Many people would be happy to use 25,000 miles for a free coach flight from New York to Orlando, but frequent flyers who realize how valuable their miles can be often expect much better redemption value. For value for the dollar, international business and first class tickets are hands down the best deal out there. You can travel in significantly more comfort for double the miles, while a paid business class ticket could cost you four times as much as the coach or even more.
However, accumulating enough miles to fly from you to a friend (or your entire family) from A to B when trying to reach Europe or Asia in a premium cabin can be quite a challenge. Many credit card sign-up offers will earn you enough miles to fly across the country with just one bonus, but accumulating enough to fly first class or business intercontinental flights on that “once in a lifetime flight” can take a lot time and dedication. . Here’s how to get started:
1. Researching destinations is the first step when planning an international adventure. You don’t need to limit your travel to specific cities, but having a general idea of the region you want to travel to is key, as award redemption rates can vary drastically depending on where you are going.
2. Pick dates within the next year , or at least a general time frame to search. Airlines devalue your miles all the time, and once you start saving for a particular award, you don’t want to be caught off guard by increasing award rates. If you are saving for a trip many years down the road, plan to rack up twice the number of miles you would need to catch that flight now, just to cover all your bases.
3. Check availability now, rather than once you have accumulated all the necessary miles. Award seat availability is restricted, and while it’s likely to change as your dates get closer (maybe even for the better), it doesn’t hurt to get an idea of what’s available now. Look for flights between the inbound cities now, as these are often the hardest to arrange (you can always pay cash for that 90-minute jump from Taipei to Hong Kong if you need it later).
4. Confirm air travel first , before booking guides, hotels, and other non-refundable experiences at your destination. Please note that your travel plans can also change at the last minute, so it is best to book refundable reservations whenever possible. If you have a transferable award currency like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards points, move them to your airline of choice program first – hotel award availability is generally much more flexible, and you can usually book a stay at same price A few weeks of arrival.
5. Reserve tickets separately as seats become available. You don’t need to book your entire group with a single reservation, so there’s no reason not to get award seats available once you have the required miles. Redeposition fees are generally quite reasonable, and having a few award seats is better than having none. You can always pay cash for a ticket or two if you absolutely have to, or use a fixed value prize currency like Barclaycard drop points to secure the remaining seats.
6. Upgrade later and secure coach seats now. Flying Business or First Class is the ultimate goal here, but some airline programs will allow you to “upgrade” your reservation without a fee if a higher class of service is opened later.
