The Importance of Organization for Successful Award Travel
The truth is that the world of points and miles can sometimes feel like a chaotic treasure hunt. Being organized is essential when navigating this treasure hunt; a well-organized approach not only maximizes your rewards but also ensures you don’t miss out on exciting travel opportunities.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by loyalty programs, constantly changing rules, and the wide variety of options available. By staying organized from the beginning, you can reduce confusion and better achieve your travel goals. With some planning, you can transform the chaotic hunt for points and miles into a well-deserved vacation.
How Will Being Organized Help Award Travel?
First, you need a way to keep track of important information like account login details, expiration dates, and current point balances. I started out using a notebook dedicated to my points and miles hobby but transitioned to a spreadsheet. Do what works best for you!
You will need categories for each airline, hotel, and credit card reward program you have points or miles with. I review my accounts each month and update the current point balance. Over time, it will be fun to watch your point balance grow (although I fully support earn and burn, but I am not perfect). Best practice would also include making notes of expiration dates, but so far, I have never gotten close to one, so I am still living on the edge without populating that data.
Tracking Tools and Apps To Help Stay Organized
Apps and websites can greatly simplify your journey in tracking points and miles. I previously tried using a well-known website called AwardWallet to track my points and miles but as of a few years ago the site was not able to track all programs. As a result, I decided to go back to my reliable spreadsheet.
I highly recommend the Travel Freely App for keeping track of your credit cards. It allows you to record when you were approved, your Chase 5/24 status, and most importantly when you received the sign-up bonus (SUB) for the credit cards you hold.
If you already have credit cards, you can find out the date you signed up by checking your account history or reviewing your credit report in Credit Karma. Make sure to populate the Travel Freely app with as much information as you can. If you’re unsure whether you received a sign-up bonus or the exact date, estimating around three months after the sign-up date is generally a safe bet. From today forward you will be organized and track this information, correct?
Monitoring credit card statements is possibly the most important step of anything. I recommend using the Empower website to keep track of expenses and balances. I also look at all of my accounts at least once per month to ensure there are no fraudulent charges.
How To Organize Bookings and Itineraries
This section feels a little embarrassing to share. I have been known to lose a flight reservation or two. Another reason I know organization is important for successful award travel.
I fell out of practice in documenting what points and from whose account I used for which trip and well, oops! I have since created a Travel Tracker Checklist template for each trip so that I don’t lose a flight or forget to make a boarding reservation for the dog. (Remember when I mentioned I’ve made all the mistakes so you don’t have you? You’re welcome!)
Enjoy my amazing Travel Tracker Checklist template shown below and I encourage you to make one of your own. Sooner than later, you will be traveling a lot and organization is important.
My husband and I both have loyalty accounts and I have learned its helpful to document which one the reservation was made in. You may also notice that I list the flight to a location separately from the flight home from a location. Flexibility matters when using points and miles so I never book a round trip-flight. I will discuss this more in the articles about redeeming points and miles but for now, trust me.
How To Handle Delays and Cancellations
I think Murphy’s law was created by someone trying to catch their cruise ship before it left the port. Even the best-laid travel plans can fall apart when things don’t go according to the schedule. Here are some tips for rolling with the punches:
Flexible Bookings
When making travel arrangements, look for options that allow changes without penalties. Yes, this will require careful reading the booking details, this flexibility can help maintain your sanity when things go sideways.
Stay Informed
Sign up for alerts from airlines and hotels. It’s like having a personal assistant who yells, “Yes, it happened again–your flight is delayed!”.
Have a backup plan
Know your alternative routes and accommodations ahead of time. This foresight can turn potential travel crises into minor hiccups. Laughter may not fix everything; actually, laughter fixes nothing but being organized and prepared will help!
Sharing Success Stories and Lessons Learned
Make sure to keep track of the number of points used and the cash value equivalent. Even my husband cannot believe we’ve redeemed over $160,000 of travel with points and miles. It never gets old sharing that my family of four enjoyed a 10-night trip to Hawaii for the ridiculous total of $44.80 for our flights and hotel. Sharing these experiences can be entertaining and educational, especially if you tell those people about my site (please and thank you).
Organization Is the Key To Points and Miles Success
I really mean it when I tell you organization is very important for successful award travel. Staying organized in the world of points and miles is easy if you set up the right tools from the beginning. To navigate this chaotic landscape, regular evaluations and adjustments to strategy can make a significant difference in enjoying the power of points and miles.
Pro Tip: After each trip, take some time to think about the travel experience. Make notes of what went well and what you would do differently. This way, he can look back on past trips for inspiration and avoid repeating mistakes.
Thanks for reading, friends! Happy Travels!
