For those who really feel like your factors and miles are getting more durable to maximise, you are not alone — 34% of respondents stated they suppose their journey factors and miles are much less precious than they have been two years in the past, in line with a TPG/YouGov survey in July 2025. However that does not imply you may’t nonetheless get large worth out of your rewards in 2026. You simply want the precise technique and instruments.
This is among the overarching journey tendencies we have seen heading into 2026: the significance of flexibility (in additional methods than one) and making the most of offers and instruments to bolster your factors and miles.
Flexibility is vital
It is no secret that the extra versatile you will be, the better it’s to search out offers on journey. As an example, an ideal business-class award could also be obtainable on solely a handful of dates. And one of the best flight offers are sometimes solely obtainable on choose routes.
Flexibility will develop into much more essential in 2026 — not simply with airways, dates and routes, but in addition with the transferable currencies you gather. Solely 21% of U.S. adults we surveyed want transferable rewards, however these vacationers have a leg up when reserving award journey.
Incomes miles along with your most popular airline is useful, however you by no means know when a provider would possibly reduce its presence at your private home airport or finish its relationship along with your favourite airline companion. Even worse, if an airline adjustments its award chart (or nixes it utterly), you might end up sitting on a giant stack of miles which are immediately 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 employ to guide. We’re additionally seeing some airways restrict award house to pick out companions.
In 2026, transferable rewards will likely be extra essential than ever in weathering adjustments and devaluations. In spite of everything, you may switch rewards resembling Chase Final Rewards factors and Amex Membership Rewards factors to a number of companions and use them to guide all kinds of awards.
Associated: Bank card switch companions: Information to transferring factors and miles to airways and inns
However, even if you happen to’re already incomes transferable rewards, you may need to put extra thought into which transferable currencies you select to earn in 2026. Some currencies have extra companions than others, supplying you with better alternative — however that is solely helpful if these companions supply flights and inns in locations you need to go to.
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As an example, TPG journey author Rachel Craft finds Chase Final Rewards to be her most helpful forex as a result of she will be able to 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, value me nothing to earn and publish to my account immediately. I do not understand how you high that.” And senior author Ben Smithson just lately began leaning closely on Citi ThankYou Rewards as a result of its new partnership with AAdvantage.
As you may see, essentially the most precious transferable forex for you relies on your distinctive state of affairs, and it could evolve over time.
Usually, a single forex is not the reply — many TPGers want to diversify their rewards methods to open much more redemption potentialities. Thus far, lead author Katie Genter likes getting access to 5 transferable currencies and utilizing a number of resort loyalty packages, as this provides her entry to guide awards by means of many alternative loyalty packages.
The identical pointers apply to sure bank card advantages. Lodge and airline cobranded playing cards might supply precious perks like free nights and flight credit. However even if you happen to get pleasure from maintaining these playing cards for his or her advantages, you might need 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 packages have elevated award charges or ditched their award charts for dynamic pricing. Sadly, these devaluations have eradicated lots of our favourite factors and miles candy spots.
Whereas understanding the ins and outs of award charts was as soon as key to maximizing your rewards, now it is extra important to grasp methods to search every program’s award charges (extra on that later).
Nice offers are nonetheless on the market, however you may usually face vital competitors. This competitors means “unicorn” awards usually really feel scarcer and more durable to guide, with solely 10% of U.S. adults we surveyed having booked one in every of these high-value awards.
So, pace and adaptability have develop into extra essential than ever. Reserving essentially the most aspirational award flights and nights will usually 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 forex the place you should still be capable to nab an ideal deal; we have additionally been seeing an uptick in offers booked with money. As an example, within the U.S., declining confidence within the economic 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 large gross sales in an try to coax vacationers again.
Transborder and transatlantic flights are additionally more and more that includes low charges in economic system class as a result of decreased demand in these areas to go to the U.S. However simply since you see a fare in the present day doesn’t suggest it is going to be there tomorrow — so you may need to guide compelling fares while 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 guide journey to particular locations on routes that constantly have good availability. Besides, award alerts and instruments have develop into vital to beat restricted award availability and the truth that many airways do not share award house with all their companions.
TPG staffers often use Seats.aero, Rooms.aero, Skilled Flyer (owned by TPG’s dad or mum firm, Crimson Ventures), Level.me and different instruments to search out award house 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 could possibly definitely be price the price.
One thing else we discover price the price is a subscription to a number of flight deal providers. Some, resembling Going or Thrifty Traveler Premium, even embody some award offers. You probably have flexibility in your journey dates and locations, you may definitely discover a deal that works for you when you subscribe. However, as these lists comprise many subscribers, it is essential to snag award house shortly as soon as an alert is distributed out.
Backside line
Multiple-third of the U.S. adults TPG surveyed consider factors and miles are much less precious now in comparison with two years in the past. And it could possibly definitely really feel this manner with loyalty packages growing award charges and heightened competitors for some “unicorn” awards.
However you may nonetheless get outsized worth. Deal with incomes transferable rewards after which use instruments to search out high-value redemption choices for journeys you need to take. Simply keep in mind: be versatile and guide shortly while you see an interesting deal or award house.
