TPG reader Charles asked:
“What app do you use to track all of your miles and points?”
I am going to be completely honest here, I am so obsessed with my mile and points – I check them more than my bank account! – so I don’t really use an app. I always know what is going on and I check my key American Airlines and Delta accounts almost daily.
The other feature many miles-tracking apps have is keeping a list of the expiration dates of your various accounts, but I am never going to let my miles go inactive thanks to all the co-branded credit cards I have and all the shopping I do through various airline and hotel shopping portals, so I don't really need that feature.
However I do have an Award Wallet account that has come in handy in the past, so I would recommend everyone open one. They recently added back the American Airlines tracking ability, so it that is good improvement.
Recently several major airlines had ordered them to stop allowing users access to their mileage accounts over “security” concerns, but also because airlines make a lot of money off their frequent flyers and don’t want them using a third party site to get their account information. However, in August Award Wallet announced a new partnership that would allow Award users to track their AAdvantage balances effectively. So while it is not exactly perfect because not every airline is available on it, Award Wallet is a handy tool. The basic service is free or you can upgrade to Award Wallet Plus for upwards of $5 for 6 months.
Another useful feature is that Award Wallet will automatically add your flight itineraries as well (if you select that option). So once I book a Delta flight, it automatically loads into my Award Wallet dashboard and I get emails with changes and reminders to check-in.
TripIt Pro is another great app that costs $49 per year. However, if you have the Barclaycard Arrival, one of the sign-up benefits is a complimentary Triplt Pro subscription (the Arrival with no annual fee comes with a complimentary one-year subscription). I know a lot of people love TripIt as it keeps all the details of a trip in place.
Like Award Wallet, TripIt Pro is basically a travel organizer and planner that will keep track of your flight itineraries automatically when you have emails forwarded to it, and it can also store maps, directions, photos and other helpful details as you plan trips, send you mobile alerts about things like flight and gate changes, will share your itineraries with contacts you designate, and comes with complimentary 1-year memberships to Hertz #1 Club Gold and Regus Gold (which can be worth much more than $49).
Either app is a great choice that I'd recommend.
If anyone else has a suggestion of a mileage tracker that they love then feel free to share it!
