Things to avoid when redeeming your miles

Your next vacation can be less expensive if you book flights using the points and miles you earned from your credit card. But if you aren’t careful, you might make costly errors.   

Here are some of the common mistakes you should avoid when redeeming credit card rewards for flights.

Not verifying the availability of flights 

To get the most out of your rewards, consider transferring your points or miles to a travel companion. However, you shouldn't rush the procedure. Your selected trip dates may not have any flights available if you rush the transfer your points or miles before checking flight availability. To avoid getting stuck, always check flight availability first.

Not reviewing taxes and fees before booking the flight

Airlines levy taxes and fees while redeeming award travel. Therefore, even though your ticket may be free thanks to the points and miles you collected, you still might need to pay additional taxes and fees upon checking out.

For flights in the U.S., charges start at USD 5.60. Meanwhile, fees in other territories will differ. Before redeeming your points, make sure to do your research on these costs. The last thing you want is to get a free flight only to discover that you still have to pay hundreds more in additional fees.

Relying solely on the airline's website when booking flights.

Sometimes, booking your flight through the website of your airline of choice isn’t the best way to go. Why? Because they don’t always show all of the available flights for your destination and desired departure. In some cases, results for partner airlines and available routes don’t show up as well. 

If you want to get the best deal whenever you fly, make sure to always check third party websites when booking your flights. If you find a cheaper or better price, don’t hesitate to purchase your tickets from these websites.

Poor timing when redeeming miles for a specific flight and seat

One misconception about award tickets is that it must be booked as soon as a flight becomes available. While this might be the case for certain carriers or routes, it should be noted that airlines frequently change availability depending on demand and travel dates. Because of this, the type of seats you can book will vary greatly.

To increase your chances of getting your desired flight and seat when redeeming them with your miles, take note of when and how airlines release their award spaces..

Letting points expire

While collecting points can be a thrilling experience, you shouldn’t let this stop you from redeeming them. If you wait too long, you might end up not using them because you forgot about your points.

Additionally, hoarding your points isn’t advisable because its value changes over time. Why? Because airlines and hotels modify their loyalty programs frequently. In some instances, changes to these programs could lead to the devaluation of points, so use them whenever you can instead of letting them sit in your account.

Booking traps

Despite the "no blackout dates" claims made by airlines, you still need to redeem twice as many miles for a non-saver reward. In some cases, a non-saver economy class award may cost more than a saver business class ticket.

By doing your research on reward tiers and fare calendars, you can avoid falling for booking traps. Additionally, don't rely on airlines to present you with the best deals based on your search. Compare the prices for rewards in the economy, business, and first classes. The last thing you want to do is pay more money for a poorer seat as a result of skipping this important step. 
  
Now that you’re aware of these common mistakes, you'll be able to maximize the miles you’ve earned, enabling you to save money and get better deals when flying to your next destination!