Digest

This episode of All the Hacks continues the discussion on maximizing travel value with miles and points, focusing on booking strategies for families. The hosts, Chris Hutchins and Nick Reis, delve into the importance of booking separate one-way awards for flexibility, especially when dealing with programs that charge high cancellation fees. They also discuss the benefits of booking flexible economy class awards and then upgrading to business class if availability opens up. Nick shares a unique hack for family travel: booking six economy seats instead of four business class seats, allowing for more space and comfort. Chris highlights the strategy of booking the cheapest Southwest flight and then using the same-day change feature to switch to a more desirable flight. The episode concludes with a discussion on the value of points, emphasizing the importance of getting at least two cents per point in value. They also discuss the ease of replenishing points and the importance of considering the flexibility offered by award travel. The hosts touch upon the use of hotel points, highlighting the value of Hyatt points and the potential for transferring points to top off a redemption. The episode ends with a reminder that award booking services are available for those who prefer to outsource the process, emphasizing the potential for significant savings.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the concept of miles and points and how they can create opportunities for far outsized value in travel. It highlights the psychological aspect of getting a deal and the excitement of saving significantly on travel expenses.

00:00:15

Maximizing Points and Miles

This Chapter delves into the best ways to redeem points and miles for travel, emphasizing the importance of transferring points to airline and hotel programs. It explores the pitfalls of using points for gift cards, shopping online, and redeeming for statement credits. The discussion also covers the pros and cons of booking travel through credit card portals.

00:12:24

Real-Life Examples of Outsized Value

This Chapter provides real-life examples of how to get significantly more value out of your points than the standard 1.5 cents per point. Nick shares his experience booking a business class flight to Tahiti for a fraction of the cash price by transferring points to different airline programs and utilizing partner awards.

00:15:30

The Importance of Flexibility

This Chapter emphasizes the importance of flexibility when booking award travel, particularly with families. It discusses the benefits of destination flexibility, booking one-way awards, and utilizing partner programs to find multiple seats.

00:24:10

Transferring Points and Airline Alliances

This Chapter explains the mechanics of transferring points from credit card programs to airline programs. It highlights the importance of understanding airline alliances and how they can be used to book flights on partner airlines. The discussion also covers the concept of dynamic pricing for award flights and the importance of having flexibility in your travel plans.

00:33:21

The Three Keys to Travel Flexibility

This Chapter identifies three key factors that influence your ability to travel more: money, miles and points, and flexibility. It emphasizes the importance of flexibility in terms of destination, time of year, and how far in advance you plan your trip.

00:40:04

Best Times to Book Award Travel

This Chapter discusses the best times to book award travel, highlighting the benefits of booking far in advance and at the last minute. It emphasizes the importance of being persistent in your search and being open to booking flights that are not perfect.

00:48:30

Structuring Your Trip and Positioning Flights

This Chapter provides practical advice on how to structure your trip and book positioning flights. It emphasizes the importance of starting with the long-haul flight and then working backwards to find the best options for connecting flights.

00:56:44

Redeeming Points for Different Travel Classes

This Chapter explores the different travel classes and how they affect redeeming your points. It discusses the value proposition of booking business class flights, the potential for finding good deals on economy class flights, and the emerging popularity of premium economy.

01:12:49

Booking Strategies for Families

This Chapter focuses on booking strategies for families, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and utilizing partner programs to find multiple seats. It also discusses the benefits of booking separate one-way awards and the potential for upgrading to business class if availability opens up. The hosts share a unique hack for family travel: booking six economy seats instead of four business class seats, allowing for more space and comfort.

01:25:16

Redeeming Points for Hotels

This Chapter discusses the use of hotel points, highlighting the value of Hyatt points and the potential for transferring points to top off a redemption. The hosts also discuss the pros and cons of transferring transferable currencies to hotel points, emphasizing the importance of considering the value proposition and the availability of points sales.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some common pitfalls to avoid when redeeming miles and points?

  Common pitfalls include using points for gift cards, shopping online, and redeeming for statement credits. These options often offer low value for your points, making it more beneficial to focus on cash back or transferring points to airline and hotel programs.

• How can I get more value out of my miles and points than the standard 1.5 cents per point?

  Transferring points to airline and hotel programs, utilizing partner awards, and being flexible with your travel plans can significantly increase the value of your points. By researching different programs and utilizing award tools, you can often find deals that offer 3-5 cents per point or even higher.

• What are some tips for finding multiple seats for family travel using miles and points?

  Consider booking one-way awards, utilizing partner programs that frequently release multiple seats, and being flexible with your travel dates. It's also helpful to know which programs offer advantageous pricing for children's tickets.

• How does traveling with children affect the process of redeeming miles and points?

  Traveling with children requires more seats, making it more challenging to find award availability. It's also important to consider lap infant tickets, cancellation policies, and programs that offer more advantageous pricing for children's tickets.

• Is it possible to find great redemptions for international business class travel with a family of four?

  Yes, it is definitely doable. Many programs release multiple seats in business class, and by being flexible with your travel dates and utilizing partner programs, you can often find great deals.

• What are some of the best programs for finding multiple seats in business class?

  Programs like Air France KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue, British Airways, Alaska Airlines, and Finair frequently have availability for multiple passengers in business class. However, availability can fluctuate, so it's important to be persistent in your search.

• What are some tips for booking positioning flights?

  Start by searching for the long-haul flight first, and then work backwards to find the best options for connecting flights. Consider booking positioning flights the day before your long-haul flight to minimize the risk of missing your connection. Utilize free night certificates from hotel credit cards to book airport hotels for positioning flights.

• How does the value proposition of economy class award travel compare to business class?

  While economy class award travel can offer good value, especially for short-haul flights or when traveling during peak times, it often doesn't provide the same level of value as business class. It's important to compare prices and consider the comfort level you desire.

• What are some of the best programs for finding good deals on economy class award travel?

  Programs like Air France KLM Flying Blue frequently offer promo awards that can provide great value for economy class flights, especially to Europe. It's important to be aware of these sales and compare prices against cash fares.

• What are some of the key considerations for booking award travel with children?

  Consider lap infant tickets, cancellation policies, and programs that offer more advantageous pricing for children's tickets. Be prepared to be flexible with your travel dates and be persistent in your search for multiple seats.

• What is the general consensus on the value of points?

  The general consensus is that you should aim to get at least two cents per point in value. This means that your award redemptions should exceed the value you could have gotten if you just used a credit card for cash back.

• What are some factors to consider when deciding whether to use points or cash for a trip?

  Consider the ease of replenishing the points, the flexibility offered by award travel, and the value proposition of the redemption. It's also important to compare against cash prices for reasonable options and to consider the flexibility offered by award travel.

• What are some alternatives to redeeming points through the credit card portal?

  Transferring points to airline and hotel programs, utilizing partner awards, and booking separate one-way awards can all offer better value than redeeming points through the credit card portal. You can also consider using award booking services to help you find the best deals.

• What are some of the best programs for finding good deals on hotel awards?

  Hyatt is a good option for transferring transferable points to a hotel program. However, it's important to consider the value proposition of hotel points and the availability of points sales.

• What are some of the benefits of using award booking services?

  Award booking services can help you find the best deals on award travel, especially if you don't have a lot of time to do the research yourself. They can also help you avoid analysis paralysis and ensure that you're getting the most value out of your points.

Show Notes