In today's fast-paced world, air travel is more than just a convenience — it's a lifestyle. Whether you’re a seasoned jet-setter or someone who hops on a plane once in a blue moon, there's an exhilarating sense of possibility every time you hear a plane's engines roar.

But, if you’re catching flights a lot of the time, you might be familiar with the term ‘air miles’. 

If you’re looking to start your air miles journey or simply enhance your flying experience, this Trtl Travel blog covers everything you need to know about air miles, how to earn them and how they can be used. The world of air miles awaits, and the horizon has never looked so rewarding!

 

What are air miles?

Air miles — sometimes known as frequent flyer miles — are points that passengers can collect with loyalty programs offered by major airlines. 

By flying with airlines or making purchases with its partners, like credit card companies, hotels, and car rental agencies, you can earn miles and redeem them for free or discounted flights, upgrades and other travel-related rewards.

Why are air miles important to frequent flyers?

If you’re a frequent flyer, air miles are a must-have! By accumulating these points, travellers can even get ticket upgrades from economy to premium classes without incurring the usual charge. 

Beyond these savings, frequent flyer programs are laden with perks such as priority boarding, increased baggage allowances, and access to luxurious airport lounges across the globe for those with higher-tier memberships. 

For airlines, these loyalty programs help foster repeated patronage, ensuring their most frequent customers stay loyal. For the frequent traveller, air miles and their programs translate into a blend of financial advantages and an improved travel experience.

What are the benefits of air miles?

Air miles offer a wide range of benefits, not just for flights!

• Free flights — One of the most coveted benefits, air miles can be redeemed to cover either an entire or partial cost of an airline ticket. This allows passengers to utilise significant savings on their journeys, meaning they can spend this on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
  
  
• Flight upgrades — Air miles can be used to upgrade seating class, meaning passengers can move from economy to business or even first class.
  
  
• Priority boarding — Members of frequent flyer programs, especially those who have accumulated a lot of miles, have the opportunity to board the plane ahead of regular passengers.
  
  
• Access to airport lounges — Higher tiers in loyalty programs can sometimes grant access to exclusive airport lounges. These spaces provide an environment where passengers can relax, eat, drink, or work away from the hustle and bustle of regular terminals.
  
  
• Extra baggage allowance — Travellers with significant air mile totals or certain membership levels may sometimes be given an increased baggage allowance. This perk can either provide a discount on checked baggage fees or allow for additional free checked bags.

How do you earn air miles?

There are a few ways that you can earn air miles:

1. Enrolment

First, you’ll need to sign up for the airline’s frequent flyer program, which is usually free.

Once registered, you’ll receive a unique member number, which you should reference when booking any flights or using services from partnered businesses to ensure your miles are credited to your account.

2. Earn miles

Earning air miles in the UK can be extremely useful for travellers looking to maximise their benefits. You can earn air miles by:

• Joining air loyalty programmes — Many major airlines operating in the UK offer frequent flyer programmes. British Airways, for instance, has its "Executive Club", where members earn "Avios" points for flights. By joining these programmes, every flight you take accumulates points or miles.
  
  
• Flying regularly — The most straightforward way to earn miles is by flying. The more you fly, especially on long-haul routes or in premium cabins, the more miles you'll typically accrue.
  
  
• Signing up for co-branded credit cards — Several credit card companies in the UK are co-branded with airline loyalty programmes. British Airways American Express Card allows you to earn Avios on everyday spending. These cards will usually come with sign-up bonuses and sometimes even additional benefits like company vouchers or exclusive lounge access.
  
  
• Partnerships — Lots of airlines have partnerships with different businesses, like credit card companies, hotels, rental cars and sometimes even restaurants and retailers. Using these services or products can earn you extra miles, which means you’ll be better off in the long run. 
  
  
• Special promotions — Airlines frequently run promotions where you can earn bonus miles for certain activities or if you meet specific criteria, such as spending a certain amount when booking tickets to a destination.
  
  
• Purchasing miles — Some airlines allow you to buy miles directly, although this usually isn’t the most cost-effective way of acquiring them. However, if you’re only a few miles short of a reward, it can be a great alternative to get you what you need.

How many air miles do you need for a free flight?

The amount of air miles that you need for a free flight will vary depending on who you’re flying with, the distance and the fare class you want to take.

Avios, for example, is used by several different airlines, including:

• British Airways Executive Club
• Iberia Plus
• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Avios can be transferred between any of these programs at a 1:1 ratio, which basically means that all points are worth the same amount in each program. However, there are different ways that Avios points can be redeemed in each.

Tier points count toward status, and there are four different status levels:

Blue — The most basic level that everyone starts.

Bronze — Achieved after 300 tier points are earned in a membership year.

Silver — Achieved after 600 tier points are earned in a membership year. 

Gold — Achieved after 1,500 tier points earned in a membership year.

As of 18 October 2023, you’ll collect Avios on British Airways-marketed flights based on the ticket price instead of the distance you fly. 

The total you spend is then multiplied according to the tier you sit in:

Executive Club Blue — Collect 6 Avios per pound (GBP) spent. 

Executive Club Bronze — Collect 7 Avios per pound spent.

Executive Club Silver — Collect 8 Avios per pound spent.

Executive Club Gold — Collect 9 Avios per pound spent. 

As an estimate, we ran a flight from Manchester, United Kingdom, to JFK Airport in New York. On the British Airways Travel Calculator, you’d need 832 Avios points to fly in Economy Lowest and 9,987 points to fly in First Class Flexible (correct as of September 2023).

To travel directly from MAN to JFK on Wednesday, 27 September, with a return flight on Monday, 2 October, would cost £1,543.17, including any charges and fees. This means you’d earn 9,259 Avios on Executive Club Blue and 13,888 points for Executive Club Gold.

Can I transfer my airline miles to another person?

Frequent travellers often end up with a stash of award miles that they might not be able to use before they expire (yes, they have an expiry date!). 

The simple answer is yes, you can transfer your air miles; however, there are usually some limitations to this. Most airlines set a cap on the number of miles that can be transferred between accounts. 

British Airways, for example, allows you to share up to 27,000 Avios with another Executive Club Member each year. United Airlines lets members transfer 500 to 100,000 miles from an account to another member’s MileagePlus account with a processing fee of $30 per transaction.

Prepare yourself for any journey with Trtl Travel

If you’re a seasoned traveller, you’ll know just how important air miles are and how they’re accumulation can be extremely beneficial on any journey. And, you’ll know just how important it is to be comfortable when you’re flying too. That’s why our travel pillows will leave you feeling refreshed at your destination, whether it’s a quick trip of a few hours or a long-haul flight.  

To find out more helpful tips and tricks for all things flying, check out our blog page.