How to Book Award Flights (Travel Hacking 101 for Beginners)
I still remember the first time I tried to figure out how to book award flights—I had points, I had a destination in mind, and I had absolutely no idea what to do next. Every website felt confusing, every airline had different rules, and I kept thinking, “Why does this feel harder than it should be?” If that’s you right now, you’re in the right place. This guide is the simple, mom‑friendly breakdown I wish I had when I started—how to find award availability, how partner airlines actually work, and how to transfer points without messing anything up. By the end, you’ll feel confident booking your first award ticket and finally turning those points into real trips.
This beginner‑friendly guide breaks down exactly how award flights work, how to find availability, how to transfer points, and how to avoid the biggest mistakes new travel hackers make.
Want help booking your first award ticket? Join my Travel Hacking Moms Facebook group! It’s a supportive space where moms share wins, ask questions, and learn how to use points and miles for real trips.
Some links may be affiliate links. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Please evaluate your own financial situation before applying for any credit card.
What Is an Award Ticket?
An award ticket is a flight you book using points or miles instead of cash. Every airline has a loyalty program, and when you earn enough miles, you can redeem them for flights, upgrades, or partner airline travel.
Award tickets can be:
Saver awards (the best value)
Standard awards (more expensive)
Partner awards (book one airline using another airline’s miles)
Understanding these basics makes everything else easier.
How Award Flights Work (Beginner Breakdown)
Award flights are priced using:
Award charts (fixed pricing)
Dynamic pricing (prices change like cash fares)
Partner pricing (one airline’s miles for another airline’s flight)
Most beginners don’t realize that the best deals are often on partner airlines, not the airline you’re actually flying.
Example: You can book a Delta flight using Air France miles. You can book an American Airlines flight using British Airways miles.
This is where the magic happens. Don’t worry I have tools to help you figure this out. Read my full guide on Point.me my favorite award flight point hack.
How to Find Award Availability
Award availability is the hardest part of travel hacking — but once you know where to look, it gets much easier.
Look for:
Saver awards (lowest mileage price)
Flexible dates
Partner flights
Off‑peak travel windows
Best places to search:
Airline websites
Partner airline websites
Award search tools (below)
Best Tools for Finding Award Flights
These tools save hours and help you spot rare saver awards.
Point.Me — Fast, powerful award search across multiple airlines.
How to Search Partner Airlines
This is where beginners get stuck — but it’s actually simple.
Example:
You want to fly American Airlines. You should search:
British Airways
Qantas
Alaska Airlines
You want to fly Delta. You should search:
Air France
Virgin Atlantic
KLM
You want to fly United. You should search:
Air Canada
ANA
Lufthansa
Partner searches reveal award seats that don’t show up on the airline you’re flying.
How to Transfer Points to Airlines
Transferable points are the heart of travel hacking. They give you flexibility and access to multiple airlines.
How it works:
Search for award availability first.
Confirm the flight is bookable.
Transfer points to the airline partner.
Book immediately (transfers are usually instant).
Programs that transfer to airlines:
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Amex Membership Rewards
Capital One Miles
Citi ThankYou Points
This is why flexible points cards are the best starter cards for beginners.
Best Starter Cards for Award Travel
Flexible points cards give you the most options and unlock partner award space.
Earn transferable points
Access more award charts
Book flights for pennies
How to Avoid High Taxes & Fees
Not all award tickets are created equal. Some airlines add huge surcharges.
Avoid:
British Airways long‑haul
Lufthansa long‑haul
Some Delta partner awards
Look for:
United
Air Canada
American Airlines
Alaska Airlines
ANA
Air France (off‑peak)
These usually have lower fees.
Real Examples of Award Tickets
How I Booked a Girls Trip for 11,000 Points each - 4 flights, 3 different airports on points
Affordable Norway Fjord Cruise - We used Capital One Miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards to fly round-trip to London for our Norway Cruise
Discover Best of 3 Days in Toronto — We used Air France miles to book West Jet Tickets to Toronto
Points and Miles Adventures- I share all my points and miles adventures and how to book them in this popular guide
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Transferring points before finding availability
Searching only the airline they want to fly
Ignoring partner airlines
Booking standard awards instead of saver awards
Forgetting to check taxes and fees
Not being flexible with dates
Avoid these and you’ll save thousands of points.
Travel Essentials for Your First Award Trip
These items make travel days smoother, especially for long-haul award flights.
Motherlode Junior — Lightweight, durable, perfect for maximizing carry-on space
Away - I love my Featherlight Overnight bag for weekend trips
Scout Bags — Great for personal items and under‑seat storage
Aveda — Hydration essentials for dry airplane air
Athleta - Comfortable travel layers
Reef Shoes — Great for beach destinations booked on points
Before You Book: Trip Protection
Award flights often involve multiple airlines and connections. Travel insurance gives peace of mind.
Faye Travel Insurance — Simple, fast, and built for real travel issues
EtravelSIM — Easy international data for award trips abroad
Celebrate Your First Award Flight
Booking your first award ticket is a big deal — treat yourself!
Try The World — Global snack boxes for travel lovers
Goldbelly — Iconic foods shipped nationwide
Final Tips for Booking Your First Award Ticket
Start with flexible points
Search partner airlines
Be flexible with dates
Book saver awards when possible
Transfer points only when you’re ready to book
Use tools to find availability faster
Award travel gets easier every time you do it — and once you book your first award ticket, you’ll never look at airfare the same way again.
Let’s Travel Hack Together
If you enjoy learning how we travel as a family using points, miles, and smart credit card strategies, I’d love for you to follow along:
