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.

Should I buy airline miles? Value calculator

Buying airline miles is worth it when your all-in cost — the price of the miles plus the cash surcharges on the award — is comfortably below the cash fare for the same flight. Enter your numbers below for an instant verdict and the value you'd extract per mile.

Miles needed for the award

Price per 1,000 miles ($)

Cash price of the flight ($)

Taxes & surcharges on the award ($)

Tip: find the miles needed and surcharge on a live award search, and the per-1,000 price on the miles price index.

✓ Worth buying

You'd save about $5,200 versus paying cash — roughly 3.3× value.

Cost to buy the miles: $1,600
+ Taxes & surcharges: $700
= Your all-in cost: $2,300
Cash fare: $7,500
Value you extract / mile: 6.80¢
Cost you pay / mile: 1.60¢

Rule of thumb: buying miles wins when the value you extract per mile comfortably exceeds what you pay per mile — usually on premium-cabin awards, rarely on cheap economy.

Browse miles to buy

How the calculator works

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.

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.

Keep going

Live miles price index →Buy Emirates miles guide →Are miles worth buying? →Browse miles →

Estimates only — confirm live award amounts, surcharges, and prices before you buy. MileMarketplace books award tickets with secure checkout and a full-refund guarantee.