What is Seats.aero?

Seats.aero is a specialized platform designed to help users find award availability for flights that can be booked with frequent flyer miles. It connects travelers to available flight options using their airline loyalty points or transferable credit card points. Seats.aero aggregates data from numerous airlines and mileage programs, allowing users to search across different carriers and dates to find the best mileage redemptions for their trips. The platform’s core purpose is to streamline the otherwise complex and time-consuming process of searching for award seats, which are often difficult to find, by providing real-time or near real-time availability across various programs. For instance, a user wanting to book a business class flight from New York (JFK) to Tokyo (NRT) using American Airlines miles can use Seats.aero to search availability across multiple airlines in the OneWorld alliance, like Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and American itself. Instead of checking each airline’s availability separately, the user would get a consolidated list of flights that match their preferences. Powered by ChatGPT-4o

Core Functions of Seats.aero

  • Cached Award Search

    Example Example

    A traveler based in San Francisco (SFO) looking to redeem their miles for a trip to Paris (CDG) in business class can search award availability over a specific date range. The cached search will return available flights from different airlines and mileage programs, such as Air France/KLM Flying Blue, American Airlines, or Delta SkyMiles.

    Example Scenario

    The cached search is perfect for users who want to compare award availability from different airlines at a glance. They can search for flights from one or more airports and get results in various classes (economy, business, first) without having to check each airline manually.

  • Mileage Program Integration

    Example Example

    A frequent traveler with Chase Ultimate Rewards points might want to transfer them to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer to book a flight in their luxury first-class suites. By using Seats.aero, the user can filter the results to show flights available through the KrisFlyer program and quickly find if there are first-class seats open for redemption.

    Example Scenario

    Seats.aero helps users identify where they can transfer their points for the best value. Users who accumulate points in flexible rewards programs (such as Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards) can search across different airline programs to find the optimal flight redemption.

  • Trip Details with Exact Flight Information

    Example Example

    After finding a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR) using British Airways Avios, the user can retrieve specific details about the available flight, such as the flight number, aircraft type, departure time, and the number of available seats.

    Example Scenario

    This feature is especially useful for travelers who need detailed flight information to plan their trip, such as departure times or aircraft type preferences (e.g., looking for a flight operated by an Airbus A380).

  • Direct Booking Links

    Example Example

    Once a user has found an award flight they want to book, they can use a direct booking link provided by Seats.aero to go to the airline’s or mileage program’s website and complete the booking.

    Example Scenario

    This saves users from the hassle of navigating through airline websites to locate the exact flight they've found in the search results. It ensures they are directly taken to the right place to redeem their miles.

  • Multi-Airline Search

    Example Example

    A user searching for a flight from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) may want to consider both Star Alliance and OneWorld options. They could get results showing flights from Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways, and American Airlines all in one search, comparing the mileage requirements and availability.

    Example Scenario

    For travelers open to flying with multiple airlines or alliance partners, this feature enables them to explore all options on a given route, ensuring they can pick the best award seat available across any of their loyalty programs.

Who Benefits the Most from Seats.aero?

  • Frequent Flyers with Airline Miles

    People who accumulate a significant number of airline miles—whether through flying frequently or through credit card spending—can benefit greatly from Seats.aero. These users often want to maximize the value of their miles by finding premium cabin awards (business or first class) on long-haul flights, which can be difficult to find on their own. Seats.aero simplifies this process by showing availability across multiple airlines and programs in one place.

  • Credit Card Points Enthusiasts

    Users who earn transferable credit card points (like those from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Citi ThankYou Points) are another ideal group. These users benefit from Seats.aero because it helps them identify which airlines have available awards that can be booked with transferred points, making it easier to find valuable redemptions. For example, if someone has Amex points and is planning a trip, Seats.aero can show them if there are open award seats through partners like ANA or Singapore Airlines, which are Amex transfer partners.

  • Travel Hackers & Award Optimizers

    Travelers who engage in 'travel hacking'—strategically collecting and redeeming miles and points for high-value trips—are highly suited to use Seats.aero. These users are constantly looking for award seat availability in premium cabins, often on sought-after routes, such as first class on Qatar Airways or Lufthansa. By using Seats.aero, they can quickly find award availability across multiple programs and alliances, helping them make informed decisions about when and how to redeem their points.

  • Luxury Travelers Seeking Premium Cabins

    Seats.aero is a valuable tool for travelers who prioritize comfort and luxury, specifically those seeking to fly in business or first class. These users benefit from the platform’s ability to aggregate award availability on premium airlines, such as Qatar Airways Qsuites, Emirates First Class, or Singapore Airlines Suites, making it easier to find and book these exclusive seats.

How to Use Seats.aero

  • Start free trial

    Begin by visiting yeschat.ai to start your free trial without the need for logging in or subscribing to ChatGPT Plus.

  • Select travel dates

    Input your desired departure and arrival airports along with your travel dates to check for available flights that can be booked with frequent flyer miles.

  • Choose a cabin class

    Select your preferred cabin class (economy, premium, business, or first) to filter the search results according to your comfort and budget preferences.

  • Review flight options

    Browse through the flight options, viewing details like mileage cost and taxes, and select the best flight based on your needs.

  • Book your ticket

    Follow the link provided in the search results to proceed to booking your flight using airline miles directly through the airline's or a partner's website.

Frequently Asked Questions About Seats.aero

  • What is Seats.aero?

    Seats.aero is a tool that helps travelers find flights that can be booked using frequent flyer miles from various airlines, showcasing availability and required miles for different cabin classes.

  • How accurate is the availability information?

    Seats.aero provides up-to-date information based on real-time data and cached searches, but availability can change quickly, so it's recommended to confirm on the airline's website.

  • Can I book flights directly on Seats.aero?

    No, Seats.aero provides information and links to book through airlines directly or through partner websites using your accumulated miles.

  • Does Seats.aero show all available flights?

    Seats.aero shows flights available for booking with miles but may not include every possible airline or route, focusing primarily on those part of major frequent flyer programs.

  • Can I search for multiple destinations at once?

    Yes, you can enter multiple origin and destination airports in a comma-delimited format to search for several routes simultaneously, making planning multi-city trips easier.