❓ Frequently Asked Questions

A: Points Optimiser isn't a seat finder — it's a smart search tool that uses your real Avios, Virgin Points, and vouchers to show what flights you can actually book, and which are closest to being within reach.

A: Those tools focus on seat availability. Points Optimiser focuses on value and readiness — it uses your wallet data (points, vouchers, tier caps) to rank which redemptions make sense for you, right now.

A: Flights only appear when your current balance and vouchers make them eligible or within 125% of your usable range. If it doesn't show, it likely exceeds that threshold or falls outside our currently supported routes.

A: Right now we're testing limited British Airways and Virgin Atlantic routes. More airlines will be added once the pricing accuracy and logic are verified.

You can still suggest missing routes via the "Send Feedback" button — that helps prioritise which routes go live next.

A: All route costs listed are in test phase. They're benchmarked against award charts and user-reported data to refine accuracy before we pull in live pricing feeds.

A: All Virgin Atlantic reward prices are based on live data sampled from multiple travel dates across the year. By default, we show the median Virgin points price for each route and cabin — this reflects the typical redemption cost rather than rare sale or peak values. You can switch to "Best Price Seen" mode in Suggestions and Planner to view the lowest verified fare from recent data. Values are reviewed and refreshed quarterly to keep results aligned with current Virgin Atlantic reward trends until live flight data is embedded. Learn more about pricing modes to understand which strategy is right for your search.

A: BA charges higher Avios for peak dates (summer holidays, Christmas, Easter). Use the BA Peak/Off-Peak Calendar to check whether your dates qualify for lower off-peak pricing. The calendar shows peak periods clearly so you can plan around them or budget accordingly.

A: Your wallet tells the app how many points and vouchers you have and automatically filters flights to show what's bookable now and what's within reach (the 125% logic).

A: Vouchers can halve point costs, upgrade cabins, or double seat access — the app uses them automatically to give you the best redemption logic, so your search results are unique to you.

A: Points Only mode lets you see flight pricing without any voucher discounts applied. Use the toggle at the top of Suggestions and Planner pages to switch between "Vouchers" (default, shows pricing with vouchers) and "Points Only" (shows pure points pricing). This is perfect for comparing redemption values or planning trips where you want to save your vouchers for another journey.

A: Planner uses your saved goals (like "NYC Upper Class in April") to keep track of progress toward that redemption — how many points or vouchers you still need, and what new routes get you closer.

A: Yes — once the alert system activates post-beta, you'll be able to track when your target routes drop within your range.

A: Beta data helps us improve accuracy. If you notice a route looks high or low, that insight directly feeds into our calibration model. Every user report speeds up full validation.

A: Just hit the "Send Feedback" button or email info@pointsandvouchers.com with the route and seat type. We read every submission manually during beta.

A: Once current pricing and logic are fully validated through testing. Live seat and fare data will come later as part of the premium experience.

A: Yes — once the Replit beta proves stable and usage grows, we'll wrap it as a native app for a smoother mobile experience.

A: The Basic plan includes 1 suggestion search per month, 2 planner queries per month, wallet management, voucher alerts, and the ability to earn bonus credits through referrals. Perfect for testing the app and occasional travel planning.

A: Premium costs £3.99/month or £39/year (save £8.88 annually). You get unlimited suggestions, unlimited planner queries, 5 results per search (vs 1 on Basic), smart voucher optimisation, priority access to new features, and all Basic features included.

A: Yes! Visit the Billing page to upgrade to Premium instantly via Stripe. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime through the Stripe Customer Portal.

A: Rewards depend on YOUR plan and WHO you refer:

Premium users earn app credits toward renewals:
• £1 when referring Basic users (qualify on first search/wallet save)
• £2 when referring Premium users (qualify immediately)
• 4 Basic OR 2 Premium referrals = 1 free month

Basic users earn 5 bonus search credits per referral (any plan), qualifying when invitee completes first search or wallet save. Credits expire after 60 days.

A: Timing depends on the invitee's plan:
• Premium invitees: Credits granted immediately when they sign up
• Basic invitees: Credits granted when they complete their first search OR save their wallet

This prevents fraud by ensuring invitees are real users actually using the app.

A: No! App credits for Premium users never expire and stay in your account until used. Bonus search credits for Basic users expire after 60 days.