BOOKED: Here are some of my 2024 redemptions and how they compare in regards to Cents per Point (CPP)

Krug at Singapore Airline’s First Class (Source)

This year has been a busy year for me in regard to traveling and more goodness is to come. I am writing this from the stunning Hilton Yala Resort in Sri Lanka, which I booked through HHonors points, to give you an anchor point in regard to what I concern are decent redemptions.

Now, it is easy to lose track of the true value of a booking and focus only on cents-per-points (CPP). However, I do believe that there needs to be at least a chance that someone would make a redemption through cash - some rates (especially airfares!) are not rooted in reality and jump up hundreds of percentages from one day to another and I doubt that anyone would book them (I mean, how many people are actually booking these 20,000+ USD first class fares?).

Another thing to note is the way I compare cash and points options. For hotels, I am comparing the point rate to a flexible member rate - that way, I take into account the flexibility of the points booking to be canceled easily while also assuming the member discount I would make use of if I was to pay cash.

For airfares, I look at the cash rate of a return trip at time of booking. Of course, that one is a bit more based on assumptions, as I often book one-way reward flights and the cash rate can vary widely based on when you place the hypothetical return flight.

With that being said, here are a few of my bookings for 2024. I am not saying that those are the best redemptions or that you should strive to only redeem your points and miles for these values. But perhaps it can serve as one more data point that helps as guidance when you make your reward booking!

Hilton Yala Resort, Sri Lanka (Source)

Hilton Yala Resort Sri Lanka (review to come soon!)

Cash rate: 5,189.37 USD

Points/Miles: 320,000 HHonors

Achieved rate: 1.62 cents/point

Singapore Airline’s First Class on the B777-300ER (Source)

Singapore Airlines B777-300ER First HND-SIN

Cash rate: 4,706 USD (7,341 USD R/T)

Points/Miles: 77,000 SIA miles + 26 USD fees

Achieved rate: 6.08 cents/mile

Cathay Pacific’s Business Class on the A350 (Source)

Cathay Pacific A330/A350 Business DPS-HKG-NRT

Cash rate: 1,673 USD (2,370 USD R/T)

Points/Miles: 64,000 Asia Miles + 115 USD fees

Achieved rate: 2.61 cents/mile

Lufthansa’s First Class on the B747-8 (Source)

Lufthansa B747-8 First HND-FRA

Cash rate: 10,929 USD (14,859 USD R/T)

Points/Miles: 110,000 M&M Miles + 260 USD fees

Achieved rate: 6.51 cents/mile

Lufthansa’s Business Class on the B747-8 (Source)

Lufthansa Business HND-MUC

Cash rate: 4,585 USD (4,892 USD R/T)

Points/Miles: 71,000 M&M Miles + 300 USD fees

Achieved rate: 3.02 cents/mile

Ritz-Carlton Nikko (Source)

Ritz-Carlton Nikko (review to come soon!)

Cash rate: 985.97 USD

Points/Miles: 64,000 Marriott points

Achieved rate: 1.54 cents/point

Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts (Source)

Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts

Cash rate: 4,157.73 USD

Points/Miles: 360,000 Hilton points

Achieved rate: 1.15 cents/point

Conrad Dubai (Source)

Conrad Dubai

Cash rate: 2,475.14 USD

Points/Miles: 280,000 Hilton points

Achieved rate: 0.88 cents/point