How much are points and miles worth in 2026?

Navigating the complex world of credit card rewards requires a clear understanding of what your hard-earned points and miles are actually worth. Whether you are aiming to book a luxury hotel room or a business-class seat on an international flight, the value of a single point can fluctuate significantly depending on how and where you use it.

To help you make the most informed decisions for your wallet, we have developed a data-driven approach to evaluating top loyalty programs, including both credit card rewards and popular airline and hotel travel partners. By establishing these baseline values, we aim to show you exactly how much each point is worth so you can easily identify which redemptions offer the best value and which cards will get you to your next travel goal more quickly.

How CardRatings values points and miles

To estimate the value of points and miles across applicable airline, hotel and flexible travel programs, we conducted a sample-based analysis of real award redemptions. For each program, we selected between five and 10 representative bookings that included a mix of domestic and international travel (or hotel stays), as well as both peak and off-peak dates where possible. This sample was designed to reflect typical consumer redemption behavior across different trip lengths, routes and seasonal pricing conditions. 

For each redemption, we compared the cash price of the flight or hotel stay to the points required when booking through the program. We calculated a per-point value by dividing the cash price (excluding taxes and mandatory fees when applicable) by the points cost, then averaged the results across all sample bookings to determine an overall estimated point value for each program. While award pricing can vary due to dynamic pricing and availability, this approach provides a standardized, real-world snapshot for comparing rewards programs on a consistent basis.  

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