: Use the current market price for the exact same flight, including all fees you would actually pay.
Experts from sites like NerdWallet and The Points Guy provide monthly benchmarks. Here are typical values to use as a baseline: Airline Program Average Value (per mile) "Good" Redemption Target 1.5 – 1.7¢ Southwest Airlines (Rapid Rewards) 1.2 – 1.5¢ United Airlines (MileagePlus) 1.1 – 1.2¢ Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles) 1.1 – 1.2¢ JetBlue (TrueBlue) 1.3 – 1.5¢ When to Use Miles vs. Cash What are cents-per-mile valuation? - Hyperbots use miles or buy ticket calculator
Deciding whether to use airline miles or pay cash for a ticket boils down to a simple calculation of the "cents per mile" (CPM) value. This metric tells you exactly how much each mile is worth for a specific trip so you can compare it against average valuations. The Miles vs. Cash Formula : Use the current market price for the
To determine if your redemption is a good deal, use this standard equation: Cash What are cents-per-mile valuation
\text{Cents Per Mile (CPM)} = \frac{\text{Cash Price of Ticket} - \text{Award Taxes & Fees}}{\text{Number of Miles Required}} \times 100
: Most "free" tickets still require paying government taxes and carrier surcharges (e.g., fuel fees) out-of-pocket.