How this calculator works
An award ticket is a trade: you give up miles and some cash fees instead of paying the full fare. The value per mile is what you avoid paying in cash, after fees, divided by the miles spent. Comparing that figure with the value you normally get from a mile shows whether this redemption is above or below average. The cash avoided is the net fare minus the baseline value of the miles, and the discount expresses that saving as a share of the cash fare. The page does not value the miles you earn on a cash ticket, the flexibility of the award, or the possibility that the cash fare would have changed.
Formula
Value per mile (cents) = (cash price - fees) / miles x 100. Baseline value = miles x baseline cents / 100. Cash saved = cash price - fees - baseline value. Discount = cash saved / cash price.
Worked example
A $600 flight booked for 25,000 miles plus $75 in fees gives (600 - 75) / 25,000 x 100 = 2.10 cents per mile. At a normal value of 1.5 cents, the miles are worth $375, so the redemption saves $150 over that baseline, a 25 percent discount on the ticket.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a good value per mile?
It depends on your programme and how you would otherwise use the miles. A common rule of thumb is that 1 to 2 cents per mile is reasonable, and anything above 2 cents is strong for economy travel. Premium cabin redemptions can be higher but use far more miles.
Should I include taxes and fees?
Yes. Award tickets often carry cash taxes, carrier surcharges and a booking fee. Those reduce what the miles actually save, so enter the total cash amount you will pay alongside the miles.
Is the cash fare the right comparison?
Use the fare you would genuinely have paid, not the most expensive flexible fare you can find. Comparing an award with an inflated refundable fare makes the redemption look better than it is.
Does this account for miles earned on a cash ticket?
No. A cash ticket usually earns miles and elite credit, while an award ticket may earn little or none. If those matter to you, reduce the effective value of the award by their value.