Booking flights with points and miles can feel intimidating at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s one of the most powerful ways to travel for way less money. I’ve flown internationally in lie-flat seats and taken family trips that would’ve cost thousands, all thanks to award flights.

Here’s exactly how to book award flights, step by step.

What Are Award Flights?

Award flights are airline tickets booked using points or miles instead of cash. These points usually come from:

Credit card welcome bonuses, either gained from flexible points cards that you can transfer to a qualifying airline or co-branded, airline specific cards
Everyday spending on travel rewards cards
Airline or hotel loyalty programs

Instead of paying $800 for a flight, you might pay 40,000 points + $11 in taxes (or more if it’s international).

Step 1: Decide Where You Want to Go (and Be Flexible)

Before searching, get clear on:

Your destination
Approximate travel dates. Depending on your flexibility, you can alter these if you find better flights.
Cabin type (economy, premium economy, business, first class)

💡 Flexibility is everything. Being open by a few days (or airports) can unlock way better award availability. You can also do something called a positioning flight. This means if you’re flying from your home airport that may not have many non-stop flights to your final destination, then you position to another, bigger airport (such as LAX, JFK, or ORD) in order to get a cheaper flight to someplace, say, Europe.

Step 2: Know Which Points You Have

Log into your accounts and make a list of:

Credit card points (Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, etc.)
Airline miles (United, Delta, American, Southwest, etc.)

Some credit card points are transferable, meaning you can move them to multiple airlines. These are the most valuable. I have a list of which banks transfer to which specific airlines in my guide here.

*My husband and I booked AA Business Class seats with Alaska Airlines miles*

Step 3: Find the Best Airline Program for Your Route

You don’t always have to book with the airline you’re flying.

For example:

Flying to Europe? Programs like Air France/KLM, British Airways, or United may be great options. Keep in mind that Air France and KLM have higher taxes and fees, but they do offer discounts on kids’ fares.
Flying domestically? Southwest, United, or American partners often have deals. We have also found a lot of success with Alaska Airlines because they partner with AA and Iberia.
Flying internationally in business class? Foreign airline programs usually offer the best value.

This is where award travel magic happens ✨

Step 4: Search for Award Availability

Go to the airline’s website and search using points (not cash).

Tips:

Search one-way flights first. These are easier to find, plus if your flight gets changed or cancelled, you won’t have to deal with altering two flights at a time.
Use the “flexible dates” calendar if available
Look for flights operated by partner airlines

If you don’t see availability, try:

Different dates
Nearby airports
Another airline program

Step 5: Transfer Points (Only When You’re Ready!)

Once you’ve found the exact flight you want:

Transfer your credit card points to the airline program
Transfers are usually instant (but non-reversible!)

🚨 Never transfer points speculatively. Always confirm availability first, whether by chatting or calling the airline.

Step 6: Book the Flight

After points transfer:

Complete the booking on the airline’s site
Pay required taxes/fees
Save your confirmation number

That’s it—you’re officially flying on points 🎉

Pro Tips for Booking Award Flights

Book early (or last minute): award seats are limited. The best time is around 11 months in advance or one to two months before (last minute, I know!)
Check partners: the same seat can cost fewer points elsewhere
Avoid high fuel surcharges when possible
Set alerts if availability isn’t open yet. Check sites like seats.aero or pointsyeah
Don’t aim for perfection—a good redemption is still a win

Is Booking Award Flights Worth It?

Absolutely! Award flights can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars per trip. The learning curve is real—but once you book your first one, it clicks fast.

If you can book a regular flight online, you can book an award flight too. You just need the right strategy.

How to Book Award Flights (Step-by-Step for Beginners)