Points Path is an awesome free browser extension that enables real-time award search for a number of popular programs that displays automagically alongside cash pricing when you run a Google Flights search. While existing Points Path features are expected to continue to be free for existing users, Founders Club members will have exclusive access to new features launching in the coming months. Founders Club is scheduled to close to new members at the end of the day on October 2, 2024. While the regular price to join Founders Club for the remainder of 2024 is $14.99, Frequent Miler readers can save 20% off that price with promo code FM20OFF through 11:59pm Pacific Time on October 2, 2024.
Points Path is a very cool tool
Since installing the Points Path extension, I’ve found that it has saved me a ton of time. I typically want to compare award prices against cash prices, especially when I’m searching for domestic economy class flights since value can often run the spectrum, from terrific to awful when comparing the cost of awards to cash prices. I love being able to do a single search that shows me both cash and award prices across a number of programs.
You can read Greg’s detailed review of the extension here: Points Path: An easy “set and forget” award search tool.
The extension itself and existing features are free, which is certainly among the reasons I’ve been loving it. However, Points Path founder Julian Kheel indicates that new features are coming and those features will launch exclusively for Founders Club members. Membership is expected to close to new members at 11:59pm Pacific Time on October 2nd, so those interested will need to join soon if they want access to new features coming soon.
Founders Club membership
Points Path describes its Founders Club as “a private group for our devoted supporters, as a way to bring together our most enthusiastic followers all in one place”. It is currently possible to join for a one-time payment of $14.99 for the rest of 2024, but promo code FM20OFF will save you 20%, dropping the price to $11.99.
In addition to receiving early access to every new feature added in 2024 (which is expected to include at least 2 new features per month for the rest of 2024), members get access to a private forum to interact with founder Julian Kheel and other members, access to a dedicated priority email address, a discounted rate on future subscriptions starting in early 2025, and more.
Upon joining Founders Club, members will have instant access to two new features: the ability for Points Path to show 15% discount award pricing for Delta Amex cardholders and access to the new Points Path Lufthansa First Class availability dashboard. I just now took a peek at that Lufthansa availability tool and I could see this being very useful for future trips when I want to monitor availability as the departure date nears.
I don’t expect to fly Lufthansa First Class over the next 3 months, but if I did then that dashboard could certainly be a nice feature to have.
Is it worth it?
I don’t yet know what new features are coming over the next 3 months, so it’s hard for me to put a value on Founders Club membership. It is harder yet to determine whether those benefits would be useful for someone else.
However, long-time Frequent Miler readers know that Julian Kheel used to write a regular column here at Frequent Miler (as The Devil’s Advocate), so I’ve long been familiar with Julian’s work and he’s long been a friend of the blog. Knowing Julian, I expect that Points Path will deliver on some cool new features over the coming months. Personally, I’m enjoying the tool and I’d be willing to bet at least $12 sight-unseen that I’d be happy to have access to those features. Obviously, that type of gamble won’t be for everyone, though. With numerous paid award search tools on the market, it can be hard to decide which provides the best bang for your buck (though Greg has done the analysis here to help you decide). I don’t know that a paid Founders Club membership will be more valuable to the average reader than a paid membership with another award search tool, but as an enthusiast who has always found Julian to be among the most creative people in this space, I’m looking forward to seeing what Julian is cooking up.
My understanding is that Founders Club membership is capped at a relatively small percentage of their overall users, which goes to the point that a membership likely isn’t a fit for everyone. However, if you’re looking to support a tool that’s been great so far and get early access to new features coming down the pipeline as well as access to a forum to ask questions and discuss features, this looks like a good opportunity to me for an enthusiast to engage at an early stage.
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Just looked up “automagically” in the dictionary. Am I the only one that didnt know it was a real word?
Nope. I thought I made it up, too.
I signed up a few weeks ago and wanted to support Julian and the Points Path team.
Realistically, if you find 1 example where you would have paid cash but Points Path was able to find an excellent saver award price that you weren’t aware of, then the $11.99 subscription has paid for itself.
I’m excited to see which new features roll out in the coming months.
Only if it comes with a Founders Card membership. 🙂
I like Julian, so I subscribed with the 20% off coupon in his newsletter. When I saw the $9.99 offer in my notifications, it never loaded for me (a couple weeks back I think). I’m not thrilled for yet another subscription, but hopefully the most useful features remain free.