We’ve enjoyed flying in Singapore Suites, Etihad First Class Apartment, Emirates First Class, Cathay Pacific First Class, Qantas First Class, JAL First Class and other first class and business class flights. Something to be aware of when redeeming your frequent flyer miles and loyalty points is the redemption value you’re redeeming at. Paid flights, even economy flights, eat into a travel budget. Few people book refundable airline tickets, due to their much higher cost. Last but not least, flying first class or business class in a flat bed seat, with the greater space, comfortable bedding and pajamas, perhaps a complimentary massage in the lounge before the flight and a shower on the flight, means you can arrive truly refreshed at your destination, instead of exhausted and jetlagged.

Another reason to use your points for upgrades as opposed to “free” flights is that if you choose to redeem for a flight ticket, your “free” flight will most probably end up costing you hundreds – if not close to a thousand-  dollars. This is because only the actual base fare is free in these cases. The airline collects taxes and bane of the modern traveller; fuel surcharges.

Key Points:

• Few people book refundable airline tickets, due to their much higher cost.
• Something to be aware of when redeeming your frequent flyer miles and loyalty points is the redemption value you’re redeeming at.
• For us, having used miles and points for our flights, that means we’ll splurge on the best hotel possible, great meals, and activities such as scuba diving.

“While we rarely pay for flights and hence don’t have frequent flyer elite status with any airline, we earn about a million miles and points a year from our credit cards, including signup bonuses, category bonuses and spend, and these miles enable us to reserve first class and business class award tickets that retail for anywhere from $5000 to $25,000 or more, per ticket.”

Original Source: 5 reasons to use your miles and points for first class and business class flights