How to Book Award Flights: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Meta Title: How to Book Award Flights: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners | WanderWise Meta Description: Learn how to book flights using credit card points with this plain-English, step-by-step walkthrough. No jargon, no assumptions — just clear instructions. Target Keywords: how to book award flights step by step, how to book flights with credit card points, how to book a flight with credit card points Word Count: ~2,200 Category: Points Education Cluster: Business Class / Award Booking
You have the points. You've seen the balance sitting there in your credit card account — maybe 50,000, maybe 150,000, maybe more. You know, in theory, that they're supposed to get you flights. But every time you sit down to actually use them, you run into a wall of confusing menus, unfamiliar terms, and the nagging feeling that you're about to do it wrong.
You're not doing anything wrong. The system just wasn't designed to be intuitive. So let me walk you through it — every step, in plain English, with nothing assumed and nothing skipped.
By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to turn those points into a real flight to a real place. And the next time you do it, it'll take you about fifteen minutes. For helpful apps that make this process easier, see our guide to the best travel apps for points travelers.
First, a quick word about what "award flight" actually means
An award flight is simply a flight you pay for using points or miles instead of cash. The airlines don't call it a "free flight" (because there are usually some taxes and fees involved — typically $5.60 for a domestic flight or $50–$200 for international). But the main cost — the part that would normally run you $800 or $2,000 or more — is covered by your points.
That's it. No tricks, no fine print surprises. You're using a form of currency you've already earned, and the airline accepts it.
Step 1: Figure out what you have
Before you book anything, you need to know two things: which points program you're in, and how many points you have.
Check your credit card. Log in to your credit card account online — the website of your card issuer (Chase, American Express, Capital One, etc.), not your bank. Look for a section labeled "Rewards," "Points," or "Redeem."
Here are the most common programs:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards — If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Chase Freedom card
- American Express Membership Rewards — If you have an Amex Gold, Amex Platinum, or Amex Everyday card
- Capital One Miles — If you have a Capital One Venture or Venture X card
Write down the name of the program and your points balance. That's your starting budget.
A note on airline miles vs. credit card points: If you also have a frequent flyer account with an airline (United MileagePlus, American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, etc.), those are separate from your credit card points — but they can also be used to book award flights. We'll touch on both.
Step 2: Decide where you want to go
This sounds obvious, but it matters more than you think. Different destinations cost different amounts in points, and some routes are dramatically better deals than others.
A few things to consider:
- Domestic flights (within the US) typically cost 12,500–25,000 points each way in economy.
- Flights to Europe range from 30,000–60,000 points each way in economy, or 50,000–90,000 in business class. For detailed strategies on timing your European bookings, see our guide to booking international flights on points.
- Flights to Asia or Australia are generally 35,000–80,000 each way in economy.
These are ranges, not exact numbers — they vary by program, airline, and time of year. But they give you a sense of whether your points balance can get you where you want to go.
If you have 60,000 points, a domestic round trip is very doable. A business-class seat to Paris might require topping up your balance first. Knowing this upfront saves you time.
Step 3: Choose your booking path
This is where most people get stuck, because there are two different ways to use your points. Both work. One is simpler; the other gets you more value.
Path A: Book through your credit card's travel portal
This is the simpler option. Chase, Amex, and Capital One all have their own travel booking websites — they look and work a lot like Expedia or any other travel site.
- Chase: chase.com/travel (called "Chase Travel")
- Amex: amextravel.com
- Capital One: capitalone.com/travel
You search for flights the same way you'd search on any booking site. The prices appear in points instead of (or alongside) dollars. You select your flight, confirm the booking, and the points are deducted from your account.
The advantage: It's straightforward. You see flights, you pick one, you book. No extra steps.
The trade-off: Your points are generally worth about 1–1.5 cents each when used this way. That's decent, but you can often do better with Path B.
Path B: Transfer your points to an airline partner and book through the airline
This takes an extra step, but it can double or even triple the value of your points.
Here's how it works: Chase, Amex, and Capital One have partnerships with specific airlines. You can move your credit card points into those airlines' frequent flyer programs — usually at a 1:1 ratio — and then use them to book flights at the airline's award prices.
For example, Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to United Airlines, British Airways, Air France/KLM, and several others. American Express points can be transferred to Delta, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Air Canada, and more.
Why does this matter? Because airlines sometimes price award flights at a much better rate than you'd get through the travel portal. A business-class seat to London that costs 120,000 points through Chase Travel might only cost 60,000 points if you transfer to a partner airline and book directly.
The advantage: Your points go further — sometimes dramatically.
The trade-off: It requires a few more steps, and you need to check award availability on the airline's website before you transfer.
Important: Once you transfer points to an airline, you can't move them back to your credit card. So always check that the flight you want is available at the price you expect before you transfer.
Step 4: Search for award availability
Whether you're using Path A or Path B, you need to search for flights.
If you're using the travel portal (Path A):
Go to your credit card's travel site, enter your departure city, destination, and dates, and browse the results. It works like any flight search engine. Select the one you want and proceed to checkout.
If you're transferring to an airline (Path B):
Go to the airline's website and log in to your frequent flyer account. (If you don't have one, create one — it's free and takes two minutes.)
Search for flights from your departure city to your destination. Look for a filter or search option that says "Book with miles" or "Award travel." This shows you flights priced in miles/points rather than cash.
What you're looking for: Flights labeled as "Saver" awards (on United), "MileSAAver" (on American), or simply the lowest points price available. These are the best value.
If the flights on your preferred dates show very high point costs — or no award availability at all — try:
- Shifting your dates by a day or two
- Looking at nearby airports
- Checking a different airline partner
- Traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday instead of a weekend
Award availability is like hotel rooms: there are only so many seats the airline releases at the discounted award price. Flexibility is your best friend here.
Step 5: Transfer your points (Path B only)
Once you've found an available award flight at a price that works, it's time to transfer your points.
Log in to your credit card rewards portal (Chase, Amex, or Capital One). Look for a section called "Transfer Points" or "Transfer to Travel Partners."
Select the airline you want to transfer to. Enter the number of points you want to move. Confirm.
How long does the transfer take?
- Chase → Most airlines: Instant to 24 hours
- Amex → Most airlines: Instant to 2 business days (some, like Delta, are instant)
- Capital One → Most airlines: 1–2 business days
While you wait for the transfer to complete, do not book the flight yet. Wait until the miles appear in your airline frequent flyer account.
Step 6: Book the flight
If you used the travel portal (Path A):
Select your flight, review the details, and confirm. The points will be deducted. You'll receive a confirmation email with your itinerary, just like any other flight booking.
If you transferred to an airline (Path B):
Log in to your airline frequent flyer account. Search for the same flight you found in Step 4. Select it, choose "Pay with miles," and complete the booking.
You'll need to pay any taxes and fees with a credit card — this is usually $5.60 for domestic flights and $50–$200 for international flights, depending on the route and airline. The rest is covered by your miles.
You'll receive a confirmation email and e-ticket, exactly as if you'd purchased the ticket with cash.
Step 7: Confirm and prepare
Once your flight is booked:
- Save your confirmation number. Screenshot it, email it to yourself, write it down — whatever works for you.
- Select your seats if you haven't already. Most airlines let you choose seats after booking.
- Add your frequent flyer number to the reservation if you didn't book through the airline directly.
- Set a calendar reminder to check in 24 hours before departure, when most airlines open online check-in.
Your award ticket works exactly like a purchased ticket. You board the same plane, sit in the same seats, eat the same food, and earn the same frequent flyer credit (in most cases). The only difference is how you paid.
A real example to make this concrete
Let's say you have 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points and you want to fly round trip from Chicago to Rome.
Path A (portal): You search Chase Travel and find a round-trip economy ticket for 62,000 points. Simple, done. You book it and pay $62 in taxes.
Path B (transfer): You check United's website and find a round-trip economy award ticket for 45,000 miles. You transfer 45,000 Chase points to United (they arrive within an hour), book the flight, and pay $62 in taxes. You saved 17,000 points — enough for a domestic round trip later.
Same destination. Same quality of flight. But one path left you with points to spare.
What if something goes wrong?
Award flights can be changed or canceled, though the policies vary by airline and by how you booked.
- Portal bookings (Path A): Usually follow the credit card travel portal's cancellation policy, which tends to be similar to the airline's standard policy.
- Direct airline bookings (Path B): Follow the airline's award ticket change and cancellation policy. Many airlines allow changes for free or a modest fee, and some will redeposit the miles to your account if you cancel.
Read the cancellation policy before you book, especially for international trips. And if you need to change anything, call the airline directly — their phone agents can often do things the website can't.
You've got this
The first time is always the most uncertain. That's true of anything — filing a tax return, setting up a new phone, navigating a foreign city. But once you've booked one award flight, the second one takes half the time, and the third feels like second nature.
Your points are already there, waiting. They've been accumulating with every grocery run, every tank of gas, every dinner out. All that's left is pointing them toward a destination.
Start with one trip. Pick somewhere you've been meaning to go. Follow these seven steps. And when you're sitting on that plane — knowing you paid next to nothing for the seat — you'll wonder why you waited.
The answer, of course, is that nobody explained it clearly. Until now.
Have questions about booking your first award flight? Take the WanderWise Travel Score Quiz to see exactly what your points are worth — and where they can take you.