How I Flew First Class to Africa and Back for $1,500 (On a $16,000 Ticket)

Lauren Mlady
May 5
3 min read

A one-way ticket in first class to Africa? $8,000.Round trip? Over $16,000.And yet — I did the whole thing for under $1,500.

This wasn’t luck. It wasn’t a mistake fare. And it didn’t involve complicated point transfers or opening a dozen credit cards.

It was strategy. And honestly? It was simpler than most people think.

Here’s exactly how I booked a $16,000 international first class experience for less than the price of basic economy.

I Picked a Credit Card That Matched My Spending

I didn’t jump on the first “best travel card” list I saw. I picked a card that actually aligned with how I spend — groceries, dining, flights, and hotels.

I used my existing card (Bank of America Elite) to rack up points on my normal purchases
I didn’t open anything new — I just made the most of category bonuses
I timed some big expenses (like travel and insurance) to hit max multipliers

No spreadsheets. No game-playing. Just points — fast.

I Booked an Economy Seat With Points

Instead of searching endlessly for first class award space (which almost never appears), I took a more flexible route:

I redeemed points to book an economy fare that cost around $1,700 retail
That locked in my route and let me focus on the upgrade later
The ticket was refundable using points, which gave me even more leverage

This meant I had a seat — but the real upgrade came next.

I Upgraded With a Well-Timed Phone Call

Airline websites often won’t show upgrade availability. But call? That’s where the magic happens.

I tracked award space with free tools and alerts
I was able to upgrade the first leg, Washington DC to Cape Town (14 1/2 hour flight), for $1000. It was a week long special over the 4th of July. The week after, the price went back to $8,000 to upgrade.
The long leg back, Johannesburg to Newark (16 1/2 hours), was far more expensive. I checked almost everyday and I called United the day before my flight
There was a last minute special for only $500 to get those last few first class seats.
- An important note: All seats were full, but last minute changes happen all the time. I just refreshed the page and called them the minute the seat opened.
I snagged an open first class seat using points + a small co-pay
Total cost out of pocket: just under $1,500 — round trip

Timing was everything. That last-minute window is often when airlines open seats they held back.

The Experience Was Next-Level

This wasn’t just a slightly nicer seat. This was United Polaris First Class — full luxury, start to finish.

Lounge access with full dining and cocktails
Lie-flat suite with premium bedding and real privacy
Multi-course meals, champagne service, and priority everything
I slept, arrived refreshed, and actually enjoyed flying long-haul

It was easily one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made.

Final Thoughts

This strategy works — and it doesn’t require obsessing over point transfers or gaming the system.I didn’t open a new card. I didn’t hoard miles. I simply booked smart, timed it right, and made one key phone call.

So yes, I flew first class to Africa and back on a $16,000 ticket — for less than economy.

You can, too.