It’s the peak of summer travel, and planes, trains, and hotels are booked to capacity. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a good travel deal—especially by using your miles and points. Whether you are booking a last-minute getaway (there are some bargains still to be had) or planning ahead, don’t miss these opportunities to multiply your loyalty balance, amplify your credit card perks, and maximize the value of your next big adventure.
Fly to Europe or the Maldives for next to nothing
This month, Air France and KLM’s Promo Awards from Flying Blue are available for reservations made by July 31 for travel any time before the end of the year. Among some of the best deals are flights from Boston or Chicago to various cities in Europe like Paris or Amsterdam for as few as 11,250 miles in economy class, each way. Flights from Denver to Europe start at 15,000 miles each way, while those from Austin, Texas, begin at 18,375 miles.
Elsewhere, Qatar Airways currently has wide-open business class space on flights next year to the Maldives, Middle East, and many Asian cities. This includes the airline’s highly coveted Qsuites, but you’ll have to book quickly in order to score one. You can use 70,000 American AAdvantage miles or Qatar Avios points in each direction or 85,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles for one-way redemptions from many of Qatar’s North American gateways. Using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles from the East Coast? It’s only 75,000 miles each way. The best availability is for May and June of 2024, but space is limited and not available on every date or route.
Score bonuses just for creating a loyalty account
Experts will tell you to never bypass signing up for a loyalty program. You never know when you will fly or stay with a brand again, or when that program may merge or create reciprocal perks with another. For example, IHG One Rewards and Iberostar Beachfront Resorts just launched a new partnership; this means any IHG member is eligible to earn points and benefits when staying with Iberostar across its portfolio of hotels in Brazil, the Caribbean, Mexico, Morocco, and Spain, among other destinations. This includes free room upgrades, late checkout, and welcome amenities.
And sometimes, just joining a program can save you cash, too. Between now and July 14, Azamara Circle members can book a cruise and receive double the traditional member discount. This 20% savings offer can be stacked with another bonus for a $600 onboard credit and three free nights available on select sailings. This offer is available just for joining the program.
Leaders Club offers anyone that joins the program free breakfast for two as well as late checkout and early check-in considerations plus potential room upgrades. This can yield several hundred dollars in value since its properties are considered the crème de la crème of hotels (think: Ritz Paris, La Mamounia in Marrakech, and Hotel Fasano in São Paulo).
Purchase a cache of miles and points—that’s actually worth the cost
Is it ever a good idea to buy points and miles? Short answer: Yes. But only if you have plans in place to use them. Be sure to compare the cost to buy any miles or points with what the flight or hotel would otherwise cost in cash. In many cases, this roundabout strategy to buy miles and points can slash overall travel spending in half (or even more) if you find the right deal and can confirm that award space is available.
