Why there is no exchange price
Miles are non-fungible across programmes, restricted by terms, and vary in usefulness by balance size and timing. Those conditions prevent a single clearing price.
What a quote desk does
It gathers the specifics — programme, amount, timing, intent — assesses feasibility, and returns an indicative figure or a clear no.
How MilesQuote operates
We are independent, publish no rate table, and claim no airline partnership. Every quote is prepared individually and is never a guarantee of price or completion.
What we will not do
We will not ask for account credentials, will not encourage a breach of programme terms, and will not invent inventory or availability we do not have.
How buyers use a marketplace
A buyer usually arrives with a specific award in mind and a shortfall to close. The sensible order is: confirm award availability, check the airline's own purchase price, then compare a quote against that benchmark with taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges included.
Buying speculatively is where most people lose money. Miles bought without confirmed availability can sit unused, devalue, or expire.
How sellers use a marketplace
A seller typically holds a balance with no plausible redemption inside the programme's validity window. Before asking for a sell quote, price a redemption — including partner airlines — because a good redemption normally beats a sale.
Quote value depends on the programme, balance size, current demand, transfer mechanics and expiry position. None of those are constant, which is why no honest desk publishes a payout table.
Risks and programme rules
Loyalty programmes set their own rules on transfer, sale, purchase and third-party transactions, and some restrict or prohibit them. Programme terms govern your account and can change without notice. Review them before proceeding.
Treat guaranteed payouts, instant transfers, fixed public rate tables and requests for your password, PIN or one-time codes as warning signs.
Redemption value versus a quote
Redemption value is the cash fare you avoid by flying on miles. A quote is a market figure for a specific transaction. They are different numbers and should never be presented as one — our valuation method is published in full on our editorial policy page.