by Madison Blancaflor, Director of Content Operations
I’m heading to Mexico in September to celebrate my 30th birthday with some girlfriends (please mark your calendars accordingly to send me birthday wishes), and I used 29,700 Delta Air Lines SkyMiles plus $126.17 in taxes and fees to semi-splurge on round-trip, nonstop Delta Comfort tickets. The cash price would have been $518, which means I got around 1.3 cents per mile in value.
I can feel some of you cringing right now. How dare I use my miles on a run-of-the-mill redemption to Mexico that I could have technically afforded with cash? Why book Comfort seats when the flights are only four hours each way? Shouldn’t I be saving my points and miles for some jaw-dropping first-class redemption to Dubai or an overwater villa in Bora Bora?
That used to be my mindset, too. I was constantly saving up for that “perfect” redemption, and then a devaluation made that redemption a little more out of reach. And then it happened again. And again. So these days, I don’t stress about waiting for the perfect redemption and instead focus on using my points as often as I can to take more trips and make more memories.
This time, that meant saving $400 so I could spend that money on a new bikini and a spa day at the resort — miles very well spent in my mind.
We still love a dream redemption at TPG. But the reality is that with nearly constant devaluations, that perfect redemption you’re hoarding points for today may cost twice as many points by the time you book.
Don’t let the belief that points are only worth using on perfect redemptions stop you from actually using them. Instead, utilize tools that help you get solid (but easily attainable) value out of your rewards, and focus on maximizing your experiences and memories more than maximizing every single point. Your wallet (and camera roll) will thank you!
Here are TPG’s favorite tools for finding and booking incredible trips without stressing over the perfect redemption:
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