Not exact matches
It is possible to find higher
redemption rates for your points, but in some cases (especially with
lower cost flights or hotel nights), the 1.5 cents per point value can be better than redeeming for an
award directly through the airline or hotel programs.
Do note that Flying Blue's best
award redemptions tend to be in economy class vs business and offer
low rates to places like Hawaii, Central and South America, and even Europe at costs less than many of their partner airlines included Alaska or Delta.
Arrival miles are also good to use when the
lowest or saver
redemption rate is not available for an
award flight using another program's miles, but the cash ticket price is
low.
For
award flights on partners this dynamic pricing wasn't a huge headache since partner
awards are subject to the
lowest tier of the dynamic pricing, so all you had to know is what the
lowest redemption rate is for a route and that would tell you the mileage requirement for a partner
award.
As shown on their Star Alliance partner
award chart, flights from North America to Europe can be booked as
low as 55,000 miles, but partner airlines are not given the 15 % discount and the
redemption rates are higher, so the deal is not to sweet (though still decent).
The
lowest Spirit's
redemption rates are unambiguously called Free Spirit Master Card, and contrary to what you might have heard about the lack of availability, finding these
awards is completely possible (please trust the guy who has done it on more than one occasion — me!).
Since TrueBlue points mostly interest me for travel to Mexico and the Caribbean, let's say my average
award would hover around 17,000 points, as I won't always be able to get the
lowest redemption rate.
If you can't find an
award flight on the dates you want at the
lowest redemptions rates, you'll just have to pay more or use your miles for something else.
Award availability is great even at
lower redemption rates, and with JFK as one of the hubs, you should have no problem booking a flight.
Most partner flights are bookable online at the saver (
lowest)
award redemption rate.
Award availability is generally great, even at the
lowest redemption rates, which can be substantially less than other airlines thanks to AA's great off - peak
rates.
In theory, economy
awards are offered at the
lowest redemption rates, but they just aren't available.
American Airlines» AAdvantage Loyalty Program offers five different types of mile
redemption award rates, but we suggest taking advantage of the most
low - priced of these
awards, the off - peak MileSAAver.
The Alaska Mileage Plan route is also appealing, with its
low redemption rates, free stopover on one - way
awards, ability to book online, and attainability of miles.
Pros: The ability buy miles cheaply and price out
awards combining both miles and cash based on your needs, no fuel surcharges even on premium tickets, relatively
low redemption rates for many
awards.