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Are Award Booking Services Worth the Price?

Sept. 21, 2014
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3 min read
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Are Award Booking Services Worth the Price?
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TPG reader Todd tweeted me to ask:

@thepointsguy -"Are award booking services worthwhile? If so, do you have any recommendations?"

The Points Guy website actually started out as an award booking service, so before I ever wrote my first blog post, I was helping people book awards. The website had a form for people to explain where they wanted to go and provide all the relevant information (like point balances and elite status). For a $50 fee per ticket, I would help them plan and book their award travel by calling airlines, searching for partner awards, etc. It was a fun start, but the The Points Guy grew in another direction and I eventually shut down the award booking service.

However, there are several other award booking websites out there that can potentially save you hundreds of thousands of miles and a ton of time. TPG reader Todd is wondering whether those award booking sites provide enough value to justify their cost. In general I would say yes, they can. If you're ever in a situation where you can't find award availability, even if you've done your research, you may want to enlist the help of one of these professional services.

My Recommendations

Award booking sites can help you find better (and cheaper) availability. (Image courtesy of Shutterstock)

One option is the new TPG partner Award Magic, which you can access from the Award Booking Page. Award Magic charges $149 per person for basic itineraries, or $259 for complex itineraries. They'll do the research for you and come up with the best options.

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I would also recommend Points Pros run by Ben Schlappig. This site charges $200 for the first person, and $100 for each additional traveler (this could be slightly more if the itinerary is highly complex).

Another option is Book Your Award, which is run by fellow bloggers Gary Leff and Steve Belkin. They charge a flat rate of $150 per person no matter how complex the itinerary is.

Depending on your situation, whom you're traveling with and how complex your itinerary is, you can choose the site and price point that works best for you. If they can save you even 25,000 miles and the time it takes to book the award, then you're probably coming out ahead. I know that in the past these sites have been quite popular and there have even been waiting lists, but I'm not sure how busy they are at the moment. If you need help soon, best to get in touch with them early rather than wait until the last minute.

If you've used the an award booking site like the ones listed above or any others, please share your experiences in the comments section.

If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook, or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.