Traveling the world while saving money has become a goal for many, and AwardHacker is one of the essential tools for turning this dream into reality. Whether you are a seasoned traveler looking to maximize your frequent flyer miles, or a beginner trying to understand how to stretch your travel budget, AwardHacker can help you find the best redemption options for flights and hotels. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to use AwardHacker effectively to get the most out of your reward points.
What is AwardHacker?
AwardHacker is a free online tool that allows users to search for the most efficient ways to redeem their frequent flyer miles or credit card points for flights. Instead of spending hours manually comparing redemption rates across different airlines and alliances, AwardHacker streamlines the process by providing real-time options for the best award deals. This tool helps travelers maximize the value of their hard-earned points, ensuring that they get the best possible deal for their next trip.
Getting Started with AwardHacker
To get started with AwardHacker, visit their website and enter basic details about your trip. These details include:
- Origin and destination cities
- Travel class preference (Economy, Business, or First Class)
- One-way or round-trip preferences
- Flexible dates (if applicable)
Once you input these details, AwardHacker will provide a list of potential flights and the number of points required for each one.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using AwardHacker
1. Enter Your Travel Details
Start by entering your departure and arrival cities. AwardHacker supports searching across various regions and countries, so no matter where you’re traveling, you can find a good deal. You can also adjust preferences such as whether you want a one-way or round-trip flight and which travel class you’d prefer. Keep in mind that higher classes like Business or First will require more points.
2. Choose Your Points or Miles Program
AwardHacker lets you filter search results based on the loyalty programs you use. Whether you have points with airlines such as American Airlines, Delta, or United, or transferable points from credit card programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Points, you can easily see which program offers the best redemption value for your specific trip.
3. Compare Award Redemption Options
Once you’ve entered your details, AwardHacker generates a list of results that show various award redemption options across multiple airlines and frequent flyer programs. The results will display how many points or miles are required for each option, giving you a clear view of the most cost-effective way to book your flight.
For example, you may find that redeeming 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a business class flight to Europe is more valuable than using 50,000 American Airlines miles for a similar economy flight.
4. Look for Transfer Bonuses and Partner Programs
AwardHacker does not just show direct redemption options—it also highlights partnerships between airlines and credit card programs. For instance, if you have American Express Membership Rewards points, you can transfer those points to Air Canada’s Aeroplan or Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer, often unlocking better redemption opportunities.
Keep an eye out for transfer bonuses, where you can receive extra points when transferring from one program to another. These promotions can significantly enhance the value of your points, helping you book premium flights at a lower cost.
5. Filter by Airline Alliances
If you have a preference for a particular airline alliance, such as Star Alliance, Oneworld, or SkyTeam, AwardHacker allows you to filter your search results accordingly. This can be particularly useful if you want to stick to airlines within your preferred alliance for better connectivity or additional benefits like lounge access and extra baggage allowance.
6. Check for Availability
After identifying the best redemption option, it’s essential to check availability on the airline’s website. AwardHacker provides estimates, but actual availability can fluctuate depending on the time of year, the specific route, and the airline’s award inventory.
7. Take Action
Once you’ve found the ideal award flight, visit the frequent flyer program’s website or call their customer service to book the flight. Remember that some programs charge additional taxes, fees, and surcharges, so be sure to account for these when evaluating the overall cost of your award ticket.
Maximizing Your Points with AwardHacker
AwardHacker is not just for finding award flights—it’s also an excellent tool for strategic travel planning. By using the following tips, you can get even more value out of your reward points:
1. Flexibility is Key
AwardHacker works best when you have some flexibility with your travel dates. If you’re willing to adjust your travel schedule by a few days or even weeks, you can often find a much better redemption deal. The tool allows you to view a range of options that may be cheaper or more available on different dates.
2. Mix and Match Loyalty Programs
One of the best features of AwardHacker is its ability to show results from multiple programs. If you have a mix of points in different loyalty programs, you can maximize your travel by using them strategically. For instance, you might find that using Amex Membership Rewards points for the outbound flight and Chase Ultimate Rewards points for the return flight provides the best value.
3. Utilize Transferable Points
If you have points in transferable programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Points, AwardHacker will show you the best airlines to transfer your points to. Transferring points to airline programs can often yield a better value than redeeming directly through the bank’s travel portal.
4. Watch for Promotions
Airlines and credit card companies frequently run promotions, including transfer bonuses or limited-time offers on award bookings. Keep an eye out for these deals, as they can enhance the value of your points. By pairing AwardHacker with these promotions, you can make your points go even further.
5. Check for Upgrades
Even if you’re booking an economy flight with your points, AwardHacker can sometimes help you find upgrade opportunities to business or first class. Some loyalty programs allow you to use a mix of cash and points to upgrade your booking, providing a more luxurious experience for a fraction of the cost.
Conclusion
AwardHacker is a powerful tool for anyone looking to make the most of their travel rewards. By using its intuitive search functions and filtering options, travelers can quickly find the best ways to redeem their points for maximum value. Whether you’re a casual traveler or a frequent flyer, mastering AwardHacker can help you fly further for less.