It’s the question everyone wants to know, just what’s a mile actually worth, and what’s the most effective way to use them?
The answer to the value question is simple, it’s worth whatever you use it for!
If you use use your miles to go from NYC to Miami thats a true shame as that will cost you 25,000 miles for a ticket worth only about $150, pegging each mile at .6 cents each-that’s right just 6/10th of a cent-or about what a capital one “no-hassle point” is worth.
Generally speaking you’ll never get a good valuation for your miles when redeeming for a domestic ticket.
Even from NYC to LAX you should be able to find a ticket for $250, pegging the 25,000 miles value at a penny cents apiece.
The following is a sample list of routes and examples of bang for your buck mile.
Scroll Down For A Legend With All Of The Codes!
How to read the following chart:
Example:
1.CLE-NYC-$98
AA-15K= 0.65
CO-20K= 0.49
UA, DL,-25K= 0.26
How to read it:
The typical price between Cleveland and New York is about $98. On American an award ticket on this route is 15,000 miles, therefore each mile is effectively worth 0.65 cents each. On Continental an award ticket on this route is 20,000 miles, therefore each mile is effectively worth 0.49 cents each. On United and Delta an award ticket on this route is 25,000 miles, therefore each mile is effectively worth 0.26 cents each.
Coach Class Awards:
1.CLE-NYC-$98
AA-15K= 0.65
CO-20K= 0.49
UA, DL,-25K= 0.26
2.NYC-LAX-$250
All Airlines-25k= 1.0
3.NYC-HNL-$600
All Airlines-35K= 1.7
4.NYC-GRU-$900
AA Off Peak-40K= 2.25
CX*-45K= 2.0
CO, DL, UA-50K= 1.8
AA Peak-60K= 1.5
5.NYC-TLV-$1,000
CX*-60K= 1.67
CO-70K= 1.43
AA*, UA*-75K= 1.33
DL-80K= 1.25
6.NYC-NRT-$1,000
AA Off Peak-50K= 2.0
CO, CX*, DL, UA-60K= 1.67
AA Peak-65K= 1.54
7.ORD-LHR-$700
AA Off Peak-40K= 1.75
CX*-45K= 1.55
CO, DL, UA-50K= 1.4
AA Peak-60K= 1.17
8.LAX-SYD-$1,200
CX*-60K= 2.0
AA*-75K= 1.6
UA-80K= 1.5
CO*, DL*-100K= 1.2
Business Class Awards:
Please note that CO and DL have only 2 classes of service, coach and a combo of business and first. Other airlines typically have 3 classes of service.
The following table shows business-first and business-elite for CO and DL respectively, and business for all other airlines.
1.CLE-NYC-$700
All Airlines-45K= 1.55
2.NYC-LAX-$1,000
All Airlines-45k= 2.22
3.NYC-HNL-$2,000
All Airlines-75K= 2.67
4.NYC-GRU-$5,000
CX*-60K= 8.33
All Others-90K= 5.55
5.NYC-TLV-$4,000
CO, CX*-100K= 4.0
UA*-115K= 3.47
DL-120K= 3.33
AA*-135K= 2.96
6.NYC-NRT-$6,000
AA, UA-90K= 6.67
CX*-100K= 6.0
CO, DL-120K= 5.0
7.ORD-LON-$4,000
CX*-60K= 6.67
AA-80K= 5.0
DL, UA-90K= 4.44
CO-100K= 4.0
8.LAX-SYD-$9,000
CX*-100K= 9.0
UA-110K= 8.18
AA*-125K= 7.2
CO*, DL*-150K= 6.0
First Class Awards:
1.CLE-NYC
N/A
2.NYC-LAX-$1,500
AA, UA-60k= 2.5
3.NYC-HNL-$2,500
UA-90K= 2.77
AA-95k= 2.63
4.NYC-GRU-$10,000
CX*-90K= 11.1
UA-110K= 9.09
AA-125K= 8.0
5.NYC-TLV-$9,000
CX*, UA*-140K= 6.43
AA*-180K= 5.0
6.NYC-NRT-$15,000
UA-120K= 12.5
AA-125K= 12.0
CX*-140K= 10.7
7.ORD-LHR-$12,000
CX*-90K= 13.3
AA, UA-125K= 9.6
8.LAX-SYD-$14,000
CX*, UA-140K= 10.0
AA*-145K= 9.65
LEGEND:
Airports:
CLE-Cleveland
GRU-Sao Paulo
HNL-Honolulu
LAX=Los Angeles
LON=London
NRT=Tokyo Narita
NYC=New York
ORD=Chicago O’Hare
SYD=Sydney
TLV-Tel Aviv
Airline Codes:
AA=American Airlines
CO-Continental
CX=Cathay Pacific
DL-Delta
UA-United
*=Travel is on an alliance partner.
Disclaimers:
-All fares are Round trip approximations and are posted for demonstrative purposes only.
-Mileage requirements are subject to change at any time.
Very Short Summary:
While you rarely can make your miles worth much more than a penny while flying domestically, when you travel internationally in premium class cabins your miles can be worth over 15 cents each!
©2006 Ctownbochur.com
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