What is $95000 United Airlines SkyMiles worth?

What is $95000 United Airlines SkyMiles worth?

United Airlines has one of the biggest loyalty programs known as MileagePlus. It is known as a frequent flyer program under which flyers are awarded SkyMiles they can use to get free flights, upgrades, accommodations, car rentals, and others. But, there is a question, what is 95,000 SkyMiles worth? Let's break it down:

Face Value:

On face value, one can assume that 95,000 SkyMiles is equal to $1,171. This is because United sets one cent per SkyMile as its minimum redemption value. Thus at this valuation, 95,000 SkyMiles = $950. Of course, intelligent tourists intend to receive more than just the bare minimum of the base price.

Flight Redemptions:

For domestic flights, it is possible to get about 1.4 – 1.8 cents per SkyMile in the same manner. For 95k miles, that will amount to $1,330-$1,710. For international business/first class awards, you could be getting 5-10+ cents per mile in redemption value. In this case, 95k SkyMiles would grant you a simply incredible $4,750-$9,500 flight practically for free.

Hotel/Rental Car Redemptions:

SkyMiles can then be transferred to more than 30 airline partners. They can then be used in making bookings for accommodation in hotels, hiring cars, and booking cruises among others. Typically, these transfers are worth 0.7 to 1.5 cents per mile depending on the service provider. In return, with 95,000 miles, one would receive an estimated $665-$1,425 worth of hotel/car rental.

To sum up, United Airlines SkyMiles cost at least $.095 each, but when tickets are redeemed strategically, they can fetch $9.50+ per point. A typical travel hacker earns 2-4 cents per SkyMiles and 95k points are equivalent to $1,900-$3,800.