Travel Points & Miles Valuations – How Much Are They Actually Worth? [August 2023]

Credit cards, airlines, and hotels don’t give out their own point and mile valuations, so, unfortunately, there are no official answers on what points and miles are actually worth. Therefore, it’s up to you to make your own conclusions on that value. However, we’re here to help.

Many factors come into play when determining this metric. Below are questions you should ask yourself when evaluating the value of points, and what we’ve taken into account to create our point and mile valuations:

• How valuable are these points?
• How flexible are these points and how many transfer partners are there?
• What are your redemption options?
• How much would you buy points and miles for?
• What’s the average redemption value from 3 different bookings?
• How abundant is award availability?

Upgraded Points’ August 2023 Points and Miles Valuations

Flexible Points Programs

Flexible Point Program	July 2023 Value (cents/point)	August 2023 Value (cents/point)	Value of 50k / 100k Points
Amex Membership Rewards Points	2.2	2.2	$1,100 / $2,200
Bank of America Preferred Rewards	1.0	1.0	$500 / $1,000
Barclaycard Arrival Miles	1.0	1.0	$500 / $1,000
Bilt Rewards	1.8	1.8	$900 / $1,800
Brex Rewards	1.5	1.0	$500 / $1,000
Capital One Miles	1.8	1.8	$900 / $1,800
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points	2.0	2.0	$1,000 / $2,000
Citi ThankYou Rewards Points	1.6	1.6	$800 / $1,600
Diners Club Rewards Points	2.0	2.0	$1,000 / $2,000

Hot Tip: Use our dedicated transfer partner tool calculator to review transfer ratios, times, and bonuses for all major flexible point programs.

Airline Loyalty Programs

Airline Loyalty Program	July 2023 Value (cents/point)	August 2023 Value (cents/point)	Value of 50k / 100k Points
Aer Lingus AerClub Avios	1.25	1.25	$650 / $1,300
Air Canada Aeroplan Points	1.5	1.5	$750 / $1,500
Air France/KLM Flying Blue Miles	1.3	1.3	$650 / $1,300
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles	1.8	1.8	$900 / $1,800
American Airlines AAdvantage Miles	1.4	1.4	$700 / $1,400
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Club Miles	1.4	1.4	$700 / $1,400
Asiana Airlines Asiana Club Miles	1.6	1.6	$800 / $1,600
Avianca Airlines LifeMiles	1.4	1.4	$700 / $1,400
Breeze Airways BreezePoints	1.0	1.0	$500 / $1,000
British Airways Executive Club Avios	1.25	1.25	$650 / $1,300
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	1.3	1.3	$650 / $1,300
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles	1.2	1.2	$600 / $1,200
Emirates Skywards Miles	1.1	1.1	$550 / $1,100
Etihad Airways Etihad Guest Miles	1.4	1.4	$700 / $1,400
Frontier Airlines FRONTIER Miles	1.1	1.1	$550 / $1,100
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles	0.9	0.9	$450 / $900
Iberia Plus Avios	1.25	1.25	$650 / $1,300
JetBlue TrueBlue Points	1.3	1.3	$650 / $1,300
Korean Air SKYPASS Miles	1.6	1.6	$800 / $1,600
Lufthansa Miles & More Miles	1.3	1.3	$650 / $1,300
Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios	1.25	1.25	$650 / $1,300
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Miles	1.35	1.35	$675 / $1,350
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Points	1.3	1.3	$650 / $1,300
Spirit Airlines Free Spirit Points	1.1	1.1	$550 / $1,100
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Miles	1.3	1.3	$650 / $1,300
United Airlines MileagePlus Miles	1.2	1.2	$600 / $1,200
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Virgin Points	1.4	1.4	$700 / $1,400

Hotel Loyalty Programs

Hotel Loyalty Program	July 2023 Value (cents/point)	August 2023 Value (cents/point)	Value of 50k / 100k Points
ALL – Accor Live Limitless Rewards Points	2.3	2.3	$1,150 / $2,300
Best Western Rewards Points	0.6	0.6	$300 / $600
Choice Hotels Choice Privileges Points	0.6	0.6	$300 / $600
Hilton Hotels Hilton Honors Points	0.5	0.5	$250 / $500
Hyatt Hotels World of Hyatt Points	1.5	1.5	$750 / $1,500
IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG One Rewards Points	0.5	0.5	$250 / $500
Marriott Hotels Marriott Bonvoy Points	0.7	0.7	$350 / $700
Radisson Rewards Points	0.25	0.25	$125 / $250
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Rewards Points	0.9	0.9	$450 / $900

Upgraded Points’ Highest-Valued Points

Not all miles and points are created equal, so naturally, each category has its own winner with the highest valued points. Here’s why we ranked the highest valued points as such:

Transferable Points: American Express Membership Rewards Points

American Express Membership Rewards continues to be the king of transferable points. Amex partners with all 3 major alliances (SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld), along with many non-alliance partners, so it’s easier to find award space compared to other transferable points. Some of the Amex transfer partners include Qantas, Air Canada, and Emirates.

Hot Tip: It is no secret that transferable points are our favorite rewards to earn, thanks to their flexibility and the powerful redemptions they offer. If you’d like more information on the major transferable point currencies, we’ve put together complete guides on how we value Amex Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Capital One miles, and Citi ThankYou Points.

Airline Miles: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Miles

Alaska Airlines has the best of both worlds: a variety of partners and solid redemption rates. Some of Alaska’s Oneworld partners include American and Japan Airlines, and the airline’s non-alliance partners include Emirates, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and more. Redemption rates are lower than other partners across the board.

Hotel Points: World of Hyatt Points

World of Hyatt has the most reasonable redemption rates of all the major hotel chains. Further, we’ve found that there are virtually no blackout dates and that all hotels are on a standard award chart, so you’ll always pay the same price for a room at any hotel. This allows you to explore fantastic Hyatt redemption opportunities ensuring maximum value.

Movers and News

It was a busy month in the world of points and miles. Here is what made waves last month:

After Separating From Hyatt, MGM Teams up With Marriott

Last month, news broke that MGM Rewards and World of Hyatt would end their decade-long relationship, and a week later Marriott announced a “long-term strategic licensing agreement” with MGM. The existing MGM/Hyatt relationship ends at the end of September 2023, and then in October 2023, the “MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy” will be officially launched, incorporating 17 MGM properties (about 40,000 rooms) in Las Vegas and other cities across the U.S.

As would be expected in a partnership such as this, Marriott Bonvoy and MGM Rewards members can expect crossover loyalty benefits once the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy is launched.

We don’t have a ton of details right now, but Marriott Bonvoy members will have access to perks at all MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy properties, and MGM Rewards members can expect to receive “certain benefits” at Marriott Bonvoy properties across the globe.

According to Marriott, “members of both programs will also be able to exchange MGM Rewards points for Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa,” though there’s no word yet surrounding how earning and redeeming points will work at participating properties.

Amex Membership Rewards Adds Qatar Airways as a Transfer Partner

On July 26, 2023, Amex added the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club, making it the 21st transfer partner of the Amex Membership Rewards program.

Points can be transferred from Amex to Qatar at a 1:1 ratio, with a minimum of 1,000 points. Transfers should occur instantly. Amex Membership Rewards now joins Citi ThankYou Rewards as a direct transfer partner with Qatar Airways.

Keep in mind that, in March 2022, Qatar Airways switched its frequent flyer currency to Avios, joining Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and Vueling as the fifth airline to use the currency. This means Avios held in any of the 5 programs can be transferred to any of the others at a 1:1 rate.

Choice Privileges and Radisson Rewards Americas Merge

Radisson Rewards Americas emailed its rewards members notifying them that the program would be integrated with Choice Privileges on July 18, 2023. Radisson Rewards Americas members are no longer able to earn, redeem or transfer Radisson Rewards Americas points which have since been transferred to their Choice Privileges account. Choice says nearly 600 Radisson hotels will be integrated into the Choice Privileges program “by the end of the summer.”

For Radisson Rewards Americas members, this meant:

• You received 1 Choice Privileges point for every 2 Radisson Rewards Americas points in your account by the date of the integration
• If you had elite status in either program, you received that status in Choice Privileges
• Any Elite Night Credits you may have had in your Radisson Rewards Americas account were combined with any in your Choice Privileges account
• If your total Elite Night Credits were enough to move you into a higher tier, you received that tier in Choice Privileges
• Points-eligible reservations for stays after July 18, 2023, will earn Choice Privileges points for that stay; Radisson Rewards Americas award nights will also be honored

Etihad’s A380 With 3-Room Residence Is Back [AUH-LHR]

The long-awaited day has arrived: Etihad’s Airbus A380 is again back in the skies.

Soon after the onset of the pandemic, fans of the A380 and Etihad’s The Residence had their worlds turned upside down when Etihad announced that it would be retiring the superjumbo for good.

However, after over 3 years, the first of the fleet has been brought back into action owing to the airline seeing significant demand on some of its most important routes.

Complete with a private living room, double bed, and ensuite shower room, the outrageous 3-room suite is designed for 2 passengers to enjoy together and can set you back well over a million miles or at least $10,000 one-way between Abu Dhabi and London.

From August 1, 2023, another A380 will be brought back to life and will operate a second of Etihad’s 3 daily Heathrow services between AUH and LHR.

Major New Benefits for the Citi^®/AAdvantage^® Executive World Elite Mastercard^®

Citi and American Airlines have introduced some new benefits on the AAdvantage Executive World Elite card, as well as some annual fee increases. These new benefits went into effect on July 23, 2023, impacting all new and existing cardholders.

New benefits include:

• Up to $120 back on eligible Avis or Budget car rentals every calendar year
• Up to $120 back on eligible Grubhub purchases (up to $10 statement credit on each monthly billing statement)
• Up to $120 in Lyft credits ($10 credit each month after taking 3 eligible rides)
• 4x AAdvantage miles on all eligible American Airlines purchases, and once you surpass $150,000 in spending on the card a year, you’ll earn 5x AAdvantage miles per dollar for the remainder of the year.
• 10x miles through American Airlines Rental Cars or American Airlines Hotels bookings
• 10,000 Loyalty Point boost after reaching 50,000 Loyalty Points in a qualifying year, and another 10,000 Loyalty Point boost after reaching 90,000 Loyalty Points in a qualifying year
• Travel insurance protections

The downside is that the annual fee of the card has increased from $450 to $595. Additionally, you’ll no longer be able to add up to 10 free authorized users who receive Admirals Club access by holding the card. Now, you’ll pay $175 for up to 3 authorized users, and an additional $175 for each additional authorized user after that.

New Opportunities To Purchase Points

If you need to boost your mileage balances, but you aren’t in the market for a new credit card, here are the latest opportunities to purchase points with a bonus:

• Buy Southwest Rapid Rewards Points at a 50% Discount
• Choice Privileges Selling Points With up to a 25% Discount [Targeted]
• Get Up to a 60% Bonus When You Buy Alaska Miles [Ends August 20]
• Purchase IHG Points With up to a 90% Bonus [Targeted]
• Purchase JetBlue TrueBlue Points With up to a 70% Bonus [Targeted]

Hot Tip: Keep track of the latest point purchase promotions and discounts on our dedicated page which we update each time a new promotion launches. 

New Airline Route Changes

Here are the airlines that announced last month that they were adding, removing, or relaunching routes:

U.S. Airlines

• Alaska Airlines Adds New Guatemala Service & 2 Routes to Mexico
• Allegiant Air Announces New Nonstop Flights to Sunny Destinations
• American Airlines Increases Miami Flights for the Winter Season
• American Airlines Resuming Nonstop Service Between Pittsburgh and Cancún
• Avelo Announces New Flights From Salem to Burbank and Las Vegas
• Breeze Airways Announces Expansion From Fort Myers
• United Adds 127 Flights for College Football Travel This Fall
• United Increases Asia Capacity, Adds 2 New Routes

International Airlines

• Air France Arriving in Raleigh-Durham With New Flight to Paris
• Japan Airlines To Launch Nonstop Service to Doha in 2024
• Norse Atlantic 2 New Transatlantic Routes From Miami
• WestJet Adds 4 New Routes in Winter Schedule Update

Final Thoughts

While the value of points and miles can vary, you want to ensure you’re getting great value when redeeming those hard-earned points.

When it comes to flexible points, Amex Membership Rewards points are valued the highest on a cent-per-point basis. These points are extremely flexible given the number of Amex airline and hotel partners. Membership Rewards also offers good transfer rates with a ton of redemption options, ensuring you can get the most out of your points.