In the event you really feel like your factors and miles are getting more durable to maximise, you are not alone — 34% of respondents mentioned they suppose their journey factors and miles are much less beneficial than they had been two years in the past, in accordance with a TPG/YouGov survey in July 2025. However that does not imply you may’t nonetheless get great worth out of your rewards in 2026. You simply want the fitting technique and instruments.
This is without doubt one of the overarching journey traits we have observed heading into 2026: the significance of flexibility (in additional methods than one) and benefiting from offers and instruments to bolster your factors and miles.
Flexibility is essential
It is no secret that the extra versatile you might be, the simpler it’s to search out offers on journey. As an example, an incredible business-class award could also be out there on solely a handful of dates. And the very best flight offers are sometimes solely out there on choose routes.
Flexibility will develop into much more necessary in 2026 — not simply with airways, dates and routes, but additionally with the transferable currencies you accumulate. Solely 21% of U.S. adults we surveyed choose transferable rewards, however these vacationers have a leg up when reserving award journey.
Incomes miles along with your most popular airline is helpful, however you by no means know when a service would possibly minimize its presence at your property airport or finish its relationship along with your favourite airline companion. Even worse, if an airline modifications its award chart (or nixes it fully), chances are you’ll end up sitting on a giant stack of miles which might be all of a sudden price a lot lower than earlier than.
Even for a similar flight, we’re more and more seeing award charges differ considerably relying on this system you utilize to e-book. We’re additionally seeing some airways restrict award area to pick companions.
In 2026, transferable rewards might be extra necessary than ever in weathering modifications and devaluations. In any case, you may switch rewards comparable to Chase Final Rewards factors and Amex Membership Rewards factors to a number of companions and use them to e-book all kinds of awards.
Associated: Bank card switch companions: Information to transferring factors and miles to airways and motels
However, even when you’re already incomes transferable rewards, you may wish to put extra thought into which transferable currencies you select to earn in 2026. Some currencies have extra companions than others, providing you with better selection — however that is solely helpful if these companions provide flights and motels in locations you wish to go to.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
As an example, TPG journey author Rachel Craft finds Chase Final Rewards to be her most helpful foreign money as a result of she will switch them to her two most-used airways — United and Southwest — in addition to her favourite resort program, World of Hyatt. Director of factors, miles and bank card content material Carly Helfand says, “Bilt Factors are my most versatile, price me nothing to earn and publish to my account immediately. I do not know the way you high that.” And senior author Ben Smithson not too long ago began leaning closely on Citi ThankYou Rewards as a result of its new partnership with AAdvantage.
As you may see, probably the most beneficial transferable foreign money for you relies on your distinctive situation, and it could evolve over time.
Typically, a single foreign money is not the reply — many TPGers choose to diversify their rewards methods to open much more redemption prospects. Up to now, lead author Katie Genter likes gaining access to 5 transferable currencies and utilizing a number of resort loyalty applications, as this offers her entry to e-book awards by many alternative loyalty applications.
The identical pointers apply to sure bank card advantages. Lodge and airline cobranded playing cards might provide beneficial perks like free nights and flight credit. However even when you get pleasure from retaining these playing cards for his or her advantages, chances are you’ll wish to spend most of your cash on playing cards that earn transferable rewards on a broader vary of purchases.
Offers nonetheless exist; they’re simply gone faster
In recent times, many applications have elevated award charges or ditched their award charts for dynamic pricing. Sadly, these devaluations have eradicated a lot of our favourite factors and miles candy spots.
Whereas realizing the ins and outs of award charts was as soon as key to maximizing your rewards, now it is extra essential to know how you can search every program’s award charges (extra on that later).
Nice offers are nonetheless on the market, however you may typically face vital competitors. This competitors means “unicorn” awards typically really feel scarcer and more durable to e-book, with solely 10% of U.S. adults we surveyed having booked one among these high-value awards.
So, velocity and suppleness have develop into extra essential than ever. Reserving probably the most aspirational award flights and nights will typically require having transferable rewards readily available and being able to snap up a deal as quickly as you lay eyes on it.
Associated: The award redemptions that without end modified how we journey
Factors aren’t the one foreign money the place you should still be capable to nab an incredible deal; we have additionally been seeing an uptick in offers booked with money. As an example, within the U.S., declining confidence within the financial system and job market has led to a drop in discretionary purchases like journey. Some locations that depend on tourism, like Las Vegas, have responded with huge gross sales in an try to coax vacationers again.
Transborder and transatlantic flights are additionally more and more that includes low charges in financial system class as a result of decreased demand in these areas to go to the U.S. However simply since you see a fare at the moment does not imply it will likely be there tomorrow — so you may wish to e-book compelling fares once you see them.
However how will you discover these offers (with out making journey looking your full-time job)?
Award alerts and instruments at the moment are important
Skilled award vacationers would possibly know which program to make use of to e-book journey to particular locations on routes that constantly have good availability. Besides, award alerts and instruments have develop into needed to beat restricted award availability and the truth that many airways do not share award area with all their companions.
TPG staffers ceaselessly use Seats.aero, Rooms.aero, Professional Flyer (owned by TPG’s guardian firm, Pink Ventures), Level.me and different instruments to search out award area and set award alerts. You will get some worth from these instruments with out paying something, however a paid membership with the platforms that provide it may possibly actually be price the associated fee.
One thing else we discover price the associated fee is a subscription to a number of flight deal providers. Some, comparable to Going or Thrifty Traveler Premium, even embrace some award offers. In case you have flexibility in your journey dates and locations, you may actually discover a deal that works for you when you subscribe. However, as these lists include many subscribers, it is necessary to snag award area rapidly as soon as an alert is shipped out.
Backside line
Multiple-third of the U.S. adults TPG surveyed consider factors and miles are much less beneficial now in comparison with two years in the past. And it may possibly actually really feel this manner with loyalty applications rising award charges and heightened competitors for some “unicorn” awards.
However you may nonetheless get outsized worth. Concentrate on incomes transferable rewards after which use instruments to search out high-value redemption choices for journeys you wish to take. Simply bear in mind: be versatile and e-book rapidly once you see an interesting deal or award area.
Supply hyperlink
