Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways Episode: The Benefits of Award Search Tools and When They’re Worth Paying For Release Date: May 14, 2025

In this episode of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways, hosted by NerdWallet's travel experts Sally French and Meghan Coyle, listeners are guided through the intricate world of award search tools. The discussion centers around maximizing travel points and miles, ensuring listeners can make informed decisions about when to invest in these tools for optimal travel savings.

Introduction to Award Search Tools

The episode kicks off with Sally and Meghan expressing the common frustrations travelers face when trying to redeem points and miles effectively.

Megan Coyle [00:00]:
"Sometimes it feels like the stars have to align to use your points and Miles wisely, don't you think?"

Sally French [00:05]:
"Oh my gosh. I totally agree. Often I feel like I find this idea of a great redemption and then I actually go to the airline to book it and then nothing is available."

This shared sentiment sets the stage for the introduction of award search tools as a solution to these challenges.

Guest Introduction: Craig Joseph on Award Search Tools

To delve deeper into the topic, Sally and Megan welcome Craig Joseph, a seasoned travel writer from the NerdWallet team, who brings extensive experience in using points and miles to save on travel expenses.

Sally French [00:38]:
"Luckily, we brought someone on the show who can help us out."

Craig discusses his journey with points and miles, highlighting how award search tools have revolutionized the process of finding and redeeming points efficiently.

Understanding Award Search Tools

Craig provides an overview of how award search tools function, likening them to platforms like Google Flights but specialized for points and miles redemptions.

Craig Joseph [11:03]:
"So think of these tools sort of like kayak or Google flights for miles and points redemptions."

He emphasizes how these tools aggregate data across various airlines and credit card partners, presenting available options without the need to manually check each airline's website.

Evaluating the Worth of Paid Tools

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around whether investing in paid award search tools is beneficial.

Craig Joseph [12:24]:
"Worth it will depend on the value you get from the service. So if you pay $100 annually for an award search tool, and it saves you more than that, even if you only use it once a year, that's a win, right?"

He advises listeners to assess their travel frequency and the potential savings to determine if the cost of the tool justifies its benefits.

Detailed Review of Popular Award Search Tools

Craig and the hosts examine several award search tools, discussing their features, advantages, and drawbacks.

Seats Aero

Craig Joseph [15:23]:
"So Seat Aero is one of my favorite tools because I can search for a very specific set of criteria."

• Advantages: Allows highly specific searches, such as filtering for particular aircraft or premium seats. Offers both free and pro versions with alert functionalities.
• Disadvantages: The alert system can be cumbersome as it removes alerts upon triggering, requiring users to resubscribe. It may have a steeper learning curve for beginners.

Poincia (PointCI)

Craig Joseph [16:54]:
"It doesn't do the sort of nitty gritty level of detail that Seats Aero has, but it has a super easy to use interface."

• Advantages: User-friendly interface, integrates credit card transfer bonuses, offers live searches over an eight-day range, and supports multiple departure and arrival airports.
• Disadvantages: Limited ability to search for complex itineraries like stopovers or multi-city benefits. Costs $100 annually or around $12 monthly.

PointsPath

Megan Coyle [21:19]:
"Points Path is a Chrome extension that shows you how many points you would need to book a flight and it shows up right in your Google Flights search results right next to the cash price."

• Advantages: Seamlessly integrates with Google Flights, providing immediate visibility of points vs. cash pricing.
• Disadvantages: Limited airline coverage, primarily focusing on certain international carriers. Occasional inconsistencies between the extension's displayed prices and actual airline pricing.

Additional Tools

• Aerolopa: Used for viewing seating charts to select optimal seats and avoid inconveniences.
• Great Circle Mapper: Helps visualize flight paths, enhancing the travel experience by allowing users to anticipate potential scenic views, such as the northern lights.
• Award Wallet: A comprehensive tool for tracking points balances and expiration dates.
• AutoSlash: Recommended for comparing and saving on car rental prices.

Strategic Use of Award Search Tools

Craig outlines his personal strategy for booking flights, emphasizing the importance of checking multiple platforms to avoid "phantom award availability."

Craig Joseph [24:24]:
"Google Flights and Point Path are my first step when I'm flying domestically or if I'm paying cash for a flight. But if I know, for example, I'm looking for an international business class flight that I'd never pay cash for, there's no reason to go through that step."

He advises always verifying availability directly with airlines to ensure accuracy before transferring points.

Listener Interaction: Lounge Access Question

Towards the end of the episode, Sally addresses a listener question from Manju regarding lounge access for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders traveling with children.

Manju's Question [27:43]:
"We are a family of four, two adults and two children traveling from the US to India via Frankfurt in December 2025. My wife and I both have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, which we know grants us complimentary access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in Frankfurt. However, do you know if we can bring our two little kids to that lounge for no additional cost?"

Sally French [28:04]:
"With the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, you can bring up to two additional guests into Priority Pass lounges at no additional cost."

She clarifies that while the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge permits access, additional guests, including children, may incur a fee of €59 per guest. However, authorized users of the Chase Sapphire Reserve can also access these lounges, offering a potential workaround for families.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with Sally and Megan reiterating the value of award search tools in modern travel planning. Craig's hot take highlights Bilt Rewards as a burgeoning travel currency, rivaling established programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards.

Craig Joseph [25:41]:
"Bilt Rewards is the best travel currency that I personally am starting to value more than Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards."

He attributes this to Bilt’s innovative transfer partners and monthly transfer bonuses, which provide greater flexibility and value for travelers.

Sally French [27:30]:
"The robots are taking over, but at least they cannot Travel like we can."

The hosts encourage listeners to explore the discussed tools, set up alerts, and strategically plan their travels to maximize savings and enhance their travel experiences.

Key Takeaways

1. Award Search Tools Are Essential: Platforms like Seats Aero, Poincia, and PointsPath significantly streamline the process of finding and redeeming points, saving travelers both time and money.

2. Assessing Value: Investing in paid tools depends on individual travel frequency and potential savings. For frequent travelers, the cost often justifies the benefits.

3. Maximizing Points and Miles: Utilizing multiple tools and setting up alerts ensures optimal use of points, enabling access to premium flights and accommodations without exorbitant costs.

4. Traveler’s Strategies: Combining different tools, verifying award availability directly with airlines, and tracking points across programs can lead to substantial savings and enhanced travel experiences.

5. Family Travel Considerations: Understanding the nuances of lounge access policies and leveraging authorized user benefits can make family travels more comfortable and cost-effective.

For more insights and detailed reviews of award search tools, be sure to follow Smart Travel on your preferred podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. Stay tuned for future episodes where Sally, Megan, and their guest experts continue to provide invaluable tips and strategies to upgrade your travel experiences.