Kosupa Travel

While airline reward tickets are an attractive benefit of frequent flyer programs, they come with several limitations and potential drawbacks. Before using your miles for award travel, it’s important to understand the booking challenges, actual costs, and potential risks involved.

This guide outlines key considerations and risks for readers planning to book flights using airline miles.

1. Limited Availability and Difficult Booking Process

Award seats can be extremely competitive, especially on popular routes to and from major hubs. It’s advisable to book at least six months in advance to secure your desired itinerary. While there are workarounds, such as booking connecting flights through nearby international hubs like Seoul or Hong Kong, this increases transit time and the risk of disruptions, requiring more flexibility in your travel dates and destinations.

2. Fuel Surcharges and Taxes Are Not Covered

When booking award tickets, you’ll still need to pay fuel surcharges and taxes in cash. These additional costs can be substantial, potentially ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars for long-haul flights. Don’t forget to factor in these expenses when planning your award travel.

3. Regular Tickets May Sometimes Be Cheaper

Due to the aforementioned surcharges and taxes, award tickets sometimes end up being more expensive than purchasing regular tickets, especially when compared to budget airline fares. It can be disappointing to spend your hard-earned miles only to discover that a regular ticket would have been more economical.

4. Flights Can Be Canceled by Airlines

While this applies to all tickets, award bookings face additional challenges when flights are canceled. Unlike regular tickets, where airlines often automatically rebook you on alternative flights, award tickets may receive lower priority for rebooking. This is particularly problematic with partner airline awards (such as OneWorld or Star Alliance tickets), where major carriers may have limited ability to assist with flight changes.

5. Airport Changes Are Not Permitted

Award tickets typically don’t allow changes to departure or arrival airports. This significantly limits flexibility in case of disruptions. For example, if your flight from Haneda Airport is canceled, you cannot simply switch to a flight from Narita Airport. You’ll need to either choose a different time from the same airport or cancel and rebook entirely.

6. No Partial Journey Usage

Airlines generally require you to fly all segments of an award ticket as booked. Missing the first flight typically results in the cancellation of the entire itinerary. This also means you cannot purchase a regular ticket for a disrupted segment and continue using the award ticket for remaining segments.

7. Travel Insurance May Not Cover Miles

While travel insurance typically covers monetary losses for trip cancellations, award tickets present a unique challenge. While you may be reimbursed for paid taxes and surcharges, the miles themselves are usually not covered by insurance policies. Consider this carefully when booking expensive award tickets.

8. Seat Selection May Be Restricted

Depending on the airline and route, award tickets might not include seat selection privileges. This can be particularly challenging for family travel, where you might end up seated separately. It’s advisable to contact the airline’s support desk before booking to understand the specific conditions and restrictions.

Conclusion

Understanding these potential drawbacks is crucial when using airline miles for award tickets. Effective use of miles requires careful planning and flexibility. Always consider the total costs and restrictions when planning award travel to ensure it aligns with your needs and expectations.