Case study · Business classWith proof

Tbilisi and Istanbul, December 2024

4 flights, 4 of them in business class, 10 days.

TürkiyeGeorgia
Florian HartlFounder of Benefit SystemsData as of 11 December 2024
Brick domes of the historic sulfur baths in the Abanotubani district in cool December light in Tbilisi.
Illustrative image, AI-generated
Short answerTbilisi and Istanbul in December 2024: 4 flights for $357 paid, against a documented comparison value of $2,906. We used 28,000 points and miles, 9.1¢ per point on average. Anything paid in cash appears without a comparison value. The comparison value is not money paid out.

Key figures

$357 paid, $2,906 documented comparison value. The 88% difference came from 28,000 points and miles.

Paid
$357
flights, hotels and transfers
Comparison value
$2,906
documented cash value
Difference
88%
$2,549 documented
Points and miles
28,000
9.1¢ per point

At a glance

Airlines
Turkish Airlines
Booking classes
Business class (4)
Flight numbers
  • Outbound flight Airport → Istanbul
  • TK376 IST → TBS
  • TK377 TBS → IST
  • Return flight Istanbul → Airport
Airports
Istanbul (IST), Tbilisi (TBS)

Day by day

2 December 2024
AirportIstanbul ISTBusiness
Outbound flight
Paid
$111
Value
$1,132
points
11,000
per point
9.3¢
3 December 2024
Istanbul ISTTbilisi TBSBusiness
Turkish Airlines · TK376
Paid
$0
Value
$607
points
5,000
per point
12.1¢
11 December 2024
Tbilisi TBSIstanbul ISTBusiness
Turkish Airlines · TK377
Paid
$246
Value
$671
points
7,000
per point
6.1¢
Istanbul ISTAirportBusiness
Return flight
Paid
$0
Value
$496
points
5,000
per point
9.9¢

The whole trip

The whole trip: paid, comparison value, difference and points used.
CategoryPaidComparison valueDifferencePoints and miles
Flights (4)$357$2,906$2,549 88%28,000
Total (4 bookings)$357$2,906$2,549 88%28,000

Proof

Excerpts from the booking confirmations, personal data and booking codes made unreadable.

Air Canada Aeroplan award booking: Turkish Airlines TK376 Istanbul to Tbilisi, business class, connecting flight made unreadable
Air Canada Aeroplan award booking: Turkish Airlines TK376 Istanbul to Tbilisi, business class, connecting flight made unreadable
Purchase summary outbound: 16,000 Aeroplan points plus 155.60 Canadian dollars
Purchase summary outbound: 16,000 Aeroplan points plus 155.60 Canadian dollars
Air Canada Aeroplan award booking: Turkish Airlines TK377 Tbilisi to Istanbul, business class, connecting flight made unreadable
Air Canada Aeroplan award booking: Turkish Airlines TK377 Tbilisi to Istanbul, business class, connecting flight made unreadable
Purchase summary return: 12,000 Aeroplan points, including a 100 Canadian dollar change fee
Purchase summary return: 12,000 Aeroplan points, including a 100 Canadian dollar change fee

4 records · swipe or use the arrows, click to enlarge4 records · swipe, tap to enlarge

Editorial noteThis case study is our own trip analysis and not tax, legal or financial advice. Award prices, availability and cash prices change all the time.

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Terms in this trip

  • Award ticket: An award ticket is a flight paid for with miles or points instead of cash; taxes, fees and surcharges almost always still have to be paid in money.
  • Award availability: Award availability is the number of seats an airline releases on a given flight for redemption with miles, which is usually far smaller than the number of seats still on sale.
  • Cabin class: Cabin class is the physical section of an aircraft, economy, premium economy, business or first, each with its own seating and service.
  • Cents per point: Cents per point is the measure of a redemption's value: the cash price avoided, minus any co-payment, divided by the number of points spent.

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