Mistakes Booking Airline Reward Tickets: Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
Overview
1. Award Seat Availability and Complex Booking Steps
Finding open seats for award tickets can be surprisingly tough. Award space is pretty limited on popular routes and during busy seasons. If you want the best shot, you’ve got to be flexible with your travel plans—dates, destinations, all of it. Booking way in advance helps, but it’s not a guarantee. Sometimes, connecting through partner airlines or flying out of less crowded airports opens up more options, but you might end up with extra layovers or a messier itinerary.
There are some tools on airline websites and even third-party platforms that can dig up more possibilities, though honestly, it’s a bit of a hunt. Award charts and redemption rates seem to change on a whim, especially with those dynamic pricing programs like Delta SkyMiles. So, your points might not go as far as you hoped, and keeping up with all the changes can get exhausting. Honestly, booking reward flights often takes more patience (and maybe a little luck) than just buying a ticket outright.
2. Out-of-Pocket Costs: Surcharges and Taxes
Booking with miles doesn’t mean your trip is free—far from it. You’ll almost always be on the hook for fuel surcharges and government taxes, and these can really add up, especially for international or long-haul flights. No matter how many points you throw at the booking, those cash costs stick around.
Some partner airlines tack on even higher surcharges than you’d expect. If you don’t check the total cost—points plus cash—you could end up paying more than you bargained for. It’s honestly a bit of a rude surprise when you reach the checkout page and see those extra fees, which can eat into the value of your hard-earned points.
3. Sometimes Standard Tickets Are a Better Deal
It’s tempting to think using points is always a win, but that’s not always the case. Discount airlines and fare sales can sometimes beat award redemptions, especially when you factor in high taxes and fees on award tickets. And, let’s be real, standard tickets can offer better schedules and fewer restrictions, too.
Before cashing in your airline miles or credit card rewards—like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex points—it’s worth checking the cash prices on regular flights. Comparing both options can help you avoid wasting points on a “deal” that isn’t really a deal, especially with dynamic pricing or blackout dates making things tricky.
4. Risks When Airlines Cancel Award Bookings
If your flight gets canceled, having an award ticket can make things even trickier. Travelers with award bookings usually get lower priority for rebooking than folks with paid tickets, especially on partner airlines in alliances like Star Alliance or OneWorld. Calling customer service for help? That can turn into a headache, with different agents giving you different answers—if you can even get through.
Sometimes you’ll have to start from scratch, searching for new award seats, and you might lose miles or have to pay extra fees. Last-minute changes to award space can throw off your whole plan, adding stress when you were hoping for a smooth trip.
5. No Flexibility on Departure or Arrival Airports
Award tickets tend to lock you into specific departure and arrival airports. Unlike cash bookings, it’s usually not possible to switch airports in the same city—like hopping from JFK to Newark or Haneda to Narita—if something goes wrong. If a segment gets canceled, you might have to rebook the whole trip or accept whatever new schedule they offer from your original airport.
This lack of wiggle room can mean longer delays, or worse, canceled plans. It’s worth thinking about these routing and airport limitations before hitting “confirm” on an award ticket.
6. Can't Skip Segments of Award Itineraries
With award tickets, airlines expect you to fly every single segment, in order. If you miss one leg, the rest of your trip usually gets canceled automatically. There’s no way to just skip a segment, buy a cash ticket for one part, and then hop back onto your award reservation.
This is especially true for complicated itineraries with partner airlines. If you’re not careful, a missed connection or a no-show could unravel your entire trip—so double-check your plans before booking.
7. Travel Insurance May Not Protect Your Miles
Travel insurance usually covers cash expenses like surcharges and taxes if your trip is canceled, but your airline miles themselves? Those are rarely reimbursed. That means if something goes sideways, you could lose a big chunk of points or miles for good. It’s smart to read the fine print before assuming your policy has you covered for award travel.
When you’re planning a pricey award trip, keep this risk in mind. Some loyalty programs or premium travel cards—like Chase Sapphire Reserve—might offer a bit more protection, but honestly, getting your miles back after a claim is pretty uncommon.
8. Seat Selection With Points May Be Limited
Award tickets usually come with stricter seat selection rules than what you'd get if you paid cash. Sometimes, you're stuck picking from whatever's left at check-in, which can be a headache—especially if you're hoping to sit with your family or travel buddies. And let's be honest, those extra legroom or "preferred" seats? They're often just off-limits when booking with points.
If you care about where you sit, it's worth calling the airline or their partner ahead of time to see what your options actually are. Oddly enough, things like fare class or your loyalty status can make a difference in what's available for miles bookings. Doing a little homework beforehand can save you some disappointment and help you plan for a more comfortable trip—or at least manage your expectations.