This year, I’ve spent a lot of hours flying - mostly long-haul.
And here’s the fact: most of those flights were Business Class.
Not because I like luxury (I do), but because I’ve learned how to make the airline miles system work.
Here’s how.
Tip 1: Try upgrading at the counter
My first Business Class flight was in 2018, and it changed everything.
Sometimes you can upgrade at check-in or on the plane, but deals vary:
Lufthansa upgrades can be around $900 instead of a $4–5K ticket.
Turkish Airlines and Emirates usually charge almost the same as full price.
Tip 2: Use miles for long-haul Business flights
When you redeem miles for flights — especially transatlantic or cross-country — you get the best value.
Example from one of my trips:
Amsterdam → San Francisco on United Airlines
Price in miles: 126,000 miles + $84
Price in cash: $5,709
That’s how our family of four — two adults and two kids — flew Business Class for $346 total.
(!) Important note here:
Never redeem your miles directly through your bank’s portal.
Instead, transfer your miles to airline loyalty programs and redeem them directly with the airline.
For example:
From Chase Business → United Airlines (MileagePlus)
From Chase → KLM / Air France (Flying Blue)
From Amex → Air Canada (Aeroplan)
This way, your miles are often worth 2–5× more compared to redeeming them through a bank portal.
Tip 3: Avoid wasting miles
Not all redemptions are equal:
For example, spending 250,000 miles on a JetBlue business class flight from San Francisco to New York just isn’t worth it - especially when you can sometimes fly business class from SF to Frankfurt on United for around 90,000 miles.
Always research before redeeming.
You’ll get the best value by using miles for long-haul Business or First Class, not short domestic flights.
Tip 4: Understand taxes and legal rules
In the U.S., miles earned through credit-card spending aren’t taxable - even from business cards.
But sign-up bonuses can be, since banks often send a 1099 form.
Tip 5: Choose the right credit cards
I use:
Chase Ink Business – triple points on ads, travel, shipping, and internet.
Chase Sapphire – great for personal travel, 60K-point bonus, and useful perks like lounge access and delivery memberships.
If your business runs ads or books frequent travel, these cards easily cover multiple Business Class trips per year.
Final note:
Miles aren’t free gifts, they’re a system. Once you understand how to collect and spend them, you can travel the world in comfort - without overpaying.