One of the amazing things about the miles and points game is how far your miles can go if you know what you’re aiming for. It’s one thing to rack up miles from bonuses and promotions, but actually redeeming miles can be more complicated.
Ben has written extensively about how to redeem miles in the various programs, but as there are so many new people this week I thought it would be helpful to give an overview of how many miles you need for an award ticket. For longtime readers this will mostly be review, but maybe you’ll notice a sweet spot you’d missed before.
I’m going to focus on business class as that gives us a good general range, but you can of course redeem for first class as well in many cases! Similarly, these charts are focused on routes to/from North America. There are great values in other regions as well, so we’ve included links to the award charts so you can dig in further.
Finally, not every program out there is included below. If you want a more comprehensive view of award charts, make sure to check out the section on Loyalty Programs.
All prices are one-way, except those marked with an “*” — these programs only allow you to book round-trip awards, so there’s no discount in price for a one-way. It’s also worth noting that Delta no longer publishes award charts, and has a very complicated pricing scheme, so those prices are really educated guesses.
What are all these transfer partners?
Several rewards programs offer the option to transfer points to an airline partner. These are referred to as “flexible points” or “transferable points.” They are most easily accrued through credit card spending/bonuses, but there are often opportunities to leverage shopping portals and other bonuses as well.
Before anyone asks, you generally can’t transfer miles from one airline to another. So while you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan or Delta SkyMiles, you can’t transfer points from Aeroplan to SkyMiles.
Why aren’t you talking about domestic flights? Or economy?
While there are some good values to be found in redeeming miles for domestic flights, it’s honestly not the best use of your miles. Similarly, given that international economy tickets can often be purchased for a very low cost, it generally doesn’t make sense to spend your hard-earned miles to sit in the back of the plane.
There are exceptions, of course, but here at One Mile at a Time we like to focus on the ridiculous and aspirational things you can do with your miles.
Business Class to Europe
There are hundreds of flights a day between North America and Europe, so if you’re flexible with your routing or schedule it’s typically not too tough to find award availability, particularly if you’re booking well in advance.
| Airline Program | Miles Required – Business | Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Europe 1: 45,000 Europe 2: 52,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Air France/KLM FlyingBlue | 62,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Air France: 62,500 American: 50,000 British Airways: 60,000 Delta: 125,000* Emirates: 105,000 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alitalia MilleMiglia | Alitalia: 100,000† SkyTeam Partners: 80,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 57,500 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Avianca Lifemiles | 75,000 | |
| British Airways Executive Club | Distance Based | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Delta SkyMiles | ~62,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Korean Air SkyPass | 80,000* | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Miles & More | 52,500 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Singapore: 48,875 (includes 15% online booking discount) Partners: 65,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| United MileagePlus | United: 57,500 Partners: 70,000 | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Distance Based | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
† One note on Alitalia. They changed their award chart for their own flights back in 2012, but have been offering a “promotional” chart that matches their SkyTeam chart since then. That has technically expired, but whether you pay the promo rates or the “correct” rates really depends on the agent you get
Aeroplan has hands-down the best value for business class travel, particularly if you can redeem miles on carriers that don’t levy fuel surcharges. They also allow either two stopovers or a stopover and open-jaw on a round trip, and you can always get reimbursed for the fuel surcharges.
Turkish Business Class has no fuel surcharges when booked through Aeroplan
Singapore KrisFlyer also has fantastic rates for awards on their own metal. You receive a 15% discount by booking online, which lowers the price of those awards dramatically.
Business Class to Central and South America
For some reason, every airline seems to divide this region up differently, so there’s not really a way to make a clean and easy chart here. This should give you a general idea, but if you’re planning award travel to South America you probably want to look at the specific award chart for the program you’re interested in so you know which zone your destination country is in.
| Airline Program | Miles Required – Business | Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Central America: 30,000 Northern South America: 37,500 Southern South America: 47,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Air France/KLM FlyingBlue | Central America: 30,000 Northern South America: 43,750 Southern South America: 62,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Aeromexico: 35,000 – 45,000 American: 30,000 – 50,000 Delta: 60,000 – 125,000* LAN: 45,000 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alitalia MilleMiglia | Central America: 60,000* Northern South America: 60,000 Southern South America: 75,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Central America & South America 1: 27,500 – 30,000 South America 2: 57,500 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Avianca Lifemiles | North of Central America: 36,000 South of Central America: 36,000 North of South America: 40,000 South of South America: 60,000 | |
| British Airways Executive Club | Distance Based | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Delta SkyMiles | Central America: ~30,000 Northern South America: ~45,000 Southern South America: ~62,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Korean Air SkyPass | Korean Only: 52,500 Latin America 1 SkyTeam Partners: 75,000* Latin America 2 SkyTeam Partners: 110,000* | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Miles & More | Central America: 30,000 South America: 52,500 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Central America: 30,000 South America: 50,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| United MileagePlus | Central America: 30,000 Northern South America: 35,000 Southern South America: 55,000 | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
LAN offers lie-flat seats in business class to South America
Business Class to the Middle East, Africa, and Indian Subcontinent
This is another region where there is a wide range of geographical definitions, particularly as many mileage programs seem to have rather arbitrary ways of dividing Africa.
In general, when redeeming miles for travel to India or Africa look at routing through Europe or the Middle East whenever possible. You’ll make some additional connections, but will generally get a better product in exchange.
| Airline Program | Miles Required – Business | Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Middle East & North Africa: 82,500 East, West, and South Africa: 75,000 India: 75,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Air France/KLM FlyingBlue | 100,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Air France: 70,000 British Airways: 70,000 Cathay Pacific: 62,500 Delta: 140,000 Delta (South Africa): 160,000* Emirates (India/Middle East): 82,500 Emirates (Africa): 120,000 Korean (India/Middle East): 140,000* | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alitalia MilleMiglia | India/Middle East: 120,000* North Africa: 80,000* Central and Southern Africa: 120,000* | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Africa: 75,000 India/Middle East: 70,000 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Avianca Lifemiles | North Africa/Middle East/India: 78,000 South Africa: 78,000 | |
| British Airways Executive Club | Distance Based | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Delta SkyMiles | Africa/India/Middle East: ~70,000 South Africa: ~80,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Korean Air SkyPass | Partners: 120,000* | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Miles & More | Middle East/North Africa/Central Africa: 67,500 Southern Africa/India: 92,500 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Africa/Middle East on Singapore: 80,750 West Coast to India on Singapore: 76,500 East Coast to India on Singapore: 87,125 Middle East/North Africa on Singapore: 57,500 Central/South Africa on Partners: India on Partners: 97,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| United MileagePlus | United: 70,000 Partners: 80,000 | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Middle East/North Africa: 80,000 India/South Africa: 90,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
Qatar Airways has dine-on-demand catering, and lie-flat seats
For business class, United offers a great value to these regions. You won’t pay any fuel surcharges, and can have open-jaws and a stopover on a round-trip itinerary. Combined with the sheer numbers of Star Alliance partners, there are possibilities for great redemptions.
Business Class to Asia
There are so many good business class redemption opportunities here it’s hard to pick a favorite. There is a bit of a balance between things like stopovers and fuel surcharges, but for the most part I think most of the business class prices are pretty reasonable, so it’s hard to go wrong here.
| Airline Program | Miles Required – Business | Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Asia 1: 75,000 Asia 2: 77,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Air France/KLM FlyingBlue | 100,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | American (Japan/Korea): 50,000 American (China): 55,000 Cathay Pacific: 50,000 Delta: 140,000* Emirates: 105,000 Korean (North Asia): 105,000* Korean (Southeast Asia): 120,000* | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alitalia MilleMiglia | Northern Asia: 90,000* Southern Asia: 95,000* | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Asia 1: 60,000 Asia 2: 70,000 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Avianca Lifemiles | North Asia: 75,000 South/Central Asia: 78,000 | |
| British Airways Executive Club | Distance Based | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Delta SkyMiles | ~70,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | North Asia: 87,500 South/Central Asia: 97,500 | Citi ThankYou Points |
| Korean Air SkyPass | Korean (Korea/China/Japan): 62,500 Korean (Southeast Asia): 75,000 Korean (Southwest Asia): 85,000 Partners (Northeast Asia): 140,000* Partners (Southeast Asia): 155,000* Partners (Southwest Asia): 170,000* | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Miles & More | 67,500 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | West Coast to Southeast Asia on Singapore: 68,000 East Coast to Southeast Asia on Singapore: 72,250 West Coast to South China on Singapore: 63,750 East Coast to South China on Singapore: 78,625 East Coast to North China on Singapore: 87,125 West Coast to Japan/Korea on Singapore: 65,875 East Coast to Japan/Korea on Singapore: 89,250 | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| United MileagePlus | United (Japan): 65,000 United (Central/South/North Asia): 70,000 Partners (Japan): 75,000 Partners (Central/South/North Asia): 80,000 | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 90,000-110,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
Every business class seat on Cathay Pacific long-hauls has direct aisle access
Business Class to Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania
Award travel to the South Pacific is complicated — there isn’t a ton of capacity compared to other regions, and availability is generally poor on the few direct routes between North America and Australia. Given that, my favorite programs are the ones that allow you to route via Asia, as that expands options dramatically and gives you access to better products as well.
Delta and United offer some of the best values, in my opinion. United will allow you to route via Asia, and doesn’t levy fuel surcharges. Delta will allow routing via Asia as well, but more importantly they partner with Virgin Australia, which actually releases award space on routes to the US.
| Airline Program | Miles Required – Business | Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 80,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Air France/KLM FlyingBlue | 120,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | Air France (Tahiti): 60,000 Cathay Pacific: 60,000 Delta: 160,000* Fiji Airways: 55,000 Korean Air: 125,000* Qantas: 55,000 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Alitalia MilleMiglia | 150,000* | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | 80,000 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Avianca Lifemiles | 80,000 | |
| British Airways Executive Club | Distance Based | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Delta SkyMiles | ~80,000 | American Express Membership Rewards Starwood Preferred Guest |
| EVA Air Infinity MileageLands | 97,500 | Citi ThankYou Points |
| Korean Air SkyPass | Korean: 97,500 Partners: 185,000* | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Miles & More | 92,500 | Starwood Preferred Guest |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | West Coast to West Australia on Singapore: 80,750 East Coast to West Australia on Singapore: 87,125 West Coast to East Australia/New Zealand on Singapore: 85,000 East Coast to East Australia/New Zealand on Singapore: 91,375 Partners: 97,500 | American Express Membership Rewards Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Points Starwood Preferred Guest |
| United MileagePlus | United: 70,000 Partners: 80,000 | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
Virgin Australia business class is one of the few options for direct flights using miles between Australia and North America
Bottom Line
Obviously award availability is going to be the determining factor in many cases, but hopefully this gives you a general idea of how many miles you’ll need as you’re building up your balances.
Do any of these rates surprise you? Anyone have a favorite redemption to share?
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