11 Airline Loyalty Benefits That Actually Pay Off

11. Family pooling and point sharing

Family pooling and point sharing speed up award travel for households by combining balances into a single usable pool. This is particularly effective for families saving for a single premium booking or when one member earns most of the miles. Pooling reduces the time and spend needed to reach a redemption threshold and avoids the inefficiency of fragmented small balances. Some programs charge low fees or impose rules, so check the terms and watch for expiration rules tied to the main account. When multiple household members travel together or when parents book for children, pooling makes award seats available sooner and simplifies bookkeeping. For families with a consistent earner—one who uses a co‑branded card or flies frequently—pooling converts uneven earning into usable rewards faster. Treat pooling as a cooperative household strategy: it lets you reach shared goals sooner and keeps everyone focused on the same reward target.