Use the Alaska Mile Calculator to instantly determine the cash value of your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles based on a specific flight redemption. Maximize your travel savings by knowing your **Value Per Mile (VPM)**.
Alaska Mile Calculator
Calculated Value Per Mile (VPM)
Alaska Mile Calculator Formula
The Value Per Mile (VPM) is calculated by finding the net savings and dividing it by the number of miles used.
Value Per Mile (VPM) = (Net Value / Miles Required) * 100
$$VPM = \frac{CP – TF}{MR} \times 100 \text{ (in Cents)}$$
Formula Sources: The Points Guy VPM Valuation, Upgraded Points Analysis
Variables Explained
A quick breakdown of the input values:
- Miles Required (MR): The number of Alaska Mileage Plan miles needed to book the specific award ticket.
- Cash Ticket Price (CP): The price in US dollars of the exact same flight if you were paying with cash.
- Award Ticket Taxes/Fees (TF): The cash amount (taxes, security fees, etc.) that you still have to pay when booking the flight with miles.
What is Alaska Mile Calculator?
The Alaska Mile Calculator is a crucial tool for any Mileage Plan member. It provides a numerical value, usually expressed in cents, representing the monetary worth of a single Alaska mile for a given redemption. This helps travelers decide if using their miles for a specific flight offers a good return compared to paying cash or redeeming points from other loyalty programs.
Alaska Airlines miles are often considered high-value because of their excellent partner airline network (like Oneworld), which allows for lucrative international redemptions. However, mile value can vary dramatically—from less than 1 cent to over 5 cents—depending on the route, class of service, and availability. Calculating the Value Per Mile (VPM) is essential for maximizing your travel budget.
How to Calculate Alaska Mile Value (Example)
Follow these steps to determine your VPM for a sample redemption:
- Find the Cash Price (CP): You find a business class flight from Seattle to Tokyo costing **$6,500** if paid in cash.
- Determine Mile Requirements (MR): The same flight booked with miles requires **70,000 miles**.
- Note Taxes/Fees (TF): The mandatory cash taxes/fees on the award ticket total **$58.50**.
- Calculate Net Value (NV): $6,500 – $58.50 = $6,441.50. This is your net savings.
- Calculate VPM: $(\$6,441.50 / 70,000 \text{ miles}) \times 100 = 9.20$ cents per mile.
Related Calculators
Explore other popular travel and financial calculators:
- American Airlines AAdvantage VPM Calculator
- Hotel Points Redemption Value Tool
- Annualized Return Calculator
- Break-Even Point (BEP) Analyst
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A: A generally accepted good value is anything over 1.5 cents per mile ($0.015). Excellent redemptions, particularly in international business or first class, can often yield 4 to 10 cents per mile.
A: The taxes and fees are a cash cost you pay regardless of using miles. To find the true value of your miles, you must subtract this unavoidable cash cost from the total cash price of the ticket.
A: Yes. The VPM calculation is valid for one-way, round-trip, or multi-city flights, as long as you use the corresponding cash price and mile requirement for that exact itinerary.
A: Yes, if the taxes and fees (TF) are higher than the cash price (CP), the net value will be negative, and the result will clearly show that the redemption is not worthwhile.