New Delhi, April 23 -- Redeeming airline miles feels tougher than ever, even as loyalty schemes gain popularity among frequent flyers. Flight disruptions, soaring airfares and uncertainty are clouding travel plans, prompting passengers to use miles as a hedge, booking multiple routes and cancelling later if needed.

Award tickets typically carry minimal or no cancellation fees compared with cash fares, so travellers can simply drop extra bookings at the last minute, travel experts told Bloomberg News. While this flexibility benefits passengers, it clogs limited award inventory, making seats harder to find and eroding the value of miles, the news agency reported.

Flight seats reserved for redemptions are running out fast, deepening the cr...