What is a frequent-flyer programme?
A frequent-flyer programme is a loyalty scheme enabling customers to earn points for flights and travel which can then be redeemed on air travel or other services.
How does it work?
You collect points when you fly and exchange them for air travel, hotel stay, car rental, shopping or other benefits.
How can you earn points?
Depending on the airline you can either earn points by booking flights or through partner services such as booking a hotel stay, renting a car, using a credit card or even shopping. Check the frequent flyer programme’s website for details on which services are available and see our example below.
Miles & More by Lufthansa (one of the biggest programmes in Europe with 194 partners including airlines and hotels), earn points through:
- Flights on 38 airlines: enter your Miles and More card number at booking or present it at check-in
- Hotels: choose from a range of over 100 hotels (restrictions apply, please check website for details)
- Car rental: give your Miles and More card number at booking from a range of car rental providers and show the card when collecting the vehicle
- Miles & More Credit Card Account: you can apply online and earn points when using your card
- Roaming calls (in Russia only): earn points when making calls with Beeline network in Russia (online registration required)
- Shopping: selected shops participate in the Miles and More awards programme
How can you redeem your points?
Make sure you have enough points for your chosen method of redeeming. Most frequent flyer programme websites, such as the Emirates Skywards, have a handy mileage calculator which will help you make a decision by giving you an estimate of how many points you can earn on your chosen flight.
If you are redeeming points on air travel you can usually book your flights with the airline directly and enter your frequent flyer card number at booking. Some airlines will require you to contact your local frequent flyer programme representative.
If you want to use your points on flight upgrades you can either do it at check-in or through a frequent flyer programme representative.
What is the monetary value of an air mile?
The value depends on the airline as well as your level of membership. For example:
- A return flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK with the Emirates’ Skywards Blue Tier will cost you 45,000 air miles
- On the same flight from London Heathrow to New York JFK you can earn 8,500 air miles
Bear in mind the restrictions and availability on air fares and plan ahead to avoid disappointment.
How can you use your airline miles to stay in hotels or car rentals?
There are selected hotels such as Hilton and a number of car rental companies, including Avis and Europcar, which partner with different frequent flyer programmes. Check which ones they are on the programme’s website.
Usually you have to earn enough points in order to exchange for a hotel stay or car rental as part payment may not be accepted.
In order to redeem your miles, provide your frequent flyer’s card details at booking and the points will be automatically withdrawn from your account.
What are the main benefits of joining frequent flyer programme?
- It saves you money as you can redeem points on flights, hotel stays and car rentals
- You can help others by donating your air miles to various charities such as Help Alliance or Make-A-Wish Foundation
- You can treat yourself by using miles on upgrades, shopping or access to member-only current promotions
Some of the best frequent flyer programmes
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas partners with a broad range of companies and offers a variety of ways to earn points. These include inSky duty free shops, cruise holidays, insurance providers, supermarkets, restaurants and many others.
Their online system helps you calculate what you can spend earned points on as well as make purchases and transfer the points to family members.
British Airways Executive Club
BA’s rewards include redeeming points on travel, upgrades, priority boarding as well as experiences at your destination including excursions and cultural tours.
The more you travel the more you can gain from your membership. You can also benefit from a Household Account which accumulates points of up to six people living at the same address and includes children but lets you accumulate your points individually as well.
Can you transfer miles to others?
This depends on the programme you are participating in: some of them offer a transfer to family members also participating in the programme; others let you use your points for rewards in someone else’s name.
Major airline alliances
A lot of airlines partner with other airlines by forming an alliance. This means that they form an international network and co-operate to make customers’ travel experience cheaper and more efficient. There 3 major airline alliances are Oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam.
Follow our guide to find out which airlines are their members: Cheapflights’ guide to airline alliances.
Image by Richard Moross
