What are air miles?
Air miles are a type of rewards point that can be exchanged for flights, upgrades and other travel services.
They’re offered by major airlines, and collected whenever you spend with them or one of their partner brands.
The UK’s most popular air miles schemes are:
- Avios — offered by British Airways Executive Club
- Virgin Points — offered by Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Others include:
- American Airlines — AAdvantage Miles
- Emirates — Skywards
- Etihad — Etihad Guest
- Lufthansa — Miles & more
- United Airlines — Mileage Plus
Before you can collect air miles, you’ll need to register with your chosen loyalty scheme. It’s free to sign up, and you can collect air miles with as many providers as you like.
Whenever you book a flight, or shop with one of the scheme’s partner brands, you’ll be prompted to enter your membership information so the air miles you earn can be credited to your account.
Exactly how much you earn will vary depending on the scheme you sign up for and the tickets you buy.
With British Airways Executive Club, the number of Avios you earn is related to how far you fly, rather than how much you spend. On each flight, you’ll earn between 25% and 250% of the miles you fly in Avios.
On a 1,000 mile flight you’d earn between 250 and 2,500 Avios, depending on the cabin class and whether you purchased a flexible or advance ticket.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club uses a similar calculation. According to Virgin’s website, booking a return flight from London to New York would earn you between 866 and 13,856 Virgin Points. This means you can effectively collect between 0.15 points and 1 point per mile travelled.
You can also collect points by spending on an air miles credit card, such as one of the above.
Can I buy air miles?
If you want to top up your air miles balance, you can often buy them directly from the provider.
Bear in mind that you’ll pay more for each point than it is worth when redeemed.
You may also be able to convert other loyalty points into air miles. For instance, 400 Nectar Points can be converted into 250 Avios, while 150 Tesco Clubcard Points (£1.50 in Clubcard vouchers) can be converted into 300 Virgin Points.
How do you spend air miles?
Air miles can be spent on flights with participating airlines, cabin upgrades, and other travel services such as car rental and hotels.
To redeem air miles, you can make a purchase through the loyalty scheme’s online portal, or enter membership details at checkout when booking with one of its partners.
Air miles don’t carry an exact monetary value. The air miles price of a flight depends on the cabin class you opt for, and when you want to travel. As an example however, a return economy flight from London to New York would cost about 20,000 Virgin Points.
Do air miles expire?
Whether your air miles expire depends on the points system you’re using. For example, Avios expire if you do not spend or earn at least one point every 36 months, whereas Virgin Points never expire.
Are there any drawbacks to having an air miles credit card?
While air miles credit cards can be a useful tool, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider. Many charge an annual fee, for example, which could outweigh the benefits you receive.
Equally, you’re unlikely to receive a generous 0% interest period on balance transfers or purchases — and, unless you have an excellent credit score and meet other stringent eligibility criteria, you may not be offered one of these premium type of cards at all.
What credit score will I need to get an air miles credit card?
To be accepted for an air miles credit card, you will typically need to have a very good or excellent credit score.
Individuals with a history of bad credit are unlikely to be accepted for an air miles card, and applying for any form of credit may impact your credit score.
How can I make the most of my air miles credit card?
While each air miles credit card has its own rules for earning points, there are ways of maximising the number of points you can earn. For example:
- Take advantage of welcome bonuses — certain cards offer extra air miles as a reward for spending a certain amount of money in your first months
- Check for partner offers — your provider may reward you with extra points when you shop with one of its partners
- Pay off your balance in full each month — by clearing your balance every month, you’ll avoid costly interest payments that could cancel out the value of the air miles you earn.
Do air miles credit cards charge a fee?
Some air miles credit cards charge an annual fee, while others do not.
Fee-charging cards generally offer a generous points collection system, so you may be able to ‘earn back’ the fee in air miles.
What are the alternatives?
If you are not a frequent traveller, a different type of reward card could make better sense. There’s a whole host of deals available which either pay cash back as a percentage of what you spend, or points which can be redeemed at certain stores or groups of stores – or put towards family days out for example.
Alternatively, if you’re planning a large purchase and want to spread the cost over time, a 0% purchase credit card is likely to be the best option. These cards don’t charge interest for a set period of time — typically between six and 24 months.
Meanwhile, a 0% balance transfer credit card could be the better option if you are carrying a balance on another card that charges a high rate of interest and are able to switch it over.
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Now, let's dive into the concept of air miles and explore the information provided in the article.
What are air miles?
Air miles are a type of rewards point that can be collected and exchanged for flights, upgrades, and other travel services. They are offered by major airlines and can be earned when you spend with the airline or its partner brands.
Popular air miles schemes in the UK
In the UK, some popular air miles schemes include:
- Avios, offered by British Airways Executive Club
- Virgin Points, offered by Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
- Emirates Skywards
- Etihad Guest
- Lufthansa Miles & More
- United Airlines Mileage Plus
How to collect air miles
To collect air miles, you need to register with your chosen loyalty scheme. Registration is usually free, and you can collect air miles with multiple providers. Whenever you book a flight or shop with one of the scheme's partner brands, you'll need to enter your membership information to ensure the air miles you earn are credited to your account. The number of air miles you earn will vary depending on the scheme and the tickets you purchase.
Earning air miles with British Airways Executive Club and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
With British Airways Executive Club, the number of Avios (air miles) you earn is based on the distance you fly, rather than the amount you spend. The earning rate can range from 25% to 250% of the miles flown in Avios. For example, on a 1,000-mile flight, you could earn between 250 and 2,500 Avios, depending on factors such as cabin class and ticket type.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club also uses a similar calculation. According to Virgin's website, booking a return flight from London to New York could earn you between 866 and 13,856 Virgin Points. This means you can effectively collect between 0.15 and 1 point per mile traveled.
Buying and spending air miles
If you want to top up your air miles balance, you can often buy them directly from the provider. However, it's important to note that buying air miles may cost more than their actual value when redeemed. Additionally, some loyalty programs allow you to convert other loyalty points into air miles.
Air miles can be spent on flights with participating airlines, cabin upgrades, and other travel services such as car rentals and hotels. To redeem air miles, you can make a purchase through the loyalty scheme's online portal or enter your membership details at checkout when booking with one of its partners. The cost of a flight in air miles depends on the cabin class and travel dates. For example, a return economy flight from London to New York could cost about 20,000 Virgin Points.
Expiration of air miles
The expiration of air miles depends on the specific points system you're using. For example, Avios expire if you do not spend or earn at least one point every 36 months, while Virgin Points never expire.
Drawbacks of air miles credit cards
While air miles credit cards can be useful, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider. Many of these cards charge an annual fee, which may outweigh the benefits received. Additionally, these cards may not offer generous 0% interest periods on balance transfers or purchases. Eligibility for premium air miles credit cards may also require an excellent credit score.
Credit score requirements for air miles credit cards
To be accepted for an air miles credit card, you typically need to have a very good or excellent credit score. Individuals with a history of bad credit are unlikely to be accepted for an air miles card, and applying for any form of credit may impact your credit score.
Maximizing air miles credit card benefits
While each air miles credit card has its own rules for earning points, there are ways to maximize the number of points you can earn. Some strategies include taking advantage of welcome bonuses, checking for partner offers, and paying off your balance in full each month to avoid costly interest payments.
Alternatives to air miles credit cards
If you're not a frequent traveler, a different type of reward card, such as a cashback card or a card that offers points redeemable at certain stores, may be a better fit. Alternatively, if you're planning a large purchase and want to spread the cost over time, a 0% purchase credit card could be a suitable option.
I hope this information helps you understand the concept of air miles and how they work. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!