Award booking service guide
What help booking flights with points actually includes.
An award booking service researches flights that can be booked with points and may also help transfer points or issue a ticket. The right level of help depends on whether you want to learn and book yourself, want a researched plan, or want someone to manage the booking for you.
Who this is for
For travelers comparing DIY award search, points software, an expert award plan, and traditional full-service booking.
What you get
- A plain-language explanation of the four common help models
- The questions to ask before paying for award-travel help
- A clear explanation of where Acru Pro and Acru Max fit
What it does not include
- A promise that every trip has a good award option
- A claim that one model is right for every traveler
How it works
- Decide whether you need ongoing strategy or help with one trip.
- Choose the level of account control and hands-on booking help you want.
- Compare the scope, not just a headline price.
Which kind of points-travel help do you need?
| Question | Do it yourself | Acru Pro | Acru Max | Full-service booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best when | You enjoy learning award travel | You want ongoing guidance | You want earning strategy and redemption plans carried together | You want someone to handle ticketing |
| Finds award options | You | Acru tools and Agent | Acru plus human review | A human advisor |
| Compares points, fees, and transfers | You | Acru helps | Included in the plan | Usually included |
| Books in your loyalty account | You | You | You | Sometimes the provider |
| Typical payment shape | Your time | Subscription | Subscription with plan credit | Per passenger or per trip |
Acru Max and point.me concierge: different kinds of help
point.me’s concierge page publishes a $200-per-passenger full-service flight-booking option, a $200 points-strategy consult, and a separate small-business membership. Its full-service option says it handles research, transfers, and ticketing. Acru is intentionally built around a different boundary: ongoing card strategy and a human-reviewed plan that lets the member retain account access and complete the booking themselves.
| Question | Acru Pro | Acru Max | point.me concierge services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Ongoing card and points strategy | A decision-ready award plan for one trip | Published options for flight booking, a strategy consult, and a business membership |
| Card strategy | Personalized, ongoing guidance | Everything in Pro | A $200 strategy consult; its business membership advertises an annual card and strategy plan |
| Specific-trip research | Acru Agent research and planning | Human-reviewed options, transfer path, fees, and booking steps | Its full-service option says it researches custom itineraries and recommendations |
| Ticketing | You book directly | You book directly | Its full-service option says it handles ticketing |
| Account control | You keep loyalty-account access | You keep loyalty-account access | Ask the provider what access is needed for its chosen service |
| Commercial model | Membership | Membership with a monthly Expert Award Plan credit | Published as per-passenger, per-session, and membership options |
Source reviewed August 30, 2026: point.me’s published concierge services.
Competitor offerings and pricing can change. This is a scope comparison based on the linked page as reviewed on August 30, 2026; confirm point.me’s current terms and pricing directly before purchasing.
Make the choice by scope
Choose Acru Pro if…
you want to learn from your own cards, balances, and travel goals over time, and are comfortable making the final redemption decision yourself.
Choose Acru Max if…
you travel consistently and want Acru to connect the points you earn, the dates and flexibility you have, and the exact redemptions you make into one strategy.
Choose full-service booking if…
you want someone to ticket into your loyalty account or manage account-level booking work. Confirm their credential, access, change policy, and fee before sharing anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is an award booking service?
It is a service that researches award availability for a trip and may provide transfer guidance, booking instructions, or ticketing support. Scope varies substantially between providers.
Is an award booking service worth it?
It can be worth it for a complex trip or when you value time more than doing the research yourself. Before paying, confirm whether the fee covers research only, booking help, revisions, and post-booking changes.
How is Acru Max different from a traditional award booking service?
Acru Max connects ongoing earning strategy with human-reviewed award plans and booking steps, while you keep control of your accounts and make the booking. Some traditional providers also ticket flights or manage account-level booking work.
How is Acru different from point.me concierge?
point.me publishes both full-service ticketing and paid strategy offerings. Acru combines ongoing card and points strategy in Pro with a human-reviewed trip plan in Max, while keeping the member in control of loyalty accounts and the final booking. See the scope comparison above and confirm any provider’s current terms before buying.
What should I ask before paying an award booking service?
Ask whether the fee covers research, ticketing, point transfers, revisions, changes, cancellations, and post-booking help. Also confirm whether the provider needs account access and what happens if suitable award space disappears.