Milez.biz allows you to
compare flight redemption rates of different frequent flyer programs.
As a rule of thumb, I would always
compare a flight redemption to the cash price of the flight I am redeeming my miles on.
Partner flights may be able to get more value from the miles, so it is worth taking the time to
compare flight redemption costs.
Not exact matches
For example, Air Canada offers short - haul and long - haul
redemption options for domestic
flights, allowing you to save miles as
compared to Singapore Air, which charges a uniform amount of miles for any domestic
flight.
This
redemption's obvious highlight is the price
compared to other long - haul
flights in business class.
This is
comparing the
redemption of points for normal
flights through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal, and not the use of points to transfer to airline loyalty programs.
Compare this to the $ 0.01
redemption rate for
flights through the Amex Travel Portal and $ 0.0125 in Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Though both of these hotels are also transfer partners with Ultimate Rewards, there's simply no way to accrue this type of points balance quickly and the
redemption would offer fairly abysmal value per point, at least
compared to the great deal we found on
flights above.
The flip side of that are the huge taxes and fees levied on long - haul Avios
redemptions on British Airways
flights through London, which mean those
redemptions, particularly in premium cabins, are almost never worth making
compared to Delta or United
redemptions connecting in Continental Europe.
Conversely, longer
flights in premium cabins can cost a fortune
compared to what other airlines charge for the same
redemption, even on the same exact
flight.
Here's a chart of
flights from the United States operated by American Airlines with new
redemption starting next year,
compared to current rates.
However, American doesn't operate
flights to India, which makes it not possible to take advantage of this lower
redemption levels (when
compared to awards with Etihad Airlines)
Another 30,000 miles (25,000 transferred Starpoints) would get you a one - way
flight from Europe in Lufthansa first class, with increased access to award seats
compared to
redemptions of partner award miles.
However, with the 40 - percent bonus, this
flight will set you back just 75,000 Membership Rewards points, which is a competitive
redemption rate when
compared to other region - based reward programs.
However, $ 100 can be a drop in the bucket
compared to what you'll save if you're booking a business class long - haul international
flight at the best
redemption rate.
Even domestic
redemptions (on United) an be an excellent value at 40,000 miles round - trip in a premium cabin,
compared with 50,000 United miles for the exact same
flights.
If a
flight is 50,000 miles and $ 500 in surcharges, then that's a 100,000 mile
redemption in my book when it comes to
comparing the award ticket (which truthfully should be called «maybe somewhat discounted rate ticket») to other programs or to paid travel.