Booking A Flight With Air Miles – A Simple Guide
In this guide we take a look at booking a flight with Air Miles. Hopefully it will answer a few questions you may have before travelling.
What Are Air Miles:
Air Miles are simply reward points that you accumulate when you purchase via an airline or spend money with one of its partners.
You can then redeem those points ‘Air Miles’ on a range of travel products including flights, hotels, transfers and more.
Air Miles (also known as ‘Frequent Flyer Miles’), have become a very popular way for people to save money on their flights. Accumulating Air Miles through spending on your credit card or through loyalty programmes, means you can use them against the price of your flight. In most cases, you can use them to reduce the price you pay and in certain cases, you can use them to get free flights.
Things To Do When Booking A Flight With Air Miles:
1. Check The Status Of Your Air Miles: The first thing you will need to do is simply check how many Air Miles you have accumulated. Therefore, you will need to login to the account of either your Air Miles, bank or loyalty programme.
2. Search For Available Flights: Once you have successfully logged in, you will want to search for the flights that are available to you. The majority of airlines will have this option on their website.
3. Compare Flight Prices: The one thing you should be aware of before booking your flight is that not all flight prices will work out cheaper, when using your Air Miles. For instance, the amount of Air Miles you are required to use just to get a small reduction in price, may not be worth your while. As a result, you should first compare the cost of the flight using air miles, to the price it would cost paying in cash.
4. Book Your Flight: After comparing the cost of your flight, it’s decision time! If you have found a good deal using your Air Miles, then go ahead and book the flight.
Benefits Of Booking A Flight With Air Miles:
1. Cost And Savings: One of the main benefits of booking a flight with Air Miles is simply the cost and the savings. Using your Air Miles can reduce the amount of money you pay for your flight.
2. Flexibility On Booking: A number of airlines allow you to use your Air Miles for any type of seat on any flight. This certainly allows you much more flexibility than if you were to pay using cash.
3. Extra Perks When Booking: This may not always be the case but some airlines offer a few little extra perks, when you book using Air Miles. These perks may include things such as priority boarding and free checked-in luggage.
Disadvantages Of Booking A Flight With Air Miles:
1. Limited Availability For Flights: As you can imagine, the availability for flights is usually quite limited. As a result, the dates for the flights are pre-set and you have to take the flights that are available. Therefore, you can not choose your own dates or destination for your flights. You will also find that the flights are very limited during peaks times and on popular routes.
2. Expire: You should always check to see if your Air Miles have and expire date. Some Air Miles may have a date in which you need to use them by. Obviously, if you do not use them by this date, they will simply go to waste.
3. Additional Fees and Taxes: Although Air Miles allow you to purchase the flights, it is worth familiarising yourself with any additional fees you may have to pay. These may include admin fees and taxes.
Value Of Your Miles:
Before you book your flight, it is worth checking to see how much the value of your miles are against flights and other rewards. As a result, you might find that you can actually get more value if you use your Air Miles against other items and products such as gift cards or merchandise.
Summary:
Air miles can be a great way to reduce the price of your flight or even get a flight for free. However, using them does have advantages and disadvantages. Each airline or reward/loyalty programme has its own policy with regards to usage of your Air Miles. It is essential you familiarise yourself with them before booking your flight. Ensure that when you do use your Air Miles, you are receiving a good deal. Always compare the price of the flight when using your Air Miles against the cost of the flight when paying cash. If the deal is a good one when using Air Miles, go ahead and book it! Enjoy your flight!
We hope this guide has been useful and answered a few questions before booking a flight with Air Miles.