How do I plan a trip using points and miles?

Start with flights, since award seats are the hardest part to find. Decide your destination and dates, check which programs your points transfer to, then search award space before transferring anything. Book hotels last. Use how many points you need for a free flight to set your budget.

How far in advance should I book award flights?

Many airlines release award seats about 11 months before departure, and the best premium-cabin seats often go early. Seats also open up close to departure, so last-minute deals do happen. For peak travel, plan early. See why January and February are the best time to plan.

How do I plan a budget trip with points?

Keep trips short, travel off-peak, and put points toward the costliest parts. Short getaways can be expensive in cash but cheap on points when you redeem for nearby flights and hotels. Get ideas from our guide to microcations on points.

How do I plan a group trip on points?

Award space for four or more travelers on one flight is rare, so search early and be open to splitting the group across two flights or programs. Pooling points in one account helps. For complex group trips, our Concierge team can search and book for you.

What holidays are best for points travel?

Holidays drive up cash fares, which is when points deliver the most value. Award seats for peak dates go fast, so search as soon as your dates are firm. See our Memorial Day travel deals for an example.

Trip Planning

Trip planning tips for points travelers: how to plan a trip around award flights, when to search, and how far ahead to book. Plan a budget or group trip for far less cash.

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How to Plan a Trip Using Points & Miles

What you'll find here

Step-by-step guidance on how to plan a trip with points, from choosing a destination (start with our award flight deals by destination) to booking flights and hotels. Travel planning advice on when to search and how far ahead to book. How to plan a budget trip that keeps cash costs low. How to plan a group trip when you need several award seats on the same flight, or hand it off to our Concierge team. Holiday and seasonal planning guides, from Memorial Day to microcations.

Why use point.me for trip planning

Award seats don't follow cash pricing, so planning a points trip takes different timing and tools. point.me searches more than 150 airline and loyalty programs at once and shows which redemptions are a good or great deal, so you can plan around real availability.