Points and Miles Simplified: How to Travel the World for Free
Lots has changed so far in 2024. So whether you’re an experienced player or just getting started, here’s an updated, six-step refresher course on travel hacking.
An overwater hideaway at Soneva Secret, in the Maldives
Photographer: Stevie MannThe points and miles game may have perpetual appeal, but it changes regularly as its rules and strategies evolve with time. Yet with 35% of the US population admittedly obsessed with maximizing travel rewards, according to a NerdWallet study last year, it might feel like a societal obligation to maintain fluency in this quirky language.
This year you may find yourself in need of a refresher, with major changes afoot in both the hotel and airline loyalty landscapes. Take Hyatt Hotels Corp’s World of Hyatt, which has just teamed up with Mr & Mrs Smith to open up points bookings at more than 1,000 spectacular boutique hotels and estates around the world. Or such seemingly insignificant details as SAS dropping its Star Alliance affiliation for SkyTeam later this summer; even if you’re not a frequent flyer on the Scandinavian carrier, the move can hold huge implications for how you book awards tickets.