Every so often, airlines and hotels put their points and miles on sale.
If you’ve ever come across one of those promotions, you may have wondered why anyone would spend money buying points instead of simply paying for the trip.
The answer depends on what you’re trying to book.
Most of the time, buying points isn’t necessary. But every now and then, purchasing points or miles can lower the cost of your trip or unlock a flight or hotel that would otherwise cost much more.
Here’s when buying points and miles can make sense, and when it’s probably better to keep your wallet in your pocket.
How Buying Points and Miles Works
Most airline and hotel loyalty programs let members purchase points or miles directly through their websites, though the transaction is often processed by a third party such as Points.com.
Instead of earning points by flying, staying at a hotel, or spending on a travel credit card, you’re just buying the points or miles you need.
Sometimes you’ll pay the standard price. Other times, loyalty programs run limited-time promotions that offer bonus points or discounts, making those purchases much more attractive.
Buying points doesn’t automatically save you money, though. Whether it’s a good deal depends entirely on how you plan to use them.
That’s why the first question shouldn’t be, “Are points on sale?”
It should be, “What am I trying to book?”
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Search First. Buy Second.
Before purchasing points, make sure the flight or hotel you want is available.
Award availability can change quickly, and buying points before confirming you can use them could leave you with a balance you weren’t planning to keep.
A better approach looks like this:
Find the flight or hotel you want.
Compare the cash price with the points price.
Calculate what it would cost to buy any points you’re missing.
If buying points costs less than paying cash, it may be worth it.
In other words, buy points for a trip you’re ready to book, not simply because they’re on sale.
PointsYeah makes this process easier by showing live award availability across , allowing you to compare your options before deciding whether buying points is worth it.
Buying points isn’t something you’ll do for every trip, but there are a few situations where it can be worth considering.
You’ve already found the award you want
This is one of the best reasons to buy points.
Imagine a hotel stay costs $400 if you pay cash.
The same stay is available for 15,000 points, and buying those points during a promotion costs $300.
In that case, purchasing the points saves you money while booking the same stay.
How cool is that?
You’re only a few points short
Sometimes you’re on the cusp of a redemption.
If you already have most of the points needed for a flight or hotel stay, buying the remaining amount can be less expensive than paying cash for the entire reservation.
There’s a promotion worth taking advantage of
Airline and hotel loyalty programs regularly offer bonus points or discounts when purchasing points.
A promotion by itself isn’t a reason to buy points, but it can improve the math if you’ve already found the redemption you want.
When You Probably Shouldn’t Buy Points
Buying points isn’t always a good deal. In fact, there are plenty of situations where paying cash or using another redemption option is the better choice.
You may want to skip buying points if:
You don’t have a specific trip in mind.
You haven’t confirmed award availability.
You’re buying simply because there’s a sale.
The cash price is already competitive.
You’d need to buy far more points than you actually plan to use.
If you’re not ready to book, it’s usually better to keep your money in your pocket. Once you’ve found the trip you’re ready to book, you can compare the cost of buying points with your other booking options and decide which makes the most sense.
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Check Current Promotions
Airline and hotel loyalty programs regularly offer bonus points or discounts when you buy points. Purchasing during one of these promotions will usually get you a better rate than buying at the standard price.
Once you’ve decided buying points makes sense for your trip, the next question is whether there’s a promotion available.
