Redemption checker
You're about to book a flight or a hotel with points. Was it a good use of those points or should you have paid cash? Tell us what the same trip costs both ways and we'll do the math.
You see a flight to Tokyo for $1,200 in cash. The airline also offers it for 60,000 miles. Which is the better deal? Plug both numbers in below and the calculator tells you each mile is worth 2¢ on this trip, which is a strong redemption for most programs.
The math is cash divided by points, in cents. Anything above the program's baseline is a "good use" of your points. Anything below means you'd have come out ahead paying cash and earning rewards on the swipe.
How to use it honestly
- Compare the same thing. Look up the cash price of the exact flight, hotel, or product, then plug in what the same redemption costs in points.
- Don't average across redemptions. A 4¢ business class sweet spot and a 1¢ portal redemption average to 2.5¢, but you won't actually book both.
- Cash prices vary by date, route, and loyalty status. Cross-check on the actual booking site before committing points.