Book it with miles: This will depend on the route you’re trying to book. Flying between New York and London, you could redeem 57,500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles or 60,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles each way. American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points both transfer to British Airways’ Executive Club. You will need 50,000 to 60,000 Avios (B.A. miles) each way on this route. Taxes and surcharges can top $600 each way, no matter which kind of miles you redeem.
3. Virgin Atlantic
After dropping hints for months, Virgin Atlantic revealed it would be installing entirely new “Upper Class” seats aboard its order of 12 Airbus A350-1000s, which fly between London Heathrow and New York JFK.
The new seats have doors that slide about halfway shut for privacy and are arranged in a 1 – 2 – 1 pattern, with each seat angled slightly outward, toward the sides of the plane. The palette is also brighter than on the rest of Virgin’s fleet, with splashes of purple, coral, and an off-white cream lending the look some depth.
As for the specs that really matter: These seats are not the widest, at 20 inches, but they’re some of the longest, at up to 82 inches. Control the 18.5-inch high-definition screen with your phone via Bluetooth or head to the Loft, a lounge-style twist on Virgin’s famous in-flight bar, where you can work (martini in hand) at a booth or a standing desk.
Book it with miles: You have two main options: You can spend 86,000 Delta SkyMiles each way, plus $5.60 in airport taxes if departing the U.S., or around $300 in the other direction. By contrast, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club requires just 47,500 miles each way, but with $400 to $700 in taxes and fees. The program is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards (like Delta SkyMiles), as well as Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
4. Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines began flying the first of its 25 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with its newest business-class seats back in July, between Istanbul and Bali, Indonesia. That’s since expanded to include routes to Atlanta, and Washington. By spring 2020, the carrier’s Airbus A350s will be upgraded, too, and additional routes will head to New York, London, Dubai, and Los Angeles.
The cabin consists of 30 pod-like seats spread out in a 1 – 2 – 1 pattern, which is a far cry from the 2 – 2 – 2 and 2 – 3 – 2 arrangements previously on these planes. For the most privacy, opt for even-numbered rows; not every row has the same amount of space separating the seats, due to how they’re angled. Traveling with a companion? The odd-numbered rows may be better.
Despite all those major changes, the seats themselves are the same size as Turkish’s previous versions, at 22 inches wide by 76 inches long. Now, however, they are upholstered in noise-reducing Alcantara microfiber, feature do-not-disturb indicators, and have 18-inch HD touchscreens.
Book it with miles: Thanks to Turkish’s participation in Star Alliance, you can turn to United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan miles for the best redemption values. Aeroplan charges 57,500 miles each way from the U.S. to Turkey, while United requires 70,000 miles. If traveling round trip, you could also consider redeeming 88,000 ANA Mileage Club miles.
5. LATAM
South America’s largest airline is currently in the process of updating its Boeing 777s and 767s with all-new business-class seats to the tune of $400 million. Future Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 orders will also get the new seats, but the airline’s previously delivered 787s and A350s will not.