How I Booked 4 Flights to Fort Lauderdale for 11,000 Points Each
And Finally Got Our Girls Trip Out of the Group Chat
My besties and me in Nashville
There’s something almost mythical about trying to plan a girls trip once everyone has kids, jobs, and lives in different states. The group text is full of “I’m in!” and “Let’s do it!”… until it’s time to actually book something. Then suddenly we’re all busy, broke, or overwhelmed.
But this time? This time the stars aligned — thanks to a crazy good cruise deal and some strategic points magic.
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The Cruise Deal That Started It All
My travel agent and cruise‑hunting partner‑in‑crime, Mary Kennedy, sent me an unbelievable deal on a 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 are two very different things.
We live in three different states, flying out of three different airports, and coordinating dates, prices, and schedules felt impossible.
Enter: points.
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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 on the same day
All arriving in time for our cruise
Cash price? Well over $1,000 total.
What we paid? Just points and of course taxes and fees
I even booked my own return flight home for 11k, making the whole thing even sweeter. I love using point.me to assist in finding flight on points. It is beginner friendly and even though I have been doing this for 20 years it is still my go to award travel search engine.
⭐Want to learn more? Check out these related post - I teach you all my strategies!
Why This Worked
A few things made this redemption so good:
1. Flexibility on airlines
Point.me showed options across multiple carriers, so we weren’t locked into one airline’s pricing. 3 tickets we booked Delta through Air France and one was on United Miles.
2. Flying into a major cruise port
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is a competitive airport with lots of award availability.
3. Booking early
Cruise dates are fixed, so grabbing flights early gives you the best shot at low‑point redemptions.
4. Using a tool that does the heavy lifting
I didn’t have to guess which airline had the best deal — Point.me surfaced it instantly.
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.
