Airline Mile Earning & Value Calculator
Calculation Results
How to Use the Airline Mile Calculator
Planning a trip and wondering how many miles you'll actually see in your frequent flyer account? Calculating airline miles can be surprisingly complex because it involves more than just the physical distance flown. Our Airline Mile Calculator simplifies the process by factoring in fare class bonuses and elite status multipliers.
Understanding the Calculation Formula
Most major airline loyalty programs (like those in the Oneworld, Star Alliance, or SkyTeam networks) use a standard formula for mileage accumulation:
Total Miles = (Distance × Fare Class Multiplier) + (Distance × Elite Status Bonus)
- Base Distance: The actual great-circle distance between the departure and arrival airports.
- Fare Class Multiplier: Airlines reward higher-paying passengers. A full-fare Business class ticket might earn 200% of the miles, while a deep-discount Economy ticket might only earn 25%.
- Elite Status Bonus: If you hold status (Silver, Gold, Platinum), you earn a percentage bonus on the base distance.
What is Cents Per Mile (CPM)?
CPM is the gold standard for determining the value of your airline miles. It tells you how much value you are getting for every mile earned or spent. To calculate the value of a ticket you are buying vs. the miles you earn:
CPM = (Ticket Price in Dollars / Total Miles Earned) × 100
If you earn 5,000 miles on a $500 ticket, your "cost" per mile earned is 10 cents. Conversely, when redeeming miles, a CPM above 2.0¢ is generally considered a "good" redemption.
Example Mileage Scenarios
| Route | Class | Status | Total Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYC to London (3,450 mi) | Economy (100%) | None | 3,450 |
| NYC to London (3,450 mi) | Business (150%) | Gold (50%) | 6,900 |
| LAX to Tokyo (5,450 mi) | First (200%) | Plat (100%) | 16,350 |