For travel hackers with dozens of loyalty accounts, it can be a hassle to keep track points and miles. However, maintaining an organized system is essential to maximizing your rewards and ensuring your points never expire. Whether you like to automate this task or create your own spreadsheets, having a system in place is crucial. <\/p>\n
If you\u2019re new to points and miles<\/a>, this guide will help you get started. In addition to providing a detailed overview, I\u2019ll help you choose the best point tracking method, including mobile apps and traditional spreadsheet methods.<\/p>\n Most points and miles have expiration dates, and failing to track them can result in forfeiting valuable rewards. The last thing you want to do is spend months (or years!) accruing points for a dream redemption, only to find the miles have expired.<\/p>\n Tracking points not only helps you avoid this fate, but it also allows you to plan out award redemptions more effectively. By knowing exactly how many points and miles are in your various accounts at any given time, you can take steps to increase them or figure out which ones you can use for travel bookings.<\/p>\n If you prefer to use technology to track points and miles, there are lots of options out there. These tools allow you to put points tracking on autopilot, automatically updating your balances and notifying you when points are about to expire. This is great for people who want a more foolproof option for tracking rewards.<\/p>\n The major drawback to point tracking apps? They are susceptible to hacking. If hackers get into these sites and access your passwords, they can wipe out your balance. On the other hand, if your rewards account is ever compromised<\/a>, you can rely on these apps to notify you when your balance drops.<\/p>\n Another drawback to point-tracking tools is that some don\u2019t provide live updates, nor do they track all rewards programs. For example, Award Wallet no longer tracks American or United miles. So if you have a lot of rewards in those programs that you want to track, you\u2019ll have to do it manually. Despite their limitations, point tracking tools are convenient, and many offer free plans.<\/p>\n Here are three point tracking tools to consider using:<\/p>\n AwardWallet is the most popular app for managing loyalty accounts. I\u2019ve personally used it for over a decade. AwardWallet lets you track points with over six hundred loyalty programs, including airlines, hotels, rental cars, retail stores, and more. In addition to your own accounts, you can manage accounts belonging to your household members. This is incredibly convenient if you\u2019re in charge of points and miles accounts for your family (like I am).\u00a0<\/p>\n AwardWallet allows you to link your loyalty accounts and automatically updates balances, expiration dates, and activity. Its most useful feature isthe\u00a0 balance watch, which triggers notifications for upcoming expiration dates and changes in account balance.\u00a0<\/p>\n All you have to do is provide your loyalty program credentials, and AwardWallet automatically updates your point balances every time you log in. The free version of allows up to two updates per 24 hours, while Award Wallet Plus provides unlimited updates. Free accounts are limited to three expiration date lookups per account, while this feature is unlimited for Plus members.<\/p>\n This leaves the question: Is AwardWallet safe? As a digital point tracking tool, it\u2019s susceptible to cyber attacks like any other. In 2015, AwardWallet was hacked and around 250 accounts were compromised. So it\u2019s definitely a risk worth considering. <\/p>\n NOTE: <\/strong>Email me<\/strong><\/a> for a\u00a0 FREE AwardWallet Plus upgrade code. <\/strong>If you haven\u2019t joined AwardWallet, consider using my referral link<\/a>. I\u2019ll receive six months of Plus membership if you join with my link. Also<\/p>\n MaxRewards<\/a> has only been around for a few years and provides numerous functions related to your rewards account. A lot of people use MaxRewards to track credit card rewards, welcome bonus progress and annual bonus spending. The Gold version of the app also activates Amex Offers<\/a> and some quarterly bonus categories<\/a> automatically.<\/p>\n The app notifies you of the best card to use at specific merchants while shopping, which is helpful if you\u2019re juggling multiple cards (like most of us are). While MaxRewards tracks credit card points and cash back, it doesn\u2019t track other reward programs. That makes it inconvenient if you want to keep track of airline miles and hotel points.\u00a0<\/p>\n I signed up but never used the app. However, I looked through some of the Reddit reviews for MaxRewards. Common complaints include broken connections and concerns about providing banking logins to a third party.\u00a0<\/p>\n While digital tools are convenient, some travelers prefer the hands-on approach of spreadsheets. This method offers complete customization and control. It\u2019s ideal for folks who like to be hands-on with their rewards programs. Plus, it\u2019s more secure since you don\u2019t have to provide your rewards logins and risk getting your accounts hacked.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re going to track points with a spreadsheet, keep the document in an accessible place and include the following fields:<\/p>\n The key to setting up an effective spreadsheet is to update it regularly and keep an eye on expiration dates. You may even want to set calendar reminders on your phone to help you stay on top of these important dates. Again, this option may take more time and effort but if you want to do it this make, make sure you\u2019re also thorough.<\/p>\n The best way to track your points and miles is up to your preferences. I personally prefer a point-tracking app like AwardWallet because it automates the process for me. I don\u2019t have to think about the majority of my loyalty points expiring because AwardWallet sends me notifications before it happens. In fact, I recently saved 126,000 Avianca Lifemiles from expiring when I received an expiration alert from the app.<\/p>\n A while ago, my sister let 12,000 AAdvantage miles expire because AwardWallet doesn\u2019t track American Airlines accounts anymore and she wasn\u2019t tracking them manually either. The worst thing you can do with your points is let them expire. So make sure you have some<\/em> system in place for tracking your points and miles.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tracking points and miles is essential for maximizing the value of your travel rewards. With the right tools and strategies, you can stay organized, avoid point expiration, and make informed decisions about redemptions. Whether you\u2019re a seasoned traveler or new to the world of loyalty programs, implementing a tracking system will help you unlock the full potential of your rewards.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For travel hackers with dozens of loyalty accounts, it can be a hassle to keep track points and miles. However, maintaining an organized system is essential to maximizing your rewards and ensuring your points never expire. Whether you like to automate this task or create your own spreadsheets, having a system in place is crucial. 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\nWhy tracking points and miles matters<\/h2>\n
![\"You](\"https:\/\/875625b2.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/Airplane-seats-economy-class-1024x683.jpg\"\/)
![\"You](\"https:\/\/875625b2.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/Airplane-seats-economy-class-1024x683.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>Tools for tracking points and miles<\/h2>\n
AwardWallet\u00a0<\/h3>\n
![\"Capital](\"https:\/\/875625b2.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Woman-typing-on-a-laptop-1024x683.jpg\"\/)
![\"Capital](\"https:\/\/875625b2.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Woman-typing-on-a-laptop-1024x683.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>Pros<\/h4>\n
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Cons<\/h4>\n
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MaxRewards<\/h3>\n
![\"MaxRewards](\"https:\/\/875625b2.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/MaxRewards-point-tracking-app-1024x683.jpg\"\/)
![\"MaxRewards](\"https:\/\/875625b2.delivery.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/MaxRewards-point-tracking-app-1024x683.jpg\"){kind=tracking}
\n<\/picture>Pros<\/h4>\n
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Cons<\/h4>\n
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The spreadsheet method<\/h3>\n
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Pros<\/h4>\n
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Cons<\/h4>\n
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What\u2019s the best way to track your points and miles?<\/h2>\n