Award Sweet Spot
Much of the points and travel discourse revolves around the award sweet spot concept – the current, latest, or next versions. Even the dead ones get pub, which I totally understand – I’m a nostalgic person within and beyond this hobby. But I generally refrain from using this term. Indeed, I focus more on redemptions directly related to my prioritized goals. Those will always be the highest-value ones for me. But I get that people are enamored with award sweet spots, where individuals obtain a relatively large value for a smaller amount of points or miles currency. But overly focusing on award sweet spots can be a pitfall in a variety of ways. Consider these dangers as you traverse.
Distraction
Award sweet spots can unnecessarily distract individuals from pursuing the redemptions they most truly desire. Indeed, it can lead some to go all-in on certain bank currencies and transfer partners that don’t necessarily align with their goals. Or some remember what they want, but they diversify to other rewards currencies in a way that prevents them from more actively realizing their original plan. Diversifying can be a solid method for mitigating risk, but it can also flatten out what people can earn with reasonable spending.
I strongly believe that while points, miles, and cash back rewards can augment my life, they do not redefine it. Know who you are and your goals first. After defining those, if an award sweet spot fits, great. If not, don’t bother. It was never an award sweet spot for you.
Unrealistic Expectations
Getting caught up in an award sweet spot play can lead to unreasonable expectations. Along the way, individuals assign inflated cent per point valuations to rewards currencies. People who do stuff on the internet for money contribute to this. (Here are MtM’s average valuations.) In seeking out an award sweet spot, many give up perfectly reasonable redemptions as they chase the dragon. It’s as if individuals fall in love with the cent per point valuation more than the actual experience the points provide. This is how some end up in an award sweet spot’s exotic locale and spend time searching for that next award sweet spot’s availability.
Even if people accept those reasonable, more frequent, everyday redemptions – which I’m a big fan of – some seem inhibited to share. Or they seemingly apologize or make excuses for their redemptions when they do. On several occasions, I’ve met individuals who talk about their redemptions and feel the need to justify why they didn’t redeem for what others deem an award sweet spot! I’m confounded how backward things have gotten.
Groupthink
But things got that way because so many fall in love with the same award sweet spots that internet people (again) idealize. I can understand how this happens. Rather than come up with their own plans, many outsource their vacation decisions to such types. But how boring things become when so many focus on so few redemption types!
Indeed, it can take more work to find and tailor your personal award sweet spot (dare I say “curate” – one of my least favorite words). But the outcomes can justify the time and effort – more on that next.
Futility
Finding customized value for you, your family, and other travel partners can lead to more enduring redemptions. Indeed, this probably isn’t the cliche award sweet spot that hoards are chasing. With more demand, homogenized award sweet spots invariably devalue quicker. And for all those sweet spot chasers, a vanishing option can lead to a bunch of currency for which they may or may not have a viable use.
Remember, what you truly want should not devalue. Or, at the very least, it won’t devalue as quickly as a given rewards currency will.
Award Sweet Spot – Conclusion
By no means have I covered all the dangers of sweet spots today, but this is enough to get that mental conversation started. I also want to underscore that some of those popular, mass-appeal award sweet spots are worth it for many. But ensure it’s what you wanted in the first place. Just because those pancakes are on sale doesn’t mean I want more of them. Mitch Hedberg agrees.
When did you recently use points or miles on an award sweet spot? Which did you pass up? Why?
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