Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
If you’re looking to fly to a specific destination, it’s natural to search for flights from the nearest airport to your destination. However, you may have to pay more than you should.
Savvy travelers often save points and cash by booking positioning flight. I regularly book locator flights for my travel. For example, last year I booked a flight from Los Angeles to Bangalore, India, for round trip $950 British Airways Premium Economy Class Tickets; the fare would earn me more than 46,000 American Airlines Loyalty Score towards America’s elite status.
However, I have no plans to go to Los Angeles. So I booked a locator flight to the city in advance of this inexpensive premium economy fare. I plan to start another trip from Los Angeles after returning from India.
Fares – and it American Airlines Elite Earnings – just too good to pass. My locator flight – an 8,000-mile and $6 American Airlines flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles – has minimal cost, especially compared to my British Airways fare income.
Here’s a quick look at how and when to use locator flights when planning a future trip.
Unlock bonus pricing and better availability
Of course, locating flights isn’t just useful for the fare paid. They may also allow you to unlock better pricing and availability.
For example, suppose you want fly to Hawaii from 13,000 Avios each way or let Ireland from 13,000 Avios each way. This Avios sweet spot requires you to depart from selected airports (on the West Coast for Hawaii and the East Coast for Ireland) to get the best rates. If you don’t live near eligible airports, you can still take advantage of these attractions by booking flights that locate to East Coast or West Coast gateways.
Related: Great reward ticket booking strategy from non-central airports
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Or, perhaps you want to book a discounted room Flying Blue Promotional Bonus, but your home airport in the United States is not on the list. You may want to book a locating flight before or after flying blue prizes to use Promotional rewards pricing.
You can also explore better Prizes available when searching for other arrival airports or destinations.
For example, if you are looking for Qatar Qsuite reward availability, you’ll want to look for rewards from all of Qatar’s ports of entry in the US, not just the one closest to your home airport. While you could theoretically connect domestically to one of Qatar’s US gateways through its partner Oneworld, availability may not be available for your domestic leg. So you may need to book your locator flight on a separate ticket.
Related: What I value most when choosing reward flights
Notes when booking locating flights
I often trade miles for flight locator, especially when I can exchange a modest amount US miles, Southwest point or Delta SkyMiles for a trip. However, you should also check the cash rate.
You should also consider whether the complexity you add by booking multiple tickets is worth the gain. After all, canceling or changing multiple tickets can cost time and money.
Finally, consider that there is some risk in booking separate locator tickets. If your locator flight is delayed and you miss your next flight, the carrier may not be sympathetic because in their eyes you have missed the first flight of your journey.
Likewise, if a The carrier changes your flight schedule and now your connection is so short, you may not be able to rebook your flight earlier unless the change lasts more than a few hours. I usually let myself stay overnight for at least 12 hours (ideally more than 24 hours) between ticket purchases to minimize the chance of missed my flight.
Related: Here’s how to book the flight you want when the number of rewards is limited
