Best Card For International Business Class

United Explorer cards like the “United Explorer,” “United Explorer Business” and “United MileagePlus Club Card” will all get you a lump of points to use for your international business/first class trip. United also has a list of Saver Seats for Business and First Class, but they’re slowly released and sometimes you have to wait until the last second before you can get your hands on one. There is, however, a lesser-known, back-door way that is unique to United. You can actually book a coach award seat, then call United (800-864-8331) and request to get on the waitlist for business or first class. Confirm you're on the waitlist by logging into your frequent flyer account, go to reservations and in your flight details you’ll see “I class requested.” You're going to be automatically upgraded as award saver seats become available, so make sure to log in as your trip gets closer to check where you’re at.

This is near the top of our list for nearly everything due to its flexibility. Transfers to United are usually great values. If you find a sweet deal on a business seats on your favorite website, you can probably buy it with points through the Chase Travel Portal (if you don't see it you can call). If you are a regular user, we know you probably already have it, but we’d be remiss to leave it off. If you are working with a spouse, the Sapphire Preferred could be a better choice, here is how you know >

The high bonus makes this card the gold standard for business cards. It's 2nd on our list of Chase cards because (1) not all people will qualify for this particular business card, and (2) it doesn’t get you 1.5 cents per point like the Sapphire Reserve. Other "Ink" cards would be great for Chase points if you already have the Preferred or won’t qualify. They just have slightly lower bonuses.

AAdvantage Citi cards are a great way to get American Airlines Miles for your next international trip. There are a few ways to accumulate points: “AAdvantage Aviator Red MasterCard,” “AAdvantage Citi Platinum,” “AAdvantage Citi Platinum,” “AAdvantage Citi Platinum Business” and “AAdvantage Executive World Elite.” If you can be date flexible with the AA Business Class and First Class Saver Seats, you can get tickets that sell for $8,000+ for only $5.60 in taxes. Remember to take advantage of AA lounge access -- especially their “Flagship Lounges” -- while flying internationally, which comes automatic when flying business or first class on AA or OneAlliance. American Airlines has been around since 1930 and, for good reason, is still going strong. While you may be more inclined to go with newer planes or airlines, give AA a chance to wine and dine you in the air and during your next layover when going internationally.

Delta has combined business and first class on their international flights into a single cabin known as Delta One, boasting 180 degree flat-bed seats, direct isle access and Westin Heavenly in-flight bedding. We don't feel the same about their domestic business/first-class options, but we’re not talking about domestic right now. So, get a slew of Delta SkyMiles with a lot of American Express options like the “Blue Delta SkyMiles,” “Delta Reserve,” “Gold Delta SkyMiles,” “Gold Delta SkyMiles Business,” or the “Platinum Delta SkyMiles.” But remember American Express only allows one sign-up bonus per lifetime, so make sure it’s a good one when you go to apply.

Amex credit cards are great for a very behind-the-scenes way of booking first class international tickets. You can get the “Amex Platinum Business,” “Amex Platinum Personal,” or the “Amex Gold Card.” These cards are unique in that you’ll be earning some nice sign-up bonuses that are completely transferable to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Virgin Atlantic is not a member of any alliance, but it does have a lot of partners across the world, including Delta. So, you might be asking, why not just book directly with Delta? The short answer: this is better. The longer answer: Virgin Atlantic has the best award seats available with huge transfer incentives, fuel surcharges are only charged on flights originating in Europe, and you can do everything online. To transfer points, wait for Virgin Atlantic's bonus transfers, which will give you anywhere from 25%-35% bonus miles.

Citi Premier Card will continually pop up for travel because it’s so easy to transfer and use your ThankYou Points. This card made our international business & first class list because most of their airline partners are actually international. And when you transfer points to book airfare through the “thankyou.com travel portal,” you get 25% more value for your points. Keep in mind that when you go to book international flights, take a few minutes and try to find your route through some of the airlines you are less familiar with. Some popular examples are flying to the Middle East, Tokyo or Africa with Singapore Airlines, flying Avianca (who doesn’t charge fuel surcharges) to Europe, or flying Virgin Atlantic to get you there. Going to Dubai? Quantas will take you there in your own first class suite. We're huge fans of Citi ThankYou points.

Capital One Venture Card will make our travel lists all the time, whether it’s domestic, international, economy, business or first class. It’s just so easy to earn: 2 miles per dollar on every single purchase, with no annual limits. The list of partner airlines to transfer your miles to actually covers all three major alliances -- Oneworld, Star Alliance & SkyTeam -- making your international travel easy to book no matter where you decide to head off to, even those crazy, out-of-the-way places that you used to only read about. Let’s say that you are searching on your own and you find an amazing ticket on some obscure airline. Go ahead and book your business or first class ticket and then take out that purchase eraser feature on the card and, well, erase the charge. This is a great overall card to keep around long term because it’s simple and diverse.