* – I’m just going to start this post off by saying that I did not LITERALLY spend (only) 80 cents for a first class flight. If you came here expecting a report on how you could fly first class for only 80 cents, you might as well just stop reading right now! My record for cheapest first class ticket was $85 during the “Great Dane” mistake fare from February 2015.
A recent airline upgrade to flying first class cost me 80 cents out of pocket! Needless to say, that was the easiest decision I ever made!
My round the world flight
Many of you who read the blog know that I am in the middle of planning a round the world flight. The basic framework involves a flight from the US to Southeast Asia using American miles (flying either Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines first class), and then back to the US on Emirates First Class via Dubai, using Alaska miles.
If you’re interested in following through the logistics of the planning and booking of a ticket, you might be interested in some of the following posts:
- How’s this round-the-world (RTW) itinerary look?
- Trying to book a business class RTW ticket (Try #1… not good…)
- Finally got that RTW ticket booked – 159,500 miles and $148.86
It’s time to upgrade to first class!
Last week, I wrote about how there seemed to be a TON of first class award space on Japan Airlines flights from the US to Tokyo. And amazingly, even though I had typically only seen space opening up 14 days before departure, there were 2 first class seats available on ORD-NRT on exactly the dates I needed!!
I wasted no time calling in to update my tickets from the business class that we originally booked to first class. ‘
This cost an additional 25,000 miles (going from 50,000 miles to 62,500 miles per person), but the weird thing is that the taxes and fees also changed – going from $67.10 to $67.50. Needless to say, I was totally fine to pay an additional 80 cents to upgrade to first class!
I wish there was a way to be able to get in first class all the way to Singapore, but I haven’t found a good way (yet?). I will be monitoring for space on Cathay Pacific first class to open up as we get closer to departure to see if we can get an even BETTER route!
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
I like how your headline is a click-bait, like every other blogger out there. Not many people have that many miles to redeem tickets. I guess we’ll all have to sign up for credit cards through you so we can write our own blogs.
Waaaaahhh someone is successful doing something and he enjoys writing about. This is a niche site for travel hackers and credit card churners. Don’t like it? Move along.
The problem with the post is how vague the title is. I knew he didn’t pay .80 for first class. But he didn’t even upgrade to first for .80. 12500 miles each plus the difference in tax. It’s nothing new. It’s nothing that is an important mention and misleads people to get them to click
Hey Ben, Maybe we like most of the posts here. Maybe he just needs some constructive criticism about the way he is writing the titles.
I think it’s okay for people to point things out to him and maybe he will take the suggestion or maybe he will ignore it. His decision but you’ve no leg to stand on with your silly post (that doesn’t even address the topic)
I truly don’t mind constructive criticism. I do think there’s a fine line between writing an engaging headline and turning into clickbait, and don’t mind hearing when people feel I’ve crossed it. I could have done without the tone of SOME of the comments over the weekend though 🙂
You may want to read 80 cents’s comment again. That was no constructive criticism, just whining and sarcasm.
I can’t remember the specific comment, though I have found a pretty strong correlation between how constructive a comment is intended and whether or not the commenter puts in their real name…
Everytime I fall for a clickbait title, I feel foolish and cheated. How many times do you think you can get your loyal readers to fall for that, especially when you deliver something lame or just average?
People only complain about clickbait because they don’t want to put the effort in to do it themselves. Enjoy the trip!
Thanks for the kind words – we’re looking forward to it!!
Seems you saying that ClickBait titles are ok.
How do you check for available award seats in JAL?
I used British airways site. I believe you can also use Qantas
I paid like a hundo once for a cargo seat upgrade. It was so roomy down there. So much room for activities.
MommyPoints failed since she couldn’t keep up with the caviar and krug crowd – you don’t stand a chance. None of these products haven’t been reviewed less than a million times.
And it’s bizarre you write a family blog yet are ditching your six kids to do this?
Stay in a niche.
Thanks for your concern about my staying in my niche! We’ve got a bunch of family travel planned over the next few months as well, so stay tuned!
I’m not really flying these first class tickets in order to review them. More that I have the miles and want the experience.
Hey. You didn’t spend .80. You spend 25000 more miles. This post is flat out ridiculous and misleading. Just like you said Southwest paid you for the same flight. That’s not the case. The fate simply went down so you got the fare difference back. That’s standard on any changeable airline ticket. They didn’t pay you
Why so much anger and hate? This article (and blog) makes me smile. You obviously didn’t see it coming, or don’t get the humor in it. Perhaps try to examine inward before blaming others so haphazardly.
Haha! That’s classic. He exchanged 25,000 pts. He paid $0.80.
Sure, you can argue all you want about the technicality of 25,000 points being worth $$$ but in the end, they’re only worth what someone will give you in exchange.
Otherwise, we could say he paid: 1 hour of time researching, 12 minutes of time booking, the electricity used to power his computer / phone / tablet during that time.
You have to draw the line somewhere… and since most people feel points = “stuff” and not “points” = money, the comparison is completely valid.
And anyone who says this is clickbait obviously doesn’t know what clickbait is. This is far from clickbait. Clickbait is something like “A secret trick you can use to get First class tickets for less than $1” or some other misleading headline. This article, on the other hand is perfectly valid and the headline injects a touch of humour into the piece. Nice work!
Geez people. Sometimes if you have kids it is nice to take a trip as a couple ALONE! I enjoy reading about your travels as a couple and as a family. It’s real life and exactly what our CREW does too. I think you are staying just fine in your niche lol!
Thanks for the support Kelly!
I hope these haters ignored you baiting us into believing that we could receive 100,000 priority club points for $50 in postage. As emails arrive daily , I can’t imagine how someone read 3 pages of fine print to earn points without staying 1 night in a hotel. Thanks for your efforts .
You’ll never believe this one simple trick that will let this stay at home mom earn free hotel nights!!?!!!?!! 🙂
You’re welcome and I’m glad it’s working out for you – I’ve gotten 91 of my 94 plays but still waiting on a bunch for my wife’s account
Great post. My first time commenting here. I knew the title was click bait but I didnt mind 🙂 Good luck on RTW trip, I am jealous. I wish I could do it from India 🙂
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it!
Don’t normally post comments but I have to agree that the title is, frankly, a flat-out lie. You didn’t pay $0.80. You paid $0.80 and 25,000 miles. I think that you should be honest with your readers and that includes honestly in the titles of your post. The post is honest. The title is a lie.
Which headline is more interesting:
Flying first class: Best $0.80 + 25k points I ever spend!
Flying first class: Best 80¢ I ever spent!
It’s a headline, it’s an honest headline, 25k points were also exchanged but the majority of people only really consider how many actual dollars it costs them.
When you calculate how much it’s going to cost you to go on a road trip, do you count the depreciated value of your car due due to mileage, the daily cost of insurance, maintenance, oil changes, tire wear and the cumulative cost of an accident based on the statistical probability of 1 accident every n miles?
Of course not, you just generally calculate the gas expense, and maybe tolls.
Dan,
I always pay to fly first class and when I have enough points then I get a free ticket. I have never said ‘I spent 25m points’. I always say I USED 25m points and spent $5.
So I agree with you saying ya spent .80. Plus it’s your website and you can write whatever you want to. I enjoy your posts!! And I smile when people want to get as literal as a 5th grader and argue the meaning of words!
Thanks for writing. You know your good when you have haters.
I look forward to when we adopt and have a crew of 7
Title the articles however you want. Its what’s in the articles that matter to me. I understand some peoples frustration becomes time does matter but it took them longer to write their comment then it would have to simply delete the email. Keep up the great work!!
I for one am so grateful to Dan for taking the time to run this blog and put in all the research he does. I have learned a ton of useful tips that I’ve been able to apply toward earning miles & points for our family’s travel. It takes a good deal of time and energy to run a good website or blog, and writing headlines is a heck of a lot more challenging than it looks. I think this blog is terrific and have recommended it to many people.