What miles and points actually are, how the airline alliances work, the three ways to earn, how to redeem without torching value, elite status, and why your miles are worth less every year
What miles and points actually are, how the airline alliances work, the three ways to earn, how to redeem without torching value, elite status, and why your miles are worth less every year
**Miles and points are not the same thing.** Miles live inside an airline loyalty program (AAdvantage, United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles). Points live inside a bank or card program (Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards) and must be transferred to become airline miles, almost always with a bonus.
**A point's value is not fixed.** The same point can be worth 0.6 cent on a bad redemption or 5 cents on an international business-class ticket. Understanding this extracts three to five times more value from the same balance.
**There are three global alliances** — Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam. They let you earn in one program and fly on dozens of partner airlines, opening routes a single program can't cover.
**There are three ways to earn:** flying (the slowest), with a credit card (the fastest for most people), and through everyday shopping via portals and partners (the most underrated).
**Redeeming well matters more than earning a lot.** Trading points for cheap domestic economy fares is usually the worst deal. International business class or a premium partner is where the point shows its true worth.
What miles and points actually are, how the airline alliances work, the three ways to earn, how to redeem without torching value, elite status, and why your miles are worth less every year
