How do airline miles work?
If you’re a frequent flyer, airline miles can help you pay for flights. They work similarly to credit card miles or points, which you earn with travel rewards credit cards.
What you’ll learn:
-
Airline-specific miles and credit card rewards miles are similar programs that allow you to earn rewards for travel and other purchases.
-
You typically earn airline miles by being a regular customer of a specific airline and enrolling in its rewards program.
-
You may be able to use miles to book flights, upgrade your seat, reserve hotels and more.
-
Miles earned through a Capital One card like Venture may give you more redemption options than airline miles.
What are airline miles?
Airline miles, or frequent flyer miles, are rewards you earn by being a regular customer of a specific airline and its loyalty program. You generally redeem airline miles for perks related to that airline, like flights, business or first class upgrades, and in-flight food and beverages.
Airline miles vs. credit card rewards miles
Airline-specific miles and credit card miles are similar, but they’re separate programs. Travel rewards credit cards offer credit card miles or points, depending on the issuer. Airlines offer frequent flyer miles.
You can use both types of miles to book travel or cover travel expenses, but credit card miles may give you more flexibility. Capital One travel rewards credit cards, for example, let you earn unlimited rewards on every purchase you make, with elevated rewards rates when booking travel through Capital One Travel.
There may also be more redemption options with travel credit cards. Besides travel bookings, some ways to use Capital One miles include:
- Redeeming them for gift cards or cash back
- Paying for purchases at Amazon.com or online through PayPal
- Putting them toward tickets, exclusive events and more on Capital One Entertainment
How to earn airline miles
Different airlines structure their rewards programs differently. But in general, you earn airline miles when you join your preferred airline’s loyalty program and book flights with that airline or a partner airline.
You’ll usually earn miles based on how much you fly. So the more you fly with an airline and its partner airlines, the more miles you can earn.
Some airline rewards programs may also let you earn miles by shopping through the program’s online portal or dining out at certain restaurants.
How to use airline miles
Airline miles are generally redeemable through the specific airline’s frequent flyer program. Depending on the issuer, redemption options might include:
Flights
Get reimbursed toward the cost of your airfare, or cover part of the total cost. Miles could also help cover the cost of your checked luggage.
Upgrades
If upgrades are available, use your rewards for a seat upgrade on your flight or to gain entry to an airport lounge before takeoff.
Hotels or rental cars
Help cover the cost of hotel stays and rental cars during your trip. You may need to book at specific hotels that your airline partners with.
How airline miles work FAQ
The answers to these frequently asked questions about how airline miles work may help you better understand your options.
How do frequent flyer miles work?
With frequent flyer miles, you usually earn miles when you fly. But you may also earn miles in other ways, like by making purchases through an airline’s shopping portal. Then you can generally redeem those miles when booking flights or upgrading your seat.
Can I use both credit card miles and frequent flyer miles on trips?
You may be able to use both credit card miles and frequent flyer miles on the same trip, but how you combine and redeem your rewards may vary by airline and credit card issuer.
Capital One travel rewards cardholders can transfer their miles to select airline loyalty programs and combine both kinds of miles to book a flight.
Is applying for a travel rewards credit card worth it if I have frequent flyer miles?
A travel rewards credit card may help you save even more on your trips. Plus, you might be eligible for additional cardholder benefits. And because you can earn miles on every purchase, you could end up earning more with your card than through frequent flyer programs alone.
For example, Capital One Venture cardholders can earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and unlimited 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, rental cars and activities booked through Capital One Travel.
How many airline miles do I need for a free flight?
The number of miles needed to cover the cost of a flight varies, depending on the value of your miles and the cost of the flight.
Key takeaways: How do airline miles work?
You earn airline miles through an airline loyalty program. They can be used to cover the cost of things like airfare, hotels and rental cars.
If you’re interested in more-flexible rewards redemption options, you could learn more about how credit card miles work. Capital One offers travel rewards credit cards with exclusive benefits and elevated rewards that can help make your travel experience more enjoyable.
-
Explore travel rewards cards with unlimited miles you can actually use.
-
Elevate your next adventure with the Venture X card, which offers premium travel benefits and more.
-
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day, and earn a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Venture card.
-
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day, with the VentureOne card with no annual fee. View important rates and disclosures.
