Last-Minute Family Travel with Points: Ryan's Real-World Strategies

Still need to book flights for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's? Don't panic! Last-minute holiday travel can be challenging, but the right points and miles strategies can help you find available flights without overspending.✈️ Try 10xTravel+ free for one month: Use promo code PODCASTOn this episode, Travis and Lovan break down how to book last-minute flights with points and miles, even when prices are high and your preferred award seats are hard to find. They're sharing practical ways to expand your search, compare booking options, and decide when paying cash actually makes the most sense.In this episode, you'll learn:

Flying Blue just changed its award pricing, and there's a lot to unpack. In this episode of Takeoff, Travis and Lovan break down what changed with Flying Blue award tickets, what the new fare types include, and what it all means if you're planning to use Flying Blue miles for Air France or KLM flights. ✈️ Try 10xTravel+ free for one month: Use promo code PODCAST In the episode, Lovan and Travis share what partner booking looks like, and walk through a workaround that could help you book Air France flights for significantly fewer miles and much lower taxes and fees by using Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles instead. The episode covers:• The 2026 changes to Flying Blue award tickets• The difference between Light, Standard, and Flex awards• What's included at each level• How to effectively book with Flying Blue partners

Takeoff is back! After a summer break, Travis Cormier is joined by Lovan Edwards as the recurring co-host for a new chapter of the podcast. And to kick things off, they’re tackling 10 of the most frequently asked questions in points and miles.~ What points should you earn for a specific destination?~ Which points currency should you focus on?~ Will opening more credit cards hurt your credit?~ And how do you know which card to apply for next?Travis and Lovan are answering these questions and more! Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place ✈️ Try 10xTravel+ free for one month: Use promo code PODCAST In the episode, they're getting into the realities of last-minute award travel, whether you should use points for flights or hotels, how transfer partners work, and what to know before relying on award search tools. Plus, they discuss how to keep track of your points, cards, annual fees, and benefits without turning your points and miles hobby into a second job.Whether you're brand new to points and miles or you've been earning rewards for years, this episode tackles some of the questions that come up again and again. Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

We’re wrapping up the summer with the final episode from the archives, but this isn’t the end of the journey. On September 23, Takeoff: A Points & Miles Podcast by 10xTravel returns with something new, including a few exciting changes to the show!Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one placeBefore we get there, we’re revisiting past conversations with 10xTravel's Lovan Edwards, a frequent traveler who has a unique perspective on making points and miles work as part of everyday life. In the episode, Lovan shares his thoughts on a range of topics, from booking unique travel (like an African safari) to why he never checks bags on his flights.Learn from this travel pro, and stay tuned for what's coming next here on Takeoff!Original Episodes From This Episode:

Do you know how many points and miles you actually have? Not just in your favorite airline or hotel program, but across all of your cards, airlines, hotels, and bank accounts. And more importantly, do you know roughly what all those points are worth?In this episode, Travis digs into a problem that even experienced points and miles enthusiasts run into: having plenty of knowledge about the hobby, but not having a clear picture of what you already have. Drawing from four years of Takeoff conversations, the episode explores why spreadsheets become difficult to maintain, how keeping track of points can create unexpected mental load, and why not knowing your balances can affect everything from credit card decisions to booking trips.The conversation also gets into a less obvious problem: what happens when you have hundreds of thousands of points but hesitate to spend them because watching the balance drop feels like a loss.And eventually, the team reveals what they built to help you see your points balances, upcoming annual fees, card recommendations, and past redemptions in one place.Join My10x: Manage your points and miles in one place10xTravel+: Upgrade your travel by becoming a member todayOriginal Episodes From This Episode: