UMVA has learned that a game-changing AI-powered tool is revolutionizing the way travelers redeem their points and miles, and plan their trips.
This innovative technology, recently introduced by a leading travel platform, combines expert redemption advice with live award pricing, providing users with unparalleled insights to maximize the value of their points and miles.
Imagine being able to chat with an AI assistant, just like you would with a travel expert, and get personalized recommendations on the best routes, flights, and accommodations to book using your points and miles.
The AI Assistant can help users find award availability across multiple airlines, loyalty programs, and routes, and even provide suggestions on the best transfer partners for their points.
To put this technology to the test, we decided to use it to plan a 3-night trip to a destination within 3 hours of Boston Logan International Airport, using a combination of transferable credit card points.
The AI Assistant shortlisted three destinations: Buffalo, New York; Columbus, Ohio; and Cleveland, Ohio. We chose Buffalo as our destination, and the AI Assistant recommended booking a nonstop flight from Boston to Buffalo Niagara International Airport on American Airlines using Etihad Guest miles.
This redemption was a great value, saving around $100 on the cash price of the same ticket. The AI Assistant also suggested booking a 3-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo for 8,000 points per night, which was an excellent value, giving us almost 3 cents per point.
For the return flight, the AI Assistant recommended booking a JetBlue flight for 8,400 JetBlue TrueBlue points, which was a decent redemption value.
Once we had booked our flights and accommodation, we asked the AI Assistant to put together a daily itinerary, providing some personal likes and dislikes, and prioritizing a visit to Niagara Falls.
The AI Assistant provided great suggestions for getting from the airport to the hotel via public transport, and even recommended some local dishes to try, such as "beef on weck" and buffalo wings.
We followed the AI Assistant's recommendations and had a great experience trying local cuisine, including a tasty lunchtime meal at Charlie the Butcher, and delicious buffalo wings at Anchor Bar, the birthplace of this famous dish.
However, the AI Assistant did not provide some crucial information, such as the option to spend a night at a newly opened Hyatt Regency on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, or the need to bring a passport to cross the border.
Despite these limitations, the AI Assistant proved to be a powerful tool in finding great value from our points and miles, and providing basic destination tips.
As the travel industry continues to evolve, it's clear that AI-powered tools like this will play a major role in helping travelers make the most of their points and miles.
