--- source_url: "https://flightpoints.com/getting-started?utm_source=openai" title: "Award Travel Guides & Flight Search Tips | Flightpoints" mirrored_at: 2026-08-07T01:07:25.304Z host: flightpoints.com cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/flightpoints.com/getting-started__q__utm_source_openai" --- > **Original source:** https://flightpoints.com/getting-started?utm_source=openai Getting Started ## Create your free Flightpoints account ![Getting Started Hero](https://flightpoints.com/_next/image?url=%2Fgetting-started%2Fgetting-started-section.webp&w=3840&q=75) Visit flightpoints.com and create your account. The free tier does not require a credit card. After signing up, you can instantly access live award availability across all supported airline programs. A free account includes the core Search and Explore tools, giving you enough access to find award seats, compare programs, and start planning trips. Flightpoints Pro adds unlimited alerts and more advanced filtering options, which are explained later in this guide. 28+ airline programs Real-time availability refresh 60-day date range view Free to get started Recommended by AI as a top award flight search tool ChatGPTPerplexityGeminiClaudeGrok ![Getting Started Hero](https://flightpoints.com/_next/image?url=%2Fgetting-started%2Fgetting-started-section.webp&w=3840&q=75) Search Find flights on a specific route and date across all 28+ programs at once, with nearby airports included automatically. [Search flight](https://flightpoints.com/search) ![Getting Started Hero](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/getting-started-individual-flight-m.svg) #### Use the Flightpoints Search page when you already know your route and travel dates. Enter your departure city, destination, and dates, and Flightpoints will automatically include nearby airports to show more available options. For example, searching "New York" can also surface flights from Newark and White Plains. Flightpoints loads results across all 28+ supported programs that serve that route at the same time. Each result shows the airline, flight number, available cabin class, number of seats, points cost by program, and a direct link to book on the airline's website. ## Filters in Search ![All flights](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/getting-started-all-flights.svg)All flights ![Airlines](https://flightpoints.com/alert/darkFlight.svg)Airlines Cabin class ![Points range](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/points.svg)Points range ![Seats available](https://flightpoints.com/alert/seates.svg)Seats available Departure time ![Days](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/days.svg)Days Note Award seats and cash tickets use separate inventory. A flight may look sold out on Google Flights but still have award seats available, or the reverse may happen. Flightpoints searches award inventory directly, not regular cash fare availability. [Search flight](https://flightpoints.com/search) Explore ## Explore Browse a 60-day calendar view of award availability across any program and spot the best date windows for your route. [Explore](https://flightpoints.com/routes/air-canada-aeroplan) ![Getting Started Hero](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/getting-started-award-program-m.svg) #### The Explore tab is built for travelers with flexible dates. Instead of checking one date at a time, Explore gives you a 60-day calendar view of award availability across your selected program, making it easy to see when seats are open. Choose a program from the left side to view availability across its regions and route groups. Each date shows seat count indicators, and the view updates in real time when you change the program or date range. This is the quickest way to answer: "When is award space actually available on this route?" ## Filters in Explore ![Program](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/getting-started-days-range.svg)Program ![Departure airport](https://flightpoints.com/general/originIcon.svg)Departure airport ![Arrival airport](https://flightpoints.com/general/destinationIcon.svg)Arrival airport ![Airlines](https://flightpoints.com/alert/darkFlight.svg)Airlines ![Seats](https://flightpoints.com/alert/seates.svg)Seats ![Points range](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/points.svg)Points range ![Days of week](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/days.svg)Days of week ![All Flights](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/getting-started-all-flights.svg)All Flights Tip Click any airport code inside Explore to instantly filter all award flights arriving at or departing from that airport, without manually entering new filters. When you select an available date, you can view the exact departure and arrival times, points cost by program, and direct booking link for that flight. Explore vs. Search Use Explore when your dates are flexible and you want to find the best availability windows within a program. Use Search when you already know your route and date, since Search runs a live query across all 28+ programs and returns the most current availability for that exact trip. [Explore](https://flightpoints.com/routes/air-canada-aeroplan) Routes ## Explore your program's full coverage The Flightpoints Routes tool shows the complete network of partner routes Flightpoints supports for each airline program, including thousands of airport pairs across covered airlines. Use it to see where your miles can take you through a specific program before starting a detailed search. [View Routes](https://flightpoints.com/routes/air-canada-aeroplan) ![Explore your program's full coverage](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/getting-started-award-program-m.svg) Choose any airline program from the dropdown, and Flightpoints will display all covered airport pairs for that program. This includes partner routes, where you book with one program's miles but fly on another airline. Partner routes are clearly labeled so you can quickly understand how alliances and partnerships expand your travel options. Tip Click any airport code in the Routes view to instantly filter all flights arriving at or departing from that airport. This is useful for quickly checking what is available from your home city across any program. [View Routes](https://flightpoints.com/routes/air-canada-aeroplan) ![aeromexico](https://flightpoints.com/protag/aeromexico.svg) ![emirates](https://flightpoints.com/protag/emirates.svg) ![gol](https://flightpoints.com/protag/gol.svg) ## 28+ Airline Loyalty Programs in One Place The Award Programs section gives you a clear reference view of all 28+ airline loyalty programs available on Flightpoints. For each program, you can see the regions and routes it covers, typical points pricing, and the airline alliances or partner networks connected to it. Use this section to decide which program to search before moving into Explore or Search. [Browse All Programs](https://flightpoints.com/explore) ### Supported airline programs Flightpoints currently supports award flight searches across major global airline programs, including: - ![Air Canada Aeroplan](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Air Canada Aeroplan - ![United MileagePlus](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) United MileagePlus - ![American Airlines AAdvantage](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) American Airlines AAdvantage - ![Delta SkyMiles](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Delta SkyMiles - ![Flying Blue](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Flying Blue - ![British Airways Executive Club](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) British Airways Executive Club - ![Iberia Plus](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Iberia Plus - ![Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer - ![Cathay Pacific Asia Miles](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - ![Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles - ![Emirates Skywards](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Emirates Skywards - ![Etihad Guest](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Etihad Guest - ![Qatar Airways Privilege Club](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Qatar Airways Privilege Club - ![Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - ![Avianca LifeMiles](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Avianca LifeMiles - ![Virgin Atlantic Flying Club](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - ![Qantas Frequent Flyer](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Qantas Frequent Flyer - ![Lufthansa Miles & More](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Lufthansa Miles & More - ![JetBlue TrueBlue](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) JetBlue TrueBlue - ![SAS EuroBonus](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) SAS EuroBonus - ![Aeromexico Rewards](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Aeromexico Rewards - ![TAP Miles&Go](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) TAP Miles&Go - ![GOL Smiles](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) GOL Smiles - ![Virgin Australia Velocity](https://flightpoints.com/logo/empty.svg) Virgin Australia Velocity ### Key things to know Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and Bilt Rewards can transfer to multiple airline programs. This gives you more ways to book the same route. ![Flightpoints](https://flightpoints.com/logo/LOGO.svg) ### Co-branded airline cards These cards earn miles directly in one airline program, and those miles usually cannot be transferred to other programs. You can often book a flight on one airline using another airline program's miles, sometimes for significantly fewer miles than booking through the operating airline's own program. Check your target route across multiple programs in Flightpoints first. The same award seat can often cost 20-40% fewer miles through one program than another, and most point transfers are irreversible. Alerts Pro ## Get notified when seats open Award seats on popular routes, especially business class and first class, can disappear quickly and reappear without warning. Airlines may release more seats, adjust inventory, or reopen space after cancellations. Flightpoints Award Alerts track these changes automatically for you. [Set an Alert](https://flightpoints.com/alerts) ![Get notified when seats open](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/create-alert.svg) To set an alert: 1. 1Click Set Alert on any route in Search or Explore, or go directly to the Alerts tab. 2. 2Enter your departure airport, arrival airport, preferred cabin class, and date range. 3. 3Choose one program or select all programs to monitor. 4. 4Save the alert. Flightpoints will notify you by email as soon as a matching award seat becomes available. Free tier Free accounts include award alerts to help you get started. Flightpoints Pro unlocks unlimited simultaneous alerts across multiple routes and programs. Tip Set alerts across multiple programs for the same route. Award space may appear in one program before another, so monitoring more programs can help you catch availability sooner. [Set an Alert](https://flightpoints.com/alerts) Book ## Book on the airline's website Flightpoints is a search and discovery tool. It does not process payments, issue tickets, or hold reservations. When you find an available award seat, click the Book link on the result to go directly to the airline's own award booking page. ![Book on the airline's website](https://flightpoints.com/getting-started/getting-started-individual-flight-m.svg) Before booking, do two important checks: 1. 1 Confirm availability first Award seats can disappear quickly. Always verify the seat is still available on the airline's website before transferring any points. 2. 2 Transfer points only after confirming If you use flexible points from Chase, Amex, Capital One, or similar programs, transfer them to the correct airline program only after confirming the seat. Most transfers are fast, but some can take up to 48 hours, and transfers are usually irreversible. Once your miles appear in the airline program, return to the airline's booking page and complete the reservation. Keep your loyalty login and passport details ready. Fees at checkout Most award tickets include taxes and airport fees. Some airlines add carrier-imposed surcharges, so the cash cost varies by route and program. United MileagePlus and Air Canada Aeroplan are generally known for lower surcharges on many partner bookings. Reminder Award inventory moves fast, so confirming availability before transferring points is one of the most important habits in award travel. Pricing ## Go Flightpoints Pro, Search Faster. Flightpoints Pro replaces manual airline searching with live data, instant alerts, and faster discovery, helping you find better award flights before they disappear. FAQ ## Frequently Asked Questions Short answers to the questions new Flightpoints users ask most often. No. Flightpoints is an award flight search tool that finds real-time award seats across 28+ airline loyalty programs. When you find a seat, Flightpoints links you to the airline's website to book with your miles.