're going to find Cathay first class on a 777-300ER instead of an A380, but it's still a great experience — and much easier to score with miles.
With some luck and practice, we have no doubt that Kyle will one day hold a ticket to fly the A380 in style with Qantas. Or, if he decides to change his holiday list a bit, there are plenty of other great first- and business-class products to fly using miles.
As for the rest of us, you can always email TPG at tips@thepointsguy.com if you don't want to mail in a letter. Or, simply subscribe to the free daily TPG newsletter to get points and miles tips and news dropped in your inbox each morning.
Kyle, we'll see you at the TPG offices to talk points and miles in 2020. Can't wait for you to apply for one of our job openings in a few years!
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended 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.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month