"Mileage currency" refers to the rewards or benefits earned through a loyalty program, often offered by airlines or hotels, where customers earn points or miles based on their travel. These accumulated points can be redeemed for various perks such as free flights, hotel stays, or other exclusive offers.
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As with all mileage programs we need flexibility, if we don't have that flexibility then we'll need to have more than one type of
mileage currency at our disposal.
It's not a huge reduction in the miles required, but it gives us a
new mileage currency to use at the lowest award rate on the market.
Of course, no one has a crystal ball, but I was wondering what your thoughts are as far as
what mileage currency should be used before others.
I bought into the notion that SkyMiles were not worth my time for far longer than I should have, and only in recent years have learned that SkyMiles are actually an extremely valuable
airline mileage currency for my family.
Avios are the
shared mileage currency of British Airways and Iberian Airlines — but you can use them for far more than travel on these two European carriers, and you can take advantage of their distance award chart for short flights.
SkyMiles are known to be one of the most
devalued mileage currencies, though they do have some partners that make the program a bit better.
Avios are the shared
mileage currency of British Airways and Iberian Airlines — but you can use them for far more than travel on these two European carriers, and you can take advantage of their distance award chart for short flights.
Next to Alaska Airlines, they're one the more flexible
mileage currencies available, and award space is still relatively easy to find compared to, say, American Airlines — although this is highly route dependent.
Thanks to the mega sign - up bonuses we've seen offered by Chase for the British Airways Signature Visa credit card, this is a much more
popular mileage currency than a few years ago, even in the US.
But SkyMiles are worth much less than most other
US mileage currencies, so you have to keep that in mind.
I'd much rather purchase Starpoints speculatively rather than an
individual mileage currency, given that the points are much more flexible.
United MileagePlus still is the most valuable
U.S. mileage currency overall, but the ability to change routing outside of 21 days (now only available with American Airlines and not for long I suspect) was a great benefit that will be missed by many of my Chase - card - holding clients, no doubt.
Marriott allows you to choose from numerous
airline mileage currencies, though the best mileage ratio is choosing United MileagePlus, where you get an additional 10 % increase in airline miles.
Delta, which otherwise has one of the most
devalued mileage currencies, is partners with V Australia, and charges 150,000 miles for business class to Australia.
SPG points are arguably the most valuable
mileage currency there is.
Their mileage currency is called Avios.
I'd rather you consider cards which pay
a mileage currency you will use rather than cards with large bonuses you'll be years away from using.
American Airlines miles would instantly become a more valuable
mileage currency, and people would be doing anything they can to earn as many AAdvantage miles as possible.
Avios -
The mileage currency of the British Airways Executive Club program.
The bonus is 50K points after $ 2.5 K spend in 4 months, and I found this attractive because right now I have fewer AA miles than any other
mileage currency.
SPG points are arguably the most valuable
mileage currency there is.
Membership Rewards used to be something special, but now others have caught up and even surpassed it as a flexible
mileage currency.
You'll notice British Airways refers to «Avios» when you book award flights; this is the name of
their mileage currency (rather than the more commonly used «miles»).
I recently flew Cathay Pacific Business Class from Hong Kong to San Francisco for 70K Avios one way, which I thought was a decent deal compared to other
mileage currencies.
LAN Kilometers (the airlines
mileage currency) are not easy to come by without actually flying.
If it enables me to use a milage currency I have an abundance of (thus relieving pressure on other
mileage currencies).
While Delta SkyMiles aren't the most valuable
mileage currency, they're worth a penny each at a minimum, making the miles you earn with the sign - up bonus on this card worth $ 700 +.