How to Book Turkish Business Class Using Points

Kara and Nate recently flew in Turkish Airlines business class, which offers an incredible dining experience in the sky. This boujee trip can cost over $7,000 for longer routes, but we’re here to show you how to book Turkish Airlines business class using miles and points (duh!). We’ll cover everything from the most affordable domestic flights to 14+ hour long-haul options, how to earn and redeem Turkish Airlines miles through Star Alliance partners, and tips for maximizing this often undervalued loyalty program. Kara and Nate share in this video what to expect from Turkish Airlines business class to help you decide if it’s worth your hard-earned points.

Earning Turkish Airlines Miles

Before diving into award chart sweet spots, let’s discuss how to earn Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles. The easiest way to earn Turkish Airlines miles is by transferring them from credit cards. Turkish Airlines is part of Star Alliance, allowing transfers from Capital One, Bilt, and Citi. This makes it unique, as it isn’t covered by major banks like Chase and American Express. We highly recommend having a combo of cards, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card alongside the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, to give you more transfer options and flexibility.

Understanding the Award Chart

Now let’s talk about the Turkish Airlines award chart, which tells us how many points are needed for various flights. Turkish Airlines uses a zone-based award chart, where pricing is based on your departure and arrival locations. They offer promotional and normal award ticket prices, with a significant difference between them. We'll focus on the promotional awards since they offer better value, though they can be tougher to find.

For flights from Turkey to North America in business class, the promotional rate is 65,000 points. If you include a connection, the cost jumps to 90,000 points. Turkish Airlines has a handy award calculator on their website where you can input your departure and arrival airports to find exact point requirements. They also provide a detailed breakdown of which countries fall into which award regions, including distinctions between Europe zones, so you can plan effectively.

Finding Your Flights

Now that you know how many points you need, let’s explore how to find your flights. Besides the Turkish Airlines flights, you can also use miles to book flights with Star Alliance partners like United, Singapore, and Lufthansa. The domestic partner chart is also very useful, especially for flights from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii or other domestic routes.

Award Ticket Examples

Let’s explore some sweet spots to get the maximum value from your points. Although Turkish Airlines has recently devalued its award chart, there are still some great opportunities out there. For example, flights from Europe Zone 1 to North America in economy class will cost 50,000 Turkish Airlines miles, making it a solid option for those traveling on a budget.

For long-haul business class flights, Turkish Airlines often has excellent routes. If you're looking at booking a ticket from North America to Istanbul, it can be as low as 85,000 miles if you catch a promotional award. Meanwhile, flights from Istanbul to Africa or the Middle East can also provide great value, often around 40,000 miles in business class.

If you plan to travel to Southeast Asia, Turkish Airlines is a fantastic option with great connections. With smart planning, you can often book these flights for 75,000 miles in business class, making it an appealing choice.

Booking Tips

When it comes to booking Turkish Airlines flights, flexibility is key. Be sure to check for flights on different days and routes to maximize your chances of finding that coveted promotional award ticket. Also, consider using tools like Google Flights to monitor availability before booking through Turkish Airlines’ website. And, if you're having trouble finding availability, try searching for one-way flights, which might open up more options!

Conclusion

Turkish Airlines offers fantastic value for those looking to travel in luxury without breaking the bank. By leveraging miles and points strategically, you can enjoy their award-winning business class experience. From understanding how to earn Turkish Airlines miles to navigating their award charts, this guide has everything you need to maximize your travel experience. So start packing your bags, friends!