Last updated Feb. 7, 2025 by Charles Zemub
When You Will Earn Miles On A Flight And When You Wonʼt
Airline miles can be both a travelers’ best friend and an enigma wrapped in frequent flyer programs, credit cards, partnerships, and booking classes. Understanding when you will earn miles on a flight and when you won’t is essential to maximize your travel rewards. Knowing the intricacies of these programs can yield substantial benefits, like free flights, seat upgrades, or enhanced travel experiences. However, not all flights or ticket types will earn you miles, and certain conditions or mistakes could leave you empty-handed.
Earning Miles On Your Flight
Frequent Flyer Programs
Most airlines have a frequent flyer program that allows passengers to earn miles each time they fly. These programs are designed to reward loyal customers and can differ significantly between airlines. Before booking a flight, consider signing up for the airline’s frequent flyer program to ensure you’re collecting miles from your travels.
Ticket Class and Fare Code
The type of ticket you purchase plays a crucial role in how many miles you earn. Generally, first-class or business-class tickets tend to earn more miles compared to economy tickets. However, within economy class itself, there are often different classes of tickets (referred to as fare classes) that earn different amounts of miles. Some discounted fare classes might only earn a fraction of what a full economy fare would.
Airline Alliances and Partners
Airline alliances such as OneWorld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam allow you to earn and redeem miles across partner airlines. If you are a member of an airline’s frequent flyer program, you can often earn miles on flights with any airline within the alliance. Make sure to enter your frequent flyer number during booking or check-in to ensure the miles are credited.
Promotional Offers and Bonuses
Promotions can significantly boost your mileage balance. Airlines frequently offer promotions that might double or triple the number of miles you earn on a particular route or for flights within a specified period. Keeping an eye on these offers and aligning your travel plans to take advantage of them can be very lucrative.
Credit Card Partnerships
Many airlines partner with banks to offer co-branded credit cards. These cards often provide miles for every dollar spent on purchases, and in some cases, offer bonus miles as a sign-up incentive. Additionally, using the card to pay for flights with the partner airline can yield extra miles.
When You Won’t Earn Miles
Codeshare Flights
Codeshare agreements allow two or more airlines to share the same flight, which may lead to confusion regarding mile earnings. Booking a codeshare flight through an airline that isn’t part of your frequent flyer program’s alliance might not earn you miles, even if you are flying on an aircraft of a partnered airline.
Discount and Basic Economy Tickets
Ultra-discounted and basic economy tickets might not earn you any miles. Airlines have different rules regarding the earning potential of these fare classes, and it’s crucial to verify the fare class rules before booking.
Award Tickets and Certain Promotions
Flights booked using miles or certain promotional fares might not earn additional miles. This ensures that the airline minimizes costs while offering potential seats at low monetary values through miles redemption.
Exclusively Charter Flights
Flights operated by an airline only for specific events or charters might not be eligible for mile accrual, as they cater to different operational needs and agreements.
Missing or Incorrect Mileage Credits
If you notice miles missing from your account after a flight, it’s important to address the issue promptly. This could occur due to entering the wrong frequent flyer number, booking through a non-eligible travel agency, or discrepancies in the fare class. Frequent flyer programs typically provide a period to claim missing miles, but this varies by airline.
Conclusion
The art of collecting miles for flights revolves around understanding the fine print of frequent flyer programs and effectively planning your travel. Whether considering which program to join, aligning with airline partnerships, or carefully selecting fare classes, these factors contribute significantly to maximizing your mileage benefits. By staying informed and strategic, travelers can turn mile collection into a highly advantageous aspect of flying.
✓ Short Answer
You will earn miles on most flights if you are a member of a frequent flyer program and your ticket is booked in a fare class eligible for mileage accrual. Generally, tickets in full-fare economy, business, and first classes will earn miles, along with flights booked through airline alliances. However, you may not earn miles on discounted or basic economy tickets, award tickets, codeshare flights not within partner alliances, charter flights, or if there are errors in your booking details.
FAQs
Q: How do I know if my fare class is eligible for earning miles?
A: Check the airline’s frequent flyer program website for details on fare classes and mile accrual. Airlines usually have a table that lists the fare classes and the percentage of miles earned for each.
Q: Can I still earn miles if I forgot to enter my frequent flyer number during booking?
A: Yes, most airlines allow you to add your frequent flyer number at the time of check-in or after your flight by submitting a mileage credit request.
Q: Are miles earned based on distance traveled or money spent?
A: This depends on the airline. Some airlines award miles based on the distance traveled, while others award them based on the fare paid.
Q: What should I do if my miles do not appear in my account after a flight?
A: Contact the airline with details of your flight and booking, and request a mileage credit through their customer service or dedicated online portal.
Q: Are family members able to pool miles together?
A: Some airlines offer family pooling or shared accounts, enabling family members to combine miles. Check the airline’s policy on household accounts for more information.
Q: Can I earn miles if I book through a third-party travel site?
A: It depends on the airline and the travel site. Booking directly through the airline is generally the safest way to ensure miles are credited, but miles can sometimes be earned through third-party bookings depending on their agreements with the airline.
