Below is a concise, practical roundup of award‑flight booking services (what they do, who uses them, pros/cons, and tips). I focused on the commonly used companies and on user‑reported strengths/risks so you can pick or vet a service quickly.

Quick summary (TL;DR)

• Helpful for complicated redemptions, partner bookings, and saving time — but quality varies and there are real scams/poor experiences reported. Use reputable providers, check recent reviews, confirm refund/ticketing policies, and keep your own frequent‑flyer logins/payment methods ready. (cntraveler.com)

Who the main providers are (what they offer)

• Juicy Miles — Full award‑booking service that searches and books on your behalf; charges per person/itinerary and handles transfers/ticketing. Good for complex itineraries and airlines with tricky partner rules. (cntraveler.com)
• PointsPros — Professional award‑booking firm with set pricing tiers and “full‑service” support (consultation, ticketing assistance, seat confirmations). Often used by travelers who want hands‑off booking. Check their pricing page for current fees. (PointsPros.com)
• AwardFares — Tool/service focused on searching availability across programs (some users praise its UX and speed). Reviews on third‑party sites are generally positive but verify recent feedback for support/ticketing experiences. (trustpilot.com)
• points.me, AwardTool, Seats.aero, Roame, and similar tools — These range from search/alert tools to full‑service booking; user satisfaction varies widely and some report unreliable alerts or poor support. Community discussion often recommends trying free trials and monitoring recent forum threads. (reddit.com)

Common pros

• Time savings and expertise navigating complex partner award rules. (cntraveler.com)
• Access to searches and partner routes you might miss on airline websites. (trustpilot.com)
• Some firms provide seat confirmations, help with transfers, and post‑ticket support.

Common cons and risks

• Variable quality: Some services respond quickly and deliver; others have slow/no support or fail to ticket properly. Community warnings and scam reports exist — buyer beware. (reddit.com)
• Fees can be substantial (flat fees, per‑person charges, or high add‑ons). Always compare fee vs. your time/effort savings. (PointsPros.com)
• Potential for lost transfers/holds: If a provider asks you to transfer your points before ticketing, that’s a risk — confirm the provider’s ticketing policy and whether they require your account credentials. (reddit.com)

How to evaluate a service (step‑by‑step checklist)

1. Recent reputation: Look for reviews on multiple sources (Trustpilot, FlyerTalk, Reddit r/awardtravel) dated within the past 6–12 months. Negative threads often highlight systemic problems. (trustpilot.com)
2. Pricing transparency: Confirm the exact fee, deposit rules, and refund policy if they can’t ticket the itinerary. Avoid services that take point transfers before ticketing unless you fully trust them. (PointsPros.com)
3. Ticketing guarantee: Ask whether they guarantee ticket issuance before asking you to transfer points and what happens if ticketing fails. Prefer services that hold tickets or work from your account rather than requiring you to transfer points first. (reddit.com)
4. Communication & support: Test responsiveness (email or phone) before committing. Get expected timelines in writing.
5. References: If possible, ask for recent client references or check community threads for names of staff/bookers with repeated positive mentions. (cntraveler.com)

Practical recommendation (if you want to hire one)

• For complex, high‑value redemptions (long‑haul business/first, multi‑stop awards): Use a reputable full‑service firm (Juicy Miles, PointsPros, or a highly reviewed boutique award agent). Expect to pay $100–$400+ per person depending on complexity — compare that to the retail cost of the ticket you’d otherwise buy. (cntraveler.com)
• For searching/alerts only: Try tools like AwardFares or Seats.aero to find availability yourself, then either book via the airline or use a booker for final ticketing. Check recent user reviews first. (trustpilot.com)

Red flags (avoid or vet carefully)

• Demands that you transfer points before any ticketing or without a clear written guarantee. (reddit.com)
• No clear refund policy or evasive answers about what happens if tickets are not issued.
• Long gaps in communication or forum reports of unfulfilled bookings.

If you want, I can:

• Look up up‑to‑date reviews and pricing for 2–3 specific services you’re considering (I can pull Trustpilot, FlyerTalk, Reddit, and news sources). This is helpful because reputations change and the most important signals are recent user experiences. (I can do that now if you tell me which services to compare — or I can pick the top ones: Juicy Miles, PointsPros, AwardFares.)

Which option would you like?