Glossary
Definition: An award chart that prices redemptions on great-circle miles flown rather than region pairs, typically with peak / off-peak tier modifiers. Aeroplan and British Airways Avios are the two most prominent distance-based charts among major programmes; they are predictable and reward shorter stage lengths disproportionately.
Last updated
Term at a glance
| Term | Distance-Based Award Chart |
|---|---|
| One-liner | An award chart that prices redemptions on great-circle miles flown rather than region pairs, typically with peak / off-peak tier modifiers. Aeroplan and British Airways Avios are… |
| Where it matters | Premium-cabin booking decisions, fare-rules interpretation, airline-product comparison. |
| Related concepts | Award Chart · Reward Flight Saver · Carrier Surcharge · Stopover Reward · Saver Award |
| Last verified | 2026-05-07 |
A distance-based award chart prices a redemption on the great-circle distance of the flight rather than on a region-to-region matrix. Aeroplan (relaunched in November 2020 around a distance-based chart) and British Airways Avios (Reward Flight Saver structure) are the two prominent distance-based programmes among major loyalty currencies.
How it works: distance bands are set at typical thresholds (e.g. 0-1,500 miles, 1,500-3,000 miles, 3,000-7,000 miles, 7,000+ miles). Redemption cost is fixed per band per cabin class. Some charts add peak / off-peak modifiers — Aeroplan applies a peak rate during high-demand calendar windows and an off-peak rate otherwise.
Practical advantages of distance-based charts: - **Predictable**: same redemption costs same miles regardless of date (within peak/off-peak) - **Rewards short-haul**: a 500-mile intra-Asia flight on Cathay via Asia Miles or Avios is materially cheaper than the equivalent on a region-based chart - **Stopover-friendly**: bands are computed on great-circle distance, not segment-summed distance, so a connection adds segments without pushing into a higher band
Practical disadvantages: - **Cash-fee component**: distance-based charts typically have higher cash fees (carrier surcharges, taxes) than region-based charts - **Long-haul rewards weakly**: a transpacific flight at the highest distance band can be more expensive than the same redemption on a region-based chart
Aeroplan and Avios both pair their distance-based core with peak / off-peak modifiers. Aeroplan publishes a calendar of peak dates each cycle. Avios uses a sliding scale (Reward Flight Saver) where holders can choose between higher miles + lower cash or lower miles + higher cash for the same redemption.
In booking practice
At a Glance
| Term | Quick definition | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Flight | A direct flight operates from origin to destination under a single flight number, though it may make… | Read |
| DOT Refund Rule | The US Department of Transportation (DOT) refund rule requires airlines to provide automatic cash refunds for… | Read |
| Direct Aisle Access | Direct aisle access means every seat in a business or first class cabin can reach the aisle without stepping… | Read |
| Dynamic Pricing | Dynamic pricing is a pricing strategy where airline ticket prices change in real-time based on demand,… | Read |
| Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) | A UK transit visa required for certain visa-required nationalities to connect through a UK airport even when… | Read |
| E-Ticket | An e-ticket (electronic ticket) is a digital airline ticket stored in the airline’s reservation system,… | Read |
Related Terms
A direct flight operates from origin to destination under a single flight number, though it may make intermediate stops. It differs from a non-stop flight (no stops) and a connecting flight (different flight numbers).
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) refund rule requires airlines to provide automatic cash refunds for significantly delayed or cancelled flights, and for services like checked bags that aren’t delivered as promised.
Direct aisle access means every seat in a business or first class cabin can reach the aisle without stepping over or disturbing another passenger, typically achieved through 1-2-1 or 1-1-1 configurations.
Dynamic pricing is a pricing strategy where airline ticket prices change in real-time based on demand, supply, booking patterns, and other market factors, meaning the same seat can have vastly different prices at different times.
A UK transit visa required for certain visa-required nationalities to connect through a UK airport even when staying entirely airside. DATV is distinct from a full UK visa — it permits airside transit only, no UK entry. Visa-Waiver-eligible nationalities do not need DATV.
An e-ticket (electronic ticket) is a digital airline ticket stored in the airline’s reservation system, replacing the traditional paper ticket. It is identified by a 13-digit ticket number and linked to your PNR.
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