Steven’s Tips: Flexibility is key

I have some bad news.

It doesn’t matter how many points you collect. You’ll never maximize their value unless you’re flexible. But that doesn’t mean you need to be a digital nomad or have unlimited PTO. It’s more of a mindset. 

For example, I’m heading to Egypt on Sunday. The cheapest way for me to get there was via London. Heathrow has the most flights, so it’s a natural assumption that more reward flights will leave from there. But I’m in Scotland. My reward options from Glasgow were slim, and a separate flight to London would have cost me another 20,000 points or $150.

Instead, I’m taking an overnight bus to Heathrow. It cost $25 and saved over $200 between my partner and me. It’s not convenient, but it saved me money and points.

Here are some ways you can be flexible in your search:

• Pick a destination first, then choose dates based on points. Don’t pick a precise date unless you have no other choice. You’re severely limiting your options.
• Expand your airport pool.f you live in Raleigh, renting a car for half a day and driving to an airport like Charlotte or even Dulles in D.C. could save you money. If the vehicle costs $35 to rent, but the DC flight is $300 or 25,000 points cheaper, that’s a win.
• Get used to searching for each leg individually. Search for a Raleigh to JFK flight, then a JFK to Paris flight, then a Paris to Boston flight, then a Boston to Raleigh flight. It might sound more confusing, but it could be a far better value.
• Use hotel statement credits to ease long layover costs.  flight via Dublin might be far cheaper but leaves a day later than you’d hoped. Hotel credits, like with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Capital One Venture X, can make that super affordable.