Should I buy airline miles? Value calculator

How does the calculator work?

It adds the cost of the miles (miles ÷ 1,000 × your per-1,000 price) to the cash taxes and surcharges on the award to get your all-in cost, then compares that to the cash fare. If the all-in cost is lower, buying miles saves money — and the bigger the gap between the value you extract per mile and what you pay per mile, the better the deal. This is why premium cabins (high cash fares) almost always favor miles, while cheap economy usually doesn't.

When is buying airline miles worth it? — FAQ

How do I know if buying airline miles is worth it?

Buying miles is worth it when your all-in cost — the price of the miles plus the cash taxes and surcharges on the award — is comfortably below the cash fare for the same flight. It usually wins for premium-cabin awards and rarely for cheap economy.

What is a good value per mile when buying?

Compare the value you extract per mile (cash fare minus surcharge, divided by miles) against what you pay per mile. If you extract clearly more than you pay — for example extracting 4–6 cents while paying 1.5 cents — it's a strong buy.

Why do surcharges matter so much?

Some airlines add high carrier-imposed surcharges to award tickets, paid in cash on top of the miles. A low miles price means little if the surcharge is large, so always include it in the all-in cost.

Where do I find the miles price to enter?

Use the live MileMarketplace miles price index for the current per-1,000 price by program, and a live award search for the miles needed and the surcharge.