How I Booked 4 Flights to Fort Lauderdale for 11,000 Points Each
My besties and me in Nashville
Planning a girls trip once everyone has kids, jobs, and lives in different states feels almost mythical. The group chat is full of “I’m in!” and “Let’s do it!”… until it’s time to actually book something.
But this time? The stars aligned — thanks to a crazy good cruise deal and a little points magic.
And yes, I got all four of us to Fort Lauderdale for just 11,000 points each. This is the kind of redemption that gets trips out of the group chat and onto the calendar.
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Why this Matters
Girls trips fall apart for one main reason: cost.
When you remove the biggest expense — flights — suddenly everything becomes possible. That’s why I love points. They make travel feel doable, even when life is busy and budgets are tight.
The Cruise Deal That Started It All
My travel agent and cruise‑hunting partner‑in‑crime, Mary Kennedy, sent me an unbelievable July sailing. The kind of deal you don’t ignore. The kind of deal that makes you text the group chat:
“Okay ladies… it’s happening.”
Everyone said yes. But saying yes and actually getting there? Two very different things.
We live in three different states, flying out of three different airports. Coordinating dates, prices, and schedules felt impossible.
Enter: points.
If you are looking for an agent, I love mine! We’ve been friends for over 15 years, and she is the expert!
How I Booked 4 Tickets for 11,000 Points Each
I pulled up Point.me, my favorite tool for finding cheap award flights fast. Instead of checking each airline one by one, it searches them all at once and shows you the lowest‑point options.
Within minutes, I had:
4 one‑way tickets to Fort Lauderdale
From 3 different airports
For 11,000 points each
All arriving in time for our cruise
Cash price? Well over $1,000 total.
What we paid? Just points (plus taxes and fees).
I even booked my own return flight home for 11k. Beginner‑friendly tool, veteran‑friendly results.
⭐Want to learn more? Check out these related posts - I teach you all my strategies!
Why This Worked
A few things made this redemption so good:
Why This Worked
1. Flexibility on airlines Point.me showed options across multiple carriers, so we weren’t locked into one airline’s pricing. Three tickets were Delta (booked through Air France), and one was United.
2. Flying into a major cruise port Fort Lauderdale has tons of award availability.
3. Booking early Cruise dates are fixed — flights should be booked ASAP.
4. Using a tool that does the heavy lifting No guessing. No checking 12 tabs. Just results.
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And Just Like That… the Trip Left the Group Chat
Flights booked. Cruise booked. Girls trip officially ON.
There’s something so satisfying about using points to remove the biggest barrier — cost — and make a trip possible that would’ve otherwise stayed a dream. I love saving my friends money, and isn’t that what points and miles are about? Making your travel dreams come true!
If you’re new to using points, or you want to learn how to find these kinds of redemptions without spending hours searching, I put together a beginner‑friendly guide on my blog that walks you through exactly how I use Point.me to find deals like this.
Because every mom deserves a getaway — and sometimes all it takes is 11,000 points and a little strategy to make it happen.
If this story got you fired up to plan your own girls trip, join my Travel Hacking Moms Facebook group. We share flight deals, points hacks, and real‑life wins that actually get trips out of the group chat.
Headed on your own girls trip?
I put together a quick list of my favorite Athleta resort‑wear pieces — the ones I reach for on cruises, beach trips, and warm‑weather getaways. They pack well, dry fast, and are comfy enough for travel days and cute enough for dinner.
👉 Shop my Athleta resort‑wear favorites: Athleta Cruise & Resort Wear Picks for Summer 2026
About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches busy families how to turn everyday spending into unforgettable travel. She’s a points‑and‑miles strategist, cruise lover, and deal‑stacking pro who believes travel doesn’t have to be expensive to be extraordinary.
When she’s not breaking down award redemptions or testing cruise hacks in real life, you’ll find her planning her next adventure with her son Tanner — her favorite museum‑hopping travel buddy.
