First Class flights have become the ultimate travel flex but behind the Instagram videos and gold-trimmed cabins lies a serious question: is First Class actually worth the points?
On the latest Point Hacks Podcast, I sat down with Chris Chamberlin to rank the best First Class seats you can book from Australia, break down the real costs, and explain when it makes sense (and when it might be best to avoid).
When First Class is worth it (and when it’s not)
One of the biggest takeaways from the episode is that timing matters just as much as the product.
“I want to do First Class when I want it to be an experience.”
Overnight flights where you board, sleep and wake up exhausted are often better value in Business Class when a lie-flat bed is all you need. First Class shines on long daytime or evening flights where you can savour the lounge and service, and still get meaningful rest.
How to actually find First Class reward seats
Finding First Class availability requires patience and flexibility.
Chris recommends:
- Planning up to 12 months ahead
- Frequently checking your travel dates on the airline’s booking page
- Using tools like ExpertFlyer, Seats.aero and the Point Hacks subscription to keep up to date with reward seat drops
- Being flexible with dates, routes, or even destinations
“ if you are just sitting there with points saying, I want to have this experience, I wanna try First Class for the first time, and you have a flexible calendar, you are probably gonna do all right.”
Further Reading & Helpful Links
The five best First Class suites flying from Australia (2025)
Read how Chris received a free First Class upgrade on Cathay Pacific in 2024
Read and watch my experiences with First Class over the years
- Emirates A380 First Class
- Singapore Airline Suites
- Japan Airlines 777 First Class
- That time we compared the cost of Emirates First vs a night out in Sydney
Qantas American Express Ultimate
- Sign-up Bonus:
- Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
- Rewards Earn Rate:
- 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
- Annual Fee:
- $450 p.a.
- Offer expires
- 5 May 2026
- Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points in Year 1 with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card when you apply online by 5 May 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, 30,000 bonus Qantas Points in Year 2 after minimum of $1 spend on the Card within 90 days of paying the Year 2 Annual Card Fee.
Where to Watch & Listen
For the full experience, including additional tips and footage from our adventures, you can watch Point Hacks on our YouTube channel. We also publish our key takeaways on Instagram and TikTok.
Prefer to listen? The Point Hacks Podcast is available on your favourite podcasting app including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, iHeartRadio, and good old fashion RSS.
