AwardHacker Review: game-changer for flight rewards?

Everyone has that dream trip in mind. For some, it's sipping cocktails on a beach in Bali. For others, it's experiencing the best of what Europe has to offer.

No matter where your dream destination is, the process of actually getting there can be a bit of a nightmare. There's a lot to think about, from looking on Google flights for the best dates to fly to finding hotels to packing your bags.

And if you're trying to do it all on a budget, planning can be even more challenging. Luckily, those who have use airline programs and have points to spare may be able to snap up award flights for less.

But what if there was a way to make booking these flights more accessible and affordable?

AwardHacker is an online platform that claims to do just that!

By helping you find the best award flights, AwardHacker says it can take the stress out of booking travel. But does it deliver? In this beginner's guide, I'll deep dive into AwardHacker, see if it's worth your time, and help you use it better.

What Is AwardHacker?

Award travel has become increasingly popular as more people seek ways to stretch their travel budgets.

AwardHacker is an online platform that makes finding the best award flights easy. It's an incredible free product from US Credit Card Guide.

Even if you're not an expert in every airline mileage program, it makes finding the best award flights a breeze. Sounds pretty amazing to me... as long as it works well!

AwardHacker advertises that you can easily find the best possible redemption options and all of the necessary route information. You can even filter routes based on the operating airlines!

Plus, AwardHacker makes it easy to calculate the value of airline miles. So you can get the most bang for your buck. Sounds like you'll be joining the other rewards travelers very soon...

Currently Supported Frequent Flyer Programs

Whether you're part of one or many, find out whether your airline loyalty program is currently supported by AwardHacker with this inclusive list:

• Air Canada (AC) Aeroplan
• Air France (AF) Flying Blue
• Alaska Airlines (AS) Mileage Plan
• All Nippon Airways (NH) ANA Mileage Club
• American Airlines (AA) AAdvantange
• Asiana Airlines (OZ) Asiana Club
• Avianca (AV) LifeMiles
• British Airways (BA) Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific (CX) Asia Miles
• Delta Air Lines (DL) SkyMiles
• EVA Air (BR) Infinity MileageLands
• Japan Airlines (JL) Mileage Bank
• Korean Air (KE) SkyPass
• Lufthansa (LH) Miles & More
• Malaysia Airlines (MH) Enrich
• Qantas (QF) Qantas
• Singapore Airlines (SQ) KrisFlyer
• United Airlines (UA) MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic (VS) Flying Club

Great, your points program is on the list! The next important item is knowing how you can transfer your reward points between memberships.

And if you can't find it on the list, remember to check AwardHacker's updated list of program partners by clicking "About" on its homepage.

A Beginner's Guide: Booking Award Flights With AwardHacker

AwardHacker is the best way to find deals on flights, as its interface is user friendly and easy to use.

But it's important to note that it's a website where you'll be doing research vs. actually booking.

When you go to the AwardHacker website, you'll see a few input fields. You must fill these in to find the offers for your unique itinerary.

All you need to do is enter your arrival and departure airports. Next, your class of service, route type, stops, and reward programs for which you want to find results.

Then, AwardHacker will scour the internet for the best deals on flights that match your specifications.

Looking for a round-trip flight from Los Angeles to New York or a one-way ticket from San Francisco to Tokyo? Either way, AwardHacker will help you find it, save money, and conserve reward points!

To read your search results, simply click on the arrow facing downward. Doing so will open up information about the airline and trip route. And a list of available flight options and transfer rates between different rewards programs.

Plus, you'll see how you can redeem your points for a ticket.

Next, you'll need to leave the website manually or by clicking the correct links to go to an external website to actually book your tickets. Remember, I mentioned you wouldn't actually be using AwardHacker to book!

Understanding Reward Transfer Partners on AwardHacker

As I mentioned above, it's easy to use AwardHacker. But if you're still a little fuzzy on how it works, I'll give you a specific example.

Let's say you're looking to book a flight and you've got some Chase Ultimate Rewards points saved up. All you need to do is enter your destination on the AwardHacker website. It will then tell you how many points or miles you'd need for that flight.

AwardHacker then goes a step further. It won't just tell you how many points you need, but it'll also show you the best way to transfer those points to get maximum value. It's like having a personal points strategist in your corner!

What if you're short on points? Some rewards programs allow you to buy more. With AwardHacker, you can calculate whether purchasing additional points is worth your hard-earned cash.

And, if you're feeling a bit stuck or need some advice, there's a team of travel rewards experts ready to help. They're always on hand to share their insider tips and tricks to ensure you squeeze every last bit of value out of your points.

In a nutshell, AwardHacker takes the guesswork out of points transfers.

To read your search results, simply click on the arrow facing downward. Doing so will open up information about the airline and trip route. And a list of available flight options and transfer rates between different rewards programs.

Plus, you'll see how you can redeem your points for a ticket.

Next, you'll need to leave the website manually or by clicking the correct links to go to an external website to actually book your tickets. Remember, I mentioned you wouldn't actually be using AwardHacker to book!

Understanding Reward Transfer Partners on AwardHacker

As I mentioned above, it's easy to use AwardHacker. But if you're still a little fuzzy on how it works, I'll give you a specific example.

Let's say you're looking to book a flight and you've got some Chase Ultimate Rewards points saved up. All you need to do is enter your destination on the AwardHacker website. It will then tell you how many points or miles you'd need for that flight.

AwardHacker then goes a step further. It won't just tell you how many points you need, but it'll also show you the best way to transfer those points to get maximum value. It's like having a personal points strategist in your corner!

What if you're short on points? Some rewards programs allow you to buy more. With AwardHacker, you can calculate whether purchasing additional points is worth your hard-earned cash.

And, if you're feeling a bit stuck or need some advice, there's a team of travel rewards experts ready to help. They're always on hand to share their insider tips and tricks to ensure you squeeze every last bit of value out of your points.

In a nutshell, AwardHacker takes the guesswork out of points transfers.

But Why Would You Need to Transfer Points?

Great question! If you're wondering why you'd want to go through the trouble of transferring points, let's clear things up.

The world of rewards points is vast and complex, and transferring points is often the key to unlocking maximum value.

Let's start with the basics: Not all reward points are created equal.

Some points might have a higher value when used with certain airlines or for certain types of rewards. That's where transferring points comes in. By shifting your points from one program to another, you could get more bang for your buck.

Let's use the Chase Ultimate Rewards points as an example again.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards points are incredibly versatile, and you can transfer them to several airline and hotel partners. This means that instead of using your points in the Chase travel portal, you could transfer them to, say, United Airlines or Marriott Bonvoy, and potentially get more value out of them.

Another reason to transfer points is to top up your balance in another rewards program. Maybe you're just a few points short of a dream vacation with your favorite airline or hotel chain.

Transferring points from another program can help you reach your goal.

Remember, though, transferring isn't always the best option. It's essential to do your homework—or let AwardHacker do it for you! to make sure you're getting the most value from your points.

Same thing goes with buying! You may be surprised to hear that sometimes buying points is the cheaper option to flying, instead of buying flights outright. But to calculate what's the better option it can get complicated.

That's why it's so useful to use a site that'll automate the process...

So, the next time you're staring at your rewards points balance, remember: those points could have more potential than you think.

Booking International Flights Through AwardHacker

Finding domestic and international flight options through AwardHacker is the same. All you have to do is a route search with the correct information.

Once you put in the information and it spits out recommendations, you can see all of your options quick.

On the left corner of each row, you'll see the airline's logo, through which you can book this particular flight. Click on the highlighted mile type text next to the logo, and the specific award program's name will appear.

The "Operated By" column is another great reason to use AwardHacker.

Use this column to find the airlines operating from your departure to destination routes. If you're ever worried about being unable to find your preferred airline, fear not! Just know that airlines have alliances or teams that allow them to share resources, including flights.

AwardHacker Limitations

While AwardHacker is an excellent tool for navigating the world of rewards points, it's essential to be aware of its limitations, too.

Missing Airline Loyalty Programs

AwardHacker doesn't include every single airline rewards program out there. While it covers many major ones, some smaller or regional airlines may be left out.

So, if you have points with an airline not represented, you might need to do some research yourself.

Can't Book Your Flight Directly

While AwardHacker can tell you the best potential uses for your points, it can't actually book the flights for you. You'll still need to go to the airline or credit card company's website to finalize your booking.

Availability Issues

Also, availability can be a tricky beast when it comes to reward flights!

Just because AwardHacker shows you can use a certain number of points for a flight doesn't mean that the seats will be available when you go to book. It's always a good idea to have a backup plan.

Taxes & Fees Aren't Included

AwardHacker doesn't factor in airline taxes and fees that can sometimes accompany award flights. So, while a certain redemption might seem like a steal, it's worth checking out the small print to avoid any surprise costs!

My Experience With AwardHacker's Partner Programs

Now I haven't tried every single program on the list, but I may as well let you know which programs I've enjoyed most. And now that I know about AwardHacker, I'll be able to take advantage of all of the loyalty programs I'm part of even more.

Credit Card: AMEX Membership Rewards

I've been a fan of the AMEX Membership Rewards program for quite some time now—ask any of my friends since they often joke with me I should be on the AMEX sales team.

Who can blame me? I just can't get over the American Express points program...

The points you earn are incredibly versatile and can be used for flights, hotels, shopping, and more. One of the program's standout features is its impressive list of transfer partners.

Did you know you can convert your points to airline miles or hotel points with over 20 partners?! This opens up a world of possibilities for your rewards.

Now while the rewards are attractive, I do understand the hesitancy that some people have. AMEX cards aren't for everyone.

For instace, earning points might be a bit slow if you're not a big spender. And, the high annual fees on some of the American Express cards can be off-putting for some.

But if you frequently use your card and take full advantage of the benefits, it can definitely pay off. Combine this with AwardHacker? You'll likely get your points to take you a lot further!

Hotel Loyalty: Marriott Bonvoy Points

If you're like me and love to travel, you'll find some value to Marriot Bonvoy points.

I've found them useful for some hotel stays, especially since the brand has an extensive network of properties ranging from budget-friendly to luxury resorts worldwide. I generally stay at Marriot's more budget-friendly locations and still get value from the program.

Another great thing about this hotel program? The ability to transfer points to over 40 airline partners at a generally favorable rate is a big plus.

On the flip side, the changes to the program in recent years have added some complexity, particularly when it comes to understanding point values for different levels of hotel stays.

This can take some getting used to. But once you've navigated the program, it can offer good value if you're the type of traveler who frequents hotels.

Airline Loyalty: Air Canada's Aeroplan

Since I'm Canadian, I've found Air Canada's Aeroplan program to be one of the most useful loyalty programs. I will say though that I only use it for flights and don't even bother looking at the other things you can do with Aeroplan points.

The ability to use points for any available seat on Air Canada flights, with no blackout dates, is a standout feature. Plus, the program has some great airline partners, opening up opportunities to fly to just about anywhere in the world.

Just recently I took a flight to South Korea, in business class, for 86k Aeroplan points. I didn't fly Air Canada though—instead, I got to enjoy the hospitality of Singapore Airlines!

The downside? AC's reward seats availability can sometimes be limited, especially for popular routes and times.

And while they've made improvements to their fees, you may still encounter some when booking reward flights. There's also the fact that recent changes have made it more expensive to get certain flights with points.

But overall, the versatility and value that Aeroplan offers make it a worthwhile choice for frequent flyers.

What Are People Saying About AwardHacker?

There's a lot of excitement surrounding AwardHacker at the moment. People are talking about how the platform can help you find the best award flights. And even transfer points between different programs!

While some are impressed with what it can do, others have found it to be a bit of a hit-and-miss. Let's take a closer look at what people are saying about AwardHacker.

Some people love that AwardHacker shows flight routes for the whole itinerary, as well as the number of miles needed.

It also works with multiple stops, which is handy if you're planning an international trip. As most travelers know, international flights usually feature multiple stops.

On the downside, some people have definitely been discouraged because of the limitations I mentioned above. Most of the complaints revolve around missing popular loyalty programs, award tickets availability, and extra fees.

Overall, people seem to be pretty divided on AwardHacker. Some love it and find it very helpful, while others have found it to be a bit of a disappointment.

Whether or not it's right for you will likely depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Is AwardHacker Worth It?

In my opinion, absolutely! I've used AwardHacker countless times to find the best award flights, and it's always been a huge help.

As long as you use AwardHacker knowing what it's for and its limitations, it's a great tool to add to your travel research kit.

The website is incredibly user-friendly and makes finding the right flights easy. Because AwardHacker searches through so many different airlines, you're almost guaranteed to find the best possible flight options.

That being said, it's not perfect. For one thing, only some of the available flights show up on the platform. So you might have to do a bit of extra searching elsewhere online to ensure you find the best option.

Additionally, the results can be overwhelming, especially if you're not sure what you're looking for.

And if you've never even touched loyalty programs for you, you can skip right over AwardHacker. It's definitely not for everyone!

So, despite these downsides, AwardHacker is definitely worth trying if you're a points person and are serious about finding the best award flights. Since it's free and just a few extra clicks to ensure you've done all the research possible, give it a shot!

If you want to travel on a budget, you can also take a look at our Dollar Flight Club and Scott's Cheap Flight reviews, too. These platforms can help in other ways so that you can make your dream travel plan a reality!

Our Rating: 3.9/5

Pros:

• Displays the number of miles required for an award flight ticket
• Includes flight route info for the entire itinerary
• Accommodates for multiple stops
• Shows transfer point options across alliances

Cons:

• A few well-known loyalty programs are missing
• No fuel surcharges are displayed
• Taxes are omitted
• Cannot purchase flights on the site

Plan With Pilot!

AwardHacker offers a convenient way to search for award flights and find the best deals. Now that you know everything about AwardHacker, it's worth planning your trip properly, too!

Sounds like your life would be easier if you had a reliable trip planner to put all of your info in one place. In that case, you may like Pilot...