Credit card points are useless if you have kids

[Anonymous]

I tried booking a last minute 5 days trip leaving this Friday for me and my 2 kids to either Puerto Rico or Miami and OMG the prices (hotels and airfares) are insane.

I have hyatt points and couldn't find any availability. I also have Chase points but the cash values are insane.

What's the point of having points? I am done with credit card points.

I understand many kids will be off this week, but for most of us we can't take our kids out of a school in a random week in October because we can't afford to travel any other time because it's too expensive.

I'm just ranting.

And interestingly I looked throughout the year and the prices were elevated throughout so it's not like I waited until the last minute.

Ok rant over lol.

[Anonymous]

You can't do it last minute with points. OMG. Plan far in advance. I'm going to Hawaii in a couple weeks with flights on points.

[Anonymous]

What do you expect 5 days out?

[Anonymous]

Points are about flexibility--dates, layovers, locations. If you want this specific date to this specific location at this specific hotel, you're going to be disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Wait you want good prices (cash or points) 5 days in advance of a holiday weekend/common week off, going to a VERY popular winter destination?

[Anonymous]

Well, it wasn't just the last minute booking, you're also flying somewhere warm during a cold snap and during a time when kids will be off.

This seems less about the points and more about prices in general? And shouldn't points help mitigate some of that cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can't do it last minute with points. OMG. Plan far in advance. I'm going to Hawaii in a couple weeks with flights on points.

OP here. Can we swap. You stay and we go. Just joking lol.

I agree poor planning on my part. This is where I miss my ex wife. She would have planned this 14 months ago.

But still, even 6 months ago when I looked the prices were that cheaper compared to what I am seeing now.

[Anonymous]

We have had no problem using our points. Sounds like it's a mix of you not having enough and choosing the most popular destinations given the time of year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Points are about flexibility--dates, layovers, locations. If you want this specific date to this specific location at this specific hotel, you're going to be disappointed.

OP here. I just realized that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait you want good prices (cash or points) 5 days in advance of a holiday weekend/common week off, going to a VERY popular winter destination?

OP here. I know I know. I guess I was just dreaming.

[Anonymous]

Vacations in general have become more costly and the middle class has long been priced out.

On this forum you have people saying $10k trip is a bargain.

You are ranting to the wrong audience. You will have more sympathy on redditt

[Anonymous]

Huh?

Last spring break, we flew to France for 120K points and $1K in taxes. 4 tickets on KLM.

This spring break, we are flying to Zurich. 140K points and $1K in taxes. 4 tickets again.

We stayed 4 nights in a suite in NYC with the kids for Veterans Day weekend. All the holiday decor is already up. It was 90K points total, I booked it one month out.

Booking 5 days out for a holiday weekend? Of course there is NOTHING left.

[Anonymous]

Maybe read up on how to use points. We have a 5 year old and use points all the time to fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vacations in general have become more costly and the middle class has long been priced out.

On this forum you have people saying $10k trip is a bargain.

You are ranting to the wrong audience. You will have more sympathy on redditt

Eh, I'm on a few of the reddit travel subs, they would say the same things that most people here are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh?

Last spring break, we flew to France for 120K points and $1K in taxes. 4 tickets on KLM.

This spring break, we are flying to Zurich. 140K points and $1K in taxes. 4 tickets again.

We stayed 4 nights in a suite in NYC with the kids for Veterans Day weekend. All the holiday decor is already up. It was 90K points total, I booked it one month out.

Booking 5 days out for a holiday weekend? Of course there is NOTHING left.

I don't understand this. We have Global Services status on United. About once every five years there's some great deal, but in general, using airline points are shit these days. Like we're trying to go to paris 'some time' in summer on economy plus, and United still wants something crazy like 240k points per person per round trip. 140k for 4 people is not a thing anymore.