New to Miles? Start Here ✈️
Ever wondered how people fly Business Class without paying thousands of euros?
You've probably seen people flying Business Class to Dubai, Bangkok or New York and thought: How do they afford that?
Well, some of them use miles.
And the good news? You don't have to fly every month or spend a fortune to start collecting them.
So, what exactly are miles?
Think of miles as loyalty points, but for travel.
Airlines have loyalty programmes that reward you with miles or points. You can collect them through flights, credit cards, shopping and sometimes even hotel bookings.
Once you've collected enough, you can use them to book flights, including Business Class.
Just remember: award flights aren't always completely free. You may still need to pay taxes and fees.
How do you earn miles?
1. Flying ✈️
Join an airline loyalty programme before your next flight. Depending on your ticket and airline, you could earn miles.
2. Everyday shopping 🛒
This is my favourite part. In Germany, for example, PAYBACK allows you to collect points on everyday purchases and transfer eligible points to Miles & More.
Imagine earning miles while buying toothpaste or doing your weekly grocery shopping!
3. Credit cards 💳
Some credit cards reward you with points for purchases. Depending on the programme, you may be able to transfer those points to airline partners.
The idea isn't to spend more money. It's to get something back from money you were already going to spend.
Which programmes should you know?
A few popular ones:
• Miles & More – Lufthansa Group and partner airlines.
• Flying Blue – Air France and KLM.
• Avios – Used by programmes such as British Airways Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
You don't need to join every programme. Start with one that makes sense for where you live and where you want to travel.
My advice if you're just starting
Don't chase miles just because everyone else is doing it.
Pick a destination you'd love to visit, understand which programme could help you get there, and start collecting points.
And always compare the total cost of a miles booking with a normal cash ticket. Sometimes paying cash is the better deal.
I started learning about miles because I love travelling, and I wanted to find smarter ways to do it.
That's what Miles Academy is about: sharing what I learn along the way.
See you somewhere in the world! 🌍
Rogers — FlyWithRogers