For frequent travelers, airline loyalty programs offer a myriad of benefits that not only enhance the travel experience but make it more cost-effective. Since American Airlines introduced the very first frequent flyer program in the 80s, it became clear that staying loyal to one airline could reward customers a long way.

The core of these programs is the award charts, as it is how travelers can use their hard-earned miles for free travel, hotel nights, products, or experiences. However, understanding these award charts takes a lot of work due to their complexity and variation across different airlines, and it is becoming increasingly more difficult.

In this comprehensive guide, we go through the different types of award charts in frequent flyer programs and what you can do today to leverage your miles to the maximum.

Key Takeaways

  • What Award Charts Are: The rulebooks airlines use to set the mileage price for award flights, based on region, distance, or cash price.
  • The Shift to Dynamic Pricing: Most major airlines (e.g., United, Delta, American) now use dynamic pricing, where award costs fluctuate with demand, making fixed-price charts rare.
  • Key Chart Types: Main models include Zone-Based (fixed price between regions), Distance-Based (price by miles flown), and Dynamic. Many programs now use a Hybrid approach.
  • Why Airlines Are Changing: To maximize revenue, eliminate predictable “sweet spots,” and better manage seat inventory.
  • How to Find Value: In this new era, using powerful tools like AwardFares is essential to compare programs, find hidden deals, and navigate unpredictable pricing.

In This Guide

Frequent Flyer Programs, Award Chart Types, and Earning Models

The Unmistakable Trend

Notice a pattern in the tables below? Dynamic and Hybrid models are taking over. Fixed charts, especially for an airline’s own flights, are becoming a rarity. The most predictable value is now often found on partner awards within programs that still use fixed charts for them.

Star Alliance

Frequent Flyer Program Airlines Award Chart Type Earning Model Last Update
Aeroplan Air Canada Hybrid (Dynamic for AC and some partners) Miles-Flown Based March 2025 (Read here)
MileagePlus United Airlines Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based October 2024 (Read here)
Miles & More Lufthansa, Austrian, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines Hybrid (Dynamic for LH Group, Zone-Based for others) Miles-Flown Based February 2025 (Read here)
Miles&Smiles Turkish Airlines Dynamic Pricing Miles-Flown Based March 2023
KrisFlyer Singapore Airlines Hybrid (Dynamic for SQ, Zone-Based for partners) Miles-Flown Based July 2023
ANA Mileage Club ANA Distance-Based Miles-Flown Based January 2023
Royal Orchid Plus Thai Airways Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based February 2023
Asiana Club Asiana Airlines Distance-Based Miles-Flown Based April 2023
PhoenixMiles Air China, Shenzhen Airlines Hybrid (Zone-Based for CA, Dynamic for partners) Miles-Flown Based August 2023
Flying Returns Air India Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based September 2023
Airpoints Air New Zealand Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based June 2023
LifeMiles Avianca Hybrid (Fixed for partners, Dynamic for AV) Miles-Flown Based May 2023
ConnectMiles Copa Airlines Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based January 2023
EgyptAir Plus EgyptAir Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based 2022 (No recent update)
ShebaMiles Ethiopian Airlines Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based November 2023
Infinity MileageLands EVA Air Region-Based Miles-Flown Based July 2023
LOT Miles LOT Polish Airlines Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based March 2023
Voyager South African Airways Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based 2021 (No recent update)
Miles&Go TAP Air Portugal Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based April 2023
Miles+Bonus Aegean Airlines Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based August 2023

oneworld

Frequent Flyer Program Airlines Award Chart Type Earning Model Last Update
AAdvantage American Airlines Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based March 2025 (Read here)
Mileage Plan Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines Distance-Based Hybrid (Miles + Revenue) October 2024 (Read here)
British Airways Club British Airways Distance-Based (Avios) Spend-Based January 2025 (Read here)
Iberia Plus Iberia Distance-Based (Avios) Spend-Based February 2025 (Read here)
Qantas Frequent Flyer Qantas Hybrid (Fixed until Aug 2025, Dynamic from Aug 2025) Miles-Flown Based January 2025 (Read here)
Asia Miles Cathay Pacific Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based March 2023
JAL Mileage Bank Japan Airlines Distance-Based Hybrid (Miles + Revenue) June 2023
Privilege Club Qatar Airways Dynamic Pricing (Avios) Miles-Flown Based July 2023
Finnair Plus Finnair Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based January 2023
Enrich Malaysia Airlines Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based April 2022
Royal Club Royal Jordanian Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based 2021 (No recent update)
Tabua Club Fiji Airways Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based September 2023
FlySmiles SriLankan Airlines Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based March 2023
Sinbad Oman Air Region-Based Miles-Flown Based 2022 (No recent update)

SkyTeam

Frequent Flyer Program Airlines Award Chart Type Earning Model Last Update
SAS EuroBonus Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Zone-Based Spend-Based January 2025 (Read here)
SkyMiles Delta Air Lines Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based September 2023
Flying Blue Air France, KLM, Kenya Airways, Transavia, TAROM Dynamic Pricing Miles-Flown Based October 2024
Aeroméxico Rewards Aeroméxico Hybrid (Dynamic for AM, Distance-Based for partners) Miles-Flown Based July 2023
Flying Club Virgin Atlantic Distance-Based Hybrid (Miles + Revenue) October 2024 (Read here)
SKYPASS Korean Air Distance-Based Hybrid (Miles + Revenue) August 2023
Volare ITA Airways Distance-Based Spend-Based January 2023
Dynasty Flyer China Airlines Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based March 2023
GarudaMiles Garuda Indonesia Distance-Based Miles-Flown Based 2022 (No recent update)
Lotusmiles Vietnam Airlines Distance-Based Miles-Flown Based February 2023
Alfursan Saudia Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based April 2023
SUMA Air Europa Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based October 2023
Eastern Miles China Eastern Zone-Based Miles-Flown Based September 2023
Egret Club XiamenAir Distance-Based Miles-Flown Based June 2023
Cedar Miles Middle East Airlines Distance-Based Miles-Flown Based December 2022
Aerolíneas Plus Aerolíneas Argentinas Distance-Based Miles-Flown Based August 2023

Other Airlines

Frequent Flyer Program Airlines Award Chart Type Earning Model Last Update
Etihad Guest Etihad Airways Dynamic Pricing Hybrid (Miles + Tier Credits) November 2023
Velocity Frequent Flyer Virgin Australia Hybrid (Dynamic for VA, Zone-Based for partners) Spend-Based October 2024 (Read here)
Smiles (Brazil) GOL Linhas Aéreas Dynamic Pricing Distance-Based March 2023
Smiles (Argentina) GOL Linhas Aéreas Dynamic Pricing Distance-Based March 2023
Fidelidade Azul Brazilian Airlines Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based August 2023
TrueBlue JetBlue Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based October 2023
Emirates Skywards Emirates Dynamic Pricing Spend-Based September 2023

Caution: Outdated Information

Smaller programs like EgyptAir Plus or Royal Jordanian often don’t publicize changes. Always double-check award costs directly with the airline before transferring points, as their charts can be outdated or unpublished.

What are Award Charts?

Award charts are basically tables that outline how many miles or points you’ll need to redeem for a free flight (an award flight) in a frequent flyer program. They form the basis of any airline loyalty program, detailing the cost in miles from one region to another, often further divided by cabin class (economy, business, or first).

Different Types of Award Charts

Award charts can be of different types, depending on what criteria they use to determine the price (in miles or points) of the award tickets. Here are the most common ones.

Zone-Based Award Charts

Zone-based award charts are The most common type you’ll encounter. These charts categorize countries into different zones or regions, with a fixed amount of miles needed to travel from one zone to another. For instance, before 2022, American Airlines AAdvantage used a zone-based award chart where North America to Europe in business class is a fixed 57,500 miles one-way, regardless of whether you’re flying from New York to London or Los Angeles to Istanbul.

Pro Tip: Maximize Your Zones

The sweet spot in zone-based charts is flying the longest possible route within a given zone pairing. For example, flying from the US West Coast to Eastern Europe might cost the same number of miles as flying from New York to London, offering incredible value for the distance covered.

Distance-Based Award Charts

As the name suggests, distance-based award charts calculate the miles needed based on the actual flight distance. Airlines such as British Airways and Cathay Pacific use distance-based charts. Short-haul flights can offer exceptional value, as the miles required can be significantly less than in zone-based systems.

Warning: The Connection Trap

Distance-based charts can be a trap for itineraries with connections. Since each flight segment’s distance is often added up, a multi-stop journey can become significantly more expensive than a non-stop flight or a comparable zone-based award.

Revenue-Based Award Charts

In revenue-based award charts, the miles needed for an award flight are directly tied to the ticket cost. Airlines such as Southwest Airlines and JetBlue follow this model. The higher the ticket price, the more miles you’ll need to redeem an award flight.

This type of award chart offers simplicity and transparency since you know precisely how your miles equate to dollar value. However, they generally provide less opportunity for “sweet spots” or outsized value than zone- and distance-based charts.

Region-Based Award Charts

Similar to zone-based charts, region-based award charts group countries into regions but with one significant difference — they also take into account the region you’re flying from. This means the mileage cost varies not just based on your destination but also your departure point.

SAS EuroBonus Award Chart.

Hybrid Award Charts

Hybrid award charts combine elements from multiple types of award charts. For instance, Delta Air Lines has an undisclosed award chart that appears to mix zone, distance, and revenue elements. Although this lack of transparency can be frustrating, savvy travelers who spend time understanding the program’s nuances can still find good redemption opportunities.

Dynamic Pricing

Dynamic pricing strays away from the concept of a fixed chart, instead adjusting the mileage cost based on demand and other factors. It’s a model that more airlines are moving towards, such as American Airlines AAdvantage and United MileagePlus.

The Peril of Dynamic Pricing

While dynamic pricing can sometimes offer cheap awards during the low season, it more often leads to astronomical costs during peak travel times. Your 50,000 miles might be worth a business class seat one day and barely cover an economy ticket the next. Predictability is lost, which is the biggest drawback for award travelers.

AAdvantage Award Chart.

Summary of Award Chart Types

Type of Award Chart Description Pros Cons
Distance-based Price is based on the distance flown. Great value on short, direct flights. Can be very expensive for long-haul or connecting flights.
Region-based Price is based on the region you are flying to and from. More nuanced pricing than zone-based charts. Can be complex with many origin/destination pairs.
Revenue-based Price is tied to the cash cost of the ticket. Simple and transparent. Eliminates the chance for outsized value or “sweet spots”.
Hybrid Combines multiple chart types. Can offer diverse redemption opportunities. Lack of transparency and potential for complexity.
Dynamic pricing Price fluctuates with demand, time of booking, etc. More award seats are theoretically available. Unpredictable costs, can be extremely expensive.

Understanding Your Program’s Award Chart

Regardless of the type of award chart your frequent flyer program uses, understanding it is crucial to maximize your miles’ value. Research the sweet spots, keep up to date with changes (airlines often devalue their charts), and use tools like AwardFares to help plan redemptions.

What is a good redemption?

A good redemption is one that gives you the most value for your miles. This means finding a flight that you would have paid a lot of money for in cash, but can instead redeem for a relatively low number of miles.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a good redemption:

  1. The cost of the flight in cash: The higher the cash price, the better your potential redemption value.
  2. The number of miles required: The fewer miles required for that expensive flight, the better.
  3. The availability of award seats: Finding a seat is the first hurdle. Premium cabin seats on popular routes are toughest to find.
  4. Your loyalty status: Elite status can unlock better availability or lower pricing on some airlines.

Stay tuned to our posts, we regularly publish guides and articles on how to find and book the best sweet spots on each program.

Dynamic Award Pricing: Which Airlines Have Adopted It in 2025?

As of 2025, many major airlines across the three global alliances have adopted dynamic pricing, particularly for their own flights. In Star Alliance, programs like United MileagePlus, Turkish Miles&Smiles, and Air New Zealand Airpoints are fully dynamic. Within oneworld, American AAdvantage, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and Finnair Plus have gone dynamic, with Qantas following suit. In SkyTeam, dynamic pricing is standard for Delta SkyMiles and Flying Blue (Air France/KLM). This widespread shift reflects airlines’ focus on aligning award costs with real-time demand, offering more flexibility but less predictable rates.

Why are Airlines Shifting to Dynamic Pricing Award Charts?

The move away from predictable, fixed award charts to dynamic models is driven by several key business factors.

1. Technology and Data Analysis

Airlines now have powerful systems that analyze demand, seasonality, and competitor pricing in real-time, allowing them to adjust award prices on the fly to maximize profit.

2. Revenue Management

Dynamic pricing allows airlines to align award costs more closely with a seat’s actual cash value. This prevents them from “losing” revenue by giving away a high-value last-minute business class seat for a low, fixed number of miles.

3. Influencing Customer Behavior

By lowering award costs on less popular routes or during off-peak periods, airlines can stimulate demand and fill empty planes. Conversely, they can price awards sky-high on popular flights to preserve seats for cash-paying customers.

4. Eliminating Sweet Spots

Traditional award charts had well-known “sweet spots” that savvy travelers exploited for massive value. Dynamic pricing makes these loopholes nearly impossible to find, protecting the airline’s bottom line.

5. The Illusion of Simplicity

On the surface, tying award cost to ticket price seems simpler. However, the lack of a fixed chart makes it much harder for members to plan and know how many miles they need to save for a specific goal.

It's All About Revenue

At its core, the shift to dynamic pricing is about one thing: maximizing revenue. By tying award costs to the cash price of a seat, airlines protect their bottom line and reduce the “cost” of loyalty programs.

Unlock Award Chart Sweet Spots with AwardFares

Find the best ways to redeem your miles with AwardFares—the fastest and most powerful search engine for award flights. Search availability across 14 frequent flyer programs, including United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, Flying Blue, AAdvantage, and more. Compare routes and redemption options from over 50 airlines within Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam—all in seconds.

Never miss out on premium cabin seats with real-time award alerts, notifying you the moment award space opens up. Get detailed flight information, including seat maps for Business and First Class cabins—so you can pick flights with the best seats.

AwardFares’ modern, mobile-friendly interface makes comparing flights quick and easy. Plus, with historical award availability data, spot patterns that help you book at the right time. Whether you’re looking for a business class sweet spot to Asia or a last-minute first-class deal to Europe, AwardFares gives you the tools to find it—faster, smarter, and with fewer miles.

AwardFares Home.

How to Beat Any Award Chart with AwardFares

  • Use powerful filters to narrow your search by airline, cabin, number of stops, and more.
  • Compare programs side-by-side to see which offers the best rate for the same flight.
  • Set up award alerts to get notified the moment seats open on your desired route.
  • Be flexible with your dates. Use the calendar view to spot the cheapest days to fly at a glance.
  • Check partner airline availability. Find hidden gems by redeeming miles from one program for flights on another.
AwardFares Map View.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Award Chart Questions Answered

What is an award chart?

An award chart is a table or system an airline uses to show how many miles or points are required to book an award flight. The cost can be based on geographic zones, flight distance, or fluctuate with demand (dynamic pricing).

Why are so many airlines switching to dynamic pricing?

Airlines are moving to dynamic pricing to better align award costs with the cash price of a ticket, demand, and seasonality. This helps them maximize revenue, control seat inventory, and eliminate predictable “sweet spots” that were common with fixed charts.

What is the difference between a zone-based and a distance-based award chart?

A zone-based chart has a fixed mileage price for travel between two large regions (e.g., 60,000 miles from North America to Europe), regardless of the exact cities. A distance-based chart calculates the price based on the actual distance flown, making short flights cheaper and very long flights more expensive.

How can I find good value if my airline uses dynamic pricing?

Finding value requires flexibility. The best strategies are to:

  • Search for travel during off-peak dates or seasons.

  • Book very far in advance or at the last minute.

  • Use a powerful award search tool like AwardFares to quickly compare prices across many dates and even different loyalty programs.

Do any airlines still use fixed award charts?

Yes, but they are less common. Many programs now use a hybrid model: dynamic pricing for their own flights but a fixed, predictable award chart for flights on partner airlines. This is where some of the best value can still be found.

Want More Award Travel Intel?

Imagine flying to Paris in a lie-flat business class seat for the price of an economy ticket. On average, AwardFares premium users get 3x-7x more value from their points, regularly booking $5,000+ flights at a fraction of the cost.

AwardFares is the easiest way to find the cheapest and most convenient award flights across multiple frequent flyer programs. It takes just seconds and a few clicks to get started. You can create an account and try it for free here.

For access to even more powerful features like unlimited daily searches, alerts, seat maps, and flight schedules, explore our Gold and Diamond membership tiers here.

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