How we ranked these programs
Ranked 17 widely held international airline programs in the Points Frog list_point_values catalog by their USD cents-per-mile redemption estimates, from the catalog snapshot dated September 20, 2026 (still the live values on October 25, 2026). Estimates are typical travel redemption values, not cash prices. Ties are listed in catalog order. The Avios currency description comes from British Airways' October 21, 2026 release.
1.45 cents per point, the highest of the 17 programs here.
Explore Aeroplan →1.4 cents per mile, tied for second.
Explore LifeMiles →1.4 cents per point, tied for second.
Explore Flying Club →1.4 cents per mile, tied for second.
Explore ANA Mileage Club →1.3 cents per Avios, the same value we give every Avios program.
Explore The British Airways Club →1.3 cents per mile.
Explore Flying Blue →1.3 cents per Avios.
Explore Iberia Plus →1.3 cents per Avios.
Explore Finnair Plus →1.3 cents per Avios.
Explore AerClub →1.3 cents per Avios.
Explore Privilege Club →1.3 cents per mile.
Explore KrisFlyer →1.3 cents per mile.
Explore JAL Mileage Bank →1.2 cents per mile, tied for last on this list.
Explore Miles&Smiles →1.2 cents per mile, tied for last on this list.
Explore Skywards →1.2 cents per mile, tied for last on this list.
Explore Etihad Guest →1.2 cents per mile, tied for last on this list.
Explore Cathay (Asia Miles) →1.2 cents per point, tied for last on this list.
Explore Qantas Frequent Flyer →
Many travelers in the US never fly on Air Canada, Avianca or Singapore Airlines, yet they hold or move points into those programs. So which foreign airline currency is worth the most? We ranked 17 well-known international airline programs by the cents-per-mile estimates in the Points Frog points value catalog.
These are the live values on October 25, 2026, from a catalog snapshot dated September 20, 2026. Air Canada Aeroplan leads at 1.45 cents. Three programs tie for second at 1.4 cents. Five sit at the bottom at 1.2 cents.
These are travel redemption estimates, not cash prices. A single strong award can beat them, and a weak one can fall below them.
The full ranking
| Rank | Program | Cents each |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Canada Aeroplan | 1.45 |
| 2 | Avianca LifeMiles | 1.40 |
| 2 | Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | 1.40 |
| 2 | ANA Mileage Club | 1.40 |
| 5 | Eight programs (see below) | 1.30 |
| 13 | Five programs (see below) | 1.20 |
The eight programs tied at 1.3 cents are The British Airways Club, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Iberia Plus, Finnair Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Japan Airlines Mileage Bank. They share fifth place.
The five at 1.2 cents are Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Cathay Asia Miles and Qantas Frequent Flyer.
The spread is narrow
The top and bottom of this list are only a quarter of a cent apart. On a 60,000-mile balance, that is about $870 at 1.45 cents versus about $720 at 1.2 cents. The gap is $150.
That is much tighter than our US airline ranking, where the spread runs from 1.55 cents down to 0.9.
All the Avios programs match
Five programs on this list use Avios: British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Finnair and Qatar Airways. We value all five at the same 1.3 cents.
British Airways describes Avios as the shared loyalty currency of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, Qatar Airways, Finnair and Loganair. So we do not treat an Iberia Avios as worth more or less than a British Airways one. The price of the award you book still differs by program, so search each one before you choose.
How to use the ranking
- Size a balance, then search. Use the cents figure to estimate what a balance is worth. Then check the actual award price for your trip.
- Watch the transfer bonuses. A 25% or 30% bonus into a 1.3-cent program can beat a plain transfer into a 1.45-cent one. Do the math on the miles you would actually receive.
- Count the cash part. Taxes and fees vary by program and route. A low mileage price with high fees can lose to a higher mileage price with low fees.
- Never transfer on spec. Moves out of bank programs are usually final. Find the seat first.
You can check any balance with our points value calculator, and see how bank points stack up in our bank points ranking.