*Article first written/published in April 2017. Information correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change and/or availability.
What are Air Miles?
There are two main types of airmiles: Airline miles, which are airline-specific reward miles, and Air Miles ME, which aren’t linked to a specific airline and can be collected and redeemed in a number of ways.
How do you earn Air Miles?
Airline miles are earned when you sign up to an airline loyalty program (such as Emirates Skywards or Etihad Guest) and collect your frequent flyer miles or points. With most loyalty programs you’ll earn one mile for every mile flown, or when you spend on a credit card that’s linked to the loyalty program. With the Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways loyalty programs you can also earn miles when you spend in certain restaurant and hotel chains.
Air Miles are earned when you spend in certain shops, websites, hotels, restaurants and the like. Most places operate on a 1 Dirham = 1 Air Mile.
Can I only earn Air Miles when I fly?
No, there are lots of ways to earn air miles. If you’re signed up to the Air Miles ME program you can collect miles when you spend on an HSBC credit card and when you show your Air Miles card at partner shops, hotels and restaurants. For the latter, keep an eye out at the shop till for the Air Miles sign and if you don’t see one, ask anyway.
With Airline miles there are also lots of ways to earn them without flying. Most airlines have lots of partners who will reward you with miles, or points which translate to miles, when you spend money with them. Chances are if you’re visiting a UAE attraction or eating in a UAE hotel, you could be earning air miles. The general rule is ALWAYS ASK.
If I earn one mile, do I have one mile to spend?
No, you will usually earn one mile for every mile flown but this does not mean you get to travel one mile for free. So, being rewarded with 2,000 air miles after a 2,000-mile journey doesn’t mean you’re entitled to a free 2,000-mile ticket – if only! You’ll need to use the airline’s online calculator (such as the Emirates miles calculator) to see how far your miles will get you.
Do I have to have taken the flight to get the Air Miles?
Yes, with Airline miles you need to have already taken the flight in order to collect the reward miles, it’s not enough just to have a booking. On most programs you can also claim miles for flights taken in the three months prior to signing up, which is a nice bonus. Just make sure you don’t delay reclaiming them!
What else can I spend Air Miles on?
As well as other flights, you can spend your Air Miles on hotel stays, restaurants, flights, spa vouchers, theme park tickets, cinema tickets, among many, many other things.
What should I spend my air miles on?
Well, the obvious answer is a flight! Most airlines offer the opportunity to split the cost of a ticket between cash and miles, allowing you to choose how much of each you spend.
Most airlines also have their own online “shops” where you can buy lots of travel-related goodies – this is a very good option if you have a small amount of miles that are about to expire; it’s always better to spend them than to lose them.
But if you’re really looking for value for money (or value for miles) you should consider using them to upgrade a ticket from Economy to Business Class or from Business to First Class. In most cases you’ll find that an upgrade will give you the best mile-to-dirham exchange.
Can I still claim my Air Miles when I book with Skyscanner?
Yes! You can still claim your Airline reward miles on flights that you’ve found via Skyscanner, just enter your membership number when you complete your booking with the airline.
Will my Air Miles expire?
It depends on the type of miles. Airline loyalty miles are usually valid for 3 years from the date they’re earned (it’s different for Tier miles, read more here about Emirates Tier miles). Air Miles are valid for 3 years but it’s calculated within a year from March to March. So all miles earned up to March 31, 2016, will expire on March 31, 2019. You’ll kick yourself if you lose your miles without spending them so keep an eye on your account and don’t let them expire.
What credit cards give me Air Miles?
Certain airlines tie up with banks to offer credit cards so you can maximize the amount of miles you earn. Most UAE banks offer a credit card or visa card that gives you airline points/miles when you spend. The main ones are:
- Emirates NBD Emirates Skywards
- NBAD Etihad Guest Credit Card
- ADIB Etihad Guest Visa Card
- ADCB Etihad Guest Above Card
- Citibank Ultima Credit Card
- Emirates Islamic Skywards Visa Infinite/Signature/Platinum/Gold Card
- American Express
If you live in Saudi Arabia you can apply for an Etihad Guest American Express Card.
With loyalty program credit cards you usually get points for signing up and then for spending on the card. With most credit cards you often earn bonus miles when you book airline tickets with the cards, as well as the miles you’ll earn from spending on the card, and the miles you’ll earn after taking the flight.
Are you a frequent flyer and want to know more travel tips? Read these to become a savvier traveler:
Emirates Skywards – everything you need to know about the Emirates Airlines loyalty scheme
If you’re a frequent flyer with Emirates Airlines, then it’s definitely worth signing up to their loyalty program, Emirates Skywards…
Insider tips: how to get a free upgrade on your next flight
We’ve got Skyscanner’s insider tips and tricks to secure yourself a cheap – or even better – free upgrade on your next flight…
Travel insurance: all you need to know
As more and more of us start booking our next getaway, making sure you have the travel insurance basics in place can often be forgotten…
