Premium Cabin Companion Certificate Value Estimator

Stack airfare savings, unavoidable companion fees, miles you give up, and the upgrade upside to determine whether a premium cabin companion certificate delivers outsized value on your next trip.

All-in fare for one traveler in the target cabin, including taxes and carrier-imposed charges.
Mandatory companion charges including taxes, surcharges, and any certificate activation fees.
Redeemable or status miles you skip by using the certificate instead of buying two paid tickets.
Optional — defaults to $0.018 per mile when blank. Enter the cents-per-mile value you assign to redeemable or status miles.
Optional — defaults to 30.00%. Estimate the chance the paid fare is upgraded into a higher cabin.

Airline program rules vary. Confirm certificate restrictions, fare class limitations, taxes, and blackout dates before booking.

Examples

  • Example 1 — $3,200.00 fare, $99.00 companion fees, 20,000 miles foregone, 1.80¢ valuation, 30.00% upgrade probability ⇒ Net companion value: $3,077.00 | Cash saved vs. buying two fares: $3,101.00 | Mileage opportunity cost: $360.00 | Expected upgrade upside: $336.00 | Effective net value: 15.38 cents/mile
  • Example 2 — $2,450.00 fare, $125.00 fees, 12,500 miles foregone, valuation left blank (defaults to $0.018), 20.00% upgrade probability ⇒ Net companion value: $2,271.50 | Cash saved vs. buying two fares: $2,325.00 | Mileage opportunity cost: $225.00 | Expected upgrade upside: $171.50 | Effective net value: 18.17 cents/mile

FAQ

How should I value the miles foregone?

Enter the blended cents-per-mile you would accept when redeeming miles. Many premium flyers use 1.5–2.0¢ depending on program strength.

What if my upgrade odds are unknown?

Leave the upgrade probability blank to apply the 30% default, or run scenarios at 0%, 50%, and 100% to see the range of possible certificate values.

Does the calculator include lounge access or credit-card rebates?

No. Add those perks to the net value manually if your trip triggers statement credits, lounge vouchers, or loyalty bonuses.

Can I model positioning flights or hotels?

Incorporate those extra costs into the companion fee field so the net value reflects the complete trip outlay.

How do I account for mileage rebates or status bonuses?

Subtract expected mileage rebates or elite bonuses from the Miles Not Earned figure so the opportunity cost reflects the net miles you actually forfeit.

What if the certificate requires select fare classes?

Adjust the Published Fare input to match the fare class eligible for the certificate so savings reflect realistic pricing.

Additional Information

  • Cash savings compare two paid fares against one fare plus the companion fee to show immediate out-of-pocket relief.
  • Opportunity cost values both redeemable and elite miles you forgo using your custom cents-per-mile input or the $0.018 default.
  • Upgrade upside assumes premium cabins retain roughly a 35% price premium, scaled by your upgrade probability input.
  • Effective cents-per-mile output benchmarks certificate use against loyalty redemptions and buy-one-get-one sales.
  • All currency outputs show two decimals in en-US format for easy sharing with travel companions or advisors.

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