WHY THERE IS NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW TO TRAVEL USING POINTS AND MILES
If you are like most Americans, you have gone to great effort to earn points and miles, building up a healthy stash over time in readiness to take that dream vacay to lands far and wide.
If you are like most Americans, you are also very confused when it comes to spending them, unsure how to spend them wisely. You are also frustrated, discovering that there are limited to no airline seats available for you to spend them on, especially those elusive business and first class seats.
Right now, given the uncertain times, many of you are also questioning whether it is the right time to be spending money on a holiday. And if you can’t find flights using points and miles, and need to pay cash for flights, can you really afford a holiday right now?
The good news is that uncertain times create certain opportunities, and the points and miles game is no different. Whilst the Warren Buffetts of the world are guaranteed to have made the most of the recent turmoil when it comes to the share market, you can too when it comes to travel using points and miles. Here are the reasons why.
Increase Availability Of Award Seats Using Points And Miles
Recent events, which have led to uncertainty and fear, have led to a significant slowdown in travel, both domestically and internationally. Americans are travelling less or planning to travel less. Tourists, also fearful of tighter border controls, are arriving into the United States in fewer numbers, and this will worsen in the near term.
What does this all mean and what are the consequences? It means more empty seats on planes.
More empty seats on planes will lead to an increase in the number of award seats using points and miles, both domestically and internationally, as airlines try to fill these seats.
Finally, you should be able to use those hard-earned points and miles to fly, including in business and first class. And of course, by using points and miles you are saving considerably versus using cash.
Cheaper Dynamic Pricing Award Fares
For those airline loyalty programs with dynamic pricing, lower cash fares should lead to lower points and miles fares, as dynamic pricing points and miles fares are generally linked to cash fares.
These programs include:
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American Airlines Aadvantage
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United Airlines MileagePlus
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Delta SkyMiles
Although we recommend using extreme caution when using points and miles to pay for dynamic pricing seats, as their cost is often considerably higher than alternatives, you may now start finding fares that are more reasonable.
Cheaper Hotels
Less travelers create less hotel bookings and more empty rooms. To fill rooms, hotels will lower prices, at least in the short-term. So, not only will you get to use points and miles for your flight, saving cash, but you’ll pay less cash for your hotel room. When using points and miles for your hotel room, depending on which hotel loyalty program you are using, you may also require fewer points or miles, as many hotel loyalty programs link their points and miles price to their cash price.
Smaller Crowds In The United States
If you’re planning to travel domestically, fewer tourists to the United States means smaller crowds, especially at big-ticket attractions. So if the tourist crush has put you off travelling to certain parts of the United States, be put off no more, and make the most of this opportunity to travel domestically with smaller crowds while you can.
On the flipside, more tourists may now choose to visit other countries, making those countries less desirable to visit. This is yet another incentive to stay local, especially now, when locals could do with your support.
Long-Term
If tariffs continue, and immigration is restricted, this will mean higher airfares and higher hotel costs in the long-term.
You should take advantage of travelling now, whilst more award seats are available, hotel rooms are cheaper and tourists are fewer. Then, if airfares and hotel room prices do increase, it will be even more important to ensure you maximize the number of points and miles you earn and to spend less every time you use your points and miles on flights and hotels.
