Quick Verdict: Point.me is a powerful award search tool that can save you significant time when hunting for the best redemption options. While the subscription cost may deter budget-conscious travelers, the time savings and comprehensive search capabilities make it worthwhile for frequent award travelers who value convenience over manually searching dozens of airline websites.
If you're new to award travel, understanding how to find cheap flights is essential background knowledge before diving into premium tools like Point.me.
Finding the perfect award flight used to mean spending hours jumping between different airline websites, checking availability, comparing redemption rates, and figuring out complex transfer partner relationships. Point.me promises to eliminate this tedious process by searching dozens of programs simultaneously and presenting you with the best options in one place.
But is this award search tool worth the monthly subscription fee, or are you better off sticking with free airline websites? After testing Point.me extensively alongside other award search tools, here's everything you need to know about this increasingly popular service.
What is Point.me?
Point.me is a subscription-based award flight search engine that scans real-time availability across more than 100 airlines and 30+ loyalty programs. Think of it as Google Flights, but specifically designed for award travel using points and miles.
Instead of manually checking each airline's website to see what award space is available, Point.me does the heavy lifting for you. It searches programs like American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, and dozens of others simultaneously, then presents all your options in a clean, easy-to-compare format.
The platform launched with a mission to democratize award travel by making complex redemption strategies accessible to everyday travelers, not just hardcore points enthusiasts who've memorized every airline alliance and transfer partner relationship.
How Point.me Works
Using Point.me is straightforward. You enter your departure city, destination, travel dates, cabin class preference, and number of passengers. The platform then searches its database of partner programs and returns results within 30 seconds (a massive improvement from the several minutes it took when first launched).
Search results show multiple booking options for each available flight, including:
- The airline operating the flight
- Required points or miles for each program
- Cash taxes and fees
- Flight duration and routing
- Cabin class details
- Transfer partner options from credit card programs
For example, a search from New York to Paris might show the same Air France flight bookable through Delta SkyMiles (22,000 points + $400 in fees), Flying Blue (19,000 points + $120 in fees), or Virgin Atlantic (20,000 points + $200 in fees). Point.me shows all these options side-by-side so you can choose the best value based on your specific point balances.
The platform also integrates current transfer bonuses. If American Express is offering a 30% bonus when transferring to Virgin Atlantic, Point.me automatically calculates the effective cost and highlights when transfer bonuses make certain options more attractive.
Point.me Pricing and Plans
Point.me offers three tiers of service:
Basic Plan (Free)
- Access to the Explore tool
- Ability to sync account balances
- Limited search capabilities
Standard Plan ($12/month or $129/year)
- Unlimited award searches
- Real-time availability results
- Step-by-step booking instructions
- Price alert functionality (1 alert monthly, 3 alerts annually)
- Access to all search filters and sorting options
Premium Plan ($260/year)
- Everything in Standard Plan
- 10% discount on concierge services
- $100 credit toward concierge services
- Free points strategy consultation (valued at $200)
- Enhanced price alert functionality (5 alerts)
The annual Standard plan offers the best value for most users, working out to roughly $10.75 per month. Point.me frequently offers promotional codes - AwardWallet readers can use code "AWARDWALLET20" for 20% off annual subscriptions.
Key Features That Set Point.me Apart
Cross-Program Search Capability
Point.me's biggest advantage is searching multiple award programs simultaneously. Without this tool, finding the best redemption for a specific route requires checking potentially dozens of websites individually. Even experienced travelers rarely check every possible option due to time constraints.
Mixed-Cabin Flight Detection
The platform clearly identifies mixed-cabin itineraries and shows what percentage of your journey will be in premium cabins. This is incredibly valuable since some airline websites don't clearly indicate when part of your route will be in economy versus business class.
Transfer Bonus Integration
Point.me automatically incorporates current transfer bonuses from credit card programs, showing the effective redemption rate after bonuses. This saves you from manually calculating whether a 30% transfer bonus makes one option better than another.
Explore Tool for Flexible Travel
The Explore feature functions like Skyscanner's "Everywhere" search but for award flights. Enter your departure airport and see destinations sorted by required points, perfect for spontaneous trips or when you're flexible about where to go.
Step-by-Step Booking Instructions
Once you select a flight, Point.me provides detailed instructions with screenshots showing exactly how to transfer points and book the award. This guidance is invaluable for beginners or when booking through unfamiliar programs.
Major Benefits of Using Point.me
Time SavingsThe most obvious benefit is time. Instead of spending hours checking individual airline websites, Point.me delivers comprehensive results in under a minute. For frequent award travelers, this time savings alone justifies the subscription cost.
Discovery of Better OptionsPoint.me often surfaces redemption options you wouldn't have considered. Many travelers stick to programs they know, potentially missing better deals through partner airlines or alternative routing.
Transfer Partner OptimizationThe platform shows you the most efficient way to use your credit card points by highlighting which transfer partners offer the best value for specific routes.
Beginner-Friendly InterfaceAward travel can be intimidating for newcomers. Point.me's clean interface and step-by-step guidance make the process approachable for travelers new to points and miles.
Real-Time AvailabilityUnlike some award search tools that show cached or outdated results, Point.me searches live availability, so you're seeing current options.
Limitations and Drawbacks
No Multi-Day SearchOne of the biggest complaints about Point.me is the inability to search multiple days simultaneously. Most airline websites and competing tools show a week or month of availability at once, making it easier to find flexible dates with better pricing.
Single Airport LimitationYou can't search multiple airports simultaneously. For travelers near major metropolitan areas with multiple airports, this means running separate searches for each option.
Limited Alert FunctionalityPrice alerts can't be edited once created - you must delete and recreate them. The number of alerts is also limited based on your subscription tier.
Subscription CostAt $129 annually for the Standard plan, Point.me isn't cheap. Budget-conscious travelers might find it hard to justify, especially if they only book a few award flights per year.
Award Availability Changes QuicklyThis isn't Point.me's fault, but award space can disappear between your search and booking attempt. The platform includes transfer time estimates, but you still risk losing availability during point transfers.
Who Should Use Point.me?
Ideal Candidates:
- Frequent award travelers booking multiple trips per year
- Travelers with points across multiple programs
- Beginners intimidated by complex award charts and transfer partners
- Anyone who values time over money
- Travelers interested in premium cabin redemptions
Better Alternatives:
- Casual travelers booking 1-2 award flights annually
- Extremely budget-conscious travelers
- Points enthusiasts who enjoy the "hunt" and research process
- Travelers loyal to a single airline program
How Point.me Compares to Alternatives
Free Airline WebsitesPros: No cost, complete booking capabilityCons: Time-consuming, limited to single programs, often poor search interfaces
Roame.TravelSimilar functionality to Point.me with multi-day search capability but less comprehensive program coverage.
Seats.aeroFocuses specifically on premium cabin availability with excellent filtering options but narrower scope than Point.me. Read our detailed Seats.aero review for more insights.
PointsYeahOffers more alerts in free tier but fewer programs and less user-friendly interface. Check out our comprehensive PointsYeah review for a detailed comparison.
ExpertFlyerExcellent for seat alerts and availability tracking but requires more technical knowledge to use effectively. Our ExpertFlyer review covers all the pros and cons.
Tips for Maximizing Point.me Value
Start with Free OptionsIf you have American Express Membership Rewards or Bilt points, try the free versions first to see if the functionality meets your needs.
Use Strategic TimingAward availability often opens up or changes, so search multiple times over several weeks when planning trips far in advance.
Verify Before TransferringAlways double-check availability on the actual airline website before transferring points, especially for premium cabin awards.
Consider Monthly SubscriptionsIf you're not sure about committing to an annual plan, start with monthly billing to test the service.
Combine with Other ToolsUse Point.me for initial research, then verify with specialized tools like Seats.aero for premium cabin space or ExpertFlyer for schedule changes and seat alerts.
Common Questions About Point.me
Is Point.me worth it for beginners?Absolutely. The step-by-step booking instructions and simplified interface make award travel much more approachable for newcomers.
Can I cancel my subscription easily?Yes, cancellation is straightforward through your account settings. There's no cancellation fee, and you retain access through the end of your billing period.
Does Point.me book flights for you?No, Point.me shows you how to book but doesn't handle the actual booking. However, they offer concierge services for hands-off booking at additional cost.
How accurate are the search results?Point.me searches live availability, but award space changes rapidly. Results are accurate at the time of search but may not be available by the time you're ready to book.
Can I use Point.me for hotel awards?No, Point.me focuses exclusively on flight awards. For hotel redemptions, you'll need to search individual hotel programs directly.
Free Alternatives and Workarounds
Before committing to a Point.me subscription, consider these free alternatives:
American Express CardholdersAmex Membership Rewards cardholders get free access to a limited version of Point.me through the Amex website. This includes searches across Amex transfer partners.
Bilt Rewards MembersBilt cardholders can access Point.me functionality through the Bilt app, though it's limited to Bilt's transfer partners.
Manual ResearchDedicated travelers can replicate Point.me's functionality by manually checking airline websites, though this requires significant time investment and award program knowledge. For deal alerts and notifications, consider services like Daily Drop or Going for cash flight deals.
The Bottom Line: Is Point.me Worth It?
Point.me delivers exactly what it promises: a comprehensive, user-friendly way to search award availability across dozens of programs simultaneously. For frequent award travelers, the time savings and discovery of better redemption options typically justify the subscription cost within a single trip.
The platform particularly shines for travelers who maintain points across multiple programs or feel overwhelmed by the complexity of award travel. The step-by-step booking instructions and clean interface remove much of the intimidation factor that keeps people from maximizing their points and miles.
However, Point.me isn't for everyone. Casual travelers who book just one or two award flights annually might struggle to justify the cost. Similarly, budget-conscious travelers or those who enjoy the research aspect of award travel might prefer free alternatives.
If you're on the fence, start with the monthly plan to test whether Point.me fits your travel patterns and preferences. Many users find that Point.me pays for itself by helping them find better redemption values or simply by saving hours of research time.
For most frequent award travelers, Point.me represents excellent value despite the subscription cost. The platform has consistently improved since launch, with faster search times and enhanced features making it increasingly indispensable for anyone serious about maximizing their points and miles.
Ready to try Point.me? You can start with their free Basic plan to explore the interface, or jump straight to the Standard plan to access full search capabilities and step-by-step booking instructions.
