Ever wondered what are miles and points worth? Maybe you’ve built up a stash and aren’t sure how to use them, or maybe you’re just starting out. Either way, knowing their value is the key to turning rewards into real travel.
In this post, we’ll break down what miles and points are worth, why there’s no single answer, and how to squeeze the most value from them. Travel hacking is not just about collecting, it’s about unlocking trips you might never pay cash for.
First off, what are miles, and how to get them?
First off, what are miles, and how do you get them?
If you’re new to travel rewards, miles and points are basically the currency of credit card travel programs. (For simplicity, we’ll just call them “points.”)
There are two main ways to earn points:
- Credit cards – This includes both sign-up bonuses and everyday spending. For most travelers, this is the fastest and most efficient way to build up points.
- Flying with airlines – You earn points or miles when booking flights with certain carriers.
While flying can earn points, unless you’re a frequent flyer loyal to one airline, credit cards are usually the quicker path to collecting the points you need.
Want a deeper dive into earning points? Check out this post!
Using Credit Card Miles and Points
Now we get to the fun part: actually using your points.
First, a quick reality check. Not all points are created equal. 50,000 Capital One miles are not the same as 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points or 50,000 AMEX Membership Rewards points. They all come from spending, and they all get you amazing trips, but how they work and what they are worth can be very different.
Each card issuer has its own portal for redeeming points. American Express uses the Membership Rewards portal, Chase has Ultimate Rewards, and Capital One has Capital One Travel. In most cases, points are worth about 1 cent each. So 50,000 points is roughly $500. Chase Sapphire Preferred is a little special, giving you 1.25 cents per point. That same 50,000 points is $625.
Some cards, like Capital One, also let you erase travel purchases with points, including flights, hotels, and Uber rides, at the standard 1:1 rate.
The bottom line is to start with a baseline of 1 cent per point for portal bookings or 1.25 cents with Chase. From there, you can start exploring transfers and other strategies to get even more value.
Transferring Credit Card Miles
Redeeming points through your card’s portal is easy and convenient, but it usually will not give you the best value. To truly maximize your miles, you can transfer them to travel partners like airlines and hotels. Each program has its own partners, so some research is required. Most points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, which means one point from your credit card equals one mile or point in the partner program.
Once your points are transferred, you can book directly through the airline or hotel. This opens up routes and rates that are not available through the standard portal. Many flights that look expensive in cash can cost surprisingly few points once transferred.
For example, a round-trip flight from Denver to Hawaii might cost $800 in cash with United Airlines. Using Turkish Airlines miles, the same flight can be booked for just 20,000 points. To calculate the value per mile, divide the cash price by the points used: $800 ÷ 20,000 points = 0.04, or 4 cents per mile. That is four times the value you would get booking through the portal at 1 cent per point.
This is an extreme example. More commonly, transferring points will give you a value of 2 to 3 cents per mile compared to the 1 cent per point portal rate. For instance, Chase points can transfer to United Airlines to book the same Hawaii flight for roughly 25,000 points. That gives an effective value of about 3 cents per mile, still far better than the portal.
Another popular option is flying from the U.S. to Europe using Flying Blue miles. A round-trip from Salt Lake City to Paris can cost around $1,000 in cash, but using 40,000 Flying Blue miles, you can book the same trip. That’s a value of $1,000 ÷ 40,000 points = 2.5 cents per mile. This is a great option for travelers looking to cross the Atlantic without paying full cash fares. You can read more about our Germany trip here.
Transferring points also allows for additional flexibility. You can book one-way flights, premium cabins, or routes that are unattainable with cash. Some programs even allow combining points from multiple programs for longer trips.
To recap, consider that Hawaii flight. Through the portal at 1:1, it would have cost 80,000 points. By transferring points to an airline partner, it only cost 20,000 points. This is effectively saving 60,000 points and roughly $650 in cash. Transferring points is one of the most powerful strategies for getting maximum value from your miles.
Flying in Luxury
One of the most exciting ways to use miles and points is to fly in business or first class without paying full price. This is where travel hacking really shines, turning ordinary trips into unforgettable experiences.
A killer example comes from our trip to French Polynesia. Using points, we booked business class flights that would have cost over $13,000 in cash. Instead, we spent 228,000 points plus about $590 in taxes and fees. Not only did this save us thousands of dollars, but we also got lie-flat seats, premium meals, and lounge access. Long flights felt like part of the adventure rather than a chore.
Luxury flights are not just for exotic islands. Flying Blue can get you business class to Europe for as low as 50,000 points each way. That means a round-trip to Paris, London, or Amsterdam in comfort can sometimes be booked for 100,000 points, compared to cash fares that often exceed $3,000.
Even farther destinations are within reach. For example, you can fly to South Africa in business class for about 110,000 points each way. That allows travelers to experience premium travel to destinations on the other side of the world while saving thousands in cash fares.
These examples show the incredible value of points when used for premium travel. From French Polynesia to Europe and South Africa, transferring points strategically can turn long-haul flights into comfortable, unforgettable journeys without breaking the bank.
Where to Begin?
The most important step is to figure out what you want and start learning. Do you want to fly to Europe, Hawaii, Japan, or somewhere farther like South Africa? Start by identifying which airlines fly to your destination and which credit cards transfer points to those airlines.
If you are just starting, you may be better off getting a flexible travel card that earns transferable points. Cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Capital One Miles allow you to move points to multiple airline programs. This gives you more options and flexibility when planning your trips.
If you already have points or miles, the process begins the same way. Figure out your transfer partners and check which airlines can get you to your destination. Tools like DailyDrop and PointsYeah are a great way to see what transfer partners are available and what flights cost in points. Once you know your options, you can select the airline program that gives you the best value for the points you have.
A real example from our own experience is our trip to Japan. We researched which airlines flew there, then opened the right cards to make the trip happen using points. You can read about how we planned and booked this trip here.
Start by researching award charts, using airline websites, and checking point comparison tools. You do not need to figure everything out at once. Even small steps, like identifying one airline or one card to focus on, will make the process more manageable.
It may seem like a daunting task at first, but as you spend time exploring, you will realize how incredible points and miles can be. Take the time to learn the basics, plan ahead, and take advantage of transfer opportunities. And if you need help, reach out to us—we would love to help you book that dream trip.
Good Redemption or Bad? Cash or Miles?
Now that we know what miles can be worth, it is important to understand when using them is a good deal and when it might not be. You have probably already picked up the idea, but let’s review it briefly.
If we know that we can always get at least a 1:1 value through the portal or by erasing purchases, then that becomes our reference point. This means 50,000 miles is always equal to at least $500. With this baseline, it is easy to determine whether a redemption is worth it.
For example, imagine a flight costs $400. You could pay cash, redeem 40,000 miles through the portal, or transfer miles to a partner and potentially book it for 30,000 miles. Clearly, transferring points gives you more value. On the other hand, if a flight costs $400 or 50,000 miles, you are far better off paying cash.
The decision to use cash or miles also depends on personal preference and availability. Early in our travels, we used Capital One miles to erase flight purchases. This did not always give us the highest value per mile, but it worked well for our situation and allowed us to travel without worrying about cash. Sometimes convenience and flexibility are just as important as maximizing cents per point.
Conclusion.
Miles and points are more than just numbers in your account. They are a passport to experiences that might otherwise feel out of reach. From business class flights to French Polynesia to Europe for 50,000 points or even South Africa in luxury for 110,000 points, the potential value is enormous. The key is understanding how to earn, transfer, and redeem points strategically. Start by figuring out where you want to go, check which airlines fly there, and learn which cards transfer to the programs you need. Even small steps can make a big difference.
Remember, the goal is not just to save money, but to unlock opportunities for travel that are memorable, comfortable, and fun. With a little research, planning, and flexibility, you can turn points into trips you will remember for a lifetime. The journey starts with understanding your options and taking action, whether that means transferring points, booking through a portal, or using points to erase a purchase. Miles and points work best when you use them intentionally, and the rewards can be incredible.
Additional
Get yourself a credit card and start small. A great easy card is the Capital One Venture. It’s easy to use and a great starter.
Anything is better than nothing. Sure you want to get the best redemption but at the very least, an opening credit card bonus can you get really far in the world of travel.
Award Hacker is a great site that shows you what’s possible. It’s not for booking, but it shows you what’s possible for the desired routes. Mess around with it and you’ll see how far miles can really get you. It can be a little confusing, though, so go in with patience.
There are people and groups all over the internet showing how to get the most out of your miles and how to find these high-value, low-mile flights. The point of this article is to show you what your miles are worth. A little digging and you’ll see how incredible this can be.