✈️ How We Flew to Europe in Business Class—for $1,550 Total (for All Four of Us)
Flying business class with kids doesn’t have to break the bank. Here’s how we did it using points—and actually enjoyed the journey.
When we started planning our summer trip to Paris, Switzerland, and Milan, one thing was non-negotiable: we needed to get to Europe and back in lie-flat business class. With a 9-year-old and an almost 4-year-old in tow, arriving rested was just as important as where we were going.
Of course, booking four business class seats with points isn’t easy. But it’s possible—if you're flexible and strategic with your points.
🎯 Finding Saver Award Flights: Air France Flying Blue
We eventually struck gold transferring Amex Membership Rewards points to Air France Flying Blue, finding four saver-level business class awards from Toronto to Paris:
Adults: 50,000 Flying Blue points each (current rate is now 60k)
Kids under 12: 25% fewer points than adults—huge win for families
This was a major redemption win, but it came with a twist: the flight left from Toronto, not our home in Chicago. That’s where a positioning flight came in.
✈️ Positioning Flight Tip:
I don’t see these as a hassle—they’re part of the journey. They can actually add to the adventure if planned well.
We booked a cheap cash fare to Toronto and made it part of our experience.
🏨 Toronto Stopover: Park Hyatt + Playground Time
We stayed overnight at the Park Hyatt Toronto, using World of Hyatt points and a suite upgrade award. Thanks to my Globalist status, we got:
A spacious suite for the four of us
Free breakfast (a highlight!)
Late checkout—perfect for our evening transatlantic flight
Because we had access to our room all day, we weren’t stranded in a hotel lobby waiting around. We slept in, enjoyed a leisurely Globalist breakfast, and found a local playground for the kids to burn off energy before the long flight.




✈️ KLM Lounge + Air France Business Class Experience
We arrived early at the airport and spent time in the KLM Lounge in Toronto. Honestly, lounge access has become a must—lounges make travel with kids dramatically easier. No long lines for sad chicken nuggets. No fighting for a seat at the gate.
Then, a surprise:
A few hours before boarding, I got a call from Air France. I braced for the worst—was our points booking getting downgraded (as points bookings are first to get the boot)?
Nope. One of our assigned seats was broken, so we were simply being reassigned. Crisis averted. Move me anywhere in the cabin as long as it’s business class!
🧸 Kids in Business Class: What Worked
This was our kids’ first business class flight, and they loved every minute. A few tips that worked well for our kids:
Put them in PJs and a pull-up before boarding
Pre-order the kids' meal (Air France defaults to kid meals for under 9; at 9+, they switch to adult meals—so double-check what's best for your child)
Air France requires kids have window seats. Keep this in mind if your littles will not do well across the aisle from you as other business class products allow kids in paired middle seats.
The flight was smooth, the service was kind, and we all actually slept—which meant we could hit the ground running on Day 1 in Paris.
✳️ Fun twist: On final approach, a call went out for healthcare professionals due to a sick passenger. We volunteered, but weren’t ultimately needed. Just goes to show—you’re never fully off duty in medicine.




✈️ The Return: Emirates A380 Business Class from Milan to JFK
For our flight home, we flew Emirates A380 business class on their fifth freedom route from Milan to JFK. We used 87,000 points per person. While not as cheap a redemption, it gave us:
Four lie-flat seats back to the U.S.
Access to one of the best onboard experiences in the sky
Ability to sit side by side with our kids (one of the downsides to the Air France flight)
Highlights from our Emirates experience:
Direct boarding from the lounge—we never even saw the gate

Excellent meals for both adults and kids
A visit to the “lounge in the sky” at the back of the upper deck (our kids loved it)
Warm, attentive crew who were incredible with our children
✈️ Emirates is also the world’s first Autism Certified Airline—a standout option for families traveling with special needs kids.




💰 The Bottom Line: $1,550 Total vs. $23,000+
So what did all this luxury cost?
Total cash paid for four business class tickets (round trip): $1,550
Estimated cash value of same itinerary: $23,204
Because we saved so much on flights, we had more flexibility for hotels, excursions, and experiences in Europe—without sacrificing comfort or sanity to get there.
✨ At this stage in life, I don’t bounce back from 8-hour red-eyes in coach. And neither do my kids. Flying business class was more than just a splurge—it was strategic.
🔜 Coming Up Next:
Paris with Kids: What We Actually Did (and Skipped)—realistic tips, favorite parks, and how we avoided museum meltdowns.