Redeeming airline miles for holiday flights can sometimes be one of the worst things that you will ever do. Depending on when and how you do it, you will probably end up paying more than you need to, end up compromising on your flight, or just not have a good time. It will almost seem like using your miles is not worth it at all. But do not go home in a bad mood! There are many ways you can make your search for holiday flights easier:

Check Out Partner Airlines

Air travel points can be redeemed on one airline or a few airlines, depending on partners. And w with some airlines, your miles will go a lot further. Make sure to check if you can link up with other airlines to get better seats or better deals. There are plenty of options out there, you just have to see which one works best for you.

Call An Agent

Calling an agent to book your tickets can be the best decision you make during a busy travel season. It will help you to get through the system much more quickly and easily than doing it yourself. However some airlines have phone reservation fees, so be careful of those additional fees. But it can sometimes be worth it, as an agent has more information than you do and can see available sets in real time — sometimes it takes a few minutes for the system consumers use to update. They will also be able to help you with booking on partner airlines.

Pick the Best Seat

A little known fact is that business class seats are better for holiday travel than coach seats because fewer “business” people are traveling. They may cost a bit more, but if you are using your airline miles, it could be a good trade off. It will certainly put you in a better mood when you arrive.

Do Your Research

The most important tip for scoring holiday flights with your airline miles is to do your research. Not all cards will allow you to use your miles on holiday travel, but if you have some flexibility in your schedule, you can work around blackout dates. Some airlines will allow certain tiered reward members to fly, so keep that in mind as well. If you can move up a tier within a few weeks, it might be best putting off your search.

Booking flights for the holiday season does not have to be tough as long as you know what to do!