Points aren’t what they used to be, and I don’t think anyone who’s been collecting miles for a while would seriously argue otherwise. A few years ago, searching for an award flight felt exciting. Today, it often feels deflating. You type in your dates, hit search, and suddenly the number of miles required looks suspiciously close to the cash price. Airlines have leaned heavily into dynamic pricing, and as a result, a lot of everyday redemptions just don’t feel rewarding anymore.

Why Fixed-Value Redemptions Became So Popular

That shift is exactly why so many people are gravitating toward simple, fixed-value redemptions like Capital One’s Purchase Eraser. One cent per mile. No searching. No hoping award space opens. When a short domestic flight costs an absurd number of points, wiping a cash ticket feels logical, and I’ll be honest, I use it myself. But I don’t rely on it exclusively, because even in today’s tougher environment, there are still corners of the points world where value hasn’t disappeared, it’s just become more selective.

Short-Haul Flights Still Offer Quietly Excellent Value

One of my favorite places where points still shine is short-haul flights booked through partner programs. This is an area that quietly remains one of the best deals in the game. Programs like Air Canada Aeroplan still price some short flights within North America from around 6,000 points one way on partners like United, and when those line up, they easily beat using points at a flat one-cent value. Avianca LifeMiles is another standout, often starting short domestic awards at 6,500 miles with no close-in booking fees. Availability isn’t guaranteed, but when it’s there, the math is hard to ignore. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is also quietly excellent for short trips, with 7,500 miles often enough for short-haul Delta flights that Delta itself would price far higher. These aren’t unicorn redemptions, they’re just examples of programs that haven’t fully surrendered to dynamic pricing yet.

International Travel Is Where Points Still Feel Powerful

International travel is where points still give me the most satisfaction, especially when it comes to longer flights. Flying Blue continues to surprise me, with economy awards to places like Israel sometimes pricing around 30,000 miles round-trip and discounted rates for children, and even domestic Delta flights occasionally showing up for as little as 4,000 to 5,000 miles one way. ANA remains one of the strongest values in the entire points ecosystem, with business class between North America and Japan starting around 52,500 miles one way and first class available at higher but still compelling rates if you’re patient and flexible.

Business Class Sweet Spots Are Still Worth Hunting For

I’ve also seen solid pricing with ITA Airways for business class to Italy, often around 75,000 miles, and Air New Zealand still has moments where long-haul premium cabins can be booked at mileage levels that make paying cash feel painful by comparison. These aren’t everyday redemptions, but they’re exactly why I don’t rush to cash out points at a fixed rate unless it clearly makes sense.

Premium Cabins Are Where Points Become Experiences

Premium cabins are where points still feel genuinely special, not just valuable. Lufthansa First Class is a perfect example. Through LifeMiles, it’s possible, when availability opens, to book Lufthansa First Class between the U.S. and Europe or onward to Israel. These awards aren’t cheap in miles, but they unlock experiences most people would never pay cash for, including access to Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal and, in some cases, luxury ground transfers to the plane.

Aspirational Redemptions Still Justify Saving Points

Emirates is another aspirational redemption that reminds you why points exist at all. With the right mileage balance, you can still book A380 First Class with onboard showers from JFK to Milan or Dubai, something that would cost an eye-watering amount of cash. Singapore Airlines is another personal favorite, as its own program unlocks premium cabins and even suites that many partner programs simply can’t access, making it one of the few ways points can buy something truly exclusive.

Avios Programs Are Still Extremely Flexible

Avios-based programs are also incredibly flexible right now and remain some of the most useful tools I have. Qatar’s Avios program can book short-haul flights on JetBlue or American Airlines, transatlantic JetBlue flights, and even JetBlue Mint business class at mileage levels that often compare very favorably to cash fares. British Airways still prices many short-haul flights worldwide from 7,500 Avios, and Qantas can be useful for booking El Al flights, including premium cabins, at rates that sometimes beat paying cash outright. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is another underrated option, offering competitive pricing for long-haul business class while avoiding some of the fuel surcharges that make other programs less appealing.

How I Personally Use Points Today

At this point, my approach to points is pretty simple. I treat fixed-value redemptions like Purchase Eraser as my floor, not my strategy. It guarantees I’ll never do worse than one cent per mile, and that alone removes pressure. But I save my real effort for the trips that matter, long flights, premium cabins, and expensive destinations where points still punch far above their weight.

Points Aren’t Dead — They’re Just More Selective

Points aren’t dead, they’re just more selective now, and once you accept that, they’re still absolutely worth playing with.

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