Some travelers swear by distance-priced points, while others find the rules tricky at first. We want you to feel confident from search to checkout so you can turn balances into seats without stress.
A distance-based points system calculates award prices by how far you fly instead of fixed region charts. That can be powerful on short and medium routes where distances are modest, schedules are frequent, and cash fares can spike. Because totals are calculated per flight segment, you can build precise door to door trips when nonstop flights are not available. The tradeoff is that more connections usually means more points.
Value tends to concentrate in three places. First, short regional hops where taxes are light and seats are plentiful. Second, medium legs that fall just under a higher distance band. Third, off peak dates on the operating airline, since calendars can lower totals for the same route. When you combine these with an option at checkout that lowers the cash amount in exchange for more points, you can often match a tight budget without giving up dates.
How We Earn This Currency
You can earn through paid travel credited to the airline’s own points system. You can also move bank points from select ecosystems when transfers are available. When a transfer bonus appears and you already have bookable space, moving points can stretch balances significantly, but you should avoid speculative transfers without a plan. You can sometimes purchase points during sales when the total cost beats the cash fare for the same seat.
Earning through flights is straightforward. You attach your account number, fly, and the balance posts according to the airline’s rules. Posting timelines vary by carrier. If a flight does not post, submit a missing credit request with your boarding pass and receipt. Keep screenshots of your itinerary and fare class so you can resolve issues quickly.
Points Expiration Rules
Balances typically expire after 36 months of inactivity. Any qualifying earn or redeem action resets the clock. Small moves work. A short intra regional award, a modest points transfer, or a paid flight can all protect your stash. Set a calendar reminder six months before your balance would lapse so you always have time to act.
Family travelers can keep activity flowing by alternating bookings across accounts. If one person’s balance risks expiring, book a short segment from that account for the next trip. This spreads activity and prevents orphaned balances.
Change And Cancellation Policies
Online changes and redeposits usually carry a flat fee, with higher costs over the phone and strict cutoffs within 24 hours of departure. Some tickets allow you to cancel and forfeit only the taxes and fees instead of paying a redeposit charge, which can be cheaper if the fee is high. Always compare both options before you confirm.
If you need to adjust a connection, start by changing a single segment. Many systems let you modify one leg at a time as long as the distance band and cabin stay consistent. When you alter the routing or cabin, prices can re calculate and trigger differences in points or cash.
Partners You Can Book
This airline belongs to a major global alliance and also cooperates with several non alliance partners. You can use points across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. Availability depends on each carrier’s release patterns. Some airlines open seats far in advance while others offer space closer to departure.
Search one segment at a time to confirm space exists, then stitch together the full trip. If a long haul appears but your feeder leg is missing, try nearby airports. In London, compare London Heathrow and London Gatwick. Around New York City, compare John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty International. Around Tokyo, compare Haneda and Narita. A small airport switch can unlock the whole itinerary.
Taxes, Surcharges, And Government Duties
Carrier imposed charges can apply on many routes and are typically passed through on partner bookings. Separate from these, some countries collect significant departure duties. For example, leaving the United Kingdom on a long haul flight can add a notable government tax to your bill even when you pay with points. You often have a choice at checkout between paying fewer points with higher cash or more points with lower cash. Pick the option that fits your goals today.
When connecting through multiple countries, duties and fees stack by segment. This is another reason to favor nonstop flights when possible. If you need a connection, keep the number of segments tight and avoid zig zags that increase both distance and fees.
Award Space Guarantees And Booking Window
Schedules generally open about 355 days before departure. The airline guarantees a baseline of award seats when the calendar loads. Short haul flights usually offer multiple economy and business seats. Long haul flights typically guarantee availability across economy, premium economy, and business. These minimums help families who plan early and want several seats together.
Do not stop searching if you miss the initial release. Carriers often add space later. New schedules, equipment swaps, and seasonal shifts can all open award seats. Set a weekly check to revisit options as your trip approaches.
Household Accounts And Pooling
You can form a household account with up to six people at the same address so everyone’s balances contribute to a shared pool. Pooling makes small balances useful and speeds up redemptions for families who do not fly often. The tradeoff is that redemptions are limited to members of the household and people you pre approve on your list. If you frequently book for friends or coworkers, consider keeping accounts separate.
When you create or change a household, there can be waiting periods before certain actions are allowed. Review the rules before you move balances so your plans are not delayed. Keep names and addresses consistent with government ID to prevent verification issues.
Redeeming On The Airline’s Own Flights
This system uses distance bands and often applies peak and off peak calendars on the operating airline. Prices are one way, per segment, and the booking engine usually offers a slider style option that trades more points for less cash or fewer points for more cash. That slider can be valuable on routes where carrier imposed charges are high.
Distance Bands For The Airline’s Own Flights
| Zone | Distance | Economy Off Peak // Peak | Premium Economy Off Peak // Peak | Business Off Peak // Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 to 650 miles* | 4,000 // 4,500 | 5,750 // 6,750 | 7,750 // 9,000 |
| *Not available in North America | ||||
| 2 | 651 to 1,150 miles | 6,500 // 7,500 | 9,500 // 11,250 | 12,750 // 15,000 |
| 3 | 1,151 to 2,000 miles | 8,500 // 10,000 | 12,750 // 15,000 | 17,000 // 20,000 |
| 4 | 2,001 to 3,000 miles | 10,000 // 12,500 | 20,000 // 25,000 | 31,250 // 37,500 |
| 5 | 3,001 to 4,000 miles | 13,000 // 20,000 | 26,000 // 40,000 | 50,000 // 60,000 |
| 6 | 4,001 to 5,500 miles | 16,250 // 25,000 | 32,500 // 50,000 | 62,500 // 75,000 |
| 7 | 5,501 to 6,500 miles | 19,500 // 30,000 | 39,000 // 60,000 | 75,000 // 90,000 |
| 8 | 6,501 to 7,000 miles | 22,750 // 35,000 | 45,500 // 75,000 | 87,500 // 105,000 |
| 9 | 7,001 plus miles | 32,500 // 50,000 | 65,000 // 100,000 | 125,000 // 150,000 |
Short flights inside Europe often deliver standout value, especially when you depart from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Charles de Gaulle, or Amsterdam and connect to regional cities where paid fares climb. The combination of low distance bands and lighter fees can make premium cabins affordable if you target off peak dates.
Practical Booking Steps On The Airline’s Site
- Start with one segment at a time to confirm seats exist.
- Toggle between the lower cash and lower points options at checkout and record both totals.
- Expand your search by one day before and after your target.
- If the nonstop is missing, try nearby airports or a different time of day.
- Add connections only after you have found the long leg.
- Complete payment with the option that fits your mix of cash and points today.
Redeeming On Partner Airlines
Partner pricing uses a separate distance chart with no peak or off peak dates. Prices are one way, per segment, and can vary slightly by carrier, but the overall pattern is consistent.
Distance Bands For Partners
| Zone | Flight Distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business |
| 1 | 1 to 650 miles* | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,500 |
| *Not available in North America | ||||
| 2 | 651 to 1,150 miles | 9,000 | 12,500 | 16,500 |
| 3 | 1,151 to 2,000 miles | 11,000 | 16,500 | 22,000 |
| 4 | 2,001 to 3,000 miles | 13,000 | 25,750 | 38,750 |
| 5 | 3,001 to 4,000 miles | 20,250 | 41,250 | 62,000 |
| 6 | 4,001 to 5,500 miles | 25,750 | 51,500 | 77,250 |
| 7 | 5,501 to 6,500 miles | 31,000 | 62,000 | 92,750 |
| 8 | 6,501 to 7,000 miles | 36,250 | 72,250 | 108,250 |
| 9 | 7,001 plus miles | 51,500 | 103,000 | 154,500 |
Short partner flights are often the best value. Think New York JFK to Montreal, Boston to Toronto, Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo, Sydney to Melbourne, Madrid to Casablanca, or Doha to Abu Dhabi. Cash fares on these city pairs can be stubbornly high even though distances are short. Booking with points on partners can cut costs and save cash for hotels and ground transport.
Multi Carrier Awards For Complex Trips
You can build an itinerary that includes two or more alliance carriers using a special multi carrier chart. These bookings require a phone call, allow up to eight segments, and include stopovers. Premium economy prices at one and a half times the economy band, business at double, and first at triple.
Multi Carrier Award Bands In Economy
- Up to 1,500 miles total distance. 30,000 points
- Up to 4,000 miles. 35,000 points
- Up to 9,000 miles. 60,000 points
- Up to 10,000 miles. 70,000 points
- Up to 14,000 miles. 90,000 points
- Up to 20,000 miles. 100,000 points
- Up to 25,000 miles. 120,000 points
- Up to 35,000 miles. 140,000 points
- Up to 50,000 miles. 160,000 points
The chart can look ideal for round the world plans, but real world constraints matter. Coordinating space across several airlines and dates is time consuming and surcharges can add up quickly. Many travelers do better piecing together simple one ways with the standard partner chart.
Non Flight Redemptions
You can redeem for hotels, cars, and merchandise through the airline’s portal, but the cents per point return usually trails flight awards. We routinely see values under one cent per point on common dates. Flights are where this system shines because distance bands and partner access allow you to target high value city pairs.
Join Our Free TheMilesAcademy Community
You do not have to figure this distance based strategy alone. Join our free TheMilesAcademy community to get weekly tips on distance bands, award space patterns, and real route examples that match your home airports. We share step by step checklists, live Q&A, and simple tools so you can book smart without guesswork.
While you are there, try our free card finder tool to map your everyday spending to the categories that earn the most points for flights like the ones in this guide. It shows a clean view of options and helps you pick a setup that fits your goals and comfort with fees. Use it alongside this article to plan routes, time transfers, and decide when to choose lower cash versus lower points at checkout.
