Quite simply, in almost all cases, non-cash awards (such as store gift cards, frequent flyer miles, hotel points, etc) are not as valuable as the same cash-equivalent award. For example, would you rather have a $100 Amazon gift card, or $100 in cash. Aren’t they worth the same?
In order to calculate the value of certain frequent flyer programs, it is necessary to understand what it would cost to buy those airline tickets with cold hard cash. In economic terms, I think this is referred to as the replacement cost. Given that airline pricing strategy is
The American Airlines AAdvantage (“Advantage”) Rewards program is the 1st and world’s largest frequent flyer program, or so their website claims. Travelers earn miles when they fly on American Airlines, American Connection/Eagle, or more than 20 other airline partners. The American Airlines Advantage program offers several different types