The Benefits of Award Search Tools and When They’re Worth Paying For

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways

Learn how to use award search tools, when it’s worth it to pay for one, and how to use alerts and filters to save time and get better redemptions.

What are the best tools to find award flight availability using points or miles? Is it worth paying for premium travel tools to simplify the booking process? Hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle discuss the newest features in airline loyalty programs and award redemption platforms to help you save time—and points—on your next trip. Joined by NerdWallet travel writer Craig Joseph, they break down exactly how to use powerful, lesser-known tools that streamline complex points transfers and redemptions.

But first, Meghan and Sally break down the latest travel news, including Disney's new Abu Dhabi park, Frontier's new companion pass, and Marriott’s expansion. Then, Craig joins Sally and Meghan to discuss award booking platforms, including Seats.aero, PointsYeah, Point.me, and Points Path. They explore how to compare award availability across programs, when paying for a tool might save you more in the long run, and why alert features are a must-have. If you’ve got points across multiple cards or loyalty programs, this episode could help you make sense of how and where to use them for real value.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve

• Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card: http://nerdwallet.com/article/travel/bilt-mastercard

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Top Airline Credit Cards With Companion Tickets https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/airline-credit-cards-companion-tickets

• The Real ID Alternatives Travelers Might Already Have https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/the-real-id-alternatives-travelers-might-already-have

• My Favorite Tools for Booking Cheap Travel https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/my-favorite-tools-for-booking-cheap-travel

• 5 Best Credit Card Points Programs and Who They Partner With https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/heres-how-you-can-transfer-your-points-from-any-major-credit-card-issuer

• Lounge Review: Inside Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/air-canada-lounge-sfo

In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: award flight search tools, points and miles travel, best award booking tools, how to use points for flights, travel credit card points, seats.aero review, PointsYeah guide, how to find airline award availability, Bilt rewards travel, how to compare flight redemptions, award seat alerts, best travel rewards tools, Points Path Chrome extension, how to use Bilt rewards, transfer credit card points, airline transfer partners, Real ID airport enforcement, how to find hotel award availability, Southwest vs Frontier companion pass, how to avoid phantom award availability, great circle mapper flights, AeroLopa seat maps, how to set award seat alerts, award wallet for tracking miles, how to use Google Flights for points, how to add kids as authorized users, and family airport lounge access tips.