9 Common Award Booking Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Transferring before confirming availability. Always validate seats on the program you’ll book with before moving points.
2. Ignoring partner surcharges. Check taxes/fees on each program; pick routes/partners with lower surcharges.
3. Falling for phantom space. Cross‑check availability on multiple sites; attempt a test hold if possible.
4. Not using alerts. Award space rolls. Alerts for your route/date/cabin are essential to catch openings.
5. Searching only nonstop. Married segments can hide space—try one‑stop combinations and nearby airports.
6. Waiting too long after space appears. Good seats go fast. Have your account info ready and book quickly.
7. Ignoring transfer bonuses. Leverage bank→airline promos to stretch value—but only when you can book.
8. Overlooking stopovers/open‑jaws. Programs with stopovers (e.g., Aeroplan) can unlock better trips for minimal extra points.
9. Forgetting program rules. Some require roundtrip (ANA), others limit changes/cancellations. Know the policy first.

Simple process to avoid mistakes

1. Define the trip: route, date window, cabin, stops, alternates.
2. Search broadly and validate on 2–3 partner sites.
3. Set alerts for your target windows/cabins/partners.
4. When space appears, compare points + fees across partners.
5. Transfer (prefer instant) and book immediately.

Related reading

• How to Find Award Flights in 2025
• Transfer Partners 101
• Stopovers and Open‑Jaws Guide

Awards Finder alerts help you avoid the biggest mistake—missing space. Set alerts and get notified in real time.