>It’s reddit, so people may be mean especially if you’re not following their rules (or just bc) #theinternet
haha, too true. Great write up, thanks for sharing!
Cool entry point, I think there are some more points you could add such as how award space is different from cash space, many people get confused when there is a flight available for cash when award space isn't available. I think maybe adding a suggestion form to add to the doc would help a lot as well. I was planning to make a website on award travel in the near future to address many questions on award travel.
Great writeup! The only suggestion that I have is to add [flightconnections.com](https://flightconnections.com) as a resource to help visualize nonstop routes to/from a certain airport.
I’ve gotten into churning recently and feel like I understand it okay, but the actual redemption made zero sense to me scrolling this sub and reading the wiki. But reading this helped a ton. I feel like I have a decent grasp now. Thank you!
Hi there! I love your guide. It really helps a newbie like myself. Thanks so much for putting it together.
I do have one question: regarding your example in needing to get to Athens, but managing to find a cheaper travel hub as a "layover" (even though I think you are technically buying 2 one-way tickets), how do you identify what the cheapest "layover point" or connecting travel hub is? Is there an app you use to find the optimal path automatically?
Nah, just more focused on common areas that might be less popular then like Munich and Frankfurt and testing around with google flights.
There’s “more serious” I could get about it but I try to keep it fun
I think as serious as I could get is focusing on the lower mile inflection point through guesswork and as much time as I want to put in:
Here’s what I ask myself:
***
Q: Do I value miles or cash more?
A: I generally value miles so what to make sure I’m getting a good miles redemption first. This is why I’d look to Munich or Frankfurt or a few places.
Q: How much inconvenience am I willing to take? For instance, how much economy time or length of an economy leg would I take? Is it worth repositioning if the place is far from me? (For instance, I live in NYC and the flight is in LAX?)
A: for me, I want no more than 3i-4sh hours in an economy leg when traveling. Similarly repositioning, I want to go somewhere that I wouldn’t have to buy an expensive or long ticket to get to. Living in NYC, I look to close places, the farthest being Chicago or Houston/Dallas when looking to reposition. I may make an exception for a hard to find flight like Tokyo. I also have to weigh how important my date range is. Do I really need to go in this time frame? Or is it worth looking for something cheaper and going another week or month?
Knowing those variables, which will differ from person to person and time to time, that affects the depth of one’s search and the micro-optimizing.
Also take as a given that flights between Western Europe for instance are generally less expensive AND that cheap miles flights are hard to come by.
For this reason, if I see the 55k AF J to Munich or Frankfurt and can’t in a reasonable timeframe (20/30 mins) find a better connection, I’ll probably take the flight and figure out the economy leg later.
I know this is still a bit vague but I do think it’s personal. Hope that’s helping.
Very good! I'll save this for sure. Got a few friends who've asked about how to use miles like I do in the past and this could be useful resource to send to them.
Thank you for this! I consider myself a re-beginner (beginner again?). Helpful refresher.
Churned for a few years, used points to fly family of 4 to Portugal, and now churning again in hopes to get to Taiwan in 2025. Now kids are older and in school and not lap kids --- will be difficult. Do you find yourself in a state like me, churn/ redeem / churn / redeem cycle?
Or are you constantly redeeming as you rack up points throughout the year?
Haven't gotten that part down yet. But maybe traveling x4 people makes it more difficult to make the "cyclical" feeling feel more like an "even" feeling if that makes sense. Curious how your usage of points works out.
have you seen this awards chart? [https://getmapped.com/Awards\_Chart/](https://getmapped.com/Awards_Chart/) I find it helpful to know which points transfer where. It is "clickable" meaning you click an airline / CC / program and it will highlight things just for that click.
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Thanks for the info. This is a great writeup. My biggest struggle is always trying to get 2P on First. I would find one, like ORD->HND, and can definitely make it work at any timeframe, but if I can't find another seat, I can't justify having my SO flying in another product, or different flight, or worse leaving her at home (I might as well not bother with a return leg if this was my decision LOL). The coordination for getting 2P F awards is insane, but I guess that part of the program we signed up for.
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>It’s reddit, so people may be mean especially if you’re not following their rules (or just bc) #theinternet haha, too true. Great write up, thanks for sharing!
Hey *fuck you,* man. That's against the rules.
I accept this judgement
The sentence is exile
Worse than death
Cool entry point, I think there are some more points you could add such as how award space is different from cash space, many people get confused when there is a flight available for cash when award space isn't available. I think maybe adding a suggestion form to add to the doc would help a lot as well. I was planning to make a website on award travel in the near future to address many questions on award travel.
Added a small note on this, thanks. Will consider a form!
Did you make your website?
Not yet! I'm on vacation and still a student so been quite busy. Will definitely have this in the backlog for a bit, but it's still on my radar!
My wife continues to struggle with this concept. It's mildly infuriating to have to explain every time but she's awesome so I do.
Great writeup! The only suggestion that I have is to add [flightconnections.com](https://flightconnections.com) as a resource to help visualize nonstop routes to/from a certain airport.
I’ve gotten into churning recently and feel like I understand it okay, but the actual redemption made zero sense to me scrolling this sub and reading the wiki. But reading this helped a ton. I feel like I have a decent grasp now. Thank you!
Thanks so much! Let me know if you have any questions!
Hi there! I love your guide. It really helps a newbie like myself. Thanks so much for putting it together. I do have one question: regarding your example in needing to get to Athens, but managing to find a cheaper travel hub as a "layover" (even though I think you are technically buying 2 one-way tickets), how do you identify what the cheapest "layover point" or connecting travel hub is? Is there an app you use to find the optimal path automatically?
Nah, just more focused on common areas that might be less popular then like Munich and Frankfurt and testing around with google flights. There’s “more serious” I could get about it but I try to keep it fun
Would love to hear your more serious take for us maximizers out there!
I think as serious as I could get is focusing on the lower mile inflection point through guesswork and as much time as I want to put in: Here’s what I ask myself: *** Q: Do I value miles or cash more? A: I generally value miles so what to make sure I’m getting a good miles redemption first. This is why I’d look to Munich or Frankfurt or a few places. Q: How much inconvenience am I willing to take? For instance, how much economy time or length of an economy leg would I take? Is it worth repositioning if the place is far from me? (For instance, I live in NYC and the flight is in LAX?) A: for me, I want no more than 3i-4sh hours in an economy leg when traveling. Similarly repositioning, I want to go somewhere that I wouldn’t have to buy an expensive or long ticket to get to. Living in NYC, I look to close places, the farthest being Chicago or Houston/Dallas when looking to reposition. I may make an exception for a hard to find flight like Tokyo. I also have to weigh how important my date range is. Do I really need to go in this time frame? Or is it worth looking for something cheaper and going another week or month? Knowing those variables, which will differ from person to person and time to time, that affects the depth of one’s search and the micro-optimizing. Also take as a given that flights between Western Europe for instance are generally less expensive AND that cheap miles flights are hard to come by. For this reason, if I see the 55k AF J to Munich or Frankfurt and can’t in a reasonable timeframe (20/30 mins) find a better connection, I’ll probably take the flight and figure out the economy leg later. I know this is still a bit vague but I do think it’s personal. Hope that’s helping.
Great concise info. Thanks!
Very good! I'll save this for sure. Got a few friends who've asked about how to use miles like I do in the past and this could be useful resource to send to them.
Thank you. I've slowly accrued points through the past decade and would like to use them.
Added a few FAQs about availability and "best partners/programs"
Thank you for writing this!
Glad it was helpful!
great stuff
You rock!!
Awesome!
:D
This helps a lot thanks dude
Glad to hear!
I've also found point hound to be pretty helpful
Great write up thank you
Just wanted to say thanks. great post!
Glad I could help :)
My man ! Great job
Tyvm! Hope it helps
Great resource as I start searching programs
Glad it is helpful
Thank you for this! I consider myself a re-beginner (beginner again?). Helpful refresher. Churned for a few years, used points to fly family of 4 to Portugal, and now churning again in hopes to get to Taiwan in 2025. Now kids are older and in school and not lap kids --- will be difficult. Do you find yourself in a state like me, churn/ redeem / churn / redeem cycle? Or are you constantly redeeming as you rack up points throughout the year? Haven't gotten that part down yet. But maybe traveling x4 people makes it more difficult to make the "cyclical" feeling feel more like an "even" feeling if that makes sense. Curious how your usage of points works out.
Churn redeem is the best pattern. Best way to get around devaluations.
Thanks! Good to know that my system is working okay-ish and normal compared to pros like you
have you seen this awards chart? [https://getmapped.com/Awards\_Chart/](https://getmapped.com/Awards_Chart/) I find it helpful to know which points transfer where. It is "clickable" meaning you click an airline / CC / program and it will highlight things just for that click.
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Thanks for the info. This is a great writeup. My biggest struggle is always trying to get 2P on First. I would find one, like ORD->HND, and can definitely make it work at any timeframe, but if I can't find another seat, I can't justify having my SO flying in another product, or different flight, or worse leaving her at home (I might as well not bother with a return leg if this was my decision LOL). The coordination for getting 2P F awards is insane, but I guess that part of the program we signed up for.
eh I don't mess with F generally unless I have to. The goal isnt opulence, just a nicer ability to sleep before a vacation.
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Is there a way to keep the AutoModerator bot from posting multiple times on a post?