SeatSpy vs MilesZone: direct flights against what each programme sells
Checked on October 7, 2026 on SeatSpy's own pages by the MilesZone team. Sources
Looking for a SeatSpy alternative? The question is which award search shows more of the seats you can book with Avios and Virgin points. SeatSpy tracks direct flights on nine airlines' own aircraft. MilesZone reads loyalty programmes, so it shows the trips each programme sells, partners and connections included, with cash fees beside the points.
This comparison also covers the SeatSpy vs seats.aero question: the gap is the same, an airline's own direct flights against what a programme sells.
- Partner airlines and connections, not only the direct flights an airline flies itself: British Airways Club prices Iberia and Aer Lingus too.
- MilesZone shows the cash beside the miles where the programme quotes it; for British Airways Club it is not read yet.
- 60 days of free search and no weekly cap; Pro alerts re-check the seat first.
Is SeatSpy worth it?
SeatSpy is worth it for Avios and Virgin collectors who fly direct on one of its 9 airlines: it is one of the cheapest paid plans in award search, from £2.99 or $3.99 a month, with a 14-day free trial. First Class adds unlimited, instant alerts and SMS.
Its limit is scope: direct flights on each airline's own aircraft only, so connections and partner seats never show, and Premium alerts can arrive up to an hour after a seat is found.
MilesZone shows connections and partner flights with each programme's miles and cash fees side by side, free for departures in the next 60 days; Pro adds route alerts that re-check the seat and 12 months of dates. Search a route to compare.
SeatSpy vs MilesZone at a glance
- Flights covered
- MilesZone: The itineraries each programme sells, including partner airlines and connections where the programme sells them.
- SeatSpy: Direct flights on an airline's own aircraft only; no multi-stop or partner-operated flights, per its FAQ.
- Cash fees
- MilesZone: Shown beside the miles where the programme quotes them; British Airways Club cash is not read yet.
- SeatSpy: Points availability in a calendar; booking is done by phone or on the airline's site.
- Alerts
- MilesZone: Up to 25 routes on Pro, each seat re-checked with the programme before the email leaves.
- SeatSpy: Premium: 4 active alerts, sent up to an hour after discovery. First Class: unlimited and instant.
- Free search
- MilesZone: Free with an account for the next 60 days, every programme, no daily or weekly cap.
- SeatSpy: A limited number of searches each week; the exact number is not stated on its pages.
- Paid plan
- MilesZone: $17 a month or $127 a year; SeatSpy users get a 7-day free trial of Pro first.
- SeatSpy: Premium $3.99 (£2.99) a month or $39.90 a year; First Class $9.99 (£7.99) a month or $99.90 a year; 14-day trial.
- Programmes
- MilesZone: British Airways Club and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for Avios and Virgin points. All we read: EL AL Matmid, Atmos Rewards (oneworld), Air France-KLM Flying Blue (SkyTeam), LifeMiles (Star Alliance), Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (Virgin Atlantic's own direct flights), Thai Royal Orchid Plus (Star Alliance, no mainland US airports), British Airways Club (routes to and from London), United MileagePlus (Star Alliance, from United's US hubs), Delta SkyMiles and Qantas Frequent Flyer. What each one reads is on coverage.
- SeatSpy: 9 airlines: Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Iberia, JetBlue, KLM, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic.
SeatSpy column checked on October 7, 2026. The MilesZone column follows our current plans.
Where MilesZone differs from SeatSpy
Where SeatSpy's direct-flight tracker and the MilesZone award search part ways, as read on seatspy.com on October 7, 2026.
Connections and partner airlines
SeatSpy's FAQ is plain: it tracks reward seats on direct flights on an airline's own aircraft, not multi-stop flights or partner flights. If the only seat needs a change of plane, SeatSpy does not show it.
MilesZone reads programmes rather than airlines. British Airways Club prices Avios seats on British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. United MileagePlus, LifeMiles and Thai Royal Orchid Plus reach Star Alliance, and Flying Blue reaches SkyTeam, so a one-stop seat to a city with no direct flight still turns up.
Miles and cash fees side by side
Avios seats from London can carry carrier surcharges, so two seats at the same points price can cost very different amounts in cash.
MilesZone puts the cash next to the miles where the programme quotes it. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club seats carry their cash on top; British Airways Club cash is not read yet, so for Avios seats you still check the surcharge on avios.com before booking.
Alerts re-checked on every Pro plan
SeatSpy Premium holds 4 active alerts; unlimited routes and instant alerts are reserved for First Class.
Before a MilesZone alert emails, it asks the programme whether that Avios or Virgin seat is still there, and stays silent when it is not. MilesZone Pro holds up to 25 routes. An alert keeps running after it emails, sends at most four emails a day, and repeats a date only when it gets cheaper or a week has passed.
Free award search without a weekly cap
SeatSpy allows a limited number of searches without signing up, then shows "You have used up your number of weekly searches." It does not say how many you get.
With a free account, MilesZone searches the next 60 days of a route across every programme we read, as often as you like, with no card.
Every programme we read, on one page.
Search a route and see each programme's miles with the cash on top, for every date in the window.
SeatSpy free vs paid: plans and prices
- Free
- Weekly-capped searches
- Paid
- £2.99 / $3.99 a month
- Alerts
- Premium 4; First Class unlimited
SeatSpy Premium costs £2.99 or $3.99 a month, or $39.90 a year; First Class costs £7.99 or $9.99 a month, or $99.90 a year (pricing page, October 7, 2026). Both start with a 14-day free trial; First Class adds instant alerts and SMS.
On MilesZone, the award search for departures in the next 60 days is free with an account. Pro is $17 a month or $127 a year, shown in pounds to UK visitors, after a 7-day free trial, with alerts on up to 25 routes, a year of departures and a live seat re-check.
SeatSpy promo code and discounts
SeatSpy's pricing page shows no promo code (checked October 12, 2026). Its discount is the yearly plan, described as two months free: Premium $39.90 or £29.90 a year, First Class $99.90 or £79.90 a year. Both start with a 14-day free trial.
MilesZone needs no code: award search is free for departures in the next 60 days, and Pro, at $17 a month or $127 a year, starts with a 7-day free trial.
SeatSpy or MilesZone: which should you pick?
- You want to see partner flights and one-stop trips, not only an airline's own direct flights.
- You want cash fees beside the points before spending Avios.
- You book on British Airways Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, EL AL Matmid, Atmos Rewards, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, LifeMiles, Thai Royal Orchid Plus, United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles or Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Pick SeatSpy if you only fly direct on its nine airlines and want almost a year of dates, a 14-day trial and alerts on Telegram, WhatsApp or SMS.
SeatSpy vs MilesZone: questions
- Is SeatSpy free?
- Partly: a limited number of searches each week, a number its pages do not give. Paid plans remove the cap and add alerts.
- SeatSpy pricing: what do Premium and First Class cost?
- Premium is £2.99 ($3.99) a month and First Class £7.99 ($9.99) a month, both with a 14-day free trial (checked October 7, 2026).
- Which SeatSpy alternative works best for Avios?
- MilesZone reads British Airways Club, which prices Avios on British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, with Virgin's cash beside the points; British Airways Club cash is not read yet.
- Is there a SeatSpy promo code?
- None on SeatSpy's pricing page (checked October 12, 2026). The yearly plans, described as two months free, and the 14-day free trial are the offers it makes itself.
The short version
MilesZone is the SeatSpy alternative for the trips it cannot see: partner flights and one-stop itineraries, with 60 days of free search and no award search cap.
SeatSpy tracks airlines; to see when MilesZone reads British Airways Club and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, read how often we read each programme.
Try a search on London (LHR) to New York (JFK).
Other award search tools compared
Seats.aero vs MilesZoneAlerts that re-check the seat before they email, and keep running after.
Award Travel Finder vs MilesZoneEvery cabin with no daily cap, and alerts re-checked before they email.
ExpertFlyer vs MilesZoneAward seats priced in miles and cash per programme, over a 60-day calendar.
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