There’s a suite, a butler and an apartment on a plane. It’s not the beginning of a joke, it’s the beginning of a post. Whether you have more miles than you know what to do with or simply like to dream, there are some absolutely ridiculous ways to spend your points and miles and that’s no joke. It’s nice to have goals in life and whether you are a prince or a pauper, these seats are worth aspiring to….

a room with a round table and a couch

a bed with white sheets and a purse on it

Etihad “The Residence”

Literally the most ridiculous product to ever take flight, the residence is exactly as it sounds: a royal residence. What flight would be complete without butler service, a sitting room, a bedroom, a chef and your own private shower/bathroom.

Miles: Sorry, out of luck here. The First Class “Apartments” go for as little as 40,000 one way though!

a bed with a tray of wine and rose petals

a woman in a dress standing in a plane

Singapore “R Class” Suites

How many airplane seats have you been in that were designed by luxury yacht makers? Designed to mimic the privacy of a luxury yacht state room, Singapore’s first class suites leave nothing to be desired. Whether it’s Dom Perignon on tap or the ability to turn two private suites into one queen sized bed, it’s just about impossible to beat a Singapore suite, unless of course you are in your residence on Etihad.

Miles: Only 57,375 each way between New York and Frankfurt. 31,875 SIN>HKG.

a woman in a red shirt on a bed

a seat in an airplane

Cathay Pacific First Class

There are no “suites” or “residences”, but this is a blissful experience along with your own personal tranquil orchid to keep you company from your secluded seat. Cathay first offers a similar level of seclusion as all the best, you might feel completely alone and offers an incredibly clean and well presented menu and service including Krug champagne. 

Miles: 67,500 American Airlines miles one way from US to Asia! Bookable with BA Avios as well!

a tv in the middle of an airplane

a woman reading a book in a chair in a business class

Emirates First Class Suites

All gold everything. Be prepared for an extra sensory experience in wood grain, Bulgari, gold and vintage Dom Perignon. Emirates first “suites” offer a nicely walled in experience with large video monitors, chef quality food, an amenity kit complete with designed pajamas and correspondence stock (with gold accents of course) to tell all of your friends how wonderful life is. 

Miles: You can use Alaska, Japan and other currencies to book for around 100,000 each way.

a woman putting a bed on a man

a room with a couch and a table

Thai Royal First

No suites or residences, but all of the good c’s are here: canapés, caviar, champagne. If you are a lobster person, Thai Airways is known for serving the best lobster in the sky. I am sure the Dom Perignon vintage 2004 pairs quite well with it. 

Miles: You can use United and other Star Alliance miles to book for around 80,000 each way to start.

inside a plane with a large table and chairs

Short of a private jet fitted for royalty (as seen above) these seats are as good as it gets. I love getting every penny out of my miles and it’s pretty neat to redeem for these impossibly expensive  ultra luxe seats. All you hoarders may finally have a reason to cash in! Get to it, these things won’t last forever. 

Gilbert Ott

Gilbert Ott is an ever curious traveler and one of the world's leading travel experts. His adventures take him all over the globe, often spanning over 200,000 miles a year and his travel exploits are regularly...

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