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You want to travel somewhere exotic, have a trip coming up, a hoard of points, perhaps a few airline vouchers. However, how ought one to Book flight tickets? Do you want to use your miles? Do you want to use your voucher? Should you pay with cash?
With most airlines offering a wide range of options when purchasing tickets with their frequent flier miles, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a firm answer on which one is the best option. Moreover, airlines are competing fiercely, making it even harder to decide. For example, Southwest offers you two options – buy your ticket with your points or pay with cash. The prices are nearly identical – all things considered, it would be better to use miles rather than cash. This guide will let you understand when using airline miles is the best choice. It depends on your circumstances and preferences.
Here are some factors to consider when deciding between using airline miles or cash for flight tickets:
Value:
Are you getting more value by using your miles or by paying cash? If you have a large balance of miles and the cost of a ticket is significantly more than the number of miles you have, then using miles might be the better option. On the other hand, if the ticket cost is slightly more than the number of miles you have, then paying cash might be a better value.
Flexibility:
Do you have flexibility regarding when and where you want to travel? If so, using miles might be a good option, as they can often be used to book flights on various airlines and routes. However, paying cash might be your only option if you have a specific destination in mind and need to travel at a specific time.
Fees:
Are there any fees associated with using your miles? Some airlines charge fees for booking flights using miles, which can reduce the value of using your miles.
Expiration:
Do your miles have an expiration date? If so, it might be a good idea to use them before they expire, even if it means getting slightly less value out of them.
Ultimately, choosing between using airline miles or cash for flight tickets will depend on your circumstances and priorities. It’s a good idea to weigh each option’s pros and cons before deciding.
Get to know When To Pay With Cash
You Have a Travel Credit or Voucher:
If you have canceled a ticket and need to wait a while before you can fly again, it might be a good idea to pay cash. It may make sense to utilize travel credits and vouchers before using up your miles since, unlike airline gift cards, they typically have an expiration date. Most Airlines will allow you to redeem miles for flight tickets until your redemption is spent, but sometimes the expiration date of a travel credit or voucher can be short.
You Can Wait For a Reduced Fare:
If your travel credit or voucher does not have an expiration date and there are no other significant advantages/disadvantages to using cash, it might make sense to pay with cash. You may also get a lower fare by paying in cash.
Your Trip Is a Business Expense:
You should Book flight tickets using cash if you are a business owner because your expenses will be taxable. If you use your travel credit or voucher to book a flight before it expires, and your trip is a business expense, you can claim a deduction for the flight in your business income.
You’re Pushing for Airline Status:
Consider buying tickets with cash if you want to earn frequent flyer status with your favorite airline. With some exceptions, earning frequent flyer status requires qualifying for a certain level of elite status, which requires spending a certain amount of money.
If you pay with cash and do not get the elite status you desire, you can often change your tickets to earn elite status while still paying in cash (within the restrictions of your travel credit or voucher). Some airlines allow you to upgrade your seat or upgrade to a business class ticket if you pay cash and do not receive elite status.
Get to know When To Pay With Miles
You Require Flexibility:
If you want to Book flight tickets and are unsure about trip dates, want to experience different destinations, or are looking for lower fares, then pay in miles. Using miles allows you to take advantage of their flexibility and specific features to suit your needs. If your travel credit or voucher does not have an expiration date and there are no other significant advantages/disadvantages to using cash, it might make sense to pay with cash.
Award Travel Sales:
Numerous airlines hold deals on their award travel rates alone. With its periodic unannounced flash deals, which may occasionally reduce cross-country travel to as little as 7,500 SkyMiles each way, Delta is well known. USA’s Southwest Airlines, another frequent flyer favorite, offers a 7500-mile deal for travel to Hawaii and Alaska as long as it has a minimum of four flights for the origin and destination countries.
United Airlines SkyMiles offer a slight discount on awards in favor of business travelers; flying two people to Europe is just 5 miles each way, with 17 flights needed.
Are flights cheaper with air miles?
Flight prices are very dynamic, and many factors influence the price. However, you can save 5-30% off flight fares by using air miles. Apart from this, you can also save on other expenses by purchasing a ticket with miles.
Conclusion
Booking through cash is best when you can wait for a lower-priced ticket and know your travel dates. If you need flexibility or wish to fly on a route booked exclusively by an airline partner, then spending miles might be the best option. You can also use miles if you have any travel credits or vouchers with expiration dates or if you are booking a business-related trip and want to save the expense for tax deductions.
