How I Flew Business Class for $160 on an $8,198 Flight

Sep 20, 2025

Live Abroad

From $8,198 business class seats to $128 trips to London—here’s my system for booking luxury flights at a fraction of the cost.

The Reality Check

"I can't afford to travel."

This comment hits my inbox constantly, and honestly, I used to feel the same way. Looking at those $8,000 business class fares or even $1,500 economy tickets to Europe felt like watching someone else's life through a window.

But then something changed. I discovered a system that completely flipped my relationship with travel costs. Now I regularly book those same $8,000 business class seats for under $200. That Chicago to London trip that should have cost me $1,543? I paid $128.

I'm not talking about sketchy booking sites or once-in-a-lifetime mistake fares. This is a repeatable system that anyone with decent credit can master.

My Personal Travel Philosophy

Let me be honest with you - traveling has become the most enjoyable part of my life. I'd much rather live for experiences than accumulate things. Here's what I've learned after 15 years of traveling non-stop around the world:

Enthusiasm for material things fades, but memories of experiences and relationships last forever.

The things you learn and the ways you grow while traveling are genuinely priceless. You really just don't know what you don't know until you step outside your comfort zone.

The Card That Changed My Travel Game

Today I'm sharing the exact card I use personally - the American Airlines Barclays card, as well as how I got:

An $8,198 business class lie-flat seat for $160
A Chicago to London trip for $128 (originally $1,543)
Countless domestic and international flights for pennies on the dollar

Before I go further, I need to be straight with you about something: if you don't have decent credit, this won't work for you.

This system is USA-only (though other countries have similar offers). If your credit score is around 450, you don't really have a shot. I'd say 640+ puts the odds in your favor.

Here's my personal story with credit cards: I was completely against them for the longest time. Everything I did was on debit cards. Then about 12 years ago, I got my first credit card. There were just too many rewards and perks to pass up.

Now I have over 10 credit cards. As long as you pay them off in full every month, you're fine. I pay 0% interest because I always pay the full balance.

Why American Airlines Is My Go-To

American Airlines is the largest airline in the world, so you have incredible flexibility. They're also part of the OneWorld Alliance, which I'll share more about in future posts regarding airline loyalty.

I'm talking about things like getting 3 free bags at 70 pounds each (versus paying $50+ per bag), bringing everyone who flies with you under the same benefits, buying economy tickets and getting upgraded to first class. But today, let's focus on the simple thing anyone with decent credit can do.

The Exact Offer I'm Using Right Now

Annual fee: $99 - honestly, it's the best $99 you'll spend this year.

Here's what makes this card absolutely incredible:

60,000 miles (sometimes 70,000 depending on the time of year)
First-class check-in - you don't have to wait in those long economy lines
Zone 1 boarding - no more waiting until they call the last group
Free checked bag - instead of paying $40 to check a bag, you get it free, plus 4 people traveling with you get it free too
1 Companion fare - this is incredible, let it sink in. If you buy a ticket to Vegas and your flight is $500 roundtrip, you can bring up to 2 people with you for $99 each on the same flight

Here's what makes this card so amazing: There's no minimum spend before you get all these rewards. A lot of other cards make you spend $3,000, $10,000, even $40,000 before you get major benefits.

With this card, after your first $8 purchase at Chipotle for lunch, you get miles you can immediately use.

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The Real Numbers That Matter

Those 60,000 miles would cost you $1,918.07 if you bought them directly from American Airlines. I took a screenshot today to show you the exact cost.

Think about this: the card costs $100 for the year, and you only need to spend $1 to get the miles. You're literally getting $1,900 worth of miles. But here's where it gets crazy - I'll show you how you can buy that $8,000 business class flight with these exact miles.

My Real Travel Examples (All Searched Today)

I'm from Chicago, and this is where I fly out of. It's similar around the states, so adjust accordingly for your home airport.

Domestic Adventures

Chicago to Miami: 27,000 total miles plus $11.20 for taxes. You'd still have half your miles left over.

Something More Exotic

Chicago to Puerto Rico: 26,000 miles plus $11.20 roundtrip. This means you and a partner can hit Puerto Rico beaches for less than $150 total with the annual card fee included.

Taking Your Miles Even Further

My cost: 57,000 points plus $54.80 Cash price: $8,198

You're seeing the incredible value that a $100 card can deliver. Now imagine if you got 3 different cards - the possibilities multiply.

Let me share my personal spending strategy. Every dollar you spend on the card counts as a mile. If you're buying a flight on American, you get double points. So if your flight costs $500, you get 1,000 points.

Get the card Barclay here.

Here's my philosophy: I like to use cash as little as possible. If you're going to be spending money anyway, you might as well get rewarded for it.

You can earn points easily for simple things too. Like that $50-a-month Hello Fresh subscription? You earn 3,000 points after your first month, and you can cancel after that if you don't want to keep it.

Know Where You Stand

First thing's first - you need to know your credit situation. Download a free app like CreditSesame https://www.creditsesame.com/. It's incredibly important to know your credit score, and it will tell you what cards you'll likely be approved for without having to risk getting denied.

The application process: It takes about a week to receive the card, and you get your approval decision within minutes.

Beyond This Card: The Complete System

Currently, the Citi Bank American card gives you 80,000 miles when you sign up ($100 annual fee), but you need to spend $3,500 in the first 4 months, unlike this card that rewards you after the first purchase. $3,500 isn't bad at all in 4 months - great value.

Citibank Platinum Card

My Personal Invitation

The earlier you book your trips, the better. Not all days will be available for award travel, and some days might require more points. From everything I've seen throughout the industry, American is the best.

I hope you've found value in this breakdown. If you have, share it with your friends so they can earn free trips or take trips together with you.

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