We’re now in Quarter 3 of 2024, and it’s as soon as once more time to revisit our Factors Valuations, which we replace on a quarterly foundation.
Air France KLM Flying Blue continues its rollout of latest airline companions, this time with the addition of Oman Air. The Muscat-based provider presents a superb enterprise class and First Class product, and the brand new partnership offers us a brand new option to redeem miles for it.
In a really welcome improvement, AIR MILES not too long ago made it potential to convert Dream Miles into Money Miles, and vice versa. That is one other constructive improvement for this system, which has been receiving loads of love from BMO since its buy in Spring 2023.
Finnair Plus turned the most recent oneworld airline loyalty program to undertake Avios as its forex in March 2024, after which in Might 2024, it turned potential to switch Finnair Avios to British Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio. Reserving transatlantic flights through Helsinki could be a gorgeous possibility, and the addition additional bolsters Avios as a forex.
As a part of the continuing shakeup within the lodge loyalty world, Hilton Honors formally rolled out its unique partnership with Small Luxurious Resorts of the World (SLH) this quarter. Whereas the rollout is gradual, hopefully it means extra glorious methods to redeem Hilton Honors factors and Free Evening Rewards going ahead.
Earlier than we delve into the valuations, a pleasant reminder that the main focus of those valuations lies within the goal redemption worth of every factors forex, somewhat than the acquisition price that you simply may incur (which may range considerably relying on how you like to earn factors).
Air France KLM Flying Blue
In June 2024, Air France KLM Flying Blue added Oman Air as its newest redemption associate, opening up entry to an excellent enterprise class and First Class product.
In case you have a visit deliberate to or by the Center East, make sure to contemplate Flying Blue to your redemption, for the reason that award pricing is aggressive with different applications (particularly Aeroplan). The one catch is that there are reasonable quantities of taxes and costs, which range relying on the category of service.
What’s additionally fascinating about that is that Flying Blue has been persistently including new companions over the previous 12 months or so, which makes Flying Blue miles all of the extra intriguing.
It’ll be fascinating to see what Flying Blue has in retailer subsequent, because it continues so as to add worth to its program at a time when many different loyalty applications are administering unwelcome devaluations.
- Continued valuation: 2 cents per mile (CAD) / 1.5 cents per mile (USD)
AIR MILES
For a few years, one side of the AIR MILES program that customers didn’t like was not having the ability to switch between Dream Miles and Money Miles.
As a part of BMO’s ongoing refresh of this system, the most recent improvement is you could now switch between Dream Miles and Money Miles, albeit with some strings connected.
This new potential is restricted to Gold and Onyx collectors, with the previous being allowed to switch as much as 1,000 AIR MILES every year, whereas the latter can accomplish that with out limits.
Happily, acquiring Gold or Onyx standing is straightforward, as you simply must have the best bank card or earn a selected variety of AIR MILES in a calendar 12 months.
Hopefully, it is a signal of continued enhancements being made to this system, which nonetheless has some work to do to regain the relevance it as soon as loved.
- Continued valuation: 10.5 cents per mile (CAD)
Finnair Plus
In March 2024, Finnair formally adopted Avios because the forex for its loyalty program, Finnair Plus. Then, in Might 2024, Finnair Avios turned transferrable with British Airways Avios at a 1:1 ratio.
As a reminder, Avios is now the forex utilized by Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Vueling.
Probably the most fascinating side of that is that there are benefits to reserving the identical flight with one program over one other. And since you’ll be able to immediately convert Avios into one other “flavour” of Avios at a 1:1 ratio, that bit of additional effort may end up in important financial savings.
For instance, a one-way flight in enterprise class from New York to Helsinki prices the identical 62,500 Avios if booked by British Airways Govt Membership or Finnair Plus.
Nevertheless, if you happen to e book by Finnair Plus, you’ll solely pay $141 (USD) in taxes and costs, versus the whopping $1,426 (USD) you’d pay by British Airways Govt Membership.
In case you have your eyes set on a visit to Finland or wherever else that Finnair flies, make sure to contemplate transferring your Avios round to see what’s potential and the way it stacks as much as different applications.
- Valuation: 2 cents per level (CAD) / 1.5 cents per level (USD)
Hilton Honors
For the previous 12 months or so, we’ve seen plenty of shake-ups within the lodge loyalty panorama. Marriott Bonvoy and MGM launched a partnership, World of Hyatt made ties with Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Hilton Honors launched an unique partnership with Small Luxurious Resorts of the World (SLH).
In June 2024, we began to see the rollout of the Hilton Honors and SLH partnership, which can progressively proceed till many properties turn out to be accessible by Hilton reserving channels.
Happily, SLH properties use Normal Room Reward charges, which signifies that you’re capable of redeem Hilton Honors factors and Free Evening Rewards for stays.
At the moment, there’s little or no award availability for SLH properties; nonetheless, we’re hopeful that it’ll change within the close to future.
If it occurs, make sure to preserve a watch out for award availability at aspirational SLH properties, resembling Calala Island in Nicaragua, for an excellent redemption.
- Continued valuation: 0.7 cents per level (CAD) / 0.5 cents per level (USD)
Factors Valuations, Quarter 2 2024
Right here’s a abstract of our Factors Valuations for Quarter 2 of 2024. You may discuss with the Factors Valuations web page for a full listing with extra notes.
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Air France KLM Flying Blue |
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Alaska Airways Mileage Plan |
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American Airways AAdvantage |
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American Specific (Canada) Membership Rewards |
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American Specific (US) Membership Rewards |
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Cathay Pacific Asia Miles |
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Nationwide Financial institution À la carte Rewards |
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Singapore Airways KrisFlyer |
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Conclusion
The second quarter of 2024 noticed some constructive enhancements to a number of applications, which is nice for Miles & Factors fans.
It’ll be fascinating to see what the latter half of 2024 has in retailer, particularly since some applications (particularly Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership) have been implementing no-notice devaluations to some longstanding candy spots.
Bear in mind, deal with these numbers as merely a suggestion for affordable goal redemption values when deciding whether or not to redeem factors or pay money to your subsequent journey.
In the end, the worth derived from each redemption might be subjective to the person traveller, and our valuations are designed for example a mean benchmark throughout the group to assist inform your choice as you contemplate your subsequent factors redemption.
