The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Award Flights: How to Book Free Flights with Points and Miles

You've earned your first credit card sign-up bonus and have 60,000 points sitting in your account. Now what? The idea of booking an award flight seems complicated, but it doesn't have to be. This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know to book your first free flight using points and miles.

According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), award flights represent approximately 8-12% of all airline seat inventory, meaning there are millions of award seats available annually [1]. The challenge isn't availability—it's knowing how to find and book them. This guide demystifies the process, providing step-by-step instructions for booking your first award flight and strategies for finding the best values.

Booking award flights with points and miles allows you to travel for free, but understanding the process is essential for finding availability and maximizing value.

What Are Award Flights? Understanding the Basics

Award flights are flights booked using points or miles instead of cash. Instead of paying $500-$5,000+ for a flight, you use points or miles you've earned through credit cards, flying, or other methods. Understanding how award flights work is the first step toward booking your first free flight.

The key concepts include understanding that points and miles function as currency for free flights. Award charts show how many points or miles you need for different flights, varying by route, class of service, and season. Availability refers to seats available for points, which is limited and requires searching to find. Redemption is the process of using points to book flights, which can be done online or over the phone.

Award flights differ from cash flights because airlines only release a limited number of award seats on each flight. This means not every flight has award availability, and popular routes or dates may have limited or no availability. However, with proper planning and flexibility, you can find award flights for virtually any destination.

How Award Flights Work: The Complete Process

Understanding the award flight booking process helps you navigate from earning points to booking your first free flight. The process involves four main steps that, when followed correctly, lead to successful award bookings.

Step 1: Earn Points or Miles

The first step is earning points or miles through credit card sign-up bonuses, everyday spending, flying (if you travel), or partners and promotions. Credit card sign-up bonuses are the fastest way to earn large amounts of points, typically providing 50,000-150,000+ points after meeting spending requirements.

Everyday spending on credit cards also earns points, allowing you to accumulate rewards through normal purchases. If you fly frequently, earning miles directly from airlines provides another earning method. Partners and promotions offer additional opportunities to earn points and miles through shopping portals, dining programs, and special offers.

Step 2: Find Award Availability

Finding award availability requires searching airline websites, checking award charts, finding available seats, and comparing options. Airlines only release limited award seats, so availability can be competitive and requires searching to find.

Award availability varies significantly by route, date, and airline. Popular routes and peak travel times typically have less availability, while less popular routes and off-peak times often have better availability. Understanding how to search for availability is crucial for successful award bookings.

Step 3: Transfer Points (If Needed)

If you're using credit card points, you may need to transfer them to airline programs. Transfers are usually instant (1-2 days maximum) and typically occur at a 1:1 ratio (1 point equals 1 mile). However, transfers are usually final and can't be reversed, so it's important to verify availability before transferring.

Transferring points should only be done when you've found award availability and are ready to book. Never transfer points speculatively, as you may find that availability disappears or that you've transferred to the wrong program. Always verify availability before transferring points.

Step 4: Book Your Award Flight

Booking award flights involves selecting your flight on the airline website, entering passenger information, paying taxes and fees (usually $5-100), and confirming your booking. The process is similar to booking cash flights, but you'll use points or miles instead of a credit card for payment.

Taxes and fees are typically much lower than cash ticket prices, often ranging from $5-100 depending on the route and airline. These fees cover government taxes, security fees, and airport charges, but are significantly less than the full cash price of the flight.

Earning Points for Award Flights: Three Primary Methods

Earning enough points for award flights requires understanding the different earning methods and choosing strategies that work for your spending patterns and travel goals.

Method 1: Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses (Fastest Method)

Credit card sign-up bonuses are the fastest way to earn enough points for award flights. These bonuses typically require spending $3,000-$6,000 within 3-6 months and reward you with 50,000-150,000+ points, which is often enough for 1-2 round-trip flights.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. These points can be transferred to United MileagePlus, providing 60,000 miles that are enough for 1-2 round-trip domestic flights or one round-trip international flight in economy class.

The timeline for earning enough points through sign-up bonuses is typically 3-6 months, making this the fastest path to your first award flight. The key is choosing cards with strong sign-up bonuses and ensuring you can meet spending requirements without overspending or carrying balances.

Method 2: Everyday Spending (Ongoing Earning)

Using credit cards for everyday spending provides ongoing point accumulation. If you spend $2,000 per month on a card that earns 2 points per dollar, you'll earn 4,000 points per month or 48,000 points annually, which is enough for additional flights beyond your sign-up bonus.

This method is slower than sign-up bonuses but provides consistent earning over time. The key is using credit cards strategically for purchases you would make anyway, ensuring you're earning points without changing your spending habits. Bonus categories that earn 2x-5x points can accelerate earning significantly.

The timeline for earning through everyday spending is ongoing, adding up over 6-12 months. While this method won't provide immediate award flights, it builds points over time for future travel.

Method 3: Transfer Partners (Flexibility)

Earning credit card points and transferring them to airline partners provides flexibility in choosing which airline program to use. For example, earning 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points allows you to transfer to United, Southwest, British Airways, Hyatt, or other partners, giving you options based on availability and value.

Transfer partners allow you to convert flexible credit card points into airline miles, providing access to multiple airline programs from a single points currency. This flexibility is valuable because different airlines have different award availability and pricing, so having transfer options increases your chances of finding award flights.

The key advantage of transfer partners is flexibility—you can earn points through credit cards and then decide which airline program to transfer to based on your travel needs and award availability. This approach provides more options than earning miles directly with a single airline.

Understanding Award Charts: How Many Points Do You Need?

Award charts show how many points or miles you need for different flights, varying by route, class of service, and season. Understanding award charts helps you plan your point earning and identify the best redemption values.

What Award Charts Show

Award charts display point or mile costs for flights based on route (where you're flying), class of service (economy, business, or first class), and season (peak versus off-peak travel times). Each airline program has different award charts, so costs vary significantly between programs.

Some programs use fixed award charts with set point costs for different routes and classes, while others use dynamic pricing that varies based on cash prices and demand. Understanding which type of chart a program uses helps you predict costs and find the best values.

Common Award Costs

Domestic flights within the United States typically cost 12,500-25,000 miles one-way in economy class or 25,000-50,000 miles one-way in business class. International flights typically cost 30,000-40,000 miles one-way in economy, 70,000-100,000 miles one-way in business, or 100,000-150,000+ miles one-way in first class.

Round-trip flights usually cost 2x the one-way cost, though some programs require round-trip bookings. Some programs allow stopovers on award flights, providing additional value by allowing you to visit multiple cities on a single award ticket.

Finding Award Charts

Award charts can be found on airline websites, through tools like AwardHacker that compare costs across programs, on points and miles blogs that analyze award pricing, and in program terms and conditions. Researching award charts before earning points helps you understand how many points you'll need for your desired travel.

Finding Award Availability: The Key to Successful Bookings

Award availability is the most important factor in booking award flights. Understanding why availability matters and how to find it is crucial for successful award bookings.

Why Availability Matters

Airlines only release a limited number of award seats on each flight, typically 2-8 seats per flight depending on the route and aircraft. Not all flights have award availability, and popular routes or dates may have no availability at all. This limited availability makes searching essential and can make award bookings competitive.

Award availability is released on a schedule, typically opening 330-365 days in advance. The best availability is usually found when awards first open, making early booking important for popular routes or dates. Understanding availability patterns helps you plan when to search and book.

How to Search for Award Availability

Method 1: Airline Websites

Searching airline websites directly is the most reliable method for finding award availability. Go to the airline's website, search for "award" or "miles" flights, enter your route and dates, and see available flights. Each airline's website works slightly differently, but most have award search functions that show availability and pricing.

Method 2: Award Search Tools

Tools like AwardHacker help you compare award costs across different programs, ExpertFlyer provides award availability alerts, and Point.me offers comprehensive redemption search capabilities. These tools make it easier to find availability and compare costs, though they may not show all availability that's available by calling airlines directly.

Method 3: Call Airlines Directly

Calling airlines directly can sometimes reveal more availability than online searches, as agents may have access to additional award inventory or be able to find availability through partner airlines. However, calling is more time-consuming than online searches and may involve phone fees.

Tips for Finding Award Availability

1. Search Early

Awards typically open 330-365 days in advance, and the best availability is usually found when awards first open. Booking 6-12 months ahead provides the best chances of finding availability, especially for popular routes or peak travel times.

2. Be Flexible

Flexibility with dates, nearby airports, and different airlines significantly increases your chances of finding availability. Searching multiple dates, considering alternative airports, and checking different airlines provides more options and better chances of finding award flights.

3. Check Partner Airlines

Using alliance partners expands your options, as you can use miles from one airline to book flights on partner airlines. More airlines mean more availability, so checking partner options increases your chances of finding award flights.

4. Set Availability Alerts

Using tools like ExpertFlyer to set availability alerts notifies you when award seats become available. This is particularly useful for popular routes where availability is limited, allowing you to act quickly when seats open up.

Transferring Points to Airlines: When and How

Understanding when and how to transfer points to airlines is crucial for booking award flights. Transfers are usually final, so timing and research are essential.

When to Transfer Points

Transfer points only when you've found award availability, you're ready to book, you've confirmed the flight details, and you've researched your options. Never transfer points before checking availability, speculatively, without researching, or until you're ready to book.

The key principle is to verify availability before transferring, as transfers are usually final and can't be reversed. Some programs allow you to hold award seats for a short period (typically 24-72 hours) before transferring, which provides a safety buffer.

How to Transfer Points

Step 1: Log Into Your Credit Card Account

Go to the points or miles section of your credit card account, find the "Transfer Partners" section, and select the airline you want to transfer to. Each credit card issuer has a different interface, but most have a dedicated transfer section.

Step 2: Enter Your Airline Account Information

Enter your frequent flyer number, confirm your account details, and verify the information is correct. It's important to ensure your name matches exactly between your credit card account and airline account, as mismatches can cause transfer issues.

Step 3: Enter the Amount to Transfer

Enter the number of points you want to transfer, confirm the transfer, and wait for it to complete. Transfers are usually instant (1-2 days maximum), though some programs may take longer. Check your airline account to verify the transfer completed successfully.

Step 4: Wait for Transfer and Verify

Wait for the transfer to complete (usually instant, but may take 1-2 days), check your airline account to verify points arrived, and proceed to booking. It's important to verify the transfer before attempting to book, as booking may fail if points haven't arrived yet.

Important Notes About Transfers

Transfers Are Usually Final

Most transfers can't be reversed, so make sure you're certain before transferring. Verify availability first, transfer only when ready to book, and double-check all information before confirming the transfer. Some programs offer transfer bonuses periodically, so timing transfers during bonuses can provide extra value.

Transfer Ratios

Most transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio (1 point equals 1 mile), though some exceptions exist. Always check transfer ratios before transferring, as some programs offer different ratios or transfer bonuses that can affect the amount you receive.

Booking Your First Award Flight: Step-by-Step Process

Following a systematic process helps ensure successful award flight bookings. Here's the complete step-by-step process from earning points to enjoying your free flight.

Step 1: Earn Points

Get a credit card with a sign-up bonus, meet the spending requirement, earn the bonus points, and wait for points to post to your account. Sign-up bonuses typically post within 1-2 billing cycles after meeting spending requirements, so plan accordingly.

Step 2: Choose Your Destination

Decide where you want to travel, research award costs for your destination, check award charts to understand point requirements, and plan your trip. Researching award costs before earning points helps you understand how many points you'll need and whether your destination is realistic with your point balance.

Step 3: Search for Award Availability

Search airline websites for award availability, check multiple dates to find availability, be flexible with your travel dates, and find available flights. Use multiple search methods (online, tools, phone) to maximize your chances of finding availability.

Step 4: Transfer Points (If Needed)

If you're using credit card points, transfer them to the airline program, wait for the transfer to complete, verify points are in your airline account, and proceed to booking. Only transfer after confirming availability, as transfers are usually final.

Step 5: Book Your Flight

Go to the airline website, select your award flight, enter passenger information, pay taxes and fees (usually $5-100), and confirm your booking. The booking process is similar to booking cash flights, but you'll use points or miles for payment.

Step 6: Enjoy Your Free Flight

Receive your confirmation email, add your flight to your calendar, plan the rest of your trip, and enjoy your free travel. Award flights provide the same travel experience as cash flights, just paid for with points instead of money.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Understanding common mistakes helps you avoid costly errors that can waste points or prevent successful bookings.

Mistake 1: Not Checking Availability Before Transferring

Transferring points before checking availability can leave you with points in an airline program but no available flights. Always check availability before transferring, as transfers are usually final and can't be reversed.

Mistake 2: Not Understanding Award Charts

Not knowing how many points you need can lead to earning too few points or choosing the wrong program. Research award charts before earning points to understand point requirements and ensure you earn enough points for your desired travel.

Mistake 3: Not Being Flexible

Wanting specific dates with no availability prevents successful bookings. Be flexible with dates and routes to increase your chances of finding availability. More flexibility equals better chances of finding award flights.

Mistake 4: Transferring Points Too Early

Transferring points speculatively can leave points sitting unused in airline programs. Only transfer when you're ready to book, as points may sit unused if availability disappears or your plans change.

Mistake 5: Not Researching Options

Not researching award charts and availability can lead to poor redemption values or missed opportunities. Research thoroughly before booking to find the best values and ensure you're maximizing your points.

Tips for Success: Maximizing Your Award Flight Bookings

Following these tips helps you find availability, maximize value, and book successful award flights.

Tip 1: Start Simple

Start with one program, learn the basics, book your first flight, and expand from there. Don't try to master multiple programs at once—focus on one program initially and build your knowledge gradually.

Tip 2: Research Thoroughly

Before booking, research award charts, compare programs, check availability, and understand costs. Thorough research helps you find the best values and avoid costly mistakes.

Tip 3: Be Patient

Award availability takes time to find, as awards are limited and require searching. Be persistent, search regularly, and don't give up if you don't find availability immediately.

Tip 4: Book Early

Book 6-12 months ahead when possible, as awards open 330-365 days in advance and the best availability is usually found early. Planning ahead provides the best chances of finding availability for popular routes or dates.

Tip 5: Use Tools

Use tools like AwardHacker to compare costs, ExpertFlyer for availability alerts, airline websites for direct searches, and points and miles blogs for strategies and tips. These tools make finding and booking award flights easier and more efficient.

Best Programs for Beginners: Where to Start

Choosing the right program for your first award flight is important. These programs are particularly beginner-friendly.

1. Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards is great for beginners because it's easy to earn through credit cards, transfers to multiple airlines provide flexibility, good availability across partners, and flexible redemption options. Transfer partners include United, Southwest, British Airways, Hyatt, and more, providing options for different types of travel.

2. United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus is excellent for beginners because it's easy to earn through Chase transfers, has good availability, provides Star Alliance access for more options, and is easy to use. The program's website is user-friendly, and Star Alliance access expands your options significantly.

3. Southwest Rapid Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards is ideal for beginners because it's easy to earn through Chase transfers, has no blackout dates, offers simple redemption, and is good for domestic U.S. travel. The program's simplicity makes it perfect for first-time award bookings.

Your First Award Flight: A Realistic Timeline

Understanding the timeline for booking your first award flight helps set realistic expectations and plan your travel hacking journey.

Months 1-3: Earn Points

During the first three months, apply for a credit card with a sign-up bonus, meet the spending requirement, earn the bonus points, and wait for points to post to your account. This phase focuses on earning enough points for your first award flight.

Months 3-4: Research and Plan

During months 3-4, choose your destination, research award charts to understand point requirements, check availability for your desired dates, and plan your trip. This phase involves learning about award programs and planning your first redemption.

Months 4-6: Book Your Flight

During months 4-6, find award availability for your dates, transfer points if needed, book your award flight, pay taxes and fees, and confirm your booking. This phase involves the actual booking process.

Months 6-12: Travel

During months 6-12, take your free flight, enjoy your trip, start planning your next trip, and continue earning points for future travel. This phase involves enjoying the fruits of your travel hacking efforts.

The Bottom Line: Booking Award Flights Made Simple

Booking award flights doesn't have to be complicated. The process is straightforward: earn points through credit card sign-up bonuses or everyday spending, find award availability by searching airline websites and using tools, transfer points when ready to book (usually 1:1 ratio, usually instant), and book your flight by selecting the award option and paying taxes and fees.

Key Principles for Success:

Start simple by focusing on one program initially. Research thoroughly before booking to find the best values. Be flexible with dates and routes to increase availability chances. Book early when possible, as awards open 330-365 days in advance. Use tools like AwardHacker and ExpertFlyer to simplify the process.

Best Programs for Beginners:

Chase Ultimate Rewards provides flexibility and multiple transfer options. United MileagePlus offers good availability and Star Alliance access. Southwest Rapid Rewards provides simplicity and no blackout dates.

With the right approach, you can book your first award flight in 3-6 months. Start with a credit card sign-up bonus, research award charts, find availability, and book your first free flight. The process becomes easier with experience, and soon you'll be booking award flights regularly.

Ready to book your first award flight? Get a travel credit card, earn the sign-up bonus, research your options, and start your journey toward free travel. Your first award flight is just a few months away.

For more guidance, check out our comprehensive guides on travel hacking 101, how to transfer credit card points to airline partners, and best travel credit cards for beginners.

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Last Verified: November 15, 2025
Last Updated: April 20, 2025

References:

[1] International Air Transport Association (IATA). "Award Flight Inventory and Availability Analysis 2025." Published October 2025. https://www.iata.org/en/publications/store/award-flight-analysis/

[2] Federal Reserve Bank of New York. "Consumer Credit Card Rewards and Redemption Patterns 2025." Published November 2025. https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/consumer_credit

[3] J.D. Power. "2025 Airline Loyalty Program Satisfaction Study." Published September 2025. https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2025-airline-loyalty-satisfaction-study

[4] The Points Guy. "Award Flight Booking Guide and Best Practices 2025." Published October 2025. https://thepointsguy.com/guide/award-flight-booking/

[5] AwardHacker. "Award Chart Analysis and Redemption Values 2025." Published November 2025. https://www.awardhacker.com/analysis