Source: The Points Guy
Summary
The author recounts their recent experience using points and miles to book emergency flights, saving thousands of dollars in the process. They used Citi ThankYou Rewards points to transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage program and book a last-minute flight from Dallas to London for $5.60 in taxes and fees. They also booked a business-class ticket from London to Australia for 85,000 AAdvantage miles and a few hundred dollars in taxes and fees, saving $6,000. The author highlights the importance of earning transferable points currencies, using award search tools, and knowing transfer times to prepare for emergency travel.
Our Reading
The escape is carefully planned.
Transferable points currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards points, American Express Membership Rewards points, and Citi ThankYou Rewards points can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners, providing flexibility in emergency situations. Award search tools like Seats.aero and Point.me can help find award availability across multiple programs. Knowing transfer times and considering putting awards on hold can also be beneficial. The author’s experience shows that points and miles can be a valuable asset in emergency travel situations, saving time, money, and stress.
And, of course, there’s the small matter of the $5.60 emergency transatlantic flight.
Author: Evan Null
