Award Booking Services: What Do They Do?

In its simplest definition, award booking services help you book trips using your credit card points or miles. They’re a resource with specialized skills. You get them to look at your existing rewards and provide airline and booking options.

Don’t mistake them for travel agencies. Award booking services can help you maximize your rewards, especially if you have intricate travel plans for yourself or your family. However, they can’t help you out with your daily itinerary. If you want to know what time of year is the best to travel to Africa and what tours you should do, you’ll have to sort that out independently.

Award booking services can search and book flights for you but only use your rewards. You must have enough points or miles to cover the ticket's price. If you can’t afford it, you won’t be able to take advantage of this service.

However, it’s important to note the differences between award booking services providers. These range from the service they offer to how much they charge. Some do everything for you, from searching for the best possible flights to making the actual booking. Others find you options but leave you with a set of instructions so you can book on your own. Some award bookers specialize in specific reward programs, while others handle a wide range of reward options.

Fees vary from search fees to per-person rates. For example, Point.me charges a $25 search fee while AwardWallet’s is $50. Both are non-refundable. In comparison, Booking Guru’s rate for fare searches is $30, but you only pay if it results in savings for you.

These services save you money, and they also allow you to focus your time and effort on other areas of your trip.

Award booking services make travel convenient, but they might not be the best travel solution for everyone. Like other services, there are advantages and disadvantages that you should review. Award booking services can determine which reward programs can get you to your destination for the most affordable price. They can purposely avoid options that have high fuel surcharges and make the most out of their miles by navigating flexible routing rules. These aren’t familiar research areas for average travelers.

However, if you want a complete, hassle-free experience, you may have to share personal details and access to online accounts with the provider. This is especially true if you want them to search for flights and complete the booking for you. Although you can always change your password after the transaction, not everyone is comfortable giving it out in the first place.

Familiarizing yourself with the benefits and drawbacks of award booking services can come in handy in determining if this service is right for your situation or before contacting providers.

If you determine an award booking service is your best solution, your next step is to choose the right provider. Ultimately, the best option is the one that meets your needs and preferences. However, it’s beneficial to factor in additional elements when narrowing down your award booking services options: Reputation, specialization, cost and extent of service all contribute to your overall satisfaction.

While award booking services provide travelers convenience, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s the best option for you. The following are the most commonly asked questions about providers and offerings to help you learn more about award booking services.

Before you prepare to travel, it’s important to ensure you’re getting the most out of your credit card and rewards programs. Explore the following resources to help you learn more about these relevant topics.

• Using Your Credit Cards and Other Methods to Travel Hack Responsibly and Safely: Travel hacking may allow you to take a trip without spending exorbitant amounts of money. See how you can make the most out of the rewards you earn from using your credit cards.
• 10 Best Ways to Earn Airline Miles With or Without a Credit Card: When you’ve used your points or miles, you’ll need to start earning them again. Explore the different ways you can do this, regardless of whether you’re using a card or not.
• Are Travel Credit Cards Worth It?: A travel credit card allows you the opportunity to earn rewards each time you use it on trips. However, it’s not for everyone. Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of carrying a travel credit card and if it’s a wise choice for you.
• Flexible Points vs. Miles: Which Credit Card Reward is Better?: Award booking services utilize your points and miles, but do you really know the difference between them? Both are rewards and there you should be aware of significant differences.
• The Best Travel Credit Cards for No Annual Fee: A travel credit card may bring you many benefits, but its annual fee might make it seem like it isn’t value for money. Another option is to choose one that doesn’t charge an annual fee. Find out which travel cards are rated the best.
• Travel Safety: How to Be a Smart Traveler: Booking a flight is only a part of traveling. Once you’ve settled that, it’s time to prepare for the actual trip. Learn how to become a safe and savvy traveler.