TPG received an email from a New York City public school teacher with 500,000 Capital One miles sitting in her account. She wanted to take her family to Europe over summer break but kept running into the same problem when trying to redeem her miles: The flights she wanted were either priced at double or triple the expected saver rates we often promote here at TPG or sold out in the cabin she wanted to travel in. She felt stuck and was looking for advice.
If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Plenty of Americans are locked into the same handful of vacation dates each year, whether because of school calendars, education industry schedules or fixed workplace shutdown periods.
Peak travel periods, particularly the weeks around Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break, plus the summer months when schools are on recess, are the most competitive periods in the award travel calendar, and you'll likely incur the following frustrations: higher prices for award seats and fewer seats available, as well as crowded destinations and full flights.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on The Points Guy Articles.
