Sharon and I have been traveling with miles and points for probably close to twenty years. Over the years, Sharon has had to learn that I’ll randomly bring up some plans for a trip or credit card (Note from Sharon: #rolleyes). Meanwhile, I’ve had to learn that she really doesn’t care about the details but, given limited guidelines, will do her part to help us earn extra points and miles. Nothing about either of these have changed.
I’ve learned through experience that traveling as a couple brings a certain number of challenges to booking award tickets. However playing this game as a couple also has several advantages. I love the analogy that Sharon and I are now playing with points and miles in Two-Player mode. For those who are familiar with video games know, this brings a whole number of advantages but also presents a set of new challenges.
I wouldn’t trade anything for the experiences we’ve had on our travels but I feel it’s necessary for anyone who’s going to try to take on this responsibility to understand the thankless number of hours you’re going to spend making trips work for the two of you.
CON
I often read articles about people booking an award seat on Lufthansa or Singapore in first class last minute. It’s easy to find that space if you’re looking for just one person. When you need to find two tickets, good luck. I’ve put many of those “dream” tickets out of my mind and I focus on things that are possible.
PRO
It’s always possible to find those once-a-lifetime tickets for two, it’s happened to me… TWICE, but I’m not holding my breath. I was told that finding two first-class tickets to Japan on ANA would happen when H*LL froze over but here are pictures of us in our first true lie-flat seats, back in 2009.
OMG. That MacBook was HUGE!!!!
So it pays to shoot for the moon – even if you miss, you’ll be among the stars and able to get way more than you would have otherwise.
CON
However many thousands of miles that flight cost in 2009 (I want to say 120,000 miles plus $582 in taxes?), cost double that for the two of us. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Well, I forgot a little because I had them open a bottle of Shōchū and they insisted on refilling my glass for the whole flight.
PRO
If you need to spend twice as many miles for trips, you’re also able to rack up miles twice as fast from credit card sign up bonuses. Since we both have our own businesses, we’re able to double-dip on all the good personal and business card offers.
CON
Keeping track of all of those credit card accounts takes time. I’ve been known to miss a payment or two (only by a day or two but it still triggers a late fee). Since Sharon will only call a bank if she has to, I need to make sure it’s worth it to plead about waiving the fee. It has to be worth what we’re going to get out of the call and I also need to decide if it’s worth it for our marriage. (Note from Sharon: True story! Happy wife, happy life! LOLOL!)
PRO
Your traveling partner occasionally appreciates it when you’re able to pull off that travel unicorn. She might have been able to get us tickets to see Harry Potter in London a few months after it opened (back when it was a really hot ticket), but I was able to get a room for the trip using award nights. While it costs twice as much to book flights, hotels are the same price if you’re looking for one or two people, you’re also able to leverage hotel points from both people to stay in some amazing places, like a suite at the Renaissance St. Pancras.
CON
When your travel partner also manages to get tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York over Thanksgiving weekend, she expects that you’ll be able to find flights and hotels using points. If you were wondering, I did, by using a combination of British Airways Avios, Delta SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy points 🙂 Here’s how I did it.
PRO
By having two people playing, we’re able to leverage a combination of cards and programs. It’s not that bad. In fact, we might have too many free nights per year from our credit cards. In addition, I have the Sapphire Reserve from Chase to earn 3x points on all travel expenses and to get the 1.5 cents per point value on redemptions through the Ultimate Rewards Travel Mall. I’m also an authorized user on her Sapphire Preferred card which allows us an easy way to transfer points between Ultimate Rewards Accounts.
CON
I’ve been doing this for years and our account sign-ups and links are layered on top of one another. If I was starting over, I’d do it differently but it’s too late to go back now.
That’s just a glimpse of the trials and tribulations booking miles and points as a couple. From the one doing most of the planning, it’s totally been worth it. Like the first international award we booked to visit Japan:
I just hope Sharon remembers that the next time I ask her to call a bank to get a retention offer on a credit card (Note from Sharon: UUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!).
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
6 comments
I flew only once in business class to Nairobi and it was like a dream come true
Sweet! Thank you for sharing your highs and lows. I understand because I have 2 kids too , so double it up. Yippy Kai Yay!
I loved reading this story of this couple and their “will do anything for miles” tale. Good to know I’m not the only one 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Always interesting to hear various situations that couples have for their 2-player setup. Currently I set up points and miles for our trips, while my wife is an authorized user on my CSR.
I’m curious, what you would do over if you had to start all over?
Change the order that we applied for some cards and who applied for which one. Also would have lined up our free nights better to make it easier to use them for longer stays.