Complete guides to each major airline loyalty programme, how to earn, how to burn, and where the sweet spots hide.
Each guide in this category covers one airline loyalty programme end to end: how you earn miles and qualifying activity, the elite tiers and what they actually unlock at airports and onboard, the redemption sweet spots and the traps, and the structural quirks (expiry, transfer rules, partner access) that change the maths. We refresh them when the airline changes its rules, and we annotate the corrections.
Cathay's programme changes on 1 January 2027: Status Points stop resetting, membership moves to calendar years, rollover arrives and Diamond Exec debuts. What …
Read article →
What American's Platinum Pro tier gives you for 125,000 Loyalty Points in 2026: the benefits that matter, oneworld Emerald, and whether the jump from Platinum …
Read article →
How to reach KrisFlyer Elite Silver and Gold in 2026: the Elite mile thresholds, the up-to-20% you can add from ground spend, and the two card fast-tracks.
Read article →
United retires the fixed PlusPoints upgrade chart in February 2027 in favour of demand-based pricing. What changes, what stays, and how to plan while the chart…
Read article →
How PPS Club and Solitaire PPS Club qualification works in 2026: the PPS Value you need, non-flight earning caps, Reserve Value and how the maths adds up.
Read article →
Flying Blue in 2026: how XP works, current Silver, Gold, and Platinum thresholds, Promo Rewards, miles validity, and why it stays central to SkyTeam.
Read article →
United MileagePlus in 2026: the modern PQP/PQF Premier framework, non-expiring miles, Star Alliance value, card-linked PQP earning, and how to use it.
Read article →
American AAdvantage in 2026: Loyalty Points, status thresholds, Loyalty Point Rewards, systemwide upgrades, and where the programme still shines.
Read article →
Lufthansa Miles & More 2026: the modern Points, Qualifying Points, and HON Circle system, current status thresholds, and why the programme still matters.
Read article →
Delta SkyMiles in 2026: MQD-led Medallion status, earning and redeeming miles, where dynamic pricing changes strategy, and what Delta still does best.
Read article →
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver in 2026: 400 Tier Points qualification, SkyTeam Elite priority handling, path to Gold.
Read article →
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Red in 2026: the base tier, Tier Points framework, and the path to Silver and Gold.
Read article →
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold in 2026: 1,000 Tier Points qualification, Heathrow Clubhouse, SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Read article →
United MileagePlus Premier Silver in 2026: 5,000 PQP and 15 PQF, Star Alliance Silver recognition, and the path to Gold.
Read article →
United MileagePlus Premier Platinum in 2026: 18,000 PQP, 60 PQF, Plus Points upgrade firepower, and the path to the line.
Read article →
United MileagePlus Premier Gold 2026: 10,000 PQP and 30 PQF, Star Alliance Gold, lounge access, and complimentary upgrades.
Read article →
United MileagePlus Premier 1K in 2026: 28,000 PQP and 100 PQF, Global Premier Upgrades, 280 Plus Points. Top of the ladder.
Read article →
Turkish Miles&Smiles Elite in 2026: Star Alliance Gold qualification, Istanbul Lounge access, premium handling.
Read article →
Turkish Miles&Smiles Elite Plus in 2026: top-tier qualification, reserved Istanbul lounges, premium recognition.
Read article →
Turkish Miles&Smiles Classic Plus in 2026: entry elite tier, Star Alliance Silver, priority handling, path to Elite.
Read article →
Singapore Airlines PPS Club in 2026: SGD 25,000 PPS value qualification, dedicated PPS Lounge, premium recognition.
Read article →
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Silver in 2026: 25,000 elite miles, Star Alliance Silver, priority handling.
Read article →
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Gold in 2026: 50,000 elite miles qualification, Star Alliance Gold, SilverKris Lounge.
Read article →
Miles & More Senator in 2026: 100,000 qualifying points, Star Alliance Gold, lounge access, and a 50% earning bonus.
Read article →
Miles & More HON Circle in 2026: 600,000 qualifying points over 24 months, HON Lounges, chauffeur service. Top tier.
Read article →
Miles & More Frequent Traveller in 2026: 35,000 qualifying points, Star Alliance Silver, Lufthansa Business Lounges.
Read article →
Flying Blue Ultimate in 2026: 1,500 XP, dedicated service, reserved lounges at CDG and AMS, the programme's top.
Read article →
Flying Blue Silver in 2026: 100 XP qualification, SkyTeam Elite, Air France-KLM Group lounge access, and the path to Gold.
Read article →
Flying Blue Platinum in 2026: 300 XP qualification, the annual Choice Benefit, earning bonus, and the path to Ultimate.
Read article →
Flying Blue Gold in 2026: 180 XP, SkyTeam Elite Plus, alliance lounge access, and complimentary cabin upgrades.
Read article →
Flying Blue Explorer in 2026: the base tier, XP framework explained, and the practical path to Silver and beyond.
Read article →
Emirates Skywards Silver in 2026: 25,000 tier miles qualification, priority handling, and the path to Gold lounge access.
Read article →
Emirates Skywards Platinum in 2026: 150,000 tier miles qualification, First Class Lounge access, top recognition.
Read article →
Emirates Skywards Gold in 2026: 50,000 tier miles qualification, Emirates lounge access at Dubai, and chauffeur-drive.
Read article →
Delta SkyMiles Silver Medallion in 2026: 5,000 MQD qualification, SkyTeam Elite recognition, and the path to Gold.
Read article →
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion in 2026: 15,000 MQD, Choice Benefits, upgrade priority, and 9 miles per dollar.
Read article →
Delta SkyMiles Gold Medallion in 2026: 10,000 MQD, SkyTeam Elite Plus, lounge access, and complimentary upgrades.
Read article →
Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion in 2026: 28,000 MQD, three GUCs, SkyClub on international, and the path to the top.
Read article →
American AAdvantage Platinum in 2026: 75,000 Loyalty Points, OneWorld Sapphire lounges, and the realistic path to qualify.
Read article →
American AAdvantage Platinum Pro in 2026: 125,000 Loyalty Points, oneworld Emerald, first-class lounge access, richer milestone rewards.
Read article →
American AAdvantage Gold in 2026: 40,000 Loyalty Points, OneWorld Ruby, free first bag, and the card path to qualify.
Read article →
AAdvantage Executive Platinum 2026: 200,000 LP, OneWorld Emerald, eight SWUs, and the structural commitment behind it.
Read article →
Air Canada Aeroplan Super Elite 100K in 2026: top-tier qualification, chauffeur-drive, dedicated check-in lanes.
Read article →
Air Canada Aeroplan 75K in 2026: 75,000 SQM qualification, expanded Priority Rewards, top of Star Gold elite tier.
Read article →
Air Canada Aeroplan 50K in 2026: 50,000 SQM qualification, Star Alliance Gold, and Maple Leaf Lounge access at AC hubs.
Read article →
Air Canada Aeroplan 35K in 2026: 35,000 SQM qualification, Star Silver, two free bags, and the path to 50K Gold.
Read article →
Air Canada Aeroplan 25K in 2026: 25,000 SQM qualification, Star Alliance Silver, priority handling, and path to 50K.
Read article →