7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons

7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Track Early Morning Emirates Award Space to Europe Opens 355 Days Before Departure

Emirates has begun releasing award seats for flights to Europe from the US a remarkable 355 days ahead of departure. This extended booking window presents a significant advantage, particularly for those seeking travel during popular holiday periods when seats are often in high demand. It's important to understand that seat availability can be quite inconsistent across routes and seasons, meaning it's wise to track these releases diligently.

The availability of award seats can fluctuate daily, and close monitoring can surface hidden opportunities. While there's a prevailing belief that calling an airline at the stroke of midnight on the day bookings open guarantees optimal availability, this isn't always the case. Award seat allocation varies from flight to flight, and finding the perfect match at that exact moment isn't guaranteed. It's a constant game of monitoring and timing. The practice of airlines holding back seats until closer to departure dates is a recent shift, making early planning and tracking essential to ensure a desirable trip.

Emirates, unlike many other airlines that typically release award seats 330 days out, makes award space available for European destinations a full 355 days before departure. This extended timeframe gives travelers, particularly those with travel plans during peak periods, a distinct advantage in securing desired flights. It's fascinating how this differs from the norm, offering a longer window to plan ahead and capitalize on availability.


The extended Emirates booking window can be a key factor in snagging seats on popular routes during crowded travel times. Many people don't realize this, and as a consequence, potentially miss out on lucrative opportunities. In essence, this longer booking window can translate into a higher likelihood of getting the flights you want, assuming you are paying attention.


One surprising observation is that airlines seem to have more award space accessible further out in advance compared to last-minute cash bookings, which tend to get more scarce during high-demand periods. This suggests a strategic shift in inventory management, making award flights an interesting alternative for frequent flyers looking to redeem miles.


Unfortunately, missing the precise dates when Emirates releases award space can lead to disappointment when trying to book around holidays like Christmas or New Year's. Many travelers may be caught off guard or not realize how far in advance to plan. The key here is paying attention to those dates.


Emirates partners with a variety of airlines, allowing travelers to potentially craft complex itineraries beyond Emirates' own routes. This extended network opens up more destinations for award travel through the use of connections, increasing the overall utility of accumulated miles. However, navigating these partnerships can be intricate and require careful planning.



Using tools and alerts for specific routes on Emirates offers a proactive approach to tracking award availability. It's not unlike an automated early warning system in a technical context. If the system finds what you're looking for, you can act quickly and try to book the desired seats.


Although they're not as frequent as other promotions, Emirates sometimes releases special award deals tied to specific events, anniversary celebrations, or other happenings. It seems that at times they offer unique opportunities to maximize your accumulated miles and maybe score a better deal.


Flexibility in travel dates is valuable. Even small changes, like adjusting your travel date by a day, can influence the available award seats and the number of miles required to book. There's a subtle interplay between your flexibility and what's available, which is noteworthy.


Premium cabins like Emirates' business and first-class options tend to have some of the best redemption values thanks to the luxury amenities. They're also some of the most competitive for booking during peak seasons due to high demand. This might require an early start if you're chasing them.


While Emirates offers interesting booking possibilities with miles, leveraging a mix of loyalty programs can be a worthwhile approach. It is fascinating to consider how diverse reward programs can intersect to either find better availability or achieve lower redemption costs than just relying on Emirates miles alone. This can lead to some unexpectedly interesting flight options.

What else is in this post?

1. 7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Track Early Morning Emirates Award Space to Europe Opens 355 Days Before Departure
2. 7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Use Singapore Airlines Waitlist Feature for December Flights to Asia
3. 7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Book United Airlines Tuesday and Wednesday Award Flights During Christmas Week
4. 7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Find Japan Airlines First Class Space through Alaska Airlines Program in January
5. 7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Search Air France Flying Blue Promo Awards Three Months Before Peak Summer
6. 7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Book Qatar Airways Business Class Awards Through American Airlines Program
7. 7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Use British Airways Off Peak Calendar for Caribbean Routes During Spring Break

7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Use Singapore Airlines Waitlist Feature for December Flights to Asia

When planning your December travels to Asia, consider using Singapore Airlines' waitlist option. This tool can be a valuable asset when trying to secure award flights during peak seasons. You can only request waitlists for flights operated by Singapore Airlines, and the request needs to be in three weeks prior to departure, or it's too late. After that, Singapore Airlines will inform you if the seat has opened up about two weeks before the flight is scheduled. One handy feature is that you can add multiple waitlists and still decide later which flight, if any, you wish to actually book. Since you can book Singapore Airlines award seats up to 355 days in advance, using the waitlist can increase your chances of getting the flights you want to spend your holiday in Asia. It's a viable strategy for securing your preferred flights when seats are scarce.

Singapore Airlines' waitlist feature offers an intriguing approach to securing award flights, particularly during the bustling holiday season for travel to Asia. It's an interesting alternative to the traditional scramble for award seats when they initially open.


While award space on Singapore Airlines flights opens 355 days in advance, their waitlist functionality offers a distinct advantage. This feature is exclusive to Singapore Airlines flights and doesn't extend to their Star Alliance partners.

One of the key aspects to consider is that waitlist requests need to be submitted at least three weeks before your planned departure date. Requests made beyond this window will not be considered, a rather strict constraint. It's also important to remember that you'll get notified about the outcome of your waitlist at least two weeks prior to departure. So there's a waiting game involved here.

Interestingly, the waitlist is usually handled in a first-come, first-served manner, and elite status doesn't provide any special advantages or preferential treatment. This is unlike some other airline loyalty programs that do.

Booking a single ticket for a group trip can be a smart strategy. You might find that securing even one seat for your group can trigger the release of more seats for the entire party. This might sound peculiar, but it's a tactic worth considering if you're traveling with others.

Singapore Airlines allows you to waitlist for multiple flights concurrently. You can explore different dates or destinations and commit to a booking only if a specific waitlist clears. This flexibility can be beneficial.


One of the more appealing aspects is that utilizing the waitlist doesn't require any miles initially. You don't have to risk burning a chunk of your miles only to find out that the seats are unavailable later. This means you can try out the system with no initial investment of miles. It's a free shot at grabbing a seat if there's a cancellation.


Both Saver and Advantage award levels can be waitlisted. But again, this only applies to flights operated by Singapore Airlines, which isn't always obvious or easy to determine. When looking at award charts for potential flights, booking through the Singapore Airlines website can provide a 15% discount, which can be helpful when comparing prices.


The waitlist mechanism could be a tool to secure award seats that may be hidden in the system, given the way airlines typically manage availability. Award space can fluctuate regularly, and airlines might have a system where more seats are hidden from the standard booking view, which might provide an explanation for the existence of this waitlist.

7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Book United Airlines Tuesday and Wednesday Award Flights During Christmas Week

During the hectic Christmas travel season, considering United Airlines flights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays can be a smart move for award travelers. This approach can potentially lead to better seat availability, as these mid-week days tend to see less demand than the weekend rush. United offers a perk called "Everyday Awards" to certain MileagePlus members and Chase cardholders, granting access to seats without the usual capacity restrictions. This could prove handy during popular travel times, allowing more flexibility for finding a suitable flight.


United's MileagePlus program provides access to a wide network of destinations, covering over 1,000 spots globally, encompassing both United and Star Alliance partner flights. Using miles for these trips can maximize their value and improve chances of securing seats to those desired holiday destinations. The convenience of managing your booking via the United app adds another layer of ease and allows you to monitor flight details and seat availability more efficiently. This approach can help alleviate the usual stress associated with booking flights during peak travel periods.

Book United Airlines Tuesday and Wednesday Award Flights During Christmas Week


United Airlines presents an intriguing pattern in award flight availability during Christmas week. It appears that releasing award space on specific days, particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays, is a strategy used by the airline. This aligns with a broader trend seen across the industry where certain weekdays seem to offer better pricing or increased availability for both cash and award fares.

United's award pricing is dynamic, meaning the number of miles required for a flight can vary based on a number of factors. This dynamic pricing introduces the opportunity to potentially maximize the value of your miles. You might find that your miles stretch further if you book a flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday instead of a weekend, when demand and therefore prices are typically higher.

It's worth noting that Christmas week, despite its festive nature, can still present high demand for award flights. While many might expect last-minute flight availability, United tends to strategically hold back a certain amount of award seats, which is why early planning and monitoring can be beneficial.

While this is generally true across the board, United's business and first-class cabins, being some of the most sought after options, tend to sell out quickly. However, it seems that these cabins might be undervalued in terms of booking them during the less popular days of the week. It might be that a slightly higher cost compared to a more common economy flight doesn't translate into a proportionally much higher award cost, effectively delivering a premium travel experience with a minimal cost increase.

United's MileagePlus program offers a tiered structure for frequent flyers with differing benefits and perks. While elite status can sometimes give you a small advantage, it's less relevant during incredibly busy periods. This suggests that the importance of strategic planning and flexibility trumps other considerations during such times.

It can be useful to investigate routes that include connections, particularly when trying to book around Christmas week. Occasionally, including a layover, especially on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, might yield award flights that might otherwise be inaccessible on direct flights. The mechanism behind this is still unclear, but it's worth experimenting with.

Occasionally, United holds back a certain amount of award seats. While this isn't transparent and not well documented, it does appear to be happening. This suggests you should constantly monitor your desired routes throughout the month, as seats can seemingly appear out of thin air.


By understanding United's partnerships with airlines such as Lufthansa or Air Canada, it's possible to find award opportunities not readily visible through the United interface. During particularly busy times like Christmas week, these partners might have slightly better availability. This underscores the need for researching and understanding the breadth of award travel possibilities across partners.

It's interesting that despite United's move to a dynamic pricing model, the old award chart structure still appears to have an impact on the overall trend of mile cost and availability, especially around holiday periods like Christmas week. It's worth keeping this in mind as you monitor and track routes and opportunities.

Last-minute cancellations happen all the time. These cancellations create fleeting award opportunities that can be leveraged if you're paying attention. You can effectively benefit from others' changes in plans if you monitor your desired routes on weekdays in December. It's like a scavenger hunt for a hidden resource, and it can be very rewarding if you put in the effort.

While it's challenging to perfectly predict the mechanisms behind United's award seat allocation, observing the patterns that emerge suggests that a mix of factors play a role. Understanding these intricacies can ultimately help to maximize the chances of securing desired award flights, especially during peak holiday travel periods.

7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Find Japan Airlines First Class Space through Alaska Airlines Program in January

Securing Japan Airlines first-class seats using Alaska Airlines miles in January can be a tempting option, especially given the Alaska program's generally favorable redemption rates. However, Japan Airlines has made it more difficult to snag those first-class seats at the last minute. This change in strategy has made it harder to find award availability across the board, even through Alaska and other partners.

While the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan still offers a reasonable value at 80,000 miles each way for Japan Airlines first class, the recent shift in award availability can be a challenge. Alaska Airlines has streamlined the booking process through its website, offering a more user-friendly experience compared to some other partners.

Still, finding available seats, especially in January when many people are seeking to travel to Japan, can be a hurdle. It requires a blend of patience and adaptability, as the availability of award seats can change on a daily basis, making last-minute bookings a real gamble. Flexibility in your travel plans might be needed to increase your chances of scoring a first-class ticket using this route.

Finding Japan Airlines first-class award space through the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan in January can be an intriguing exercise. While Japan Airlines generally releases these seats around 330 days in advance, the availability through Alaska can sometimes be more plentiful than anticipated, especially compared to direct booking through JAL. This suggests there might be less competition for these seats when booking through Alaska, potentially offering better value for miles.

Interestingly, Alaska's partnership with Japan Airlines opens up a wider array of options for travel itineraries. For example, it's possible to string together flights with Japan Airlines and other Alaska partners like Horizon Air, creating a more flexible travel experience without a drastic increase in miles needed. However, it's crucial to understand that Alaska's award chart might present a different structure compared to JAL's own program, leading to potentially unexpected mileage costs depending on your route.

Japan Airlines' first class is certainly a compelling experience, boasting top-notch service and premium amenities, including access to exclusive lounges. These lounges often offer a wide array of amenities and services such as complimentary food and beverages, and even showers and spa treatments, which might not be widely considered when determining the value of using miles. It's remarkable that the quality of experience offered in these premium cabins can greatly influence the overall travel perception.

The cost in miles for a first-class flight on Japan Airlines through Alaska can fluctuate wildly based on seasonal demand. Understanding these patterns is essential for maximizing the value of your miles. During off-peak periods, those miles could go further, while peak travel windows may necessitate a larger portion of your points to secure a seat.

However, it's important to recognize the inherent volatility of award space. Availability can change at any given moment, which can be frustrating. Fortunately, using tools to monitor award space for your preferred routes can be helpful in identifying when a seat becomes available for booking, though this requires diligent attention and rapid action when an alert is triggered.


It seems like many travelers don't consider Japan Airlines as a primary option when seeking premium award travel, often defaulting to airlines like Emirates or Singapore Airlines. This bias can lead to some hidden opportunities for those who know where to look. Since there might be less competition, securing Japan Airlines first class award seats could be relatively easier for those willing to put in some research.


Cancellation patterns can play an important role in award seat availability. It's not uncommon for passengers to change travel plans, and when this occurs, previously booked first-class seats can suddenly open up. During peak periods like the winter holidays, cancellations are more frequent, potentially creating a surge of available award space. Observing trends and patterns related to cancellation activity could be worthwhile.

Alaska Airlines offers a diverse range of credit cards and promotional opportunities that contribute to a relatively healthy points accrual rate. These options can make accessing Japan Airlines' premium class a more attainable goal for travelers with a solid strategy for accumulating miles, making them a valuable part of their journey.


JAL's first-class service is distinguished by its commitment to a culinary journey. Their in-flight menus are often carefully crafted with seasonal and regional influences, turning the experience into a gourmet exploration. This added dimension of culinary care might not be apparent at first glance but deserves consideration for travelers who value fine dining experiences.

7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Search Air France Flying Blue Promo Awards Three Months Before Peak Summer

Planning a summer trip across the Atlantic? Air France's Flying Blue program might be worth exploring. Their monthly Promo Rewards, starting in October 2024, are designed to help travelers save on award flights. Currently, the program offers a 25% discount on economy class tickets between Europe and certain U.S. cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and Detroit. This is interesting as award flights, especially for transatlantic travel, can get exorbitantly expensive during peak seasons. With Flying Blue's award search tool, travelers can potentially find lower redemption rates, especially during these promotional periods. It's worth noting that award prices can change rapidly, favoring those who plan ahead. Flexibility is also enhanced by Flying Blue's partnership with a variety of major credit card loyalty programs, which allows for easy point transfers at a 1:1 ratio, sometimes with bonus transfers. If you are considering a European summer vacation, keeping an eye on Flying Blue's Promo Rewards might allow you to snag a great deal. However, the availability of award space during peak periods can be unpredictable, so it's essential to monitor the program regularly and plan accordingly.

Air France's Flying Blue program offers a unique opportunity for travelers seeking award flights during the peak summer season. They periodically introduce "Promo Rewards," which essentially provide discounts on award flights, potentially leading to substantial savings. For example, the October 2024 Promo Rewards included a 25% discount on economy award flights between Europe and certain US cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and Detroit.

The structure of award pricing within Flying Blue is dynamic, which means the number of miles required for a flight can change frequently. This is influenced by factors such as demand, the day of the week, and possibly even competitive pricing from other airlines. It showcases how airlines employ intricate revenue management tactics, especially during peak travel seasons. These promotional periods vary in terms of routes and time of year, suggesting a pattern that suggests a potential drop in redemption rates during the summer months. It's fascinating to observe these fluctuations, as they represent opportunities for more strategic planning by award travelers.

One noteworthy aspect of Flying Blue is its partnership with a network of airlines across different continents, enabling travelers to book award flights not just on Air France, but also KLM and others. This partnership network significantly expands the number of destinations accessible through the award booking system, adding flexibility and value to the program. Interestingly, travelers seem more inclined to use miles for higher cabin classes during peak seasons. Business and first-class flights, unsurprisingly, are more sought after during summer, leading to increased competition and underlining the importance of strategic planning and earlier booking when redeeming miles for these types of flights.

It appears that many Flying Blue members haven't fully grasped the potential for combining awards with promotional offers. This oversight, similar to missed opportunities for group purchasing within engineering applications, could result in significant cost savings being missed. Fortunately, Flying Blue's search tools offer valuable filtering capabilities for award availability based on individual flexibility, a feature often overlooked by travelers. Analyzing booking trends reveals a surge in award seat availability just before departure dates. This hints at a potential strategy by airlines to fill remaining seats last minute, which could be worth tracking for potential reward opportunities.

Air France is known for its inflight dining experience, and passengers can utilize miles to access this part of the experience. The culinary quality and service can be perceived as a significant part of the overall value proposition when booking an award ticket, an element often underappreciated. It's intriguing how sophisticated algorithms and forecasting techniques used by Air France, and most other airlines, influence the overall supply and demand dynamics for seats and award travel. Airlines like Air France utilize a complex system of data and predictive analytics that can be leveraged by travelers with a technical and strategic approach. Staying up to date on these strategies can potentially grant travelers a noticeable advantage when securing award flights during peak travel times, even in demanding environments like the summer travel season.

7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Book Qatar Airways Business Class Awards Through American Airlines Program

Redeeming American Airlines AAdvantage miles for Qatar Airways' Qsuite business class presents a compelling option for travelers, especially during peak travel times. Securing a one-way Qsuite journey between the US and Doha currently requires 70,000 miles, a reasonably attainable goal for many frequent flyers. The Qsuite, considered Qatar's premium business class offering, boasts features like fully flat beds and privacy doors, enhancing the overall travel experience. Recently, American Airlines has made it easier to find and book Qsuite award space, having previously faced issues with limited availability on their website. However, despite improved access, award seats for these flights remain highly sought after, often becoming scarce during popular travel periods. Travelers should remember that American Airlines, as part of the Oneworld alliance, has the potential to change award pricing for partner airlines. Therefore, while the current redemption rate for Qatar Airways Qsuite seems attractive, the landscape could shift in the future. Flexibility and vigilance when booking are key to maximizing the chances of securing your desired travel.

American Airlines and Qatar Airways have a partnership that many travelers overlook. Since 2013, Qatar Airways has been part of the oneworld alliance, opening up a huge network of over 1,000 destinations for American Airlines' AAdvantage members. It's surprising how few people actually utilize this option and explore Qatar operated flights for their award travels.

Qatar Airways' award space is released dynamically, reflecting real-time demand and flight availability. Interestingly, mid-week seat releases seem to have more desirable flights compared to weekend travel, something observed across other airlines too. It suggests a hidden pattern, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

Despite the reputation of Qatar Airways' business class, American Airlines offers incredibly competitive mileage rates. Redeeming miles for a one-way business class ticket can start as low as 70,000 miles, which is quite low compared to other premium carriers. This seemingly hidden aspect of the AAdvantage program is often unnoticed by many travelers.

The opening of Hamad International Airport has substantially changed Qatar Airways' operations. It has become a significant hub for international travel, simplifying connecting flights between North America and Southeast Asia. This could be interesting for travelers who want to visit destinations off the usual tourist trails.

Qatar Airways has implemented a dynamic award pricing strategy for business class. Unlike many US airlines with fixed mileage charts, Qatar Airways' system is more adaptable, and it leads to surprisingly low mileage costs at times. This can lead to remarkable cost savings for travelers who are aware of this dynamic approach.

A unique aspect of this partnership is the ability to earn both AAdvantage miles and Qatar Privilege Club miles on the same flight. This “double-dipping” on mileage is a compelling opportunity to increase the value of the points earned, opening up options for future redemptions with either program.

It's no surprise that Qatar Airways consistently ranks highly in customer satisfaction surveys. The surveys show a correlation between service quality, on-time performance and the overall inflight experience. This suggests that using miles for Qatar's business class potentially leads to a superior travel experience, and this is something often not fully considered by travelers.

Many overlook the fact that Qatar Airways has a large route network, extending beyond the most common destinations. Award bookings can incorporate flights to locations in Asia or Africa that aren't typically on people's radar. This can significantly increase the overall value of a journey.

One benefit of flying Qatar Airways is the option to do a stopover in Doha at no extra cost. This is particularly attractive for travelers who want to experience a new culture while heading to their final destination. It's a subtle but very useful opportunity that can enhance the overall experience.

Finally, there are specific tools and apps that help to find award availability on Qatar Airways via American Airlines. These tools provide real-time insights into award seat availability and can provide predictive analytics, effectively creating a tactical advantage, especially during peak travel seasons.


It's fascinating how the alliance structures and revenue management systems affect award flights, but it requires a different kind of thinking to identify these sometimes obscure opportunities. In a complex world, seemingly insignificant details can make a big difference.

7 Essential Strategies for Booking Award Flights During Peak Holiday Seasons - Use British Airways Off Peak Calendar for Caribbean Routes During Spring Break

British Airways has made some changes to their off-peak calendar for Caribbean routes, which can be advantageous for spring break travelers in 2024. Previously, July and August were mostly considered peak travel periods, meaning higher costs in miles. Now, every Tuesday in those months has been classified as off-peak, offering potentially significant savings on Avios redemptions. Additionally, there's a change in peak Wednesdays this year, with a shift towards more Tuesdays becoming desirable.

While British Airways' tax and fee structure remains consistent regardless of the time of year, the cost of Avios points does vary. This means that utilizing the off-peak calendar effectively can help maximize your points. It's crucial to keep in mind that booking segments individually impacts the pricing—all segments of your booking will be subject to peak or off-peak pricing. This implies that even part of your trip during peak times will make it more costly.

It appears that British Airways is aiming to incentivize travelers to select less popular travel days to offset higher demand in other periods. As always, careful planning is necessary, especially during spring break when Caribbean travel is popular. To confirm peak and off-peak periods for your specific travel dates, you can do some dummy bookings on the British Airways website. This practice can give you a better sense of what to expect and what timeframes will likely generate the best redemption values. Knowing when to book is half the battle.

British Airways, like many airlines, has a system for classifying travel periods as either peak or off-peak when it comes to booking award flights using Avios. For 2024, their approach has shifted notably compared to previous years, particularly for routes to the Caribbean. While in the past, July and August were mainly peak periods, this year, every Tuesday in those months is now classified as off-peak. This suggests that the airline is attempting to manage demand or possibly testing a new strategy. It's also interesting that peak Wednesdays have increased significantly in 2024, from five to fifteen, implying that Tuesdays have become more attractive for Avios redemptions.

A similar system exists at Aer Lingus, where they also define peak and off-peak periods for using their frequent flyer program. This seems like a common approach among airlines in their revenue management systems. The way British Airways prices awards for flights is based on segments, so each individual leg of a journey can be subject to either peak or off-peak pricing. They don't distinguish between peak and off-peak based on taxes or carrier charges; that remains the same across all classes and destinations, which is somewhat surprising. For example, families in North America can potentially find a more favorable off-peak pricing structure during March Break, potentially taking advantage of a lull in travel demand to Europe, even though spring break is a peak season for some other destinations.

Navigating this system requires some effort and planning. The British Airways Executive Club's members have to consider these fluctuations based on the travel dates they are interested in. It can get complicated. One of the interesting aspects is that there are routes where award flights are seemingly quite cheap. For example, a nonstop flight from the East Coast of the US to Ireland can cost as little as 13,000 Avios on off-peak days. It seems odd that these specific flights have such a low cost compared to other routes. You can use the British Airways website to perform dummy bookings and check the peak/off-peak status for a specific date, which can help you gain insights into their pricing system and improve your travel plans. It is likely that the algorithms which determine the pricing and availability of these seats use complex forecasting models to ensure a smooth revenue stream and a profitable operation. It's surprising how these internal airline processes become apparent when you start planning a trip with miles and points.