PAMU

Don't Get Caught Slipping! - Do this ONE Administrative Task to Prepare for Your Next Redemption.

Blackbeard

Nov 4, 2024 • 3 min read Comments

💡

tl;dr - Missing out on a great redemption can be painful, even worse when your poor preparation is to blame. By taking a few minutes to ensure you have valid accounts for all the major airline and hotel loyalty programs, you'll be well-positioned to take advantage of any redemption that comes your way. This post includes a spreadsheet you can use as a checklist to 1) register for the major loyalty programs and 2) keep track of all your loyalty information. You'll be happy you did the housekeeping when it comes down to crunch time.

A Modern-day Tragedy

Safe space? Great - I'm going in. At times, I have to confess to being my own worst enemy. A while back, during the planning phase of a multi-leg trip for myself, I became enamored with the idea of flying JAL business class from Tokyo to Australia as one leg of the journey. I spent a few days monitoring award availability. Luckily, I found two business seats on the Japanese carrier from Narita Airport to Melbourne, available through Qantas Frequent Flyer. Qantas doesn't allow for award holds, so I knew I needed to act quickly. I planned on transferring AMEX Membership Rewards points to Qantas to make the redemption. Easy enough, right?... And if there wasn't enough sunshine on my block that day, AMEX offered a 20% transfer bonus. Stellar.

I navigated to the AMEX's Transfer to Travel Partners page and was prompted to enter my Qantas Frequent Flyer number. Queuing up my handy Google Sheet containing my roster of loyalty program numbers, I ⌘-F'd for 'Qantas.' Nothing. Hmm. Odd. No matter. 'I forgot to enter my Qantas info into the spreadsheet - surely, I can pull it up in my email,' - I thought. Switching browser tabs to my email, I mined my inbox for a starred welcome message from Qantas that would surely contain my frequent flyer number. Again, nothing. Tick-tick-tick.

I looked up from the computer, and reality set in. Despite having flown on Qantas metal a few times, I had somehow failed to register with Qantas's Frequent Flyer program.

Attempting to transfer points to a program you don't even have a loyalty number with.

Well, is there no time like the present? I opened another browser tab and went to Qantas.com > Frequent Flyer > 'Join Now.' Tick-tick-tick. I filled out the form and waited for a One-Time Pin, the exact one time when I didn't have time to do so.

'Congrats, [Mr. Blackbeard], welcome to Qantas Frequent Flyer.' Great. I grabbed my loyalty number, input it into the corresponding partner field on the AMEX portal, and froze. 'Wait', I thought. 'Let me make sure the seats are still available.' I refreshed the award search and…fell to my knees. Gone.

Setting Oneself Up for Success

Friends, if you made it through that horror story, please know—I don't want you to feel my pain. That's why, today, I am reminding anyone who might need reminding to take a few minutes and create loyalty accounts with any (and all) travel providers with whom you might ever redeem points. Even if there's the slightest possibility you'll utilize a given travel provider, your preparation today can prevent pain tomorrow.

To simplify things, I've created this spreadsheet containing most (if not all) of the major air and hotel loyalty programs (airlines and hotels are on separate tabs), links to registration, and fields for you to store your loyalty numbers. It's 'View Only', so you'll need to first 'Make a Copy' (see below), then feel free to 'make it your own". :)

How to "Make a copy" of the Google Sheet - Source: You Are Travel

*Protip (and possible worthwhile time saver? Maybe?): Eighteen loyalty programs are transfer partners of Bilt. In a two-birds-one-stone situation, you can register for these programs while linking them with your Bilt account for future points transfers. Bilt used to offer a 200-point bonus for every loyalty account you linked. Unfortunately, Bilt removed this offer as it moved from the 'growth-at-all-costs-let's-light-this cash-on-fire' startup phase to the 'damn-these-VC's-are-knocking-at-my-door-looking-for-their-money-tell-them-i'm-not-home' phase.

C'est la vie and a story for another time.