You’ve got miles, but where will your miles take you?
I must preface this with a thing or three.
Firstly, this is a continually growing list. I enjoy learning about miles and their value and this gives me a place to put my newly discovered information. Hopefully, you’ll find it helpful in your own exploring.
Second, the best mileage redemptions come from booking first and business class. This is because the cash value of these tickets is often thousands and thousands of dollars. A business class seat to Europe may cost you 100,000 miles or $10,000. 100k miles is an insane amount of miles, but compared to a $10,000 ticket you’re getting roughly 10 cents per mile. These types of redemptions are by far the best way to get the most value out of your points. They can be a little tough however because most people don’t have 200,000 points sitting around to fly you and your spouse ONE WAY to Europe. It’s just an insane use of miles. But, if you want the absolute best value or you want to fly first class to Europe, don’t let me stop you.
That being said, these options will mostly focus on economy tickets. Again, redemptions aren’t as good but, in my opinion, they’re far more realistic for the travel-hacking beginner/couple.
Lastly, some award flights are really easy to find. Some are not. Award flights are all based on airline availability as well as your own flexibility.
Just because an award chart says something or my results show something, it doesn’t mean you’ll find flights when you want to find flights. Award travel takes work but is always worth it. Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. As you learn the game you’ll get better at finding what you’re looking for.
Transfer Partners
Every credit card/bank has different transfer partners. Thanks to DailyDrop and their cheat sheet, it’s really easy to know what your card can do. Or, it’ll help you know what card you’ll need to sign up for to get to your dream destination.
Destinations
✅= I’ve actually found the flights. Otherwise, it’s assumed based on award charts.
Assume these rates are from Salt Lake unless stated otherwise.
Europe
Virgin Atlantic – Booking Delta flights.
- 60k round trip
Virgin Atlantic – Booking KLM/AF.
- 15k+ ≈$150 (one-way) ✅ (limited awards and destination availability.)
Turkish – Booking Star Alliance
- 50k-55k (one way) ✅ Eastern and western.
- Turkish metal 40k
KLM/AF – Dynamic awards
- Promos are as low as 12k one-way from changing mid to eastern U.S. cities. ✅
Avianca – Booking Star Alliance
- 60k (round trip) ✅ (Pretty easy to do)
ANA (Partner)
- US – Europe 60k round trip
Oceania
Avianca – Booking Star Alliance.
- Australia – 80k+≈$80 (round trip) ✅
Qantas –
- LAX-Fiji ✅ 31,5k +$27 (one-way)
- Fiji-LAX ✅ 31,5k + $100 (one-way)
- SLC-Fiji ✅ 37,6k (one-way)
- SLC-SYD ✅ 41,9k + $ (one-way)
Japan
Virgin Atlantic – Booking ANA
- 60k + $350 (West Coast round trip) ✅
- Business class – 90k (West Coast round trip) ✅ last minute availability
Avianca –
- SLC-NRT/HND- 47k one way ✅
Air Canada (partner bookings, one way)
- SLC – Japan/S Korea 50k ✅
- SLC – Thailand/Indonesia 60k ✅
Qantas
- LAX-Tokyo 31,5k + $240 one-way ✅
- SLC-Tokyo 37,8k one-way
ANA
- Partner U.S. – 50k round-trip
- Low Season ANA 40k round-trip, High 55k round-trip
South America
Avianca – Booking Star Alliance
- SLC- Northern S. America ✅ 20k Ecuador (one way)
Qantas –
- Zone 5 ✅ SLC – Ecuador 25,5k + $40 (one way)
American AAdvantage
- North America -> one way starts at 15-30k ✅
Middle East
Avianca – Booking Star Alliance
N. America – Middle East 85k rt
Asia
Turkish Airlines – Booking Star Alliance
- N. America – Central Asia ✅ 65k one way (India)
- N. America – “Far East” 75k one-way (Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines…)
Avianca – Booking Star Alliance
- U.S. – N, S, and Central Asia 94k rt (SLC-HGK ✅)
- DEN – Maldives 94k rt
- U.S – Philippines 94k rt ✅
Cathay Pacific
- LAX-HKG ✅ 27,000 one way, 50k premium economy
Air Canada (partner bookings, one way)
- SLC – Japan/S Korea 50k ✅
- SLC – Thailand/Indonesia/Hong Kong 60k ✅
Qatar (one way)
- U.S – W Asia 85k-95k business. Maldives, Thailand, India ✅
- U.S – W Asia 35-45k Econ ✅ Maldives, Thailand, India
ANA
- Partner 60-80k round-trip
- ANA Low season 45-55k round-trip
Caribbean/ Central America
Virgin Atlantic – Booking Delta
- SLC-Cabo ✅ 23k +$133 rt
- SLC-CUN ✅ 25k +$110 rt
Avianca – Booking Star Alliance
- US -> 17,500-20k one way
American AAdvantage
- North America -> starts at 10k (Carribean, Mexico, Central America)
- SLC-Costa Rica 10k ✅
North America
Turkish – Booking Star Alliance
- 10,00 one-way within the U.S. Including ✅Alaska, ✅Hawaii, and ✅ Puerto Rico.
- 30k one way within North America. (✅Mexico, ✅Canada)
Virgin Atlantic – Booking Delta
- SLC – Alaska ✅ 40k+$11 rt
AirCanada
- Distance-based partners such as United 6,000-22,500
Africa
Avianca – Booking Star Alliance
- North America – North Africa 85k, S Africa 80k,
- DEN – Cape Town 40k +$15 (one-way) ✅