2022.1 Update: We slightly improved the value of UA miles to 1.5 cents/point.
2019.6 Update: This table is fully updated today. Recently I will also update estimated values for points/miles in other places in this website, during this time if you see any inconsistency, use this table as the most up to date info.
There are many ways to use points and miles, therefore the game of points and miles is not a simple one to play. For example, the redemption value is usually very low if you redeem the points/miles for domestic flights within the US; the value is decent for international economy class flights; and the value is usually very high for international business/first class flights. The actually redemption value has a wide range, but in order to give newbies in this game a straightforward impression about the value, we give an estimated value for each common points/miles program. These estimated values are somewhat subjective, inevitably. Of course it is an oversimplified model to use an estimated value to describe a points/miles program, but I think at least these estimated values can provide a good reference of the relative values among these points/miles programs. For example, 60k Hyatt points vs 100k Hilton points, which offer is better? The answer will be clear if you have estimated values in mind.
Here are the estimated redemption values for common points/miles programs by our website:
| Category | Name | Cash Value | Air/Hotel Value | Overall Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank & Credit Card Points | AmEx Membership Rewards (MR) | 0.6 or 1.1 (Note1) | 1.0 | 1.6 |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) | 1.0 | 1.25 or 1.5 (Note2) | 1.6 | |
| Citi ThankYou Points (TYP) | 0.5 or 1.0 (note3) | 1.25 (Note4) | 1.6 | |
| Capital One (C1) | 1.0 | 1.1 | ||
| BoA Travel Rewards Points | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
| US Bank FlexPoints | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | |
| Airline Miles | Air Canada (AC) | 1.4 | ||
| Alaska Airlines (AS) | 1.6 | |||
| All Nippon Airways (NH) | 1.5 | |||
| American Airlines (AA) | 1.5 | |||
| Asia Miles | 1.4 | |||
| Avianca (AV) | 1.5 | |||
| British Airways (BA) | 1.2 | |||
| Delta Air Lines (DL) | 1.3 | |||
| Flying Blue | 1.2 | |||
| JetBlue (B6) | 1.3 | |||
| Southwest Airlines (WN) | 1.3 | |||
| United Airlines (UA) | 1.5 | |||
| Virgin Atlantic (VS) | 1.5 | |||
| Hotel Points | Best Western | 0.6 | ||
| Choice | 0.6 | |||
| Hilton | 0.4 | |||
| Hyatt | 1.6 | |||
| IHG | 0.5 | |||
| Marriott | 0.7 | |||
| Radisson (Formerly Club Carlson) | 0.4 | |||
| Wyndham | 1.0 |
In the table, black numbers represent exact fixed values, grey numbers are estimated values. Also:
- Cash Value means the value if redeemed for cash;
- Air/Hotel Value means the value if redeemed for ANY air/hotel in a fixed ratio;
- Overall Value also considered the value if the points are transferred to partners.
Note1: If you have AmEx Platinum for Schwab, then you can redeem MR points towards cash at a fixed ratio 1 point = 1.1 cents; otherwise the ratio is only 1 point = 0.6 cents.
Note2: If you have Chase Sapphire Reserve (CSR), then you can redeem UR points towards ANY airline or hotel at a fixed ratio 1 point = 1.5 cents; if you have Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) or Chase Ink Preferred (business) then the ratio is 1 point = 1.25 cents.
Note3: If you have Citi Prestige, then you can redeem TYP points towards cash at a fixed ratio 1 point = 1.0 cents; otherwise the ratio is only 1 point = 0.5 cents.
Note4: If you have Citi Prestige or Citi ThankYou Premier, then you can redeem TYP points towards ANY airline or hotel at a fixed ratio 1 point = 1.25 cents.