Expert Session #7: Award Search Tools Explained w/ Andrew Kunesh

What are the best award search tools for finding flights with points and miles? How do you know which tool to use, and how can you find better award flight availability?In this Savewise Expert Session, we're joined by Andrew Kunesh, founder of PNM Now, to break down award search tools, when to use them, and how to find award flights using credit card points and airline miles.With platforms like Seats.aero, point.me, PointsYeah, and Roame, there are more ways than ever to search for award availability. But which tools are best for your travel goals?What You'll Learn:How different award search tools workWhen and why to use certain tools over othersLive demonstrations of award flight searchesTips for finding better flight redemptionsStrategies for maximizing points and milesAbout Andrew KuneshAndrew has covered points, miles, and travel loyalty for over a decade, writing and editing for The Points Guy, CNN Underscored, Upgraded Points, and Travel + Leisure.He's also the founder of PNM Now, an independent travel rewards newsletter that doesn't take credit card affiliate links.Learn more about PNM Now: https://www.pnm.now/About SavewiseSavewise helps you maximize credit card rewards, cash back, and points and miles through shopping portal comparisons, card-linked offers, spending multipliers, credit card benefits, and more.Learn more: https://getsavewise.com#AwardTravel #PointsAndMiles #AwardSearchTools #TravelRewards #Savewise

Join us for our next SaveWise Expert Session with Carissa Rawson, Director of Travel and Marketing at Rove, as we dive into how to get more out of Rove.We’ll talk about how Rove works, what the platform offers, and advanced strategies for getting the most out of your miles, from finding high earning multipliers to using the right credit cards and transfer partners.Whether you’re already using Rove or have been wanting to learn more, you’ll walk away with practical strategies you can actually use.Plus, qualifying live attendees can receive 1,000 Rove Miles, and we’ll be giving away 3 SaveWise Lifetime Memberships during the session.July 28th at 8:30 PM ESTBring your questions and join us live!

Emirates Business Class has long been one of the most sought-after redemptions in the points and miles world.From its onboard experience to its extensive global route network, Emirates consistently finds its way onto travelers' wish lists. But while plenty of people know they want to fly Emirates, far fewer understand the best way to actually book it.Should you book directly through Emirates Skywards?Should you use a partner airline program?Does it make more sense to book Emirates Business Class outright or upgrade a paid ticket with miles?And what points should you be earning today if Emirates is your goal?In this live AMA, we're joined by Advait Vaidya, founder of Miles Beyond Borders.Advait has spent years helping travelers understand how to earn, transfer, and redeem points for premium travel. During this session, he'll break down the different strategies travelers use to book Emirates Business Class, where the best opportunities exist, and how to determine which approach makes the most sense for your travel goals.We'll discuss:• The different ways to book Emirates Business Class with points• Emirates Skywards and partner airline booking strategies• When it makes sense to upgrade with miles instead of booking outright• How to search for Emirates award availability• Which points currencies and transfer partners to focus on• Common mistakes travelers make when booking Emirates• When Emirates Business Class is worth the points—and when it isn'tIf you've been thinking about flying Emirates Business Class, collecting points for premium travel, or simply want to understand the different booking strategies available, this session will help you separate the hype from the reality.

If you've spent any time in the points and miles world, you've probably noticed that Alaska Airlines keeps coming up.People talk about the miles. The partner airlines. The redemption opportunities. And for many experienced travelers, Alaska remains one of the most valuable airline loyalty programs available today.But what makes Alaska different? And more importantly, is it a program that deserves a place in your travel strategy?In this live AMA, we're joined by Betsy Wilson, founder of Become Travel Rich and creator of Alaska Airlines University. Betsy has helped travelers, families, and business owners maximize points and miles for years, with a particular focus on helping people understand and get more value from the Alaska Airlines loyalty program.We'll break down why Alaska continues to stand out in the points and miles world, how travelers are maximizing Alaska miles today, and what opportunities people often overlook.We'll also discuss Alaska's loyalty program, partner airline sweet spots, elite status, common mistakes travelers make, and how to determine whether Alaska Airlines aligns with your own travel goals.If Alaska Airlines is one of those programs you've heard people rave about but never fully understood, this session will help connect the dots and give you a clearer understanding of where the value actually comes from.

Elite status in travel isn’t as straightforward as it used to be.For years, the playbook was simple. Pick a program, stay loyal, earn status, get rewarded. But that model is starting to shift in a big way.Airlines are moving toward spend-based systems. Hotels are adjusting award pricing and redemption value. And credit cards are playing a much bigger role in how status is earned and maintained.When all of these changes happen at once, it reshapes how the entire system works and raises a bigger question. Is elite status still worth it in 2026?In this live AMA, we’re joined by Ben Komenkul (Ben’s Big Deal), who has been deep in the points and miles world since 2015. After years of earning top-tier status across airlines and hotels through business travel, Ben is known for cutting through the noise and focusing on what actually works in practice.We’ll break down what’s really changing across loyalty programs, how these shifts are impacting real value, what strategies still hold up, and how experienced travelers are adapting right now.If you’ve been building around status or even questioning whether it’s still worth prioritizing, this session will give you a clearer picture of what to do next.

Want to take luxury trips every year without opening a dozen new credit cards?In this Savewise Expert Session, travel coach and organic points expert Kira Niccum-Pritzl breaks down how she and her husband consistently fund high-end travel using points earned from everyday spending, not constant welcome bonuses.One of the biggest pieces of her strategy? Bilt Cash — a powerful but often misunderstood part of the Bilt ecosystem.While most points strategies focus on credit card churn or complicated setups, Kira teaches a more sustainable approach. By combining tools like Rakuten, shopping portals, Chrome extensions, and platforms like Savewise, she shows how to turn your normal spending into a steady stream of points that can actually fund real trips.In this session, we’ll simplify Bilt Cash and show how it fits into a bigger, smarter points strategy.You’ll learn:What Bilt Cash actually is and why most people misunderstand itHow to earn Bilt points beyond just rentHow to integrate Bilt into your everyday spending strategyHow to stack tools like Rakuten, shopping portals, and SavewiseWhy you don’t need dozens of credit cards to travel wellKira’s reverse planning strategy to map points to real tripsHow to build a sustainable system for earning points long-termWe’ll also walk through real-world examples of how Kira turns everyday purchases into meaningful travel rewards without increasing her spending.If you’ve been using Bilt but feel like you’re not getting the full value, or you’re ready to move beyond beginner strategies and build a more intentional points system, this session will show you how it actually works.This expert session is hosted by Savewise, a platform that helps you earn points and miles passively through everyday shopping, so you can build a points strategy that supports trips like these.

Planning a trip to Japan using points and miles? In this first Savewise Expert Session, Asia travel strategist Maria Fung, also known as @mariapointstheway on social media, breaks down exactly how families can book multiple business class seats to Japan using points.Most award travel advice is designed for solo travelers or couples. But booking flights for families of 3–6 people is a completely different challenge. In this session, Maria shares the exact framework she teaches families to turn points into business and first class flights to Asia without the stress or guesswork.You’ll learn:• Why Japan award travel is harder than Europe• How airlines actually release business class award seats• The 4-step strategy for booking multiple premium seats• How to build a diversified points portfolio for maximum flexibility• Why dynamic pricing (like Japan Airlines) can actually help families• Tools and timing strategies for finding award availability• How to plan trips 18–36 months ahead to dramatically increase successWe also cover real examples using airlines like ANA, Japan Airlines, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, and Starlux.If you want to take your family to Japan in business class without spending thousands of dollars per ticket, this session will show you how the strategy actually works.This expert session is hosted by Savewise, a platform that helps you earn points and miles passively through everyday shopping, so you can build the points portfolio needed for trips like these.Timestamps0:00 - Welcome0:42 - Introduction to Savewise and the Goal of Expert Sessions1:06 - Meet Maria Fung, Asia Travel Strategist2:16 - Maria’s Story: From Credit Rejection to Points Expert4:43 - Why Family Award Travel Is Harder Than Solo Travel7:24 - Why Japan Is So Popular Right Now10:58 - Why Booking Award Travel to Japan Is So DifficultMaria’s Framework for Booking Family Business Class to Japan13:40 - Step 1: Know Your Travel Priorities16:12 - Expanding Airports to Increase Award Chances18:40 - Why Aircraft Type Matters23:00 - Step 2: Match the Right Miles to the Right Airline26:59 - Why Airline Programs Matter29:03 - Step 3: Build a Diversified Points Portfolio31:54 - Why Multiple Point Currencies Matter32:23 - Real Example: Adjusting Plans Mid-Trip Using Different Miles36:38 - Step 4: Use the Right Tools and Timing38:32 - Understanding Award Release Windows39:09 - Best Award Search Tools40:35 - Secret Tip: Learn the Airline SystemsAdvanced Strategies + Pro Tips42:42 - Why Planning 18–36 Months Ahead Works44:21 - Japan Airlines Transfer Bonuses47:19 - Why Dynamic Pricing Can Help Families48:48 - Around-the-World Trips With JAL Miles49:49 - Will New Transfer Partners Reduce Availability?Q&A56:56 - Strategy for Last-Minute Award Seats59:38 - Best Times to Search for AvailabilityWrap Up1:00:13 - Maria’s Free Guide + Webinar1:02:24 - Final Thoughts + Savewise Expert Session SeriesResources mentioned in this videoFree guide from Maria:https://mariapointstheway.myflodesk.c...Maria’s website:https://www.mariapointstheway.com/ Learn more about Savewise:https://getsavewise.com/