Avianca LifeMiles
1.6¢ per point
Star Alliance partner awards; watch for transfer bonuses.
What Points and Miles Are Worth: October 2026
A points valuation is an estimate of what one point or mile is worth in cents, if you redeem it well. It turns a pile of points into a dollar figure you can compare with cash back.
The values below are the ones every MaxPoints tool uses: the rewards calculator, the compare and category tools, the card pages and the worth-it reviews. They come from The Points Guy’s October 2026 monthly valuations. For the few programs TPG doesn’t value, we use the program’s 1¢ cash value.
They’re planning numbers, not guarantees. What you get depends on how you redeem.
Values checked October 19, 2026.
The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuations
| Program | Type | TPG value | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline | |||
| Avianca LifeMiles | Airline | 1.6¢ | Star Alliance partner awards; watch for transfer bonuses. |
| Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards | Airline | 1.55¢ | Alaska and Hawaiian flights plus oneworld partners. |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Airline | 1.5¢ | Short Star Alliance hops at distance-based prices. |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Airline | 1.45¢ | American flights and oneworld partners. |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Airline | 1.35¢ | Caribbean trips; points track cash fares. |
| Frontier Miles | Airline | 1.3¢ | Frontier flights; compare with the cash fare first. |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | Airline | 1.25¢ | Fare sales, since points track cash fares. |
| Delta SkyMiles | Airline | 1.2¢ | Delta flights when cash prices spike. |
| United MileagePlus | Airline | 1.2¢ | Star Alliance business class to Europe on one ticket. |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Airline | 1.1¢ | Star Alliance premium cabins at low partner prices. |
| Lufthansa Miles & More | Airline | 1¢1¢ cash value1 | TPG doesn’t value it; 1¢ is our catalog default. |
Airline
Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards
1.55¢ per point
Alaska and Hawaiian flights plus oneworld partners.
Air Canada Aeroplan
1.5¢ per point
Short Star Alliance hops at distance-based prices.
American Airlines AAdvantage
1.45¢ per point
American flights and oneworld partners.
JetBlue TrueBlue
1.35¢ per point
Caribbean trips; points track cash fares.
Frontier Miles
1.3¢ per point
Frontier flights; compare with the cash fare first.
Southwest Rapid Rewards
1.25¢ per point
Fare sales, since points track cash fares.
Delta SkyMiles
1.2¢ per point
Delta flights when cash prices spike.
United MileagePlus
1.2¢ per point
Star Alliance business class to Europe on one ticket.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
1.1¢ per point
Star Alliance premium cabins at low partner prices.
Lufthansa Miles & More
1¢ per point
1¢ cash value1TPG doesn’t value it; 1¢ is our catalog default.
1 The Points Guy doesn’t publish a value for this program. We count it at its 1¢ cash redemption value.
Where a row notes 1¢ alone, that is what the points are worth on a no-fee card that can’t transfer by itself. Pair it with a card that unlocks transfers in the same program and the TPG value applies.
Point values from The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuations.
Checked October 19, 2026.
How we value points
We don’t set these numbers ourselves. Each month we use The Points Guy’s published valuations without changes, so every MaxPoints tool works from the same public figure. When TPG doesn’t value a program, such as Bank of America, Fidelity, U.S. Bank, Disney Rewards Dollars or Lufthansa Miles & More, we count it at its 1¢ cash value.
One exception is built into the tools. Some no-fee cards only reach their program’s value when you also hold a card that transfers. Chase Freedom Unlimited points, for example, are worth 1¢ alone and 2.05¢ with a Sapphire Preferred. The calculator values them by your wallet.
These numbers have limits:
- A valuation is an average of good redemptions, not a price anyone guarantees.
- Award prices change without notice, and dynamic pricing moves them with cash fares.
- Your own value may be lower if you redeem for cash, gift cards or the travel portal. It may be higher if you find premium-cabin space.
- We update when The Points Guy publishes a new month, so values can trail a devaluation by a few weeks.
Use them to compare cards, not to price a specific trip. The method is also on how we calculate. For where a transfer goes furthest, see award sweet spots.
How to use these numbers
Multiply the points by the value to get a dollar estimate. 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points × 2.05¢ = $1,230. (Value: The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuations.)
Then check the redemption you’re actually looking at. If it gives you less per point than the table, pay cash and keep the points.
See what your spending earns →
The calculator applies these values to your own spending, card by card.
Transferring soon? Check current transfer bonuses. A 30% bonus makes each bank point go 1.3× as far.
Buying points? Compare the sale price with the value above on point sales. A sale below the value can make sense for a trip you’ve already found.
FAQ
How much is a point worth?
It depends on the program. In The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuations, values run from 0.4¢ for Hilton Honors to 2.2¢ for Bilt Rewards.
Why are hotel points worth less than bank points?
Hotel programs hand out more points per dollar and charge more points per night. A lower value per point doesn’t make a hotel program worse.
Are Chase Freedom Unlimited points worth 2.05¢?
Only if you also have a Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Reserve for Business or Ink Business Preferred. On its own, the card’s points are worth 1¢.
Why don’t you use your own valuations?
A single public source keeps every tool consistent, and it lets you check our numbers. We credit The Points Guy on every page that shows a value.
How often do these values change?
We update them when The Points Guy publishes a new month. The current values are from October 2026, published October 1, 2026.
Should I redeem below the listed value?
Only if you need the cash or the trip now. Below the value, paying cash and saving the points usually comes out ahead.