How to Plan a Points Strategy Around Major Promotions

Promotions are powerful, but they’re even more effective when part of a planned strategy. The biggest mistake most people make with loyalty programs is being reactive — only transferring points or booking flights when they see a promotion. But the travelers who truly maximize their rewards are the ones who build a points strategy around major promotions before they even begin.

This guide will teach you exactly how to plan a points strategy around major promotions, so you’re always ready to act, optimize value, and travel more for less — all without surprises.

Why You Need a Strategy

Points and miles are like a currency — and like any currency, their value fluctuates. If you act randomly or without a plan, you risk:

• Transferring points during low bonus periods
• Missing the best redemption windows
• Letting miles expire
• Booking under pressure at poor rates
• Losing access to exclusive club or tiered promos

But with a structured strategy, you can:

• Know when to earn, when to transfer, and when to redeem
• Keep accounts ready and active
• Multiply the value of each point
• Stay ahead of other travelers competing for the same redemptions

Step-by-Step: How to Build a Strategy Around Promotions

Step 1: Identify Your Travel Goals for the Year

Before even thinking about points, define:

• How many trips you plan to take
• Where you want to go
• What cabin class you aim for (economy, premium, business)
• Your flexibility with dates and destinations

This clarity allows you to pursue promotions that match your goals — not just chase big numbers with no use.

Example:

• “Trip to Europe in October, ideally in business class”
• “Visit parents in December, flexible with dates”

Now, every promotion you consider must serve one of these plans.

Step 2: Track the Promotional Calendar

Most major loyalty programs follow seasonal patterns. Promotions may vary in type and percentage, but the months are often consistent.

Typical High-Promo Seasons:

• January–February: New year promotions, elite status resets
• April–May: Mother’s Day, early year booster promos
• July: Mid-year bonus campaigns
• November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday): Highest bonuses and biggest award discounts
• December: End-of-year redemptions and club upgrades

Log these dates in a Google Calendar or spreadsheet, and add reminders 5–10 days before each month begins.

Step 3: Choose Your Core Loyalty Programs

Don’t spread yourself too thin. Select 2–3 airline and point platforms to focus on — ideally ones that:

• Match your preferred destinations
• Offer good promos throughout the year
• Partner with your bank or card programs
• Have reasonable redemption value

Example combo for a Brazilian user:

• Smiles (wide partner network + frequent promos)
• LATAM Pass (great for South America)
• Livelo or Esfera (flexible transfer options)

Step 4: Build Up Points Strategically

Promotions are only useful if you have points available to use.

Focus your daily spending and subscriptions around your preferred platforms:

• Use co-branded or transfer-eligible credit cards
• Engage in partner promotions (hotels, shopping, gas, food delivery)
• Subscribe to point clubs (Clube Smiles, Clube LATAM, etc.)
• Take advantage of welcome bonuses and referrals

Aim to build a healthy point balance before each expected promo window.

Step 5: Track Transfer Bonuses from Your Bank

Most bank-to-airline transfer promotions repeat in cycles. Start logging:

• Which airline received a bonus
• Bonus % (e.g., 60%, 80%, 100%)
• Date range
• Was it public or targeted?
• Did it require club membership?

Over time, this helps you predict when the next bonus is likely — and avoid transferring when no promo is active.

Step 6: Set Goals for Club Subscriptions

Many loyalty clubs offer exclusive or enhanced promotions — but they come with a monthly fee.
Make these decisions part of your strategy, not impulses.

Track:

• When your club membership started
• How many bonus miles it gave you
• Exclusive promos you used (versus general public offers)
• If the subscription is still paying off

Consider upgrading tiers only if the math shows a clear return.

Tools to Help You Stay Organized

1. Google Sheets (Points Strategy Tracker)

Create tabs for:

• Travel goals
• Promo calendar
• Points balances by program
• Past promotions used
• Transfer bonus logs
• Loyalty club status

2. AwardWallet

Sync your loyalty accounts and monitor expirations, point totals, and recent transactions.

3. Google Calendar Alerts

Set alerts for:

• Promotion start/end dates
• Award ticket booking deadlines
• Points expiration dates
• Status requalification timelines

4. Telegram and Blog Alerts

Follow trusted sources like:

• Passageiro de Primeira
• Melhores Destinos
• The Points Guy
• LoyaltyLobby
• Promoções de Milhas (Telegram)

These communities help confirm when a promotion is live and whether it’s worth acting on.

Smart Redemption Strategies Based on Promotion Types

When You See a Transfer Bonus

✅ Action: Transfer only if you’ve confirmed award space
❌ Don’t transfer speculatively “just in case”

Always match transfer bonuses with booking windows and redemption goals.

When You See an Award Sale (e.g., 30% fewer miles)

✅ Action: Book immediately if it matches one of your defined goals
❌ Don’t book just because “it’s cheap” — miles are still a currency

Award sales are perfect for domestic, off-peak, or last-minute travel.

When You See a Flash Sale

✅ Action: Be flexible with dates and be ready to act fast
❌ Don’t transfer points unless the deal is confirmed

Flash sales are ideal for low-mileage economy trips and are great for spontaneous plans.

When You See Club Subscription Promos

✅ Action: Evaluate value over time, not just upfront bonus
❌ Don’t subscribe if you won’t benefit from long-term perks

Consider annual plans only if you’ll use the full benefits — not just the welcome miles.

Real-World Example: Strategic Planning for Maximum Return

Rafael planned to fly to Europe in business class in October.

His plan:

• From January to June: collected 70,000 Livelo points
• Watched promo calendar → Expected TAP 100% bonus in July
• Confirmed award space via TAP Miles&Go for his dates
• Transferred points during promo → got 140,000 miles
• Booked flight that usually costs $2,800
• Paid $120 in taxes

Total cost: 70,000 points + $120
Redemption value: 4 cents per point
Savings: Over $2,600 — all because of planned timing

Final Thoughts: Strategy Turns Points Into Power

Random redemptions give random value. Strategic redemptions give freedom, upgrades, and thousands of dollars in real savings.

By learning how to plan a points strategy around major promotions, you’ll always be ready to move when the right deal comes — not scrambling at the last minute.

Start with your goals. Track the trends. And let promotions serve your plan — not the other way around.