Book your first award flight
10 minute read
You've got the points. You've found the award space. Now it's time to actually book. This guide walks you through every step — from the moment you confirm availability all the way to sitting in that seat.
Before you book — quick checklist
- ✓You've confirmed award space is available on your specific dates and route
- ✓You know which loyalty program can book it (e.g., United MileagePlus, Flying Blue)
- ✓You have an account with that loyalty program
- ✓You've transferred your points and they've arrived (or you already have enough miles there)
- ✓You know the exact point cost including any taxes and fees
How to book online (step by step)
Most award bookings can be completed entirely online. Here's the general process — it's nearly identical across all major airlines:
- 1
Log in to the airline's loyalty website
Go to the airline program's website (e.g., united.com, airfrance.com, hyatt.com) and log in with the account where you just transferred your points. Check that your balance shows the correct amount.
- 2
Navigate to award search
Look for 'Book with Miles', 'Award Travel', 'Use Points', or 'Redeem Miles' — usually found in the main navigation or under your account. Select this option.
- 3
Search for your flight
Enter the same route and dates you confirmed availability for. Make sure to select 'Award' or 'Miles' booking (not a cash booking). Select your cabin class (Economy, Business, First).
- 4
Select the saver award fare
Results will often show multiple fare levels. Always look for the saver or lowest miles option. It may show as 'Saver', 'Standard', or show different point costs — always pick the lowest. If no saver is showing but you saw it on seats.aero, try refreshing or different nearby dates.
- 5
Select your seat
Most airlines let you pick a seat during the booking process. If not, you can usually do this after booking through the Manage Booking section. For business class, window seats are typically more private — try to book these early.
- 6
Enter passenger details
Fill in your full legal name (exactly as it appears on your passport for international flights), date of birth, and passport details. Errors here can cause issues at the airport — double-check everything.
- 7
Pay the taxes and fees
Award tickets are not completely free — you'll pay cash for government taxes and fuel surcharges (if any). This varies widely: United charges minimal fees (~$5–$25), while British Airways can charge $300+ in fuel surcharges on long-haul routes. Review before confirming.
- 8
Confirm and save your booking
Click confirm and save the booking confirmation email. Note your confirmation/record locator number (a 6-character code like ABC123) — you'll need this to check in and manage the booking. Screenshot it and email it to yourself.
- 9
Add frequent flyer numbers for other airlines
If you're flying a partner airline (e.g., you booked with United miles but flying on Lufthansa), make sure you add the operating airline's record locator to your Lufthansa account or vice versa. This ensures your seat selection and boarding pass work correctly.
When you need to call the airline
Not all award bookings can be done online — especially for partner airlines, complex itineraries, or when the online system isn't showing availability that seats.aero confirmed. In these cases, call the airline's award booking line.
Partner airline awards
If you're booking on a partner airline (e.g., United miles → Lufthansa flight), the online tool sometimes doesn't show all availability. Call United reservations and ask specifically for 'Lufthansa partner award space' on your route and date.
Complex multi-city or stopover itineraries
Building a trip with 2+ stops or a free stopover usually requires calling. Agents can often string together an itinerary the website can't build.
You see availability on seats.aero but not the airline site
This happens. The phone agent accesses a different inventory system. Tell them you saw availability on [date] for [route] in [cabin] on seats.aero. They can often find and book it.
You need to add a lap infant
Always call to add an infant — the online system rarely handles this correctly for award tickets.
💡 Phone booking tips
- • Call when you know exactly what you want — have your route, dates, cabin, and passenger names ready
- • Wait times can be long (30–90 min). Use the callback option if available
- • Agents are most helpful when they have elite status callers — if you don't, be patient and polite
- • Always confirm the booking number and fare class before hanging up
- • Ask for an email confirmation immediately
After you book
Save your confirmation email
Forward it to a separate folder or email label. It contains your record locator, the operating airline's flight number, and all your passenger details.
Select your seat (if not done already)
Log in to the operating airline's website with your record locator and choose your seat. For long-haul business class, window seats typically offer more privacy; bulkhead rows have extra legroom.
Add the flight to your calendar
Include the check-in time (24 hours before departure for international), terminal, and your confirmation number. Set a reminder the night before.
Monitor for schedule changes
Airlines sometimes change flight times or swap equipment (the plane itself). If your flight changes by more than a few hours, you're usually entitled to a free rebooking or refund of points and fees.
Pre-order your meal (business/first class)
Many airlines allow you to pre-select your meal 24–48 hours before departure. Premium cabin meals are better when pre-ordered — especially special dietary options.
Check in online 24 hours before
For international flights, do this exactly at the 24-hour mark — that's when prime seats that were held back become available. Download your boarding pass to your phone and Apple/Google Wallet.
At the airport
Access the lounge (if applicable)
Business class tickets on most international airlines include lounge access. Show your boarding pass at the lounge entrance. If you also have Priority Pass (via a credit card like CSR or Venture X), you can access partner lounges even on economy flights.
Use dedicated check-in and security
Business and first class tickets include dedicated check-in counters (no line) and sometimes dedicated security lanes. Look for 'Business Class', 'First Class', or 'Premium' signs at check-in.
Confirm your seat at the gate
If the boarding pass shows no seat assignment (rare with award bookings), go to the gate early and ask the agent. They can assign you a seat from what's available.
Enjoy it — you earned this
Award travel can feel surreal the first time. A seat that costs $4,000+ in cash is yours because you used your everyday spending strategically. Take photos, try the food, sleep flat — you did this.
Common beginner mistakes to avoid
❌ Transferring points before confirming availability
✅ Always search first, transfer second. See our guide to finding award space.
❌ Not having a loyalty account ready
✅ You must have an account with the partner before you can transfer. Sign up (free) before you need to book — some programs have a waiting period before you can use miles.
❌ Booking the wrong cabin class
✅ Award search results sometimes show both economy and business options. Double-check the cabin before confirming.
❌ Name mismatch with passport
✅ Your loyalty account name and the passenger name on the award booking must exactly match your passport. Fixing errors later can cost fees.
❌ Not leaving enough time for the transfer to process
✅ Most transfers are instant to 2 business days, but some take up to 5 days. Don't transfer the night before departure and expect to book the next morning.
❌ Ignoring fuel surcharges
✅ Some programs (British Airways, Singapore) pass on airline fuel surcharges — sometimes $300+ per person. Programs like United, Aeroplan, and LifeMiles typically don't charge fuel surcharges even on the same flights.
🎉
You've completed the beginner's guide
You now know how points work, how to transfer them, how to find award space, and how to book. The rest is practice — and the first trip makes it all click.