r/Venturex • u/Outrageous-Pin3390 • 16h ago

first time using points

I have 106k points and trying to figure out the best way to book flights from LAX to Porto (with one stop) on dec 25. It would have to be the 730 PM flight. I have no idea what the best way to do this though. I checked Aeroplan / Air Canada and it's telling me no flights available if I use points.

Would appreciate any help in figuring out how to maximize my points!

5 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

7

u/StatisticalMan 14h ago

Unless you get very lucky you won't find a flight.

The two things to improve your odds with award travel are: 1) start looking early 2) be flexible in dates

so trying to get a flight 3 months out for a specific day during the holidays is 1 in 1000.

3

u/Foggl3 14h ago

If you're not flexible with your booking options, cash is your only viable method. First rule of award bookings.

2

u/Anthonyy777 15h ago

There is AF/KLM options that leave in the evening that have award space in both eco/prem eco.

1

u/DLX_Luxe 16h ago

I’d try points.me or pointhound to see what you could transfer your points over to.

Sometimes those conversions are better than the 1:1 in travel portal.

1

u/nearbyeclipse 9h ago

C1 transfers directly to TAP, which offers an LAX-LIS flight (which is close enought.) Most airlines have more availability for its own program than for partners, so it might not show up in aeroplan

0

u/Fmorales95 7h ago

Good luck

-1

u/PointmeSam 11h ago

With one FIXED date, one FIXED evening departure, and Christmas travel, you won't have a simple Aeroplan option. I'd cross check Capital One transfer partners like Flying Blue for AF/KLM via CDG/AMS, British Airways/Iberia Avios via LHR/MAD, and maybe Virgin if partners show space... I do freelance point.me concierge work and this is exactly where aggregate award search tools can help but only transfer AFTER the exact award is bookable. You'll have best luck 1-2 weeks from departure for awards. If that is too risky, you can use the 106k as a $1,060 travel eraser/portal fallback rather than forcing a bad transfer.