Editor’s word: This is a recurring submit, usually up to date with new data and provides.
One of the questions I’m usually requested is, “How much is a point or mile worth?”
The true reply varies from level to level and individual to individual and will depend on your journey targets and the way effectively you’ll be able to maximize a selected loyalty foreign money. Still, some rewards are clearly price greater than others — my objective is to provide you a way of how they stack up.
Historically, TPG has valued factors and miles primarily based on a mix of the value at which we’d buy the miles, award prices in this system (factoring in availability and costs) and our personal experience within the interior workings of the packages. However, we’re within the technique of evolving our valuations to turn out to be as data-driven as doable.
Looking for a handy option to see all your factors and miles in a single place? Download the free TPG App!
That data-driven course of started final November with our 4 main transferable currencies — American Express Membership Rewards factors, Chase Ultimate Rewards factors, Citi ThankYou Rewards factors and Capital One miles. Now, we’re utilizing a mathematical mannequin that takes under consideration various components particular to transferable factors, together with:
- Unique switch companions (not shared by different card issuers).
- The most dear particular person companions in this system.
- The base redemption worth if you redeem factors or miles immediately for journey.
Based on this rollout, we at the moment are rounding the valuations for our bank card currencies to the closest five-hundredths of a degree with the intention to higher seize the real-world worth they provide cardholders. We totally anticipate these numbers to fluctuate over time as we refine our equations and roll out extra data-backed lodge and airline valuations within the coming months.
Likewise, we moved three airline currencies — American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus miles — to a data-backed mannequin final December. However, we’ve put these valuations on pause whereas we work out a difficulty with our knowledge supplier. We’re excited to have data-backed valuations up to date quickly.
Note: These valuations usually are not supplied by card issuers.
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Points and miles valuations
* Calculated utilizing TPG’s revamped data-backed valuations methodology, launched in December 2021.
Points and miles information
In early November, United introduced that it’ll increase Premier qualifying level (PQP) necessities for elite standing throughout the board subsequent 12 months.
Thankfully, it launched some optimistic adjustments, too. Namely, award tickets will rely towards elite standing beginning subsequent 12 months. Likewise, it is going to give a head begin bonus to elites subsequent 12 months within the type of bonus PQPs. The variety of bonus PQPs you’ll obtain will depend on your elite standing tier, with Premier 1K members getting 2,500 PQPs.
Further, World of Hyatt launched a brand new standing problem to American AAdvantage. The standing tier you have got with Hyatt dictates your standing tier with American. You’ll obtain AAdvantage immediately, however you should earn a set variety of Loyalty Points each 4 months to increase it.
We additionally noticed Air France-KLM Flying Blue launch a brand new set of promo rewards. The finest deal is enterprise class flights from Montreal to Europe, which begin at simply 27,500 miles one-way. This is a wonderful deal, and it could be price positioning from elsewhere within the Midwest or East Coast to catch one in every of these low-cost flights.
Additionally, Marriott introduced it will finish the 5,000-mile bonus on transfers to Korean Airlines SkyPass on Dec. 1. Normally, the lodge big provides a 5,000 mile bonus if you switch 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors to an airline associate. It ended the bonus on transfers to American, Avianca and Delta in October, making Korean the fourth switch associate with out this bonus.
Finally, there are a two limited-time switch bonuses ending on this month:
- Ending Dec. 7, 2022: Get a 15% bonus if you switch Amex Membership Rewards to Avianca LifeMiles.
- Ending Dec. 20, 2022: Get a 40% bonus if you switch Chase Ultimate Rewards Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy.
Related: Here’s what it is best to know earlier than transferring Marriott factors to airline miles
Data-backed valuations replace
As famous within the introduction, we moved to data-backed valuations for 3 main airline packages — American AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus — final 12 months. However, we’ve run into a difficulty with our knowledge supplier that’s precipitated us to place data-backed valuations on maintain. What you see now are valuations calculated for March, however we plan to publish up-to-date valuations for these three airways quickly.
Travel bank card provides
There is not any scarcity of incredible new welcome bonuses on many common playing cards — listed here are a number of of our favorites this month.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Toward the top of 2021, Capital One launched its first premium rewards card, and it is without doubt one of the most fun journey bank cards in the marketplace, due to nice incomes charges and included perks.
The card is presently providing a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles if you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, price $1,388 in line with our valuations, due to Capital One’s glorious airline and lodge switch companions.
For extra particulars, try our full evaluate of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Official software: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The commonplace Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is presently providing the identical welcome bonus because the Venture X. You can earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening. Like the Venture X, the Venture card earns 2 miles per greenback on every little thing.
For extra particulars, try our full evaluate of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Official software: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
With the present welcome provide on the Amex Platinum, you’ll earn 80,000 factors after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership.
Of course, the cardboard is jam-packed with advantages like airport lounge entry, lodge elite standing and extra. These advantages could make your journey expertise smoother and extra luxurious than ever earlier than — particularly with the most up-to-date additions. The card has a $695 annual charge (see charges and costs). Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
For extra particulars, try our full evaluate of the Amex Platinum Card.
Official software: The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express® Gold Card
One of the most well-liked playing cards with TPG staffers throughout the pandemic, the Amex Gold provides 60,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases in your new card throughout the first six months of card membership. This welcome provide is price $1,200 primarily based on our valuations, however make sure to verify the CardMatch software to see if you happen to’re focused for a good larger provide (provide is topic to vary at any time).
The card is nice for a lot of on a regular basis purchases. You’ll earn 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and 4 factors per greenback on eating at eating places. The card has a $250 annual charge (see charges and costs).
For extra particulars, try our full evaluate of the Amex Gold Card.
Official software: American Express Gold Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card provides 150,000 Membership Rewards® factors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases together with your card within the first three months of card membership. Per our valuations, this welcome provide is price at the least $3,000, however you will get much more worth when redeeming for high-end airfare.
The card additionally offers a slew of extra perks just like (however barely totally different from) the private model — you’ll be able to examine the 2 playing cards on this information to see which one can be a greater match on your pockets.
For extra particulars, try our full evaluate of the Amex Business Platinum Card.
Official software: The Business Platinum Card from American Express
Citi Premier® Card
The Citi Premier Card is a wonderful alternative for frequent vacationers, highway trippers and foodies alike. The card earns 3 Citi ThankYou factors per greenback spent at eating places, supermarkets and gasoline stations, and on air journey and lodges. You can switch these factors to top-notch switch companions like Avianca LifeMiles, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and others.
The card is presently providing a welcome bonus of 80,000 ThankYou factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
For extra particulars, try our full evaluate of the Citi Premier Card.
Official software: Citi Premier Card
Related: 4 causes the Citi Premier Card must be in your shortlist
Airline bank cards
If you are trying to earn American Airlines miles, try the next playing cards and their present provides:
Related: The finest airline bank cards
Hotel bank cards
Several lodge bank card welcome bonuses present a easy option to enhance your factors balances. You can use these factors to economize on lodge stays all over the world, irrespective of the place your travels take you.
The portfolio of IHG Rewards bank cards underwent main upgrades earlier this 12 months, and there are presently some strong provides out there:
All of those new provides put you in an important place to earn a ton of bonus factors or miles as you get able to journey once more, and there could also be extra to come back.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum Card, click on right here.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh and Benji Stawski.
This is The Points Guy’s everlasting web page for probably the most up-to-date valuations, so you’ll be able to bookmark it and verify again every month for updates.