Award travel glossary
Every jargon term in award travel defined in plain English. Bookmark this page — you'll reference it constantly.
Award basics
Cents Per Point (CPP)
The value of a points redemption, calculated as (cash price minus taxes paid) ÷ points used × 100.Dynamic Pricing
Pricing model where award costs are tied to the cash fare, not a published chart.Excursionist Perk
United MileagePlus benefit: a free segment on a round-trip award within one region.Fixed Award Chart
A published pricing table for award tickets that doesn't change with cash fare.Hidden City Ticketing
Booking a ticket with a layover in your actual destination, then exiting the airport instead of continuing.Layover
A short connection between flights (under 24 hours internationally) that doesn't count as a stopover.Open Jaw
A round-trip where your return flight departs from a different city than where you arrived, or returns to a different home city.Partner Award
An award booked through one loyalty program but flown on a partner airline.Redemption
The act of using miles or points to book a flight, hotel, or other travel.Saver Award
The lowest published award level a program offers — typically 1-2 seats per flight.Stopover
A long break (usually 24+ hours internationally) on an award ticket between segments, effectively a free second destination.Sweet Spot
A specific award redemption that offers outstanding cents-per-point value (usually 3¢+).
The value of a points redemption, calculated as (cash price minus taxes paid) ÷ points used × 100.Dynamic Pricing
Pricing model where award costs are tied to the cash fare, not a published chart.Excursionist Perk
United MileagePlus benefit: a free segment on a round-trip award within one region.Fixed Award Chart
A published pricing table for award tickets that doesn't change with cash fare.Hidden City Ticketing
Booking a ticket with a layover in your actual destination, then exiting the airport instead of continuing.Layover
A short connection between flights (under 24 hours internationally) that doesn't count as a stopover.Open Jaw
A round-trip where your return flight departs from a different city than where you arrived, or returns to a different home city.Partner Award
An award booked through one loyalty program but flown on a partner airline.Redemption
The act of using miles or points to book a flight, hotel, or other travel.Saver Award
The lowest published award level a program offers — typically 1-2 seats per flight.Stopover
A long break (usually 24+ hours internationally) on an award ticket between segments, effectively a free second destination.Sweet Spot
A specific award redemption that offers outstanding cents-per-point value (usually 3¢+).
Credit cards
Chase 5/24 Rule
Chase's policy of denying credit card applications if you've opened 5 or more personal accounts (any bank) in the past 24 months.Churning
The practice of opening, earning the bonus on, and sometimes closing credit cards in rapid succession to maximize points.Flexible (Transferable) Points
Bank-issued points that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel programs.Minimum Spend
The required spending threshold (typically $3-$6K over 3-6 months) to earn a credit card's sign-up bonus.Retention Offer
A promotional offer (bonus points, fee waiver, statement credit) a bank gives to discourage you from closing your card.Sign-up Bonus (SUB)
A one-time bonus of points awarded for opening a credit card and meeting the minimum spend requirement.Transfer Bonus
A promotional extra percentage when transferring bank points to a specific airline partner.Transfer Partner
An airline or hotel loyalty program that accepts points transferred from a bank's flexible points program.
Chase's policy of denying credit card applications if you've opened 5 or more personal accounts (any bank) in the past 24 months.Churning
The practice of opening, earning the bonus on, and sometimes closing credit cards in rapid succession to maximize points.Flexible (Transferable) Points
Bank-issued points that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel programs.Minimum Spend
The required spending threshold (typically $3-$6K over 3-6 months) to earn a credit card's sign-up bonus.Retention Offer
A promotional offer (bonus points, fee waiver, statement credit) a bank gives to discourage you from closing your card.Sign-up Bonus (SUB)
A one-time bonus of points awarded for opening a credit card and meeting the minimum spend requirement.Transfer Bonus
A promotional extra percentage when transferring bank points to a specific airline partner.Transfer Partner
An airline or hotel loyalty program that accepts points transferred from a bank's flexible points program.
Cabins & aircraft
Business Class
The second premium cabin; modern international business class has fully lie-flat seats with direct aisle access.First Class
The premium-most cabin on an aircraft, typically a private suite with fully lie-flat bed.Lie-Flat Seat
A business or first class seat that reclines fully horizontal to form a flat bed.Premium Economy
A separate cabin between economy and business with wider seats, more recline, and better service.Qsuite (Qatar Airways)
Qatar Airways' flagship business class product with a closing-door suite and optional double-bed configuration.Seat Configuration
The layout of seats in a cabin (e.g., 1-2-1, 2-2-2), determining aisle access and privacy.
The second premium cabin; modern international business class has fully lie-flat seats with direct aisle access.First Class
The premium-most cabin on an aircraft, typically a private suite with fully lie-flat bed.Lie-Flat Seat
A business or first class seat that reclines fully horizontal to form a flat bed.Premium Economy
A separate cabin between economy and business with wider seats, more recline, and better service.Qsuite (Qatar Airways)
Qatar Airways' flagship business class product with a closing-door suite and optional double-bed configuration.Seat Configuration
The layout of seats in a cabin (e.g., 1-2-1, 2-2-2), determining aisle access and privacy.
Fees & surcharges
Award Booking Fee
A cash fee (often $5-$75) charged per ticket for booking an award, especially by phone or close to departure.Close-In Booking Fee
An additional cash fee some programs charge for awards booked within 14-21 days of departure.Fuel Surcharge (YQ/YR)
A cash fee airlines add to award tickets, technically for fuel cost recovery but kept after fuel prices drop.
A cash fee (often $5-$75) charged per ticket for booking an award, especially by phone or close to departure.Close-In Booking Fee
An additional cash fee some programs charge for awards booked within 14-21 days of departure.Fuel Surcharge (YQ/YR)
A cash fee airlines add to award tickets, technically for fuel cost recovery but kept after fuel prices drop.
Programs & alliances
Airline Alliance
A group of airlines that share ticketing, baggage, and frequent flyer benefits.Codeshare
A flight marketed under multiple airlines' codes but operated by one.Companion Certificate
An annual benefit (often from a credit card) that lets a companion fly free on your paid fare, plus taxes.Elite Status
Tiered loyalty levels (Silver/Gold/Platinum, etc.) that grant benefits like upgrades, lounge access, and bonus points.Interline Agreement
A bilateral agreement between airlines to accept each other's tickets and baggage.Loyalty Points (AAdvantage)
American Airlines' qualification currency for elite status, earned via spending, partner activity, and flights.Minimum Connecting Time (MCT)
The shortest layover an airline/airport considers safe for passengers to make their connection.MQD (Medallion Qualifying Dollars)
Delta's MQD spend metric for Medallion elite status qualification.Oneworld Alliance
Alliance including American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Qantas, Qatar, Iberia, and 8 others.PQP (United Premier Qualifying Points)
United Airlines' elite status qualification metric, earned through spend + flights.SkyTeam Alliance
Alliance including Delta, Air France/KLM, Korean Air, Aeromexico, ITA Airways, and others.Star Alliance
The largest airline alliance with 26 member airlines including United, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore, Turkish, and Air Canada.Status Match
Matching your elite status from one program to another, usually for a trial period.Travel Together Ticket
British Airways benefit: a 2-for-1 companion award ticket earned by spending $30K on a Chase BA Visa in a calendar year.
A group of airlines that share ticketing, baggage, and frequent flyer benefits.Codeshare
A flight marketed under multiple airlines' codes but operated by one.Companion Certificate
An annual benefit (often from a credit card) that lets a companion fly free on your paid fare, plus taxes.Elite Status
Tiered loyalty levels (Silver/Gold/Platinum, etc.) that grant benefits like upgrades, lounge access, and bonus points.Interline Agreement
A bilateral agreement between airlines to accept each other's tickets and baggage.Loyalty Points (AAdvantage)
American Airlines' qualification currency for elite status, earned via spending, partner activity, and flights.Minimum Connecting Time (MCT)
The shortest layover an airline/airport considers safe for passengers to make their connection.MQD (Medallion Qualifying Dollars)
Delta's MQD spend metric for Medallion elite status qualification.Oneworld Alliance
Alliance including American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Qantas, Qatar, Iberia, and 8 others.PQP (United Premier Qualifying Points)
United Airlines' elite status qualification metric, earned through spend + flights.SkyTeam Alliance
Alliance including Delta, Air France/KLM, Korean Air, Aeromexico, ITA Airways, and others.Star Alliance
The largest airline alliance with 26 member airlines including United, Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore, Turkish, and Air Canada.Status Match
Matching your elite status from one program to another, usually for a trial period.Travel Together Ticket
British Airways benefit: a 2-for-1 companion award ticket earned by spending $30K on a Chase BA Visa in a calendar year.
Tactics & strategy
Manufactured Spend (MS)
The practice of generating credit card spend on items you can liquidate for cash to earn bonus points.Mattress Run
A hotel stay booked specifically to earn elite-qualifying nights, not for the accommodation itself.Mileage Run
A cheap flight booked specifically to earn status-qualifying miles or segments, not for the trip itself.Positioning Flight
A separate flight booked to get to the starting airport of an award ticket.Throwaway Ticket
A segment of a ticket you don't fly, either to save money or to bypass fare rules.
The practice of generating credit card spend on items you can liquidate for cash to earn bonus points.Mattress Run
A hotel stay booked specifically to earn elite-qualifying nights, not for the accommodation itself.Mileage Run
A cheap flight booked specifically to earn status-qualifying miles or segments, not for the trip itself.Positioning Flight
A separate flight booked to get to the starting airport of an award ticket.Throwaway Ticket
A segment of a ticket you don't fly, either to save money or to bypass fare rules.