Is it worth paying for miles?

It Rarely Makes Sense To Buy Miles. As tempting as some offers may seem, there are many cases when it doesn't make sense to buy miles. This includes buying miles from programs with fixed values, buying miles at full price and buying miles as an add-on to airfare purchases.



In 2026, the value of an airline mile averages around $0.013, though this fluctuates between $0.011 and $0.019 depending on the carrier and route. Paying for miles is high-value primarily in two scenarios: topping off an account for a specific reward flight or securing premium cabin redemptions (Business/First Class) that would otherwise cost thousands in cash. For example, buying miles during a 100% bonus promotion can effectively discount a $10,000 long-haul seat by 50–70%. However, for standard economy flights, the math often fails as the cost to purchase miles usually exceeds the cash price of the ticket. For 2026 travelers, it is a "pro-move" to calculate the Cents Per Mile (CPM) value—dividing the cash price by the miles required—to ensure you are gaining more than you are spending, while keeping an eye on the frequent "2-to-4-year" program devaluations.

People Also Ask

Airline miles are oftentimes the most valuable award travel currency. While many travel rewards are worth around 1 cent each, airline miles can be worth up to 6 cents each for first-class flights. Despite the potentially high valuations, miles are not always worth earning.

MORE DETAILS

We found the average airline mile to be worth around $0.014, with AAdvantage offering the highest value and Southwest and United offering the most user-friendly rewards. The average airline mile across major U.S. companies is worth $0.014.

MORE DETAILS

The biggest ancillary gains from airlines come from their loyalty programs. Frequent flyer programs, whether counted as points or miles, generate multiple income streams. Airlines earn revenue when credit card companies buy points or miles to issue branded cardholders.

MORE DETAILS

WalletHub, Financial Company The value of Lufthansa miles is 2.26 cents per mile, on average. That means 10,000 Lufthansa miles have a value of roughly $226. Lufthansa miles are more valuable than the average airline miles, which are worth 1.32 cents each, as a result.

MORE DETAILS

Key takeaways. Cash back credit cards are generally the better choice if you want to earn simple rewards on your regular purchases. A points or miles card may be a better option if you travel often or want to start earning travel rewards on your purchases.

MORE DETAILS

Most airlines allow travelers to redeem their miles for flights, seat upgrades, or other travel-related perks, but they don't convert them directly to cash. Some airlines also permit the transfer of miles to other reward programs, such hotel loyalty programs, which may include the option of cash redemption.

MORE DETAILS

All members who have one million lifetime flight miles or more earn annual status benefits for themselves, as well as the option to extend their current Premier status to a companion (defined as a spouse, significant other or individual who resides at the same home address, based on MileagePlus profile information) on ...

MORE DETAILS

50,000 American miles are worth about $850. How much are 80,000 American miles worth? 80,000 American miles are worth about $1,360.

MORE DETAILS