What Can You Sell Airline Miles For? 2026 Resale Prices

What can you sell airline miles for in 2026?

Airline miles resell for roughly $10–$20 per 1,000 — about $0.006 to $0.020 per mile — in 2026. On the MileMarketplace price index, miles traded between about $0.006 and $0.020 per mile in June 2026, averaging around $0.016 per mile across 19 programs. That figure is a proprietary snapshot of what miles actually change hands for on the marketplace, not a retail estimate, which is why it sits below the redemption values you see quoted elsewhere.

For context on the gap: The Points Guy values airline miles at roughly 1.2–1.8 cents each in redemption value, with premium-cabin awards often worth more (The Points Guy). Cash resale always trails redemption value, because a buyer paying cash for your miles still needs room to come out ahead versus paying the airline. The practical takeaway: redemption value is the ceiling, and your cash resale price is a notch below it. If you want to list your balance, you can sell your miles and price against the live market in a few minutes.

How much is 1,000 airline miles worth in cash?

1,000 airline miles are worth roughly $10–$20 in cash when you sell them, versus about $12–$18 in redemption (travel) value. The per-1,000 framing is the one sellers should use, because nearly every marketplace and broker quotes price per 1,000 miles, not per mile. A listing at $15 per 1,000 is the same as $0.015 per mile — just easier to compare across programs.

Multiply out to see real money: 50,000 miles at $15 per 1,000 is a $750 sale; 100,000 miles at the same rate is $1,500. The exact number depends on the program and how aggressively you price, but the per-1,000 rate is the lever you control. Benchmark it against how much airline miles are worth before you list.

Which airline miles sell for the most?

The airline miles that sell for the most are the flexible, high-demand currencies that book premium cabins across many partners. These programs have the deepest pool of buyers, so they sell fastest and at the top of the range. Demand — not the airline's prestige — is what sets the price.

• British Airways Avios and Iberia Avios — short-haul sweet spots and wide partner access.
• Air Canada Aeroplan — broad Star Alliance award chart with strong premium value.
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club — transatlantic business sweet spots.
• Singapore KrisFlyer and Cathay Asia Miles — premium-cabin redemptions to Asia.
• American AAdvantage and United MileagePlus — large U.S. programs with constant buyer demand.

Which airline miles are hardest to sell?

The hardest airline miles to sell are niche currencies, single-airline programs with weak award charts, and balances close to expiring. Fewer buyers want them, so they sit longer and sell at the bottom of the range — or need a discount to move at all. If liquidity matters to you, price these aggressively from the start.

• Small or regional programs with limited partner redemptions.
• Dynamic-pricing programs where awards cost close to the cash fare, leaving buyers little upside.
• Balances expiring within a few months, which buyers discount for risk.
• Accounts with little history, which buyers trust less.

Why do resale prices vary so much by program?

Resale prices vary by program because each currency has a different mix of demand, flexibility, and surcharges. Three factors move the price most. First, partner breadth: programs you can redeem across many airlines (Aeroplan, Avios, Flying Blue) attract more buyers. Second, premium-cabin value: currencies with cheap business- and first-class sweet spots command a premium. Third, fuel surcharges: programs that pass through heavy carrier-imposed charges are worth less to buyers, because the cash co-pay on an award eats into the savings.

Expiration risk, account standing, and the simple supply of competing listings also push the number around day to day. That is why a live, marketplace-derived figure beats a static valuation — the price index reflects what buyers are actually paying this week, not a once-a-month estimate.

Marketplace vs. broker: which pays more for your miles?

A marketplace almost always pays more than a broker. A broker buys your miles at a fixed wholesale rate and resells them — usually as booked award tickets — at a markup, so you receive less than the miles are worth. On a marketplace, you set your own price against the live market and keep the spread the broker would have taken. The trade-off is convenience: a broker hands you one fixed quote, while a marketplace asks you to set a price and wait for a buyer.

How do brokers price the miles they buy from you?

Brokers price the miles they buy from you at a wholesale rate well below redemption value, because their business model is buying low and reselling at a markup to a traveler. If a broker resells a booked award worth $0.018 per mile to the end traveler, they might pay you closer to $0.009–$0.011 per mile — the difference is their margin and risk buffer. That spread is exactly what a marketplace lets you keep. Compare the two side by side in marketplace vs. broker.

What affects how much you personally get?

How much you personally get for your miles comes down to five levers, most of which you control. Pull them in your favor and you move from the bottom of the range toward the top.

• Program demand: popular currencies (Avios, Aeroplan, KrisFlyer) sell highest and fastest.
• Your price vs. the live market: listing at or just below the lowest credible price sells first.
• Expiration: miles with months of runway are worth more than ones about to expire.
• Account history: an established account with a clean record reassures buyers.
• Delivery method: issuing an award ticket in the buyer's name is lower-risk than transferring miles, which some buyers will pay a small premium for.

How is your sale price actually calculated?

Your sale price is the listed amount minus the platform's seller fee. On MileMarketplace the seller fee is 5%, deducted from the sale, and there is no markup hidden in the exchange rate — you see exactly what you net before you list.

Do you pay tax when you sell airline miles?

Selling airline miles for cash can be a taxable event, but the treatment depends on your country and circumstances — this is general information, not tax advice. In the United States, miles you earned from flying or as a credit-card welcome bonus are often treated differently from miles tied to spending, and proceeds from selling property can be reportable. Because the rules are fact-specific, keep a record of what you sell and for how much, and confirm your situation with a qualified tax professional before relying on any general rule.

Is it safe and allowed to sell your airline miles?

Selling airline miles is generally legal in the United States, but it usually violates the airline loyalty program's terms and conditions, and programs can penalize accounts they catch (One Mile at a Time). American's AAdvantage terms, for example, reserve the right to act against the sale or barter of miles (American Airlines). The practical risk-reducer is the delivery method: issuing an award ticket in the buyer's name looks far more like booking for a companion than a bulk mileage transfer does, which is why many sellers prefer it.

On the safety side, the channel matters as much as the method. A verified marketplace holds the buyer's payment until you deliver and vets both sides, so you are not exposed to a stranger vanishing after you transfer. See is it legal to sell airline miles for the full rules-and-risk picture before you list.