How Much Are Airline Miles Worth

You use airline miles to purchase flights and other travel perks. But what are they really worth? Read on for the answer, plus the best way to use airline miles on your next trip.

Calculating the Worth of Your Miles

Several factors determine the cash equivalent of your miles, including the

• Airline
  
• Trip itinerary
  
• Seat class

One simple way to find the cash value for an airline mile is to divide the total cost for a trip by the number of miles it requires.

Do this several times then average the answers for a decent idea of how much your miles are worth for that airline.

Average Airline Mile Worth

The rule of thumb for airline miles is: one mile = one cent.

Using the method above, here are the averages for most major airlines across the world:

Using Miles Internationally

Your miles go even further overseas. International airline miles have a value of $.01–$.05 more than with domestic flights.

Here's another example using American:

Round-trip economy ticket from Indianapolis to London Heathrow = $2,673 or 60,000 points

60,000/$2,673 = $0.04 cents per mile

Using Miles for Business and First Class

While business and first-class tickets generally cost more than economy tickets, you can sometimes get a better mileage value with a higher-class ticket.

American Airlines has a point redemption of 1.0 cent for economy tickets but almost 1.5 cents for business class.

What Airline Miles Don't Cover

Using miles doesn't mean that your entire flight will be free. Airline miles don't cover certain taxes and fees, including:

• Air passenger duties
  
• Passenger service fee
  
• Airport security charges like the U.S. 9/11 security fee
  
• Passenger facilities charges
  
• Transportation taxes

Branded Miles vs. Non-Branded Miles

Branded airline card offer perks you won't get with other cards like:

• Free checked bags
  
• Priority boarding
  
• Mileage bonuses

But unless you frequently travel on one airline, a non-branded travel reward program like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Awards is usually a better option.

These reward programs allow you to use your points and miles toward several airlines. They also give you the freedom to use the points and miles for hotels, car rentals, and other travel experiences.

Read on to learn more.

Chase Ultimate Rewards
Points toward travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program are worth 1.25 cents/point if you're a Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholder.

If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, your points are worth 1.5 cents/point.

Use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book airline tickets directly through the Ultimate Rewards website. You can also transfer at a 1:1 ratio to:

• Aer Lingus
  
• British Airways
  
• Flying Blue (loyalty program of Air France & KLM)
  
• Iberia
  
• JetBlue
  
• Singapore Airlines
  
• Southwest
  
• United Airlines
  
• Virgin Atlantic

American Express Membership Rewards
Travelers can also use their American Express Membership Rewards points to book flights. They can book through American Express Travel or transfer at a 1:1 ratio to:

• Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific)
  
• British Airways Executive Club
  
• Iberia Plus
  
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
  
• Alitalia MilleMiglia
  
• Delta SkyMiles
  
• Air Canada Aeroplan
  
• ANA Mileage Club
  
• Singapore KrisFlyer
  
• Emirates Skywards
  
• Etihad Guest
  
• Hawaiian Airlines
  
• Virgin America Elevate
  
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Best Ways to Redeem Airline Miles

Once you have an idea of what your points are worth, it's time to redeem them for that next getaway. Before you book, consider these tips:

Check the Math
Compare the cost of that flight in miles and in dollars to make sure you're actually getting a good deal. Sometimes, the mile redemption per cent is so low. If so, pay to book your flight and save the miles for a better redemption.

Take Advantage of Partner Airlines
Your miles don't necessarily restrict you to that airline. Delta, for example, has over 20 partner airlines, including Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and Korean Air. You can use your Delta SkyMiles on any of these partner airlines. Most of the other major airlines also have partner airlines.

Use Other Redemption Options
The best value usually comes when you use your miles for flights. However, you can also trade miles for other travel like:

• Hotels
  
• Car rentals
  
• Experiences

These might be a good option if you don't fly often or your miles are about to expire.

Watch Expiration Dates
Speaking of miles expiring, be sure to track the expiration date of your miles so you don't lose out.

Bottom Line

Airline miles can save money on your next trip, especially when booking international and higher-class tickets. Unless you're a frequent flyer with loyalty toward one airline, your miles will go farther with a non-branded card such as American Express or Chase.