When most of us started using miles, booking award flights felt exciting, but not all is roses. Over time, I figured out a few simple rules that help me with award flights or when to skip them. These are the 13 rules I follow, and they have saved me time, effort, and frustration.
Rule No. 1: Flexibility is the key
The first rule that I learnt is that flexibility matters the most. I always keep at least one extra day when booking an award flight. The more flexible your dates are, the easier it is to find award availability.
Rule No. 2: Positioning flights matter
Positioning flights can be beneficial. If there is no award flight from my home airport, but availability exists from another nearby airport with cheap flights, I take it. Last year, I booked a flight from Kolkata as there was no availability from Delhi.
This works exceptionally well if you live in countries such as the USA, Australia, India, or Europe, or near hubs such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Hong Kong.
For last-minute bookings, positioning flights can be a real saver.
Rule No. 3: Country Specific, not City Specific
I do not lock myself to one city. If a country has multiple airports, I treat them all as options. For example, if there is no award flight to Sydney, I may fly into Melbourne and then connect onward. Domestic award flights are usually easier to find.
Rule No. 4: Book three months before travel
Last-minute award flights can work, but if my travel plans are fixed, I start searching at least three months in advance. For an economy cabin, three months is usually a good window. For premium cabins, I start looking around six months out. This does not guarantee availability, but it helps me understand patterns as the travel date gets closer.
Rule No. 5: Watch the last week’s availability
I always check if the same flight shows award space in the coming week. If it appears now and then, there is a good chance it may open up again closer to departure. Airlines like Malaysia Airlines and Lufthansa often release seats this way.
Last year, I had to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, and I was seeing a lot of Malaysia Airlines flights pop up now and then, so my probability of flying its business class was higher, and eventually it happened.
Rule No. 6: Even pros need award tools
I always use an award search tool. Seats.Aero is my primary one, along with others when needed. I often search random dates and months to understand how availability changes, especially during peak seasons. This helps me get familiar with each route.
Rule No. 7: Set Award Alert
If I cannot find availability, I set an award alert. It does not guarantee a seat, but it gives me a chance to act quickly when space opens up.
Rule No. 8: Direct Award Flight Search
Some airlines don’t release award inventory to all partners, and it is also not accessible to award tools. So, I always search these airlines. For example, I usually search Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific for their own award flights.
Rule No. 9: Use miles that are easiest to earn
If the same flight is available through multiple programs, I use the miles that are easiest to earn again. So, if there are two options available and program miles are easier to earn, I will stick to it unless fuel surcharges are through the roof. This keeps my mileage balances healthy.
Hard-to-earn miles are saved for special redemptions. For example, Alaska Airlines Atoms are difficult to earn outside the USA, and I had some of these, which I used this year to book British Airways Premium Economy on its A350. It didn’t make sense to keep them hoarded.
Rule No. 10: Always check cash prices first
Sometimes, cash fares are cheap. I always check Google Flights to see prices and airlines flying that route. If the cash price is low, using miles usually does not make sense.
Rule No. 11: Use upgrades when award seats are unavailable
Upgrades are not award flights, but they are a good backup. If award seats are unavailable, I consider upgrading a paid ticket with miles. I have used this approach several times, including upgrading one leg of my London trip last year on Etihad.
Rule No. 12: Always have a Plan B booking
I never let miles ruin my travel plans. I always keep a backup option. Most of the time, I end up cancelling Plan B because Plan A opens up later. Travel should stay enjoyable, not stressful.
Rule No. 13: The goal is to fly, not to optimise forever
The goal is simple: get on the flight. Waiting endlessly for the perfect redemption often means not travelling at all. An imperfect booking is better than no booking.
Bottmline
Over time, most of us naturally develop our own award flight rules. These rules may seem small, but they save time, reduce frustration, and make booking award flights more enjoyable instead of stressful.
