Попробуйте этот лайфхак, чтобы сэкономить $1,000 на перелетах

dailyblitz.de 3 часы назад

Every so often, you come across a travel trick that sounds too good to be true — until it delivers. One such hack: buying airline miles or loyalty points during discount promotions.

Yes, really. Under the right circumstances, this trick can save you hundreds of dollars on your flight costs. In some real cases, travelers have saved close to $1,000 by doing this smartly.

Let’s break down how this works — and when (and when not) to use it.

JetBlue True Blue Loyalty Card; Photo- JetBlue

Buying Miles is Smart

Airlines often run promotions or discounts when selling miles — for example, 20% to 40% off the usual rate. When those promos hit at the right time, you can effectively “buy your way” into a cheaper flight than the equivalent cash fare.

Here’s how it played out in one case:

A traveler needed three one-way flights during peak season. The cash cost was high. So they checked the airline’s own loyalty program and saw a “buy miles” offer.

After doing the math, they discovered that buying Atmos Rewards points and using them to book the flights was cheaper than paying cash — and the savings added up to nearly $1,000.

It’s not magic: it’s timing, learning the math, and knowing airline partnerships.

Photo: Business Wire

Using This Hack

Below is a practical guide, as explained by The Points Guy:

Step Action Why It Matters
Monitor loyalty program promotions Keep an eye on your airlines’ “buy miles/points” offers (discounts, bonus points). You need to catch deals when they’re generous.
Estimate the required miles vs. cash fare Compare how many miles the ticket costs + how much those miles cost if purchased. If buying points + booking is cheaper than paying cash, it’s worth it.
Check for partner award flights Sometimes the airline itself is out of award seats, but its partner is not. You may still access the same flight via a different program.
Factor in fees, surcharges, and taxes Award tickets often come with extra fees — include them in your calculation. These extra costs can eat into your “savings.”
Move fast — award space changes Once you see a good deal, don’t wait. Seats sell out. Missing a good deal means the hack fails.

When all these align, you get that “buy-miles-hack” working in your favor.

Photo: Alaska Airlines

When Hack Doesn’t Work

This method has pitfalls. It’s not a guaranteed money-saver every time. Please watch out for the following:

  • Promotions might be weak or rare: If the “bonus miles” offer or discount is low, buying miles could cost more than the full cash fare.
  • Seats may not be available: Even if you have the miles, airlines sometimes limit award-seat inventory.
  • You waste miles: If you don’t use the miles you bought, they might expire or sit idle.
  • Blackout dates and restrictions: Many loyalty programs block award redemptions during peak travel times.
  • Exchange rate or local cost differences: If you’re comparing to flights sold in another currency, conversions matter.

The trick works when you do your math and act fast — not by guesswork.

Photo: Visual Approach

Real Savings Example

The Points Guy also highlighted the case of a flight when the cash price for three one-way flights was $1,341. The airline offered a promotion to buy miles at a discount.

Using a partner program such as Atmos Rewards, the traveler could book the same flights via miles + fees for approximately $505.80. This resulted in a net saving $835.

Even after factoring in the miles purchase and the fees, it was still far cheaper than paying cash. That’s the kind of upside this hack can sometimes bring.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Bottom Line

This isn’t a guaranteed trick for every trip — but when the stars align, buying miles or points can let you book flights for far less than the cash fare.

In some cases, travelers have saved close to $1,000 by combining smart promos, partner programs, and fast execution.

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The post Try This Hack to Save $1,000 for Your Flights appeared first on Aviation A2Z.

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