Air miles are reward points that can be earned and redeemed for travel perks, such as flights, hotel stays, and car rentals. They can be gained by flying with an airline, spending money on an air miles credit card, or participating in a loyalty program. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to accumulate air miles and how to use them to book flights or take advantage of other rewards.
There are a few ways to earn air miles, including:
Miles can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, rental cars and much much more. It can take up to 120 days for miles to be posted to an account after a transaction. Base miles and bonus miles may be posted for the same transaction at different times.
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Yes. Typically air miles do expire if there is an extended period of inactivity with the provider. The exact amount of time you have until expiry will change from provider to provider, but will typically be between 18-36 months.
The number of air miles needed for a free economy flight depends on the distance of the flight, the airline, and the fare class:
Distance: A short flight of 751–2,750 miles may require 10,000–12,500 miles for economy, while a medium flight of 2,751–5,000 miles may require 20,000 miles. A long flight of 5,001–7,500 miles may require 27,000 miles.
Airline: The number of miles required depends on the airline. For example, Virgin Atlantic requires 20,000 miles for an economy classic return flight during the standard season, but 40,000 miles during peak season.
Fare class: The number of miles required depends on the fare class.
Some airlines allow you to purchase miles directly, but this usually isn't the most cost-effective way. It can be a good alternative if you're only a few miles short of a reward. You can also earn airline miles by focusing on a couple of airlines that fly the routes you expect to fly. Points may expire if your account is inactive for a certain period, typically 12 to 18 months.
There are a few methods you can use to maximise your accumulation of air miles. Here are our suggestions:
