Our “Famous Card Explorer”

Instant Transfers as well as solid transfer partners. The value would go up if they had any hotel partners with a fair exchange rate. ANA (an exception to instant transfers), Virgin, Air Canada and Avianca are top airline partners for maximizing your points. They can also transfer to Delta if you wish and while the rates aren't ideal, they can transfer to Marriott and Hilton as well.  ANA provides almost unbeatable value for booking a Round the World flight all in Business Class. The stated value also assumes you will take advantage of transfer partners rather than book via their booking portal, where they are only worth between 1 and 1.5 cents. We've also created a Guide to American Express Membership Rewards.

Instant Transfers as well as solid transfer partners. The value would go up if they had any hotel partners with a fair exchange rate. ANA (an exception to instant transfers), Virgin, Air Canada and Avianca are top airline partners for maximizing your points. They can also transfer to Delta if you wish and while the rates aren't ideal, they can transfer to Marriott and Hilton as well.  ANA provides almost unbeatable value for booking a Round the World flight all in Business Class. The stated value also assumes you will take advantage of transfer partners rather than book via their booking portal, where they are only worth between 1 and 1.5 cents. We've also created a Guide to American Express Membership Rewards.

The Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, and Ink Preferred all have the ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners. We use an average value that you can expect to get by utilizing your points for these transfer partners. In the Chase Travel℠ portal, Points Boost allows you to redeem for airfare or hotels with point values ranging from 1.5 - 2 cents depending on cabin class or hotel. Specific flights and hotels that appear in Point Boost vary. If you do not have at least one of these cards, Ultimate Rewards are worth exactly 1 cent per point. You can also read our Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

The Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, and Ink Preferred all have the ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners. We use an average value that you can expect to get by utilizing your points for these transfer partners. In the Chase Travel℠ portal, Points Boost allows you to redeem for airfare or hotels with point values ranging from 1.5 - 2 cents depending on cabin class or hotel. Specific flights and hotels that appear in Point Boost vary. If you do not have at least one of these cards, Ultimate Rewards are worth exactly 1 cent per point. You can also read our Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

It's worth noting that some Capital One cards earn 2 miles per dollar on everything, making the 1.6 cent per mile value an understatement as you'd be earning a 3.2% yield on every day spend. However, this assumes you will learn how to utilize the Capital One airline and hotel transfer partners, most of which transfer 1:1. The minimum value is 1 cent when used to book travel in their portal or to  cover previously paid for travel, however, our calculator assumes you will use Capital One's air and hotel transfer partners when calculating a 1.6 cent per point value. We also have a Guide to Capital One Miles.

Delta uses a fully dynamic pricing model on most awards, with the program aiming to offer you about 1.1 to 1.2 cents per point. However, you can still occasionally get much more value, especially during SkyMiles Flash Sales. Note that while you can book SkyTeam alliance flights with Delta SkyMiles, you cannot book international First Class on any SkyMiles partner.

Delta uses a fully dynamic pricing model on most awards, with the program aiming to offer you about 1.1 to 1.2 cents per point. However, you can still occasionally get much more value, especially during SkyMiles Flash Sales. Note that while you can book SkyTeam alliance flights with Delta SkyMiles, you cannot book international First Class on any SkyMiles partner.

They have a similar network to AA in terms of reach via the Star Alliance and also (unlike Delta) allow for booking First Class international awards in the Star Alliance network, but they charge noticeably more for Partner Awards and the rates keep (stealthily) rising. United partner Lufthansa tends to have good availability to Europe making it somewhat easier to use to Europe than American, which relies heavily on British Airways and BA charges incredibly steep surcharges on those awards.

It's worth noting that some Capital One cards earn 2 miles per dollar on everything, making the 1.6 cent per mile value an understatement as you'd be earning a 3.2% yield on every day spend. However, this assumes you will learn how to utilize the Capital One airline and hotel transfer partners, most of which transfer 1:1. The minimum value is 1 cent when used to book travel in their portal or to  cover previously paid for travel, however, our calculator assumes you will use Capital One's air and hotel transfer partners when calculating a 1.6 cent per point value. We also have a Guide to Capital One Miles.

They have a similar network to AA in terms of reach via the Star Alliance and also (unlike Delta) allow for booking First Class international awards in the Star Alliance network, but they charge noticeably more for Partner Awards and the rates keep (stealthily) rising. United partner Lufthansa tends to have good availability to Europe making it somewhat easier to use to Europe than American, which relies heavily on British Airways and BA charges incredibly steep surcharges on those awards.