How to Buy Airline Tickets with Credit Card Reward Miles

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Credit reward miles are an excellent way to save some cash when you plan a trip, but be sure to check all the specifics before you book or you may be in for a nasty surprise. Be smart and look for the loopholes before you cash in those miles.

Step 1. Look at your current credit card statement for the count of your miles. Compare this with your credit companies’ rewards program to see what you can afford. Numbers vary from company to company and some will calculate points in thousands, while others will use tens of thousands. Check this first to avoid disappointment.

Step 2. Read the terms and restrictions of your credit card rewards. Your company may offer generic rewards programs but have restrictions on when you can cash in miles, while other credit cards may only use specific airlines, destinations or blackout dates. Speak to your company for any restrictions on your earned reward miles before you plan your trip.
 
Step 3. Contact your travel agent or your credit card specified agent for information on flights and destinations that you can use with your rewards points. You may get better deals with your miles if you travel in an off-peak season or take an indirect route to your destination.
 
Step 4. Check the policy for taxes and fees and find out what additional expenses you need to pay. Airport and country taxes can sometimes be just as expensive as the ticket itself, so ask your agent for a breakdown of all costs.
 
Step 5.

Research the price match for any additional tickets that you need prior to booking. If you only have enough miles for one ticket and you have found the right flights and route, you then need to see how much an additional ticket or tickets would cost for the same itinerary. Sometimes the same flights will be so expensive that it may be worth waiting until you have saved enough miles for everyone in your party to travel.

 
eHow Personal Finance Editor
How to buy cheap, Need to know about tickets