Comparing airline and travel-reward programs

Estimate the real value of a point by comparing the cash fare, fees, availability, expiry and flexibility of the reward you can actually use.

Adapted from a guide first written for Quebec readers: passages specific to Quebec were removed. Rules in your province may differ.

A point balance is not cash. Its value depends on the reward you can redeem, the price you would otherwise pay and the fees that remain. Compare programs using a specific trip or purchase rather than a promotional value claim.

Calculate a redemption value

Take the cash price you would genuinely pay, subtract taxes and fees still due on the reward booking, then divide the remaining value by the points required. Compare that result with other uses of the same points. Do not use an inflated cash fare that you would never buy as the benchmark.

Check program rules

• Search availability for your preferred dates before transferring points.
• Check taxes, carrier surcharges, change fees and cancellation rules.
• Review expiry, account inactivity, household pooling and transfer restrictions.
• Consider whether points are fixed-value, tied to a cash fare, or subject to award-seat inventory.
• Do not buy points or spend more just to reach a reward unless the economics work independently.

Program terms and award prices change. Save the current terms and confirm the final booking total before transferring non-refundable points.

Sources and limits

Sources: official reward-program terms and redemption screens. Point values, award inventory, transfer options and expiries can change without notice; confirm directly with each program before acting.

General information based on federal and national rules; provincial rules may differ. Confirm with the official body before acting.