Ever stroll past business class and think your turn will come someday?

It can come sooner than you expect. With the right approach, your next long haul trip could be in a lie flat seat for less than many travelers spend on economy.

Here is how one traveler made it happen with only a small cash cost.

Last month, Henna flew business class from New York to Paris. The passenger next to her paid about 4,500 dollars.

Henna paid 283.60 dollars in taxes and fees.

Here is the exact process she followed.

Step 1: Build the Points Strategy

Airline to target: Air France and KLM

• Points required: 60,000 Flying Blue miles

• Transfer partners: Chase, American Express®, Citi, Capital One

Step 2: Accumulate the Points

Henna began with zero airline miles. Here is how she earned what she needed:

• Opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and earned 60,000 points

• Picked up 8,000 points through regular spending in three months

• Added 2,000 points from dining category bonuses

Total: 70,000 Chase points

Step 3: Search for Award Seats

• Used Flying Blue’s calendar tool

• Searched about six to eight months ahead

• Focused on midweek flights

• Checked partner airline options as well

Step 4: Transfer the Points

• Moved 60,000 Chase points to Flying Blue

• Transfer processed instantly

• Saved the remaining points for another trip

Step 5: Book the Flight

• Completed the booking on the Flying Blue website

• Paid 283.60 dollars in taxes and fees

• Selected a seat in advance

• Added meal preferences

From start to finish, the entire process took less than two months.

Common Questions

Is this complicated?

Following clear steps keeps it simple. Availability is usually the trickiest part, which is why planning ahead helps.

What about credit scores?

Henna’s score increased by 15 points after opening her card because she followed smart credit habits.

Do you need perfect credit?

A score of about 680 or higher works for most travel rewards cards, though strategies exist for lower scores too.

Pro Tips for Better Results

1. Be flexible with travel dates

• Midweek flights often have better award space

• Avoid peak seasons

• Use calendar search tools to spot low point rates

2. Watch for transfer bonuses

• Can reduce the number of points needed by 20 to 30 percent

• Sign up for program emails

• Check monthly promotions from transfer partners

3. Book well in advance

• Six to eight months ahead is the sweet spot

• Set reminders to search regularly

• Join waitlists when programs offer them

4. Pick the right rewards ecosystem

• Not all points provide equal value

• Prioritize transferable points

• Keep multiple airline partners in mind

The best part is that this approach works again and again. Once you know the system, business class becomes a repeatable strategy, not a once in a lifetime splurge.

The seat is the same whether you pay cash or points. The difference is knowing how to access it for a fraction of the cost.

A Strong Starter Card for Travel Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card delivers solid value for travelers learning how to earn and use transferable points. The yearly 50 dollar hotel credit through Chase Travel℠, the 5X earning rate on travel booked through the portal, triple points at restaurants, and double points on other travel purchases make it a practical first step into rewards.

Talk soon,

Your Maestro Concierge

Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are only the author’s and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.