How to earn airline miles
One page per program: how to join, how flights earn, which partner airlines credit in, where else the airline's own flights can be credited and which program to choose, how to claim miles after a flight, and the shopping, dining, hotel, card and other ways the program itself lists. Every fact links to the program's own page.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
| Program | Earning on own flights | Missing miles window | Partner airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | Not confirmed | 40 |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | 12 months from the flight | 24 |
| Delta SkyMiles | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | 9 months from the flight | 22 |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | Distance and fare class | 12 months; 6 months for BA, Iberia, Qatar, Oman Air | 23 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | Not stated; keep passes 6 months | 26 |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Revenue-based (miles per dollar spent) | 12 months from a JetBlue-operated flight | 8 |
| Avianca LifeMiles | Distance and fare class | 12 months from the flight; 6 months for Iberia and GOL | 28 |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Distance and fare class | 6 months from the flight | 33 |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | Distance and fare class | 6 months from the flight | 14 |
| Korean Air SKYPASS | Distance and fare class | 365 days; 6 months on AF, KLM, Garuda | 25 |
| JAL Mileage Bank | Distance and fare class | 6 months from the flight | 15 |
| ANA Mileage Club | Distance and fare class | 3 days to 6 months after the flight (stated for partner airlines) | 35 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Distance and fare class | 12 months; 6 months for Qatar flights | 31 |
| Virgin Australia Velocity | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | 6 months | 12 |
| British Airways Club | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | 6 months from the flight | 17 |
| Lufthansa Miles & More | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | 6 months from the flight | 29 |
| Air France-KLM Flying Blue | Revenue-based on own flights, distance on partners | 6 months from the flight | 20 |
| Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles | Distance and fare class | 12 months from the flight | 32 |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Distance and fare class | 6 months from the flight | 25 |
| Emirates Skywards | Distance and fare class | 6 months from the flight | 21 |
| Etihad Guest | Distance and fare class | Not stated for Etihad flights | 26 |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | Distance and fare class | 180 days; 90 days if joined after the trip | 23 |
Related references
Earning miles FAQ
- Which frequent flyer program should I join?
- Join the program of the airline you fly most, then add one partner program per alliance whose earning rules suit your fares. US carriers earn by dollars spent, so cheap long flights earn little; distance-based programs like Alaska, British Airways and Qatar can earn far more on the same ticket. The per-program pages below show both options for every airline.
- Can I earn miles on a flight I have already taken?
- Usually, if you claim within the program's window. Most programs allow claims for six to twelve months after the flight and need the ticket number and boarding pass. Some, including several Asian programs, require the account to have existed on the day of the flight. Every window is listed on the missing miles page.
- Do I have to fly to earn miles?
- No. Every program here sells miles through shopping portals, dining programs, hotel and car partners and co-brand credit cards, and most take transfers from bank points. Flying is often the slowest way to build a balance.
- Can I add a different frequent flyer number to my booking?
- Yes, any program that partners with the operating airline. You choose one program per flight, so a flight on American can be credited to AAdvantage or to Alaska, British Airways, Qatar and other partners instead, but not to more than one.