Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles stands out as one of the most valuable yet underappreciated loyalty programs in the travel industry. With a robust award chart featuring exceptional redemption rates and as a member of Star Alliance, Miles&Smiles offers tremendous value for savvy travelers – despite some recent award chart increases in 2024.
Turkish Airlines operates the third-largest network in the world, flying to 129 countries (more than any other airline), making its loyalty program particularly attractive for global travelers. Its strategic position in Istanbul creates a natural gateway between Europe, Asia, and Africa, serving destinations that U.S. carriers often don’t reach directly.
While the program offers significant value, it also presents some challenges. The website can be frustratingly complex and glitchy, and the booking process sometimes requires persistence. However, for those willing to navigate these obstacles, the rewards can be substantial.
Joining the Miles&Smiles program is free and straightforward through the Turkish Airlines website. However, the sign-up process has some peculiarities worth noting:
Once registered, you can manage your account through the Turkish Airlines website or mobile app. To check your balance, log in and select “Miles Transactions” from the dropdown menu next to your name.
Miles&Smiles offers four membership tiers, each providing increasingly valuable benefits. Unlike many other programs that reset annually, Turkish Airlines elite status is valid for two full years after you earn it, providing extended value.
Maintaining your status tier requires meeting specific thresholds during your membership period:
If you’re close to qualifying or renewing status, you can purchase Status Miles to bridge the gap. The cost is $70 per 1,000 Status Miles, with limits based on your current tier:
When flying on Turkish Airlines, your mileage earning depends on three factors: fare class, elite status level, and flight distance. Unlike many U.S. carriers that have moved to revenue-based earning, Turkish maintains a distance-based model that can be particularly rewarding for long-haul flights.
For example, an Elite member flying from Istanbul to Los Angeles (6,865 miles) in business class (fare code K) would earn approximately 10,984 redeemable miles (6,865 × 160%).
As a Star Alliance member, Turkish Airlines allows you to earn miles when flying on partner airlines like United, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and others. Partner earnings are based on the distance flown and fare class, with each partner having its own earning chart.
For example, when flying United Airlines, earnings range from 50% to 150% of miles flown depending on the booking class:
Always verify that your fare class is eligible for mileage accrual. For example, United fare classes F, X, and I do not earn Turkish miles.
While Turkish Airlines doesn’t offer a co-branded credit card in the U.S., it partners with several major transferable points programs:
These transfer partnerships make it relatively easy to accumulate Turkish miles through everyday spending on cards that earn these currencies.
You can also earn Miles&Smiles miles through various non-flying activities:
Turkish miles expire three years from the date they are earned, regardless of account activity. You can extend expiring miles for another three years by paying a fee of $10 per 1,000 miles.
Unlike many programs that have shifted to dynamic pricing, Turkish Airlines maintains fixed award charts that provide transparency and predictability. The program uses two different award charts:
For Turkish-operated flights, there are two levels of award availability:
Both charts are region-based, with generous region definitions that create exceptional value. For example, Turkish considers Hawaii part of North America, unlike most other programs.
The Miles&Smiles program features some of the most attractive award redemptions in the industry. Here are some standout opportunities:
Booking award flights through Miles&Smiles can be challenging due to the program’s website issues. Here’s a step-by-step approach to maximize your chances of success:
Before transferring points to Turkish Airlines, always confirm award availability, as transfers are irreversible and award space can be limited.
Turkish Airlines passes on carrier-imposed surcharges for award tickets, but these vary significantly by airline:
Award tickets can be changed or canceled for a fee of $70, with miles redeposited into your account.
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