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Posted by on Jan 3, 2023 in Airline Tips, Car Rental Tips, Hotel Tips

What in the World Are My Points and Miles Worth?

What in the World Are My Points and Miles Worth?

Ever wonder whether a promotion is worth the effort or if a redemption is a good value?

Is this free flight, that requires tens of thousands (or even hundreds of thousands) of my reward miles a good value? Does the number of points I can earn on this promo even matter – is it worth my effort? How do I compare 50,000 Hilton HHonors points with 50,000 Marriott/Starwood Bonvoy points? Etc. etc….

A point is not simply a point… A mile is not simply a mile…

The value of a reward point or mile can vary greatly based on how strategic the Member is in their approach to earning and redeeming. We often provide our estimate of the monetary value of a loyalty program point or mile in our Perks and Tips. Think of it this way – it’s the estimated value we would be willing to pay for the reward points or miles if we could buy them for cash. It is also the minimum value we feel you should expect before redeeming your reward points and miles. We believe this helps our Members compare across programs and across promotions.

We base these valuations on experience and industry research. And we update the values from time to time as the programs change or as more information becomes available. This is not a scientific calculation. But, we attempt to take into account opportunities to earn points and miles, award availability and restrictions, program fees, and other factors.

The general rule, of course, is that the higher the value per point or mile, the better!

trvlvip’s VALUATIONS – last updated on July 18, 2021:

Hotels (value of one reward point):

  • IHG – 0.5 cents
  • Hilton – 0.5 cents
  • Hyatt – 1.8 cents
  • Marriott/Starwood – 0.8 cents

Airlines (value of one reward mile):

  • Alaska Airlines – 1.8 cents
  • American Airlines – 1.4 cents
  • Delta Airlines – 1.2 cents
  • United Airlines – 1.5 cents

Car Rental Companies (each paid, qualified rental day earns credit toward a free rental day):

  • Avis – Avis has a revenue-based earning structure and redemption opportunities will vary based on many factors, which makes assigning a point value challenging
  • Hertz – $5.50 of value earned for each paid, qualifying rental day
  • National – $4.30 of value earned for each paid, qualifying rental day

Car rental programs are a bit more complex, so we’ve provided links (above) to additional information on each rental car company’s rewards program.

Top Travel Credit Cards (value of one reward point):

  • Chase Ultimate Rewards – 2 cents
  • American Express Membership Rewards – 2 cents

Smart earning Tip:  If you are loyal to any of the airline, hotel, or car rental programs listed above, it is rare to find a bonus with one of their partners that is more lucrative than earning points or miles with the airline you are flying, the hotel you are staying at or the car rental company from which you are renting.

Go ahead and sign up for FREE travel promotion updates so you never again miss an important trvlvip Perk, Tip or Blog post!

Happy Loyalty, Happy Travels!

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We greatly appreciate when you click on any of our links or ads and book or buy directly on the travel partner’s website to enjoy the best price! We have the potential to receive compensation, which allows us to provide our helpful travel updates and advice to you FREE of charge! For more information see our Advertising Policy. Many thanks!

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32 Comments

  1. whoah this weblog is wonderful i really like studying your posts. Keep up the great writing! You already know, lots of individuals are searching around for this information, you can help them greatly.

    • Thanks John, I appreciate the feedback.

  2. Thanks for keeping this updated! I love that you do most of the work for me!

  3. Thanks Merriah,
    I wasn’t sure what to do! Now I understand whether using my miles is worth it or not on a particular flight.

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  16. bride, Julie d’Angenne.

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  18. new texts were rewritten

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  20. among them acquired “Moral

  21. “Julia’s Garland” (fr. Guirlande de Julie)

  22. bride, Julie d’Angenne.

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  29. Understanding the value of points and miles is crucial for smart travel choices. Thanks for breaking it down! check out t.ly/lUn_1 for more insights on miles

  30. Europe, and in Ancient Russia

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