# How to use transfer partners, points tools, and Live Seat Map By AwardTool | Updated 2026-09-12 Canonical URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/points-and-travel-tools AwardTool's supporting tools help you understand how to fund an award and inspect the trip. Transfer Partners connects rewards currencies with loyalty programs, Award Wallet and Preferred Programs organize planning, and Live Seat Map shows a flight's cabin layout. Use them alongside award search and program confirmation. Best for: Travelers comparing points currencies, organizing rewards balances, or evaluating a flight's cabin. ## At a glance - Distinguish the points you hold, the program you book through, and the airline you fly. - Transfer relationships are a starting point; check current provider terms and the award first. - Award Wallet requires sign-in and helps keep your balances organized. - A seat map describes the cabin, not the number of awards available. [Explore transfer partners](https://www.awardtool.com/transfer-partners) ## Understand the three names on a booking option Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/points-and-travel-tools#three-roles Award planning often involves three different organizations: the bank or rewards currency where your points are held, the loyalty program that sells the award, and the airline operating the flight. Sometimes these overlap, but they do not have to. Read each role separately when comparing results. For example, a flight can be operated by one airline, booked through a partner loyalty program, and funded by an eligible transfer from bank rewards. AwardTool's result and transfer information help explain that path. A bank relationship with the operating airline is not necessarily the funding relationship needed for the displayed award. ## Use Transfer Partners to connect points to programs Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/points-and-travel-tools#transfer-partners Open Transfer Partners to explore the relationships shown between rewards currencies and airline or hotel programs. Start with the points you already hold, identify potentially usable programs, and include those programs in your award search. You can also begin with an attractive award and investigate how its booking program could be funded. When a flight's booking panel includes transfer rows, compare the source rewards program, destination loyalty program, points required, taxes, and any displayed transfer information. Select Deal opens the relevant transfer page, while Transfer Guide provides steps for the supported provider. Before making a transfer, confirm the award with the booking program and review the provider's current eligibility, transfer terms, timing, and any promotion details. Do not assume that a transfer option displayed in search is available to every account or that the award will remain available during the transfer. [Compare transfer partners](https://www.awardtool.com/transfer-partners) [Find written transfer guides](https://www.awardtool.com/guides) ## Organize the currencies you can use Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/points-and-travel-tools#organize-points Preferred Programs provides a place to tailor the loyalty-program selections you use when planning. Keep those preferences aligned with the programs you can fund rather than assuming that every supported program is useful for your trip. Award Wallet provides a signed-in space for manually recording and updating rewards balances. Add the program, current balance, and an account or family profile to keep planning organized. Update entries as balances change and verify the amount with the source program before booking. A recorded balance does not establish award availability. The credit-card comparison page helps you examine the rewards options presented by AwardTool. Use it to understand program relationships and the current information shown; check the provider's own terms for eligibility, fees, and offers. A travel search does not determine which card is appropriate for your personal finances. [Set preferred programs](https://www.awardtool.com/setting/preferred-programs) [Open Award Wallet](https://www.awardtool.com/award-wallet) [Explore credit-card information](https://www.awardtool.com/credit-card-v2) ## Inspect a flight with Live Seat Map Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/points-and-travel-tools#live-seat-map Use Live Seat Map after you have a specific flight to inspect. It helps you understand the cabin layout and available seat information. Access depends on the supported flight and your account's current features. 1. **Open the map from a result** Look for Live seat map or its map icon in the flight results. Opening it uses that flight's details and avoids re-entering the itinerary. 2. **Or enter a flight in the standalone tool** Open Live Seat Map and provide the departure airport, arrival airport, flight date, airline, cabin, and flight number. Submit the search to request the supported map. 3. **Read the map carefully** Check the route and aircraft, use the seat-map key, and switch cabins when offered. Confirm the airline's current seat-selection options during booking. [Open Live Seat Map](https://www.awardtool.com/live-seat-map) ## Use the right evidence for each decision Section URL: https://www.awardtool.com/learn/points-and-travel-tools#limits-and-resources Unassigned seats on a map are different from award seats. Use award-search results for the points itinerary, a seat map for layout, and the loyalty program for final booking availability and terms. Keeping these separate is especially important when several people want to travel together. For help with the interface, open the written Guides or sign in from a desktop browser to launch interactive Walkthroughs. Check Pro for current account features. If you are building a travel product or integrating award search into another service, use the Enterprise API page and API documentation to evaluate the supported integration path. [Interactive walkthroughs](https://www.awardtool.com/walkthroughs) [Current Pro features](https://www.awardtool.com/pro) [Enterprise API](https://www.awardtool.com/enterprise-api) [API documentation](https://www.awardtool.com/api-docs) ## Common questions ### Should I transfer points before searching? First identify an award and confirm its current availability with the booking program. Review the provider's current transfer terms and your eligibility before deciding to transfer. ### Does Award Wallet require an account? Yes. Sign in to use Award Wallet to manually record and update your rewards balances. Verify current balances with the source program before booking. ### What does Live Seat Map tell me? It helps inspect the supported flight's cabin layout and seat information. It does not establish how many seats the loyalty program makes available as awards, and it does not reserve a seat. ## Before you book Award availability and prices can change. Confirm the exact itinerary, cabin, traveler count, points, and cash total with the loyalty program before transferring points or booking. Search access and limits depend on your plan. [See current plans](https://www.awardtool.com/pro) ## Related guides - [How to use AwardTool to find flights and hotels with points](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/getting-started) - [How to search award flights with Real-Time and Mega Search](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/real-time-and-mega-search) - [How to find hotels with points and compare award nights](https://www.awardtool.com/learn/hotels)