If you feel like your points and miles are getting harder to maximize, you're not alone — 34% of respondents said they think their travel points and miles are less valuable than they were two years ago, according to a TPG/YouGov survey in July 2025. But that doesn't mean you can't still get tremendous value from your rewards in 2026. You just need the right strategy and tools.
This is one of the overarching travel trends we've noticed heading into 2026: the importance of flexibility (in more ways than one) and taking advantage of deals and tools to bolster your points and miles.
Flexibility will become even more important in 2026 — not just with airlines, dates and routes, but also with the transferable currencies you collect. Only 21% of U.S. adults we surveyed prefer transferable rewards, but these travelers have a leg up when booking award travel.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on The Points Guy Articles.
