How Are Airline Miles Calculated?

Most of us don't fly often enough to earn enough airline miles. With credit card miles, you don't have to travel at all to get free flights.

Credit card miles have become a lot of attention thanks to the great sign-up bonuses they offer. Getting started is fairly simple once you understand how they work.

What are credit card miles?

Each time you make a purchase using a credit card, you'll be rewarded with a certain amount of miles. The best cards offer 1 mile for every $1 spent on everyday purchases and bonuses on certain purchases.

To get credit card miles, you must spend money with a specific travel company. The terms "mile" and "travel" are often combined, though the latter do not refer to distance traveled.

How much are credit card miles worth?

The basic rule is that each mile is worth $0.01. However, there are varying methods for earning credit card miles. Some cards are more valuable than others.

How many credit card miles do you need for a free flight?

The value of your miles depends on the program and the distance that you'll be flying. For instance, it could cost you 80,000 miles to get to Paris.

Flat rate of $0.01 per mile: 20,000 miles for a $200 flight

Flights to Europe usually start at around 60,000 miles. A round-trip trip to Asia usually costs over 80,000 miles.

Based on how far you're flying, 25,000 or 30,000 credit card miles are usually enough for a cross-country trip.

How to earn airline miles with a credit card

You can get miles for your friends by referring them to a rewards credit card. They'll then be deposited into their account.

Look for sign-up bonuses, which are usually linked to a certain amount of spending. These are miles that can be earned for spending a certain amount within the first few months of using a new card.

You'll also have to decide if you want to pay an annual fee. Usually, annual fee credit cards are more advantageous than other forms of payment.

Getting the right airline credit card is the first step in making sure that you're getting the best deal. It's important to get one that fits to your spending habits. If you travel a lot, it's a good idea to get a generic card.

The basic premise of earning airline miles with a great creditcard is that the more you spend, the higher you earn. There are a variety of ways to earn airline miles, and they all require little or no spending.

If you usually spend a lot and prefer travel rewards, then getting multiple credit cards is a good idea. One card can work seamlessly with another one, and it can also be used to transfer points to another card.

How to redeem credit card miles to travel

Most credit cards have a portal that lets you redeem your rewards. This is usually for both a generic travel credit card and a frequent flyer program.

After logging in, you'll be able to find the exact option that's right for you. Some programs, however, have different dates.

Be flexible and try to book low-cost options when possible. It's also a good idea to avoid expensive dates.

Fly with a travel partner: Many frequent flyer programs have partner airlines. You can also get miles with other airlines by searching with them.

If you're earning transfer points, make sure to research the prices of the other transfer partners before booking a flight.

The best credit cards for airline miles

Deciding on the right airline credit card can depend on many factors, such as your spending habits and travel goals. Having a specific goal in mind helps you earn miles quickly.

Comparing travel cards

Some people tend to prefer a rewards card with no annual fee, while others are willing to pay an annual fee. Remember, though, that these cards usually come with a large annual fee.

The first step in choosing the right card is deciding if you want a co-branded card or a generic travel card. If you frequently fly with a specific airline, getting that card may be worth it to get rewarded miles at a higher rate.

Other factors to consider when choosing an airline card include the card's travel perks, such as a sign-up bonus, travel protection, and discounted tickets.

The decision to get a credit card is one of the most crucial factors in deciding on an airline.

How many miles do you need to have for a free flight by airline?

Delta Air Lines, for instance, does not publish award charts and instead charges miles on a case-by-case basis.

There's no variation in the number of miles you need to get a free flight. Instead, you'll find the same ticket type and the same award levels.

To get a free flight, you'll need to earn between 7,000 and 119,000 miles. The average cost of a round-trip flight is double what you see below.

How many miles do you need to have for a free international flight?

For our data collection, we looked at the price of a flight from New York City to London.

The amount of miles needed to get a free international flight depends on the type of ticket and the date when it's booked. Generally, international flights follow the same trends as domestic awards.

It's best to use your miles to get a first class or a business class seat instead of economy. Even though it takes a bit more miles to get a free seat, you'll get a better value than using points to purchase a non-business class ticket.

For an economy seat from JFK to LAX, it can cost $145. For comparison, a business class seat from the same route would cost $892. To get the per-mile value, you need to divide the price by the miles.

How many credit card miles do you need for a free flight?

These cards can still earn you an award flight, though they're not tied to any specific airline. Instead, they can be used to pay for travel purchases made on your account.

There are two types of credit cards that can offer airline miles: the co-branded cards and the general rewards cards. The first is the easiest to understand. These cards are the ones that give you miles for every dollar that you spend with the airlines.

Calculating the value of airline miles

There's a standard by which you can measure the value of your miles. The Points Guy, which is owned by the original author of this post, compiles monthly values for the biggest US frequent flyer programs.

When it comes to calculating the value of miles, the easiest way to do so is by dividing the price of a flight over the miles. For example, if the ticket price is $13,500, divide it by the number of miles.

Depending on the amount of miles you get, the value of the miles can vary. For instance, if you buy 1,000 American Airline AAdvantage miles for $29.50, and get 115,000 bonus miles, you'll end up with 265,000 miles.

How much you get for airline miles and how much they are typically two different things. For instance, if you use a credit card to make a purchase, the amount you pay for airline miles is typically different than the amount you get for it. Also, the cost of miles decreases depending on how many you earn.

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