Airlines

Probably the most unique journey experiences you may e book with factors

You do not want me to remind you that factors and miles can be utilized for fancy flights and posh lodge stays.

However do you know that your rewards can land you stays on non-public islands and doubtlessly even a visit to house?

Factors and miles can do wonders. This put up will look at probably the most unique journey experiences your rewards should buy. Not solely are these uber-cool experiences, however they provide an honest worth on your factors, too.

Virgin Galactic flight to house

VIRGIN GALACTIC

Arms down, probably the most uncommon redemption you may make is on a drawing to win a visit to house with Virgin Galactic. The worth? A cool 2 million Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors. Fortunately, the factors are solely deducted out of your account for those who win.

Industrial flights launched in June. The journey might be a three-day expertise that features flight preparation and a two-hour house flight with a minimum of 5 minutes of weightlessness.

Though Flying Membership is a switch accomplice of all the main transferable factors applications— American Categorical Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards — there’s one main restriction. The phrases and situations explicitly state that solely factors earned on Virgin Atlantic flights qualify for eligibility into the drawing. You can also’t switch factors from different members’ accounts.

Ticket costs for Virgin Galactic house flights at the moment begin at $450,000, so you would be getting 22.5 cents in worth per level, which is phenomenal. TPG valuations peg Virgin factors at 1.5 cents apiece.

Associated: You would quickly redeem miles for flights to house — this is how

Every week at Richard Branson’s non-public island

VIRGIN LIMITED EDITION

After all, a visit to house is not the one possibility for these swimming in Virgin factors. You may also redeem 540,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors plus $5,400 for a four-night keep for 2 at Richard Branson’s Necker Island.

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Necker Island is a 74-acre private-island oasis north of Virgin Gorda and east of Puerto Rico, within the British Virgin Islands. The resort sleeps as much as 40 individuals throughout 15 complete rooms. Facilities embody infinity swimming pools, serene rest areas, a number of bars, elegant eating areas, garden video games, tennis courts, water sports activities and a scorching tub immediately on the seashore.

Bookings are restricted to those that have Virgin Atlantic Silver or Gold standing, although you might be able to standing match to Virgin Atlantic from one other airline or lodge program.

Associated: Non-public-island resorts you may e book with factors

Verify in to Etihad’s A380 Residences

NICKY KELVIN/THE POINTS GUY

The primary airline to introduce a single aisle on the A380, Etihad gives first-class “Residences” with an unimaginable quantity of private house, permitting you to stroll round inside your non-public house. Every seat in an Condo consists of a large armchair and a separate sofa that converts right into a 6-foot, 10-inch mattress.

9 Residences alternate between forward- and rear-facing, in addition to between being nearer to the window and nearer to the aisle.

Rows 3 and 4 are ideally suited for those who’re touring with somebody, as a partition will be lowered to attach the seats. It would not type a real double mattress like yow will discover on Singapore Airways and Qatar Airways, however with the doorways closed, it is about as non-public as you may get in business aviation in the present day. First-class passengers can clean up by taking an onboard bathe earlier than touchdown.

Etihad flies the A380 between Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport (AUH) and Heathrow Airport (LHR). The A380 will even return on the longer path to John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) from April 22, 2024. You’ll be able to e book the Residences utilizing American Airways AAdvantage miles for 62,500 miles on the shorter London route or 115,000 miles on the longer New York route.

Within the entrance of the Etihad A380 first-class cabin, the place you’d count on to see seats 1A and 1C, is the “Residence” — a three-room megasuite full with a separate front room, bed room and toilet (with a bathe, after all). Whilst you can’t e book the Residence with factors and miles, you may improve with money.

Customary one-way Residence improve costs on the New York route might be $4,520 per individual.

Keep on the North Island resort in Seychelles

MARRIOTT

When you’re sitting on a big stash of Marriott Bonvoy factors, you need to use them to remain on the unimaginable North Island, a Luxurious Assortment Resort in Seychelles.

You will get to remain in a two-bedroom villa that covers practically 5,000 sq. ft. Your keep will even embody complimentary breakfast, use of an island buggy, morning yoga and youngsters actions.

Award nights price greater than 385,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time, and the lodge has a four-night minimal keep requirement. This charge additionally would not embody the 814 euros ($889) you’d must pay for a helicopter switch every manner. Nonetheless, contemplating money charges commonly cross $7,000 per night time, this may very well be thought-about an important worth — so long as you might have an enormous stash of Marriott factors.

Associated: 17 methods to earn plenty of Marriott Bonvoy factors

All-inclusive, non-public Calala Island resort

CARISSA RAWSON/THE POINTS GUY

World of Hyatt members can redeem 35,000 to 45,000 factors per night time to remain on the uber-exclusive Calala Island resort, assuming yow will discover award availability.

Calala Island is an all-inclusive, private-island resort positioned off the coast of Nicaragua. It is so unique that it has simply 4 beachfront suites and may solely accommodate eight friends at a time.

Room charges commonly high $2,000 per night time, so it is an absolute steal with factors. Stays embody meals, drinks, actions and airport transfers.

Associated: This is tips on how to shortly fill up on Hyatt factors on your subsequent trip

Bathe on board in Emirates top notch

JT GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

There are no methods to redeem factors and miles for personal jet journey, however Emirates top notch is the subsequent neatest thing.

Sadly, it is gotten costlier to e book these awards. Emirates stopped releasing first-class award house to most accomplice applications and subsequently made these redemptions costlier by means of its personal frequent flyer program. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless e book these awards by means of Emirates Skywards, Qantas Frequent Flyer or Air Canada Aeroplan.

If you wish to expertise gold-studded suites and onboard showers and bars, you may wish to fly on Emirates’ flagship A380 plane. If trendy sports activities car-inspired interiors are extra your fashion, go for Emirates’ newer 777-300ER planes with the “Recreation Changer” totally enclosed suites. It doesn’t matter what aircraft you find yourself on, you may get pleasure from Emirates’ identical top-notch meals and drinks (together with caviar and Dom Perignon) and repair.

Emirates typically costs decrease redemption charges than Qantas or Air Canada, with first-class flights between John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB) costing 136,500 miles every manner. You’ll be able to switch factors to Emirates from all six main transferable factors applications: Chase Final Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.

Associated: The most effective applications for reserving Emirates awards

Air France’s La Premiere top notch

EMILY MCNUTT/THE POINTS GUY

One other top-notch first-class product is Air France’s La Premiere, obtainable solely on a few of the provider’s 777-300ERs. The cabin options simply 4 seats throughout a single row, making it one of many smallest and most unique cabins within the sky.

La Premiere seats are elegant and personal, that includes a person lamp at each seat and floor-to-ceiling curtain dividers. The meals is world-class, and the bottom expertise is unparalleled; passengers get chauffeured from an ultraluxe first-class lounge and the aircraft in a personal automotive.

Sadly, this product is extraordinarily laborious to e book with miles. To e book La Premiere awards with miles, you will need to maintain Air France-KLM Flying Blue Gold or Platinum elite standing. Additional, eligible elite members can solely redeem on the “flex” degree (not saver), so a one-way ticket between the U.S. and Europe will price a minimum of 220,000 miles.

When you’re eligible to e book these awards, you may switch factors to Flying Blue from Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou, Chase Final Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.

Associated: Bucket record achieved: Reviewing Air France’s extremely hard-to-book La Premiere top notch

Double beds in Singapore’s first-class suites

ZACH HONIG/THE POINTS GUY

When you’re touring with a major different, you may’t beat Singapore Airways’ A380 suites.

Every suite options a powerful 50 sq. ft and comprises not only a reclinable armchair however a wholly separate mattress. When you’re touring with somebody, you may mix two suites to create a double mattress and have as much as 100 sq. ft of house.

Singapore would not launch first-class award house to accomplice applications, nevertheless it does make it obtainable by means of its personal KrisFlyer frequent flyer program. Suites flights begin at 86,000 miles between New York’s JFK and Frankfurt Airport (FRA).

It is simple to get your fingers on KrisFlyer miles for the reason that program is a accomplice of American Categorical Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Capital One.

Associated: The best way to e book Singapore Airways first-class Suites with factors and miles

Luxurious Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties

ISABELLE RAPHAEL/THE POINTS GUY

You’ll be able to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties. Beforehand, the model didn’t take part within the loyalty program.

Ritz-Carlton Reserve is considered one of Marriott’s most unique manufacturers, with simply 5 properties worldwide in areas comparable to Japan and Thailand. It is a step above the usual Ritz-Carlton model, emphasizing luxurious, tranquility and sustainability. The properties are intimate, every composed of fifty to 115 rooms, and are in distant areas.

Award stays typically vary from 80,000 to 240,000 factors per night time. Though steep, the money charges at these accommodations are sometimes north of $800 per night time. As with different Marriott Bonvoy award stays, you may get a fifth night time free for each 4 consecutive nights you e book with factors.

Associated: Now you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties

Backside line

You’ll be able to redeem factors and miles for some actually luxurious flights and lodge stays that may usually price tens of hundreds of {dollars}.

With just a few giant sign-up bonuses and being strategic along with your spending, an extravagant first-class flight or journey to a personal island may very well be inside attain.

And who is aware of, you would possibly simply win the drawing for a visit to house.

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