By Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, Founder and CEO of The Points King. Last updated: October 10, 2026. Editorial Policy
How much are airline miles worth in 2026? Most are worth between 1.1 and 1.6 cents each when you redeem them for flights, by The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuations. At those rates 50,000 miles are worth roughly $550 to $800 in travel. American AAdvantage miles are valued at 1.45 cents, Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus miles at 1.2 cents each, and Southwest points at 1.25 cents. The number you actually get depends on the flight you book: the same miles can return under 1 cent or well over 2.
I have valued miles for a living since I started The Points King in 2017, because we buy them for cash. That is a different number from the ones in the table, and a lower one. I explain why further down, so you can compare the two before you decide what to do with a balance.
Airline Miles Values by Program, October 2026
| Program | The Points Guy | NerdWallet | 50,000 at The Points Guy value |
|---|---|---|---|
| American AAdvantage | 1.45 cents | 1.7 cents | $725 |
| Alaska and Hawaiian Atmos Rewards | 1.55 cents | 1.4 cents | $775 |
| Delta SkyMiles | 1.2 cents | 1.2 cents | $600 |
| United MileagePlus | 1.2 cents | 1.2 cents | $600 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | 1.25 cents | 1.4 cents | $625 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | 1.35 cents | 1.4 cents | $675 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 1.5 cents | 1.1 cents | $750 |
| Avios (British Airways and others) | 1.4 cents | 1.2 cents | $700 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | 1.4 cents | 1.0 cents | $700 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1.5 cents | 0.8 cents | $750 |
| Emirates Skywards | 1.2 cents | 1.0 cents | $600 |
| Turkish Miles&Smiles | 1.1 cents | 0.8 cents | $550 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | 1.6 cents | 1.3 cents | $800 |
| Singapore KrisFlyer | 1.3 cents | Not listed | $650 |
| ANA Mileage Club | 1.4 cents | Not listed | $700 |
| Cathay Asia Miles | 1.3 cents | Not listed | $650 |
The Points Guy figures are from its October 1, 2026 monthly valuations. NerdWallet’s are from its page updated October 6, 2026. “Not listed” means NerdWallet does not publish a value for that program.
How to Calculate What Your Miles Are Worth
There are two calculations, and they answer different questions.
What a balance is worth on average: miles x value per mile. For 80,000 Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents, that is 80,000 x $0.012 = $960.
What one specific award is worth: (cash fare minus award taxes and fees) divided by miles required. If a flight costs $420 in cash, or 30,000 miles plus $11.20 in taxes, the award returns ($420 – $11.20) / 30,000 = 1.36 cents per mile.
Use the second one every time you book. If the result is above the program’s value in the table, it is a good use of the miles. If it is well below, pay cash and keep the miles for a better flight.
Why The Points Guy and NerdWallet Disagree
They measure different things. The Points Guy says its airline values come from Points Path data: a trimmed average of real award searches over the prior three months, with award taxes subtracted and rounded to 0.05 cents. NerdWallet takes the median of cash prices against award prices for round-trip economy tickets, searched 15, 60, 90 and 180 days ahead.
NerdWallet’s method looks only at economy. Programs whose best value is in business class tend to score lower there, which would explain why Virgin Atlantic points are 1.5 cents at The Points Guy and 0.8 at NerdWallet, and why Aeroplan points are 1.5 against 1.1. Where both land on the same number, as with Delta and United at 1.2 cents, you can treat it as settled.
What Changed in Airline Miles Values in 2026
- American went up at NerdWallet. NerdWallet raised AAdvantage miles to 1.7 cents for 2026, from 1.3 cents in 2025.
- American raised some partner prices. Connecting awards on Japan Airlines have priced 20,000 miles higher each way since about July 2026, View from the Wing reported. Details are in how to redeem AA miles.
- United tied value to its credit cards. From April 2, 2026, United cardholders get at least 10% off award flights.
- Air Canada changed how miles are earned. Aeroplan moved to earning based on the fare paid on January 1, 2026, Upgraded Points reported.
- Alaska and Hawaiian members get a choice. From January 1, 2027, Atmos Rewards members earn by distance, price or segment, and have been able to pick since October 1, 2026.
- Three values rose this month. The Points Guy lifted Avianca LifeMiles to 1.6 cents, Virgin Atlantic to 1.5 and Qantas to 1.25 for October 2026.
What Moves the Value of Your Miles
- What you redeem for. Flights return the most. Gift cards, hotels and merchandise usually return 1 cent or less. American’s gift cards, new in 2026, return about 0.7 cents per mile.
- Dynamic pricing. Delta, United and American price awards on their own flights dynamically, so the miles price tracks the cash fare and outsized value is harder to find. For Delta, see how to redeem Delta miles.
- Fixed partner charts. Where a chart still exists, as with American’s partner awards, business class can return well above the average.
- Taxes and surcharges. Some awards carry hundreds of dollars in fees. Subtract them before you compare.
- Expiration. Delta and United miles do not expire. American miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity. A mile that expires is worth nothing.
- Devaluation. A program can raise award prices without notice. Miles are not a savings account. For what to do with them, see how to use airline miles: 5 rules of thumb.
What Miles Are Worth When You Sell Them
A cash offer from a broker is lower than the travel values above. It has to be: the buyer pays up front, takes on the risk and the work of using the miles, and needs a margin. The Points King quotes a price by email for your program and balance. The price we agree by email is the price we pay once the transfer is complete, payment is by PayPal, and the minimum is 50,000 miles or points. We do not pay in crypto: see can you sell airline miles for Bitcoin.
Selling makes sense to consider when you have a large balance and no trip to spend it on, when the miles would otherwise expire, or when your only other options are redemptions at 1 cent or less. It does not make sense when you have a flight in mind that returns the table value or better. Selling miles vs. cash back cards looks at the same trade from the earning side.
Brokers, including The Points King, buy airline miles for cash. Airline programs prohibit selling miles in their terms, and a program can take the miles back or close the account of a member who sells them. Read the risks of selling miles and points first, then see our page on selling airline miles for cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are 50,000 airline miles worth?
Between about $550 and $800 in flights for most programs, by The Points Guy’s October 2026 values. 50,000 Delta or United miles are worth about $600, and 50,000 American miles about $725.
How much are 100,000 airline miles worth?
About $1,200 for Delta or United, $1,250 for Southwest, $1,450 for American and $1,550 for Alaska and Hawaiian Atmos Rewards, at The Points Guy’s October 2026 values.
How much is one airline mile worth?
Between 1.1 and 1.6 cents for the major programs in October 2026. Turkish Miles&Smiles is at the low end and Avianca LifeMiles at the high end of The Points Guy’s list.
Which airline miles are worth the most?
Among US programs, The Points Guy values Atmos Rewards points highest at 1.55 cents and American AAdvantage miles next at 1.45. NerdWallet has American highest at 1.7 cents.
How do I calculate the value of an award flight?
Subtract the award’s taxes and fees from the cash fare, then divide by the number of miles. A $420 fare for 30,000 miles plus $11.20 returns 1.36 cents per mile.
Are airline miles worth more than credit card points?
Usually less. The Points Guy values Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents and American Express Membership Rewards points at 2.0 cents for October 2026, because they can be moved to more than one airline. See airline points vs. miles.
Do airline miles lose value over time?
They can. Programs raise award prices, and some miles expire. Earn them for a trip you plan to take, and do not hold large balances for years.
Sources
- The Points Guy: monthly valuations, October 1, 2026
- The Points Guy: valuation methodology, August 3, 2026
- NerdWallet: points and miles valuations, updated October 6, 2026
- NerdWallet: how values changed in 2026, October 1, 2026
- View from the Wing: Japan Airlines award pricing, July 15, 2026
- United: MileagePlus changes for cardholders, February 19, 2026
- Upgraded Points: Aeroplan earning change, January 1, 2026
- One Mile at a Time: Atmos Rewards earning choice, October 1, 2026
Update Log
- October 10, 2026: rewritten with October 2026 values for 16 programs from two published sources, the formulas for valuing a balance and a single award, and the changes that moved values in 2026.