Our research
Data & Methodology
Understand the prices, assumptions and calculations behind our flight comparisons.
Award pricing research
We research representative award prices to help you plan business-class travel. Our award pricing research was most recently updated in October 2026.
417
route-and-program options
84
city pairs
16
airline rewards programs
The latest research generally examined travel four to eight months ahead, approximately February–June 2027. Dates and search coverage vary by route; we do not check every date or measure the percentage of dates available.
Low Price
The lowest price we found for a route and airline rewards program. It may have appeared on only one or a few dates.
Broader Availability
The upper end of the typical award price range. Flights on most dates were available between the Low Price and this amount. Actual prices and availability vary by date.
These are planning examples, not live quotes, statistical averages, seat counts or guaranteed maximum prices. They do not indicate availability on your specific dates or for multiple passengers.
Understanding the pricing shown
We use “points” as a general term for airline points, miles, and Avios. These currencies have different values and are not interchangeable. Official program names and transfer instructions retain their original terminology.
- Points plus cash: Fees are separate from the airline points required. The airline rewards program used to book may differ from the operating airline; an itinerary may have connections.
- Limited only: We recorded a Low Price example without a Broader Availability price. A missing result does not mean no award exists, and an unrecorded fee does not mean zero.
- Different points-and-fees combinations: A Broader Availability quote can use fewer points but more cash than a Low Price quote. Compare both amounts.
- Citywide searches: New York can include JFK, Newark and LaGuardia; Tokyo can include Haneda and Narita. Research identified only by city does not establish the airport or imply nonstop service from every airport.
- Booking details: Confirm trip direction, one-way or return basis, passenger count and cabin on every segment. The examples do not identify every operating flight or prove availability for your intended booking.
Estimated fees
Cash charges marked “(est.)” are planning estimates of fees rather than confirmed booking quotes. We use these for Qatar Airways awards where reward-availability searches did not confirm the cash charges before booking. Estimates draw on online references to Qatar Airways award fees and comparable routes, including taxes and carrier charges.
Estimated fees affect our comparisons and calculated points values. Actual charges can differ by route, date and booking program. Turkish fees in the current research use the confirmed amounts supplied in our latest pricing update.
Your value per point
Choose how much a point is worth to you when comparing points and cash fees. The default is $0.03 (3¢) per point, applied equally across rewards programs.
Current value: $0.03 per point. Your preference is saved in this browser when you apply a value.
Comparison value = points × your value per point + cash fees.
A lower comparison value is preferable under your chosen assumption. This is a planning comparison, not a cash fare or an additional charge. Changing the value updates comparisons and the preferred rows in the Optimizer, and the preferred booking options in Explore Award Flights; it does not change the researched points, fees or availability.
The Optimizer chooses the lowest comparison value among your filtered results separately for Low Price and Broader Availability quotes. The preferred Low Price row appears first, then the preferred Broader Availability row. If one row wins both, it appears once with both labels. Remaining rows are sorted by low-price comparison value, with quotes missing fees at the end. Ties retain city-and-program order. These preferences do not account for flight duration or connections.
Quotes without recorded cash fees have no combined comparison value. Low Price and Broader Availability quotes remain separate.
Example: New York → Paris
Air France / KLM Flying Blue
Low Price: 60k points + $340
Comparison value: $2,140.00
United MileagePlus
Low Price: 88k points + $30
Comparison value: $2,670.00
Potential points balances
Standard US transfer rates were checked October 3, 2026, with Etihad Guest rates checked October 16 and Bilt–Qatar and Wells Fargo–Cathay updates checked October 17. Confirm your account’s current rate before transferring.
The Optimizer covers the listed airline programs, not every partner each bank offers. It uses direct bank transfers; Capital One’s Virgin connection uses Virgin Red with a linked Flying Club account. Transfer-rate sources.
- Potential airline balance: Existing airline points plus eligible bank points converted at the listed standard transfer ratios.
- Alternative uses: Each airline rewards program is a separate possible use of the same bank balances. Do not add the program totals together.
- Eligibility: Calculations assume transfer-enabled accounts. Citi uses the recorded premium Strata Elite tier; other cards may have different ratios.
- Excluded: Transfer bonuses, fees, minimums, increments and indirect paths such as moving Avios between airline rewards programs. Individual guide examples may round transfers as described below.
- Card Planning: Planned welcome bonuses count toward the plan, but are not points already available. Only banks eligible for the chosen airline rewards program contribute to its total.
Coverage bars compare potential points with the points required; they do not establish seat availability or cover cash fees. Balances reset when the page reloads. The comparison-rate setting is saved in your browser. See our Privacy Policy.
Cash estimates & points values
Cash-fare estimates
We generally use published business-class round-trip fares divided by two, then round up to the next $100. New York–Paris retains our $2,000 illustration. Chicago–Bogotá and Chicago–Mexico City use historical premium-fare ranges; domestic first class is a proxy where relevant.
These estimates are not bookable one-way quotes. Cash and award examples are not matched for dates, airline, routing or fare rules. Cabin differences and connection quality can affect comparability.
Value per point
(Estimated cash fare − award fees − applicable transfer fees) ÷ points required × 100 = cents per point.
Bank examples apply the standard transfer ratio and round required bank points up to the next 1,000. Amex-to-Delta calculations include the modeled excise-tax offset fee. Airline examples use the airline currency directly.
Values are displayed to one decimal place. The value per 100k points uses that displayed rate. These figures are illustrative flight value after fees, not a cash-out value or guaranteed savings.
How we choose guide examples and “best value”
Bank-guide examples aim for three different routes and regions, one each from LA, Chicago and New York. We prioritize Chicago–Madrid or Chicago–London for the value breakdown where eligible, then compare estimated cents per bank point. Airline guides use their own researched prices and show up to three distinct routes where data permits.
The bank “Best value” card separately checks all eligible researched routes and both price categories. It shows the highest calculated value at standard transfer ratios, without transfer bonuses or a Chicago preference. This selected maximum does not represent the average value of the bank’s points.
The adjustable points valuation above ranks points-plus-fees combinations. It does not change researched prices, cash-fare estimates or the guide’s calculated redemption values.
Map data & presentation
Maps use Natural Earth public-domain geographic data. The Europe map uses 1:50m country boundaries; the world, other regional and example-route maps use 1:110m boundaries.
Maps are simplified and may be cropped. Edge markers can indicate a destination’s general direction. Lines connect city pairs for illustration; they are not flight paths or confirmation of nonstop service.
Sources & corrections
Program guides link to bank and airline resources. Public offer checks can fail or return a different offer from your personalized quote; always confirm the linked card terms. Referral compensation does not alter researched award prices or preferred-option calculations. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
Important reference sources
- Etihad update — Bilt 1:1 partnership (reviewed Oct 16, 2026)
- Chase — current partners and transfer ratios
- Amex US — Membership Rewards transfer ratios
- Capital One — transfer partners and ratios
- Citi Strata Elite — transfer eligibility
- Bilt — airline partners and standard 1:1 rates
- Bilt — Qatar Airways 1:1 partnership
- Wells Fargo — initial transfer partners
- Wells Fargo — Cathay 1:1 announcement
- Virgin — Wells Fargo 1:1 transfer ratio
- Virgin — linked Red and Flying Club balances
- Natural Earth: data terms
Spot an error or a changed rule? Send the page link and supporting information to travel@volcanicunicorn.com. Before transferring or booking, confirm the exact itinerary, seats, mileage, fees and ticket rules with the airline rewards program.