Booking award flights using airline miles and credit card points can seem daunting for beginners, but unlocking this world opens up incredible travel opportunities. By leveraging frequent flyer programs and travel rewards credit cards, you can visit dream destinations in lavish first or business class cabins that would normally cost thousands.
This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know as a beginner – from airline alliances that expand your options to the booking process and tips for maximizing your miles. Our journey into the world of award flights starts here, with essential insights and step-by-step guidance to help you book that first award flight.
What Are Award Flights?
Award flights are essentially tickets that travelers can purchase using their accumulated airline miles or points instead of cash. These flights are part of loyalty programs offered by various airlines, designed to reward frequent flyers or for those who earn travel points and miles from credit cards.
Airlines set aside a limited number of seats on each flight for award booking, often with different categories of redemption like economy or first-class. And while it might seem like a high-flyer’s game, even occasional travelers can reap substantial rewards with a bit of know-how and strategy.
Types of Award Flights
There are generally two main categories of award flights:
- Saver Awards: These are typically the most economical options, requiring fewer miles but with limited availability.
- Standard or Anytime Awards: These require more miles but offer more flexibility and better availability.
Additionally, award flights can vary based on the class of service (economy, business, or first class) and whether they are booked with the airline directly or through one of its alliance partners. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for beginners as they navigate the world of award travel. And as we mentioned, the airlines typically list a limited number of these award seats. So, plan ahead and book early to avoid not finding availability on your selected route.
Step-by-Step Guide to Booking Award Flights
Step One – Preparing for Award Flight Booking
Unlike purchasing flights with cash, there are a few steps you need to make sure you’ve completed and are ready to go. These preliminary steps will place you in a good position and reduce your potential frustration. And when you book that first award flight, you’ll feel like you just won the lottery!
Joining a Frequent Flyer Programs
Your quest of redeeming your points and miles that you just received begins here. You will need to sign up for a variety of frequent flyer programs to use your points and miles. But don’t worry. This program is free. Just go to the specific airline and sign up for their program. Keep a record of your account because you will need them in the subsequent steps. Don’t be afraid to sign up for multiple airline programs. You never know when you will need to access that specific program. Here are a few programs:
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- Delta SkyMiles
- United MileagePlus
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- Air France
- British Airways
- Air Canada
- Emirates
Accumulating Points and Miles
I’m sure you have read our other post, such as How to Benefit from Travel Hacking with Credit Card Points and Miles and have received your credit card points or miles, especially after receiving our recommended credit card for beginners – Chase Sapphire Preferred. Make sure you check your account and verify the total amount of points or miles you have in your accounts. Yes, I said “accounts.” Because hopefully you have taken our advice and entered into Player 2 Mode and have signed up for multiple credit cards.
Step Two: Determining Your Travel Goals
This part is exciting! And you may think, duh, this is obvious. But there are several factors to consider when determining your travel goals:
- Within the Continent: Do you have plans for a short trip? Or a trip to Hawaii, Mexico or a fun trip to Vegas?
- International Intrigue: Are you planning a trip across the pond?
- Luxury Flying: Is this the time to splurge on business-class or first-class?
Your travel goals are an important step for your booking. But keep in mind one of the major tips with travel hacking – be flexible to maximize your points and miles. If your goal is to get to Europe, then a potential option is to fly from another airport that has cheaper fares or award flight availability. But, if your goal is to get to your destination the quickest without any layovers, then that goal will impact your award flight search and planning.
Step Three: Understanding Award Flight Tickets
This step is important for you to understand when you book your award flights. We previously stated there are two types of award flights – Standard Awards and Saver Awards. In this section, we will refer to these as just Award Flights.
Award flight tickets are limited to only a few seats per flight due to the airlines’ need to manage their inventory and maximize revenue. Airlines allocate a certain number of seats as award seats, which are made available for redemption using miles or points. The availability of these award seats is based on various factors such as the route, time of booking, and the airline’s inventory management strategy. Paid seats, on the other hand, are available for purchase at varying prices, which allows the airline to optimize revenue from the flight.
The number of award seats available on a flight is determined by the airline and can vary based on demand, the specific route, and the airline’s award seat inventory. This is why the number of miles or points required for a free flight can also vary widely. Airlines use complex algorithms to manage the availability of award seats, taking into account factors such as historical booking patterns, seasonal demand, and overall capacity.
Step Four: Searching Award Availability
This is where things get tactical, challenging and sometimes frustrating. But not to worry, we’ve got you covered and will guide you through the process.
When it comes to booking award flights, finding availability can be a challenge. But, if you follow the first two steps, you have all the information needed to search for your flight. Keep in mind that the specific flight and airline award flight booking will be dependent upon the type of points you have. It’s also helpful to know the various credit card transfer partners. Check the individual credit card to find out the list of transfer partners.
Let’s say you have 70,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points and are looking to fly from LAX to JFK. United Airlines is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards. Keep in mind that your circumstance may differ but this will give you the idea on how to perform this search. Here’s an example on you can search for Award Flights:
Step 4.1 – Log Into United Airlines
- Most airlines have a dedicated section for award travel on their websites and mobile apps. If you haven’t done so, create a new account with United (again, substitute your airline).
- Log into Your Account: This will access your mileage account to see your balance and search for award flights. Don’t worry if your balance is zero. Most airlines will allow you to search for award flights without a balance.
Step 4.2 – Use the Search Function
- Use the Search Function: Enter your travel dates and destinations. Make sure you select the filter for “miles”. This search will provide you with a list of available award flights.
Step 4.3 – Expand Your Search
- Many airlines allow you to search Award Flights based upon a calendar view. United is one of airlines that has this feature and it is helpful to find the best Award Flight Deal (remember, we’re flexible, right).
Step 4.3 – Choose Your Flight
Now that you have searched for your desired flight, take notes on the flight details, including the flight number, and most importantly, the amount of points needed for that flight. You’re almost ready to book that flight, but there are a few more steps.
Step Five: Transferring Points When Necessary
Sometimes the points you need are in the wrong pocket. Transferring points between credit card programs, like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, to an airline program can open new doors.
Key Caution: Transfers are typically one-way streets, so move your points only when you’re ready to book.
For our example, we will need to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to our United Airlines account. Check our blog post, Chase Ultimate Rewards: Your Guide to Transferring Points to Travel Partners, for the details. Following our example, you will need your information from your United Airlines Account to transfer your Ultimate Rewards to United Airlines. Typically, the transfer is done within minutes. Going back to your United account, you will see the transferred amounts in your account. Now the fun part!
Step Six: Navigating the Booking Process
It’s go-time! Here’s the finishing process:
- If you haven’t done it yet, log back into your airline account – our example is United Airlines.
- Use the same search method as above to find the flight you previously found
- Select your flight and proceed to checkout.
- Award Flights aren’t technically free – you will need to pay the taxes and fees.
Practice makes perfect. If it seems complex at first, don’t worry. Every journey begins with a single click.
Step Seven: Maximizing Your Points and Miles with Airline Alliances
Wait, there’s more? Of course! We don’t just book the first award flights we see.
Airline alliances are the key of getting the most out of your points and miles. Think of airline alliances as superhero teams—the Avengers of the sky. They join forces, offering passengers a wider network of flights and opportunities to earn and redeem miles. Here are the three main ones:
- Star Alliance: Boasts 26 member airlines.
- oneworld: Features 14 top-notch carriers.
- SkyTeam: Houses 19 leading global airlines.
Is there a catch? Yes. When booking a partner award flight, the partner airline needs to have the lowest level of award space available, often referred to as saver award space. This is the space that is typically released to partners to book.
If the only award space available on the partner airline is standard, it may not be possible to book a partner award flight via another frequent flyer program. Therefore, the availability of saver award space on the partner airline is a key factor in booking award flights through airline partners.
Check our post Why Booking Partner Awards Can Unlock More Travel for more information. Also keep in mind each credit card’s available transfer partners. It can be tricky but if done right, can be beneficial. But here is an example of booking the same flight with an airline partner:
Case Study: Let’s say you are looking at a flight from LAX to London Heathrow. You search and find an economy class flight on KLM for 22,000 miles. Now search on Virgin Atlantic, a KLM airline partner for the same flight. That same flight is 15,000. The fees are a bit more, but less in points.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
As with any new venture, booking award flights with points and miles comes with potential pitfalls. However, forewarned is forearmed, so let’s steer clear of turbulence with these insider tips:
- Booking Too Late: Award seats can be snatched up quickly. Aim to book well in advance, especially for popular routes or travel times.
- Overlooking Transfer Times: Transferring points between programs isn’t instantaneous. It can take from a few minutes, hours to several days, so plan accordingly. Don’t panic, believe me, I have! And have a back up plan just in case.
- Underestimating Fees and Taxes: Remember, “free” award flights can still come with taxes and fees. Factor these into your budget.
A misstep can be a learning opportunity, so don’t get discouraged. In time, you’ll master the nuances of award travel.
Conclusion
Booking award flights as a beginner may seem daunting, but with the right knowledge and tools, it can become a rewarding experience. By understanding the basics of airline loyalty programs, learning how to search for and book award flights, maximizing the value of your miles, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can unlock the world of affordable and luxurious travel.
Remember, the key is to start simple, plan ahead, and gradually explore more advanced strategies as you become more comfortable with the process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How far in advance should I book award flights?
A: Ideally, book as early as possible, especially for popular routes or travel during peak seasons. Some airlines release award seats 11-12 months in advance. This is a good rule of thumb but you may see last minute deals. Best advice is to book well in advance to have something in the books (no pun intended) and then modify if you find a better deal. Changing Award Flights is not difficult.
Q: Can I cancel or change an award flight after booking?
A: Yes, but policies vary by airline. Some allow changes or cancellations with a fee, while others offer more flexibility. I recently did this on a flight we had booked. I found a cheaper price a day earlier and saved over 10k points!
Q: Are award flights always the best value for using miles?
A: Not always. It’s important to compare the cash price of a flight with the miles required for an award ticket to determine the best value.
