Find out the real value of your miles or points: how much you paid per 1,000 miles, and whether a specific flight is better redeemed with miles or paid in cash.
What is CPM (cost per mille)
CPM is how much, in currency, each group of 1,000 miles or points cost. It is the standard metric used by frequent flyers to know whether a miles-buying promotion or a redemption is worth it.
How we calculate it
Cost of your miles: CPM paid = (amount paid ÷ number of miles) × 1,000. Value of a specific redemption: first we subtract the taxes from the flight's cash price (since taxes are usually charged even when paying with miles), then divide that by the number of miles used and multiply by 1,000, giving the CPM obtained in that redemption.
How to read the result
If the CPM obtained in the redemption is higher than what you paid for your miles (or higher than the market reference, when you didn't enter the amount paid), the redemption is worth it. If lower, it may be better to pay cash and save the miles for a better redemption — international business-class flights usually offer the best redemption CPM.
Frequently asked questions
What does "cost per mille" mean?
It is the cost of a group of 1,000 miles or points — the standard unit used to compare prices and value in the miles market.
Do I need to fill in every field?
No — you can fill just the quantity and amount paid to know your CPM, or just the flight fields to evaluate a specific redemption, or both to compare.
Why do taxes count even when paying with miles?
Because most programs charge boarding and other mandatory taxes even on award tickets — so the amount actually "saved" is the cash price minus those taxes.