How to use price alerts and miles for flights
Learn how to track the price of a route and decide whether it's better to pay in cash or use miles.
Two tools that work together
The price alert tracks the fare for a route for you and notifies you when it changes. This way you don't have to search every day and can buy when the price is lower.
Miles are a second way to pay. When you know how much the ticket costs in cash, it's easy to see if redeeming with points is worthwhile. The steps below show how to use both.
Step-by-step guide to paying less
Open an app like Hopper, enter the origin, destination, and dates, and tap the option to track or monitor the price. Enable notifications to receive alerts on your phone.
If the trip allows for a few days off, track a period instead of just one date. This way, the alert will show drops on any day within that window.
Observe how the price behaves. Some apps show the history and an estimate of whether it will rise or fall. Use this as a reference, because a prediction is not a guarantee of the price.
Log in to the airline's loyalty program, such as LATAM Pass, Smiles, or Azul Fidelidade, and search for the same route and dates in the points redemption area.
Divide the price in reais by the number of miles requested and multiply by one thousand. The result shows how much each thousand miles is worth in that redemption. The higher this value, the more advantageous it is to use miles instead of paying in cash.
Even when redeeming miles, there are boarding fees to be paid in cash. Check the total, included baggage, and cancellation policy before finalizing your purchase.
How to accumulate miles without flying much
You don't need to travel frequently to accumulate points. Some common ways are:
- Transfer credit card points to the company's rewards program.
- Shop at partner stores by providing your program registration information.
- Take advantage of transfer promotions with bonuses, when the program offers them.
- Keep track of your points' expiration dates to avoid losing your balance.
Precautions to avoid losing money
Avoid buying miles just because they're on sale, without having a specific destination in mind. Points have an expiration date, and the redemption value changes depending on the date and demand.
Also be wary of anyone selling tickets issued with miles from third parties outside of official channels. Always prefer to issue tickets through your own account on the program's website or app.
1. Hopper
Google Play
It allows you to monitor the price of a route and sends notifications when the fare changes.
It also shows an estimate of whether the price will rise or fall based on historical data, which helps in deciding whether it's worth waiting.
Download on Google Play2. Google Flights
It has the option to track route prices and notify you by email when the price changes.
The price chart helps to see how the fare varies over the weeks.
Go to the official website
3. Skyscanner
Google Play
It allows you to save a search and receive notifications when the route price goes up or down.
Searching the entire month helps you find the cheapest day before triggering the alert.
Download on Google PlayFrequently Asked Questions
Is the price alert paid?
Creating alerts is free on most major apps and websites. Simply search for the route and activate the tracking.
How many alerts can I create?
In general, you can track multiple routes at the same time. It's worth creating an alert for each segment or period that interests you.
When is it worth using miles?
When the value of each thousand miles in the redemption process is high compared to the cash price, do the math before issuing the ticket.
Is there a fee for flights using miles?
Yes. Boarding fees are usually paid in cash, even when the fare is paid with points.
Do miles expire?
Yes, each program has its expiration date. Check the date on your account statement so you don't lose points.
