Calculator
Cents Per Point Calculator
Cents per point measures what you got for the points you spent. Take the cash price of what you booked, subtract any taxes and fees you still had to pay, divide by the number of points, and multiply by 100. Below 1.0 cent is a poor redemption and you are usually better off paying cash. Around 1.0 to 1.5 cents is what a bank travel portal gives you. Two cents and above is a good result.
Cents per point
2.00¢
Why the fees come out first
A redemption that still costs you $400 in surcharges did not save you the full cash price. Subtracting the cash you still paid is the difference between an honest figure and a flattering one, and it is where most published calculations quietly go wrong. The methodology page works this through on a real trip, including one where 2.78¢ becomes 2.39¢ once the fees come out.
What counts as good
- Below 1.0¢ — poor. A bank travel portal usually beats this, so consider paying cash.
- 1.0¢ to 1.5¢ — baseline. Roughly what portals give you for the same points.
- 1.5¢ to 2.0¢ — solid. Worth doing.
- 2.0¢ and above — excellent, and the range premium cabins and good hotel awards land in.
These bands are a rule of thumb, not a law. The number that actually matters is whether the redemption beats what you would otherwise get for those points. The cash or points calculator makes that comparison directly.
This is one number from a tool that tracks all of them. Points Commander keeps your balances, every card credit against its reset date, and an advisor that plans redemptions from the points you actually hold. It is free, there are no affiliate links, and it never asks for a bank login.
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