If you’ve already wrapped your head around how Chase and Amex points work with transfer partners (and if not, check out my previous post), this is your next step. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to turn those points into a real flight—ideally one that feels like a big win.

Scoring high-value redemptions like ANA or Singapore Airlines business class to Tokyo for 75,000 points or Qatar Airways Qsuites to the Maldives for 85,000 requires more than just having points. You need to know how to find award availability and compare transfer options. Mastering these skills will help you avoid wasting points and unlock redemptions most travelers don’t even know exist.

What Is Award Availability (and Why It Matters)

Award availability refers to the specific flights that airlines release for booking with miles. Just because a flight is available with cash doesn’t mean you can book it with points—award seats are limited and can disappear quickly. That’s why it’s crucial to check availability before transferring points, since transfers are usually one-way and can’t be reversed.

How to Search for Award Availability (By Airline or Alliance)

Here’s a quick breakdown of where to search based on the airline or alliance you want to fly. Alliances open up access to routes and partner flights beyond what a single airline offers, giving you more options worldwide. Plus, different airlines within the same alliance may offer the same flight but at varying point costs. For example, ANA business class from New York to Tokyo costs 75,000 points one-way on Air Canada Aeroplan but 88,000 points on United MileagePlus—even though it’s the same flight. Tools like Seats.aero let you search for premium cabin award space across multiple airlines at once—perfect for tracking elusive seats on ANA or Lufthansa First.

✈️ Star Alliance (United, ANA, Lufthansa, etc.)

Search Engine: Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus
Why: Aeroplan and United both show award space for many Star Alliance partners.

✅ Pro Tip: ANA flights often appear on Aeroplan before United.

✈️ Oneworld (Qatar, British Airways, American Airlines, etc.)

Search Engine: British Airways Executive Club or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Why: BA is great for spotting Qatar and AA award space. Cathay Pacific has a good search engine too and works with many credit card transfer programs.

✅ Note: The American Airlines search engine can work for AA-operated flights, but it often misses partner availability—especially for carriers like JAL or Qatar.

✈️ SkyTeam (Delta, Air France, KLM, etc.)

Search Engine: Flying Blue (Air France /KLM) or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Why: Flying Blue is consistent for SkyTeam partner space. Virgin Atlantic is great for Delta-operated flights and a few standout sweet spots.

✅ Pro Tip: Virgin Atlantic often charges fewer points than Delta for the same Delta-operated flights. Just watch out for fuel surcharges on some routes.

Use Point Transfer Calculators to Compare Programs

After finding award availability, the next step is deciding which program gives you the best value. Transfer calculators help you compare how many points different partners require for the same flight. Since Chase and Amex share many of the same partners, picking the right one can save you tens of thousands of points.

One key metric to understand is Cents Per Point (CPP)—a simple calculation that tells you how much value you're getting per point. Higher CPP means better value and more efficient redemptions.

🧲 Best Point Transfer Calculators:

My own Cents Per Point (CPP) Calculator – Helps you evaluate whether your redemption is truly a good deal.
Point.Me – An award search engine that also compares point costs across programs and shows real-time availability.
AwardHacker – Free, quick, and good for estimating point costs. May not always reflect current availability.

A Quick Walkthrough: Finding and Booking Your First Big Redemption

Let’s say you want to fly business class from New York to Tokyo:

1. Search award space using seats.aero or Point.Me, which shows ANA availability bookable across partner airlines.

2. Find availability for ANA business class at 75,000 points one-way via Air Canada Aeroplan.

3. Use a calculator to compare other programs (e.g., check if United or Virgin Atlantic offer better deals).

4. Transfer points from Amex to Aeroplan once you're ready to book.

5. Book directly through the Aeroplan website.

Result? A $6,000 flight for just 75,000 points—an incredible 8 CPP redemption.

Note: Always check total taxes and fuel surcharges—some programs (like British Airways and Flying Blue) may pass along significant fees.

Final Thoughts

Booking your first big redemption isn’t just about having points—it’s about knowing how to find availability, compare transfer partners, and make smart redemptions. Once you’ve done it once, the process gets easier—and soon you’ll be booking lie-flat seats with confidence. This is just the beginning of what your points can do—and now you know how to start.

What Next? Finding Flights and Picking the Right Transfer Partner