Ultimate Points & Miles Value Guide: What are points and miles worth?

Coco Tran • Curated Travel Journal • Travel Blog by Coco Tran https://cocotran.com/ultimate-points-miles-value-guide-what-are-points-and-miles-worth/

After half a decade of maximizing points and redeeming millions of miles, I’ve discovered that understanding point values isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about knowing how to leverage each program’s sweet spots. Here’s my comprehensive breakdown of what are points and miles worth, along with insider tips on the best cards to earn them.

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Coco Tran • Curated Travel Journal • Travel Blog by Coco Tran https://cocotran.com/ultimate-points-miles-value-guide-what-are-points-and-miles-worth/

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Coco Tran • Curated Travel Journal • Travel Blog by Coco Tran https://cocotran.com/ultimate-points-miles-value-guide-what-are-points-and-miles-worth/

Coco Tran • Curated Travel Journal • Travel Blog by Coco Tran https://cocotran.com/ultimate-points-miles-value-guide-what-are-points-and-miles-worth/

Ultimate Points & Miles Value Guide: What are points and miles worth?

What are credit card points and miles worth 

Transferable Points Programs: Credit Card points value

The foundation of any sophisticated points strategy starts here—these flexible currencies often provide the highest value through strategic transfers.

Insider Tip: I’ve found that Chase Ultimate Rewards offer the best combination of earning potential and redemption flexibility for most travelers. The Sapphire Reserve’s 1.5 cents floor value through the travel portal means you’ll never get stuck with worthless points.

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Airline Miles Redemption Value: what are Airline Points Value?

Here’s every major airline program’s current value, along with the best ways to earn and use these miles:

Airline Program

Value (cents)

Value of 50K/100K

Top Partners

Best Cards to Earn

Alaska Mileage Plan mile value

1.6

$800/$1,600

• JAL• Cathay• Qantas

• Alaska Visa® ($95 AF)• Transferable from Marriott

American Airlines AAdvantage points value

1.4

$700/$1,400

• Qatar• JAL• Cathay

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive• Barclays Aviator

Air Canada Aeroplan point value

1.5

$750/$1,500

• United• Turkish• EVA

• Chase transfer partner• Amex transfer partner

British Airways Avios mile value

1.25

$625/$1,250

• AA• JAL• Qatar

• BA Visa ($95 AF)• Transfer from Amex/Chase

Delta SkyMiles

1.2

$600/$1,200

• Air France• VirgiN• Korean

• Delta Reserve® ($550 AF)• Delta Platinum ($250 AF)

United miles value

1.2

$600/$1,200

• Lufthansa\n• ANA\n• Turkish

• United Club℠Infinite• United Quest℠

Air France/KLM

1.3

$650/$1,300

• Delta• Korean• Virgin

• Transfer from all major programs

ANA Mileage Club

1.4

$700/$1,400

• United• Turkish• EVA

• Amex transfer partner

Singapore KrisFlyer

1.35

$675/$1,350

• United\n• Lufthansa\n• ANA

• All major transfer partners

Virgin Atlantic

1.4

$700/$1,400

• ANA\n• Delta\n• Singapore

• All major transfer partners

Emirates Skywards

1.1

$550/$1,100

• JetBlue\n• Korean\n• Qantas

• All major transfer partners

Cathay Asia Miles

1.3

$650/$1,300

• AA• Alaska • British

• Amex transfer partner

Korean SKYPASS

1.6

$800/$1,600

• Delta• Emirates• Etihad

• Transfer from major banks

EVA Air

1.2

$600/$1,200

• United• Air Canada• ANA

• Transfer from major banks

Qantas

1.2

$600/$1,200

• Emirates• Cathay• AA

• Transfer from major banks

Turkish Airlines

1.3

$650/$1,300

• United\n• Thai\n• EVA

• Capital One/Citi transfer

Etihad Guest

1.4

$700/$1,400

• American\n• Korean\n• Virgin

• All major transfer partners

Hotel Points: What are hotel points worth?

From luxury aspirational stays to reliable budget options, here’s the complete hotel points landscape:

My recent exploration of hotel programs revealed some surprising values — Hyatt’s footprint might be smaller, but the redemption value consistently outperforms larger chains.

Hotel Program

Value (cents)

Value of 50K/100K

Key Features

Best Cards to Earn

1.5

$750/$1,500

• No resort fees on awards\n• Suite upgrades

• World of Hyatt Card ($95 AF)\n• Chase transfer partner

0.7

$350/$700

• 5th night free\n• Huge footprint

• Brilliant™ ($650 AF)\n• Boundless™ ($95 AF)

0.5

$250/$500

• 4th night free\n• Dynamic pricing

• Premier Card ($99 AF)\n• Chase transfer partner

0.5

$250/$500

• 5th night free\n• Status benefits

• Aspire Card ($450 AF)\n• Surpass® ($95 AF)

0.9

$450/$900

• Fixed pricing\n• Vacasa rentals

• Earner® Card ($75 AF)

0.6

$300/$600

• Europe sweet spots\n• Point stretching

• Choice Privileges Visa

2.2

$1,100/$2,200

• Fixed value\n• Luxury properties

• Capital One transfer

0.25

$125/$250

• Good EU coverage\n• Easy earning

• Radisson Visa

Pro Tip: While these valuations represent achievable targets, I’ve consistently extracted higher value through strategic redemptions — like using Virgin Points for ANA First Class at 4-5 cents per point value.

Hotel Free Night Certificates: Maximizing Annual Card Benefits

These certificates often justify annual fees—here’s what they’re worth:

Certificate Type

Estimated Value

Card Source

Usage Tips

Hilton Free Night

$490

Aspire & Surpass (spend)

Valid globally

Hyatt Cat 1-4

$204

World of Hyatt Card

Great for boutique hotels

Hyatt Cat 1-7

$408

Brand Explorer perk

Top-tier properties

Marriott 35K

$196

Boundless Card

Mid-tier hotels

Marriott 50K

$280

Brilliant Card (old)

Better flexibility

Marriott 85K

$476

Brilliant Card (new)

Luxury properties

IHG 40K

$211

Premier Card (old)

Solid mid-range value

IHG 60K

$260

Premier Card (new)

Higher-end options

Strategic credit Card Recommendations

Based on your travel goals, here are my top card combinations:

For Luxury Travel

  1. Amex Platinum Card
    • 5x on flights
    • Unmatched lounge access
    • Elite status at Hilton & Marriott
  2. Chase Sapphire Reserve
  3. Capital One Venture X
    • Simple 3x structure
    • Flexible redemptions
    • $300 yearly travel credit
    • TSA credit

For Family Travel

  1. World of Hyatt Card
    • Annual free night
    • 2x on everyday spending
    • Easy elite status path
  2. Citi Premier
    • 3x groceries/restaurants
    • Valuable transfer partners
    • Moderate annual fee

For Budget Travel

  1. Chase Sapphire Preferred
    • Best overall value
    • Strong insurance benefits
    • Low annual fee
  2. Capital One Venture
    • Simple 2x structure
    • Flexible redemptions
    • TSA credit

Pro Tips for Maximum Value:

  • Always compare transfer rates before redeeming
  • Stack credit card benefits with shopping portals
  • Consider holding multiple cards within the same ecosystem
  • Watch for transfer bonuses to amplify value
  • Use free night certificates before they expire
  • Combine points from different programs for complex itineraries

Values updated December 2024. Remember that while these valuations provide a baseline, the true value depends on your specific redemption. Focus on building a diverse points portfolio that aligns with your travel goals.