Two Pricing Systems
Airlines use two main approaches to price award seats:
Award Charts (Fixed Pricing)
A published table showing exactly how many miles each route costs. The price is based on region and cabin class—not demand or cash price.
Example: A saver award to Europe in economy might always cost 30,000 miles one-way, regardless of whether it's a Tuesday in February or Christmas week.
Dynamic Pricing
Award prices fluctuate based on demand, similar to cash tickets. The same flight might cost 15,000 miles one day and 45,000 the next.
Airlines using dynamic pricing: Delta SkyMiles, United (partially), and others are moving this direction.
Why This Matters
Award Charts (Better for Planning)
- Predictable pricing
- Can find "sweet spots"
- Cash price doesn't affect miles
- Easier to set savings goals
Dynamic Pricing (Less Predictable)
- Prices vary by flight
- Sometimes great deals
- Often tied to cash price
- Harder to plan ahead
Programs That Still Use Award Charts
These programs have published charts, making redemptions more predictable:
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue — Promo awards at known prices
- British Airways Avios — Distance-based chart
- Turkish Miles & Smiles — Star Alliance chart
- Singapore KrisFlyer — Published partner charts
- American AAdvantage — Web fares plus award chart
Sweet Spots in Award Charts
Because award charts are based on regions rather than exact distances or demand, some routes are underpriced relative to their cash cost. These are called sweet spots.
Examples:
- Flying Blue often has 50% off "promo awards" to Europe
- British Airways charges only 7,500 Avios for short US flights
- Turkish charges far less than United for the same Star Alliance flights
With transferable points, you can choose which program to book through. The same United flight to Frankfurt might cost 60,000 United miles or 45,000 Turkish miles. Always check multiple options.
Living with Dynamic Pricing
If you're booking through Delta or a dynamic program:
- Be flexible with dates—prices vary significantly
- Check prices before transferring points
- Compare against cash price for value
- Don't assume today's price is tomorrow's
Key Takeaways
- Award charts offer fixed, predictable pricing
- Dynamic pricing fluctuates like cash tickets
- Award chart programs often have sweet spots
- Check multiple programs for the same flight
- Transferable points let you choose the best option