Nov 11, 2013, 1:09 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Getting Started
You'll find a general sitewide Topic Index in the Where to find information about... thread. Otherwise, a variety of specialized resources are listed below.
Trip Planning: Finding the Best Fares, Choosing a Carrier, Best Routes/Connections, etc.
Looking for a "good" fare? There's no magic formula… you just need to search and study and search some more! Here's a list of links to some of FlyerTalkers' most frequently used resources to get you started:
Choosing an Award Program
Combining Points/Miles
Using Credit Cards to Get Miles/Points
Getting the Most Out of FlyerTalk
You'll find a general sitewide Topic Index in the Where to find information about... thread. Otherwise, a variety of specialized resources are listed below.
Trip Planning: Finding the Best Fares, Choosing a Carrier, Best Routes/Connections, etc.
Looking for a "good" fare? There's no magic formula… you just need to search and study and search some more! Here's a list of links to some of FlyerTalkers' most frequently used resources to get you started:
- Online Travel Booking forum sticky: list of online travel agencies, booking engines, aggregators - these are the best places to begin your airfare search if you're new to all this!
- Travel Tools forum sticky: list of online tools, services, software to improve the travel experience
- Budget Travel: this forum's name says it all
- Mileage Run Deals: unusually low cost fares based on a cents-per-mile calculation – be sure to read the stickies before posting (no fare requests permitted)
- Good Deals in Economy: thread for members to share very good coach/economy class fares (no fare requests permitted)
- Premium Class Deals: forum for sharing excellent fares in first and business class (no fare requests permitted)
- Award Booking Services: list of providers that will handle your award bookings for a fee - note that these are awards booked with YOUR miles/points, not award tickets for purchase, trade or barter
- Award Redemption Comparison Tool: determine mileage requirements across various programs
- Mileage/Award Brokers and Trading, Selling, Buying Miles/Points: are they legit?
Choosing an Award Program
- Which Frequent Flyer Program to Join — Q&A advice thread
- QUICK GUIDE: Airline Programs (USA)
- QUICK GUIDE: Airline Alliances
- QUICK GUIDE: Hotel Programs
- Airline Programs Offering Family or Household Mileage Pooling
Combining Points/Miles
- Combining Points and Miles Not usually much value in doing this, but since you ask
Using Credit Cards to Get Miles/Points
- Credit Card Programs: Start Here
- Credit Card Forum Index - in addition to the general credit card forum, there are dedicated forums for discussing programs specific to AmEx, Chase, Citi and Diners Club
- Manufactured Spending - creative ways of using credit cards to maximize program miles/points earning
- Gaining status without flying? Very limited options, but sometimes an EQM boost.
Getting the Most Out of FlyerTalk
- Glossary — abbreviations and acronyms explained (this link also appears at the bottom of every FT page)
- How to Modify Your Profile Details — adding your location and program affiliations helps those who are trying to help you
- Links to Help You Use the Site — see the Wikipost for tools and functions to maximize your FT experience
- Using the Search Feature on FlyerTalk: The Definitive Thread
- Guide to FlyerTalk's flame-free/no-question-too-stupid/newbie threads
- How to add or embed a file or image / photo in a post
RESOURCES: Getting Started, Member Tips, Helpful Links, FAQs, and More
Jun 25, 2023, 2:08 pm
#31
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Is there a recent forum/post that discusses websites for searching airfares? The Online Travel Booking sticky post at the top of this post appears to be several years old and I'm not clear if there are better sites that have become more useful. I'm looking to book roundtrip between Chicago and New York and I'm not sure if kayak.com is still considered a good site.
Jun 25, 2023, 2:55 pm
#32
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,737
Is there a recent forum/post that discusses websites for searching airfares? The Online Travel Booking sticky post at the top of this post appears to be several years old and I'm not clear if there are better sites that have become more useful. I'm looking to book roundtrip between Chicago and New York and I'm not sure if kayak.com is still considered a good site.
Jul 8, 2023, 4:23 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, Alaska, Hilton, Westjet
Posts: 21
I have a lot of Aeroplan, & Alaska points and hoping to book a nice business class flight somewhere later this year from YVR. Is there somewhere on this site that shows how best to redeem points? I can't really figure out where to begin and start looking...
Jul 8, 2023, 5:57 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,992
kruzinkid Welcome to FT
From YVR to where?
Depending on the ffp awards can start to become available from 353/330 days out or some other date. Business class awards can be very hard to get. More so at peak times.
Start by looking in the AC Aeroplan, & Alaska forums
AC https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...-aeroplan-375/
AS https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...eage-plan-442/
Depending on the ffp awards can start to become available from 353/330 days out or some other date. Business class awards can be very hard to get. More so at peak times.
Start by looking in the AC Aeroplan, & Alaska forums
AC https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...-aeroplan-375/
AS https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alas...eage-plan-442/
Jul 8, 2023, 9:32 pm
#35
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan, Alaska, Hilton, Westjet
Posts: 21
Thanks Mwenenzi.
I was hoping to find a high-value redemption pretty much anywhere outside of North America. Someone had mentioned cowtool to me, but apparently it is only offering limited features for new users signing up at this time......I'm not sure if there are other options to help search trips, but I'll keep scouring those threads you mentioned to try and keep learning.
I was hoping to find a high-value redemption pretty much anywhere outside of North America. Someone had mentioned cowtool to me, but apparently it is only offering limited features for new users signing up at this time......I'm not sure if there are other options to help search trips, but I'll keep scouring those threads you mentioned to try and keep learning.
Jul 8, 2023, 11:03 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,001
When created, a FlyerTalk wikipost precedes the first post of a given thread.
Jan 30, 2024, 7:08 pm
#39
Moderator: Information Desk, Women Travelers, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 15,637
Yesterday, 6:13 am
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2024
Posts: 1
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