Bonus miles. What are airline miles and how do I earn them? How to use the accumulated miles

Bonus projects are organized by many international aviation companies, and Aeroflot did not stand aside. In 1999, the Aeroflot Bonus project was created, under which a passenger who bought a ticket or used the offers of partner companies receives interest called miles on their account. Today, the number of project participants exceeds 1.5 million. The number of accrued bonuses is determined by the class, the length of the journey, and other factors. The accumulated miles can be used to buy air tickets, change class, stay at a partner hotel.

Aeroflot miles - what is it

The Service is available to individuals over the age of 12. For flights and used services from partner organizations, the client receives miles, which he spends at his discretion within the proposed options.

Customers who have received a special status (silver, gold, platinum) are provided with more opportunities.

Bonuses are awarded when traveling in Aeroflot and SkyTeam vehicles. There are many partner organizations: banks, online trading platforms, hotel booking services, mobile operators. You can name, for example, Sberbank, Ozon.ru, Mvideo.ru, Megafon. When using the services of these companies, you can both collect bonuses and spend bonus savings.

Each participating client receives an individual invoice. It displays information about the arrival and expenditure of miles, about transactions performed around the clock.

The registered participant is given a sheet indicating the individual account. When 2000 miles are accumulated, the client becomes the owner of a plastic card.

Aeroflot miles: how to get, their types

A mile is a special currency unit. It allows you to calculate the volume of services provided to the client.

Miles allocated:

1. Qualifying. They are accumulated by flying on Aeroflot and SkyTeam vehicles. The specific number of bonuses is determined by the length of the journey and the class of the seat purchased. Miles can be spent on any offers available within the project, including the acquisition of a special status.
2. Non-qualifying. They are added for the purchase of services from partner companies. However, for special status holders, such miles are transferred in addition to qualifying miles for each flight. You can spend bonuses on the services offered as part of the service, as well as donate. Please note that it is not possible to obtain a special status solely through non-qualifying miles.

To receive from Aeroflot miles you need to sign up as a member. You can do this:

1. On the website of the carrier company, by logging into your account and activating the function.
2. While on the plane, ask the flight attendant. He will offer a questionnaire, then issue a temporary card, which is a sheet with the necessary information. To activate the document, after the flight, you need to go to the carrier's website in the temporary card activation section, enter the data in the lines that open.
3. Through a partner bank. When applying for a debit or credit card with the Aeroflot sign, the client automatically becomes a participant in the project.

The easiest way to apply is online. Plus, when registering on the site, a new member immediately receives 500 miles, which are called "welcome".

Passengers who have reached the age of 12 participate in the project. Aeroflot Bonus Junior is organized for children aged 2-12.

The project is free. No entry fees are required.

Miles for flights

Miles are added according to the following principle:

1. The number of points awarded is determined by the mile distance between the points of departure and arrival.
2. The number of qualifying miles is determined by the distance traveled and the class of seat purchased.
3. If the distance covered is less than 500 miles, then the passenger receives a fixed amount of 500 points.
4. Silver, gold, platinum customers receive additional non-qualifying miles for each flight.
5. Bonuses are accrued taking into account all route segments - segments of the way from one point to another.
6. The client can receive bonuses even for trips made 6 months before joining the project. But for this, at least 3 months before receiving the card, you need to specify the necessary information in the account in the “Card miles” block.

Earning miles for purchasing goods and services from partners

Affiliate programs acquire non-qualifying points.

To accurately transfer miles, you need to do the following:

1. Become a member of the project.
2. On the Aeroflot website, see if there is a store or organization in the list of partners.
3. Having chosen a partner, read the nuances of interest calculation. Each company has its own conditions. For example, banks are asked to purchase a special card, use it, and receive interest on the account for each use. Hotels require a membership card. And on online trading platforms, you need to make purchases with the transition from the catalog of an Aeroflot partner store.
4. After paying, wait 2 months. During this time miles are registered. If after the specified time the bonuses have not appeared on the account, then it is necessary to draw up an application demanding the restoration of miles and send it to the carrier. A copy of the receipt confirming that the claim is legal must be attached to the application. Appeal is possible within a year after the purchase of the service. If points are not credited to the account after using a bank card, then the application is sent to the bank.

Miles accrual for hotel booking

To accumulate bonuses, you can use the hotel booking service hotels.aeroflot.ru. There are hotels from more than 200 countries of the world. The service has a built-in system through which you can find out how many bonuses will be added if you book a room in a particular hotel for a certain period. You just need to enter the data in the search engine and click "Find Hotels". Offers are filtered by popularity, location, cost, reviews.

The amount of the increase to the account is determined by the "stars" of the hotel. For accommodation in a five-star room, you can top up your account for 20,000 currency units. A stay in a three-star hotel provides a minimum of 3,000 miles.

Miles accrual for other services

Passengers accumulate bonuses:

• paying with cards of partner banks;
• renting a transfer;
• downloading applications from the carrier;
• leaving reviews on tourism portals;
• subscribing to thematic printed publications;
• purchasing insurance.

Buying Aeroflot Miles - Fair Ways

Although the commercial use of miles is prohibited, there are exchanges on the Internet where you can sell and buy the required number of units. Such services are useful because many people do not need to spend the miles they have accumulated on their account, and it is better to sell the accumulated miles than to let them be cancelled. Naturally, there are many scammers on the exchanges.

In order to avoid becoming a victim of a fraudster when buying miles, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Do not rush into offers with a low price. Everyone knows where free cheese is.
2. If possible, you should find out as much information about the seller as possible. Help social networks and forums.
3. It is advisable to conclude transactions not via the Internet, but in person. It is obligatory to draw up a sales document with the passport data of the persons involved.
4. Do not trust intermediaries.
5. Let the seller first transfer the miles to the buyer's account, and then the buyer will give the money to the seller.

Sellers should follow the same advice.

How to spend Aeroflot miles?

By program Aeroflot miles spent for the following purposes:

• payment for air tickets;
• choosing a seat with a higher class;
• booking a hotel room;
• acquisition of a special client status;
• charity;
• Presents from the Aeroflot catalog.

Aeroflot miles cards from Sberbank

Sberbank is an active participant in the project. Customers are offered Aeroflot Bonus cards, which accrue interest when used. Citizens from 14 years of age become holders of a card issued for 3 years.

There are three types of debit series:

1. Visa classic. It is permissible to withdraw up to 300 thousand rubles per day, transfer up to 500 thousand. Upon registration, the client is immediately issued 500 "welcome" miles. Further, 1 mile is added for every spent 60 rubles.
2. Visa Gold. You can withdraw up to 600 thousand rubles per day, transfer up to 500 thousand. Upon registration, 1000 miles are credited. Increase - 1.5 miles for every 60 rubles.
3. visa signature. Cash out up to 1 million rubles is available per day, transfer up to 500 thousand. The maximum monthly withdrawal amount is 5 million rubles. The number of "welcome" miles is 1000. The increase is 2 miles for an expense of 60 rubles.

There are also three types of credit cards in the series:

1. Visa classic. Loan amount - up to 300 thousand rubles, according to an individual plan up to 600 thousand rubles. Annual credit interest - from 23.9. Upon registration, 500 miles are credited. Further, 1 mile is added for every 60 rubles spent.
2. Visa Gold. Credit - up to 300 thousand rubles (600 thousand according to an individual plan). Annual percentage - from 23.9. The number of "welcome" bonuses is 500. 1.5 miles are credited to the account from every 60 rubles.
3. visa signature. Loan amount - from 300 thousand to 3 million rubles. Annual percentage - from 21.9. The number of "welcome" miles is 1000. For every 60 rubles spent, 2 miles are credited.

How to transfer miles to another person?

A citizen participating in the project for more than 3 months, who has flown at least once in the past two years, can give points to another participant. The number of units transferred in one transaction is limited to 5,000. In total, a client can donate up to 50,000 units per year (that is, the annual number of donations cannot exceed 10). Moreover, commissions are charged for each transaction.

The donation process is carried out in your personal account in the "Spend miles" section. The donor writes in the "Recipient" block the recipient's identification number and the number of miles to be transferred, a multiple of 500.

When are miles not credited?

Bonus program does not work:

• at special, group, preferential service tariffs;
• when a flight is cancelled;
• when flying on SkyTeam transport without registration in the corresponding program;
• in case of forced transfer to the transport of an airline that does not support the program.

Recovering Aeroflot miles after a flight

If the points were not registered immediately, then they can be restored within a period of up to 3 months from the date of the flight. We are talking about miles that are not automatically transferred within 10 days after the trip. It should be borne in mind that air tickets must be purchased according to the included bonus program tariff.

To restore bonuses, you can do different methods:

1. Log in to your account in the "Card miles" block. Enter the required data, but do it 2 weeks after the flight, not earlier. Data verification takes 5 days, after which the points come to the account.
2. Enter the "Feedback" block on the site. You have a month to review your request.

To confirm the legitimacy of the request, the client must provide any paper information: ticket, boarding pass, booking sheet.

How many miles are valid?

In order for the miles to be saved, the program member must make at least one flight with the participation of bonus funds within 24 months. Otherwise, the bonus units accumulated on the account are burned out. When using bank cards and shopping in partner stores Aeroflot miles still burn if no flights were made.

Regular customers Russian airline S7 Airlines can travel even more by becoming members. Having accumulated enough bonus miles on the card, they can be exchanged for tickets, services of the airline and partners (car rental, hotel reservations, purchases). In this way, the company expresses gratitude to passengers for the fact that they constantly give preference to it.

Can I buy a plane ticket using status miles on the S7 official website?

One of the frequently asked questions is, can I redeem miles when I buy an award flight ticket in economy or business class? The answer is yes!

However, in addition to their required number, at least one flight with S7 must be made in the current or past year.

Ticket purchase cost depends on the chosen tariff– “Optimum”, “Priority” and “Promo”.

1. 2. Optimum redeemable redeemable redemption miles for an award flight, but seats are limited.
2. "Priority" has no such restrictions, but its bonus value is three times higher than the "Optimum" tariff.
3. "Promo" is valid for economy class flights. Its cost is the lowest, but does not include a ticket refund, regardless of the reason.

In addition to tariffs, premium zones are also taken into account.

Further on the site, you can pre-calculate the amount that will be charged using the service " Miles Calculator". You can find it in the S7 Priority tab in the Earn Miles section. Suitable for calculating S7 flights and partner airlines.

Can I buy miles for money on the S7 Airlines official website?

Traveling again soon, but there are not enough bonuses for an award ticket? Do not be upset: there is a purchase of C7 miles (S7). Only passengers registered in the loyalty program who have made at least one flight with S7 Airlines in the current or last year at the fare included in the miles accrual can buy them in addition. A maximum of 10,000 miles can be purchased per year. The minimum purchase amount is 500. The service is irrevocable, that is, the transaction cannot be canceled. The fee is also non-refundable.

In addition to the official website, there are specialized forums and exchanges where you can buy or sell unnecessary miles at a reasonable price. In such places, the unit cost may be identical to the air carrier's official exchange rate. Sometimes miles are cheaper.

In any case, the transfer of miles is carried out only on the S7 website.

The rules stipulate that you can transfer miles to anyone. So, this way to part with the accumulated bonuses is also suitable.

Miles recovery

If you forgot to show your loyalty card or indicate your account number, and for this reason the flight was left unaccounted for, then you can restore miles on the S7 Airlines website. To do this, you need to go to your personal account, fill out the proposed form and send a request. It is important that the personal data in the ticket match those specified in the member's profile.

The passenger has 6 months to restore the miles if the flight was made on an S7 Airlines flight. A year - in the event that he used the services of a partner airline.

Transfer S7 miles to another person

Registered users have the option to transfer miles to another person. You can transfer up to 10,000 miles from account to account during the year.

The cost of the service for transferring the minimum number of miles (this is 500 miles) is 375 rubles.

To do this, you must have the required number of them on your account and make at least one flight at that moment as a registered member on an S7 flight at a fare participating in the bonus program. The service is non-refundable and cannot be cancelled. The fee for it is non-refundable.

How to donate bonus miles to charity?

You can donate miles to charity in the following ways:

• Online form option. In the "S7 Priority" tab, select the "Charity" section. Next, indicate the charitable foundation, the number of miles and click the "Perform transfer" button.
• Call the Program Service Center at 8 800 700-90-10.

Miles validity period

The accumulated miles are valid until the end of the year in which the flight was made, and two subsequent ones.

If they are not used or renewed, they will burn out.

If you become an active member, then the validity period is extended for another year.

How to become an active participant?

• Take at least one flight with S7 or partners Oneworld alliance at the rate participating in the accumulation of miles during the calendar year.
• Earn at least 5,000 miles (welcome miles do not count).

Miles of members aged 2 to 12 are stored according to different rules - they do not expire and remain on the account when the member stops using children's miles card and begins to be serviced on a general basis.

How to check your miles?

Each S7 Priority member can find out how many miles are on his bonus account. Perhaps they have accumulated enough to use them. The remaining miles on the S7 Priority card can be seen in the profile personal account. Below the block with personal information is the block "My miles", which indicates the card number, its type, as well as the balance of miles.

How long does it take to earn miles?

Accrual in progress automatically after flying on S flights 7, if the passenger presented the card or provided the account number during checkout. Some airports are not equipped with an automated passenger departure system. In this case, bonus miles will be credited within 45 days. A prerequisite is that the flight must be made at a fare that is included in the accrual of bonus miles, and the passport data on the ticket must fully match the data specified in the S7 Priority program.

To increase the number of customers, many global air carriers develop and apply incentive bonus systems. Such systems are often associated with the accumulation of flying miles and the provision of various discounts for a certain number of them. Moreover, discounts are valid both when booking tickets and paying for services, and when shopping online in stores. All that is required of the passenger is to fly the aircraft of this company.

"Daughter" of "Aeroflot" - "Victory"

Aeroflot, Russia's largest air carrier, provides services for the delivery of passengers and cargo to the vast majority of Russian and foreign airports. The company has a high reputation in the world and is popular with air travelers.

For passenger transportation at reduced prices, Pobeda Airlines, a subsidiary of Aeroflot, was created. It traces its history back to 2014, when for the first time a low-cost carrier liner took off, flying to Volgograd from Vnukovo. Since then, this particular Moscow airport has been the "home" for Pobeda.

New ones are constantly being added to the already existing directions of Pobeda's transportation, and the number of routes has exceeded 40. The most attractive point for passengers when choosing flights with Pobeda is cheap air tickets, the cost of which is much lower than that of the parent company Aeroflot. The price of tickets for low-cost flights starts from 999 rubles. in any direction.

In addition to low prices, Pobeda's advantages include high punctuality. Among all Russian air carriers, it ranks third in this nomination at the end of last year.

The advantage of this airline is the possibility of flights with transfers when selling tickets to the end of the route, which is not always provided by other low-cost airlines.

Disadvantages of "Victory":

1. Too strict requirements in relation to luggage. You can take one item with you on the plane, weighing a maximum of 5 kg and limited to 360x300x270 mm. For baggage that does not correspond in weight and dimensions, you will have to pay an amount that reaches and sometimes exceeds the cost of a travel document.
2. It will not be possible to get food on board the liner even for an additional fee.

Aeroflot Bonus program

For those who fly with Aeroflot, the main Russian airline has been using a bonus program for many years.

Its main components:

1. With the accumulated miles, you will be eligible to fly in business class.
2. You can use a free ticket not only yourself, but also give it to relatives and friends.
3. You will be notified in priority order of all offers and promotions.
4. You will have access to discounts from partner companies (hotels, restaurants, shops, mobile operators, etc.) included in the system.

Miles accrual, which is not yet available to Pobeda customers, is already being used by members of the Aeroflot Bonus program. For one flight with Aeroflot-Russian Airlines (charter flights are not taken into account), you will be credited with miles, the number of which will be determined by the distance traveled and the class seat. With one condition: there cannot be less than 500 of them.

Additional miles are accumulated if you fly with partner air carriers and pay for the services of partner companies. Cash amounts are converted into miles, which then turn into bonuses.

Pobeda Airlines is still developing a bonus program, although it is already using individual promotions.

Are Aeroflot miles accrued when flying on Pobeda?

Since Pobeda is closely connected with the parent company, you might think that if you fly on a low-cost airline, then Aeroflot miles will be accrued in the same way and bring bonuses. However, it is not.

Pobeda does not participate in the parent company's bonus program and does not plan to join it in the foreseeable future.

Bonus program "Victory"

Despite the fact that the airline does not yet have a wide bonus program, representatives of the low-cost airline say that it is possible to implement it. It is not known whether Pobeda will count miles like other air carriers or will use other options for providing bonuses.

Now not only individual promotions and special offers are available, but also a system of coupons and promotional codes has been put into action.

If you often use the services of this carrier, you can get a promotional code on the website when buying a ticket online. As bonuses, the cheapest tickets for a certain flight or discounts on payment for various services, for example, for choosing a seat, are offered.

The head of Pobeda, A. Kalmykov, said that the company is considering the possibility of creating a bonus program similar to Air Asia BIG. This is an active bonus system that offers its customers the following opportunities:

1. Pay for the services of partner companies - hotels and restaurants, online hotel booking services, car rental companies, etc., then transfer the money into points that allow you to use bonuses.
2. Purchase tickets for flights from AirAsia, accumulating points for each flight performed.
3. Use partner credit cards, for example, "AirAsia-Citi Platinum Visa Credit Card" and receive points and bonuses when booking tickets and paying for company services.
4. Exchange accumulated points for free flights (starts from 500 points). If there are not enough points to pay the full price, you can add cash.

In addition to the flight distance, the number of bonus points also depends on the status of the member, which increases with the growing number of flights performed.

AirAsia is a low cost airline from Malaysia with some of the lowest ticket prices in the world. His successful experience in the introduction of incentive bonuses proves that low-cost airlines can attract customers not only with an initially low price. Partner firms tend to participate in the program, as the services of budget companies are used by a huge number of air passengers.

Until the incentive program is accepted, use special offers and promotional codes when flying with Pobeda. They are a kind of bonus, but not cumulative, but one-time.

Olga Stepanova

Reading time: 9 minutes

A A

The term “airline loyalty programs” has been heard by everyone who has to fly frequently by planes today. Such programs are a kind of encouragement that air carriers please their regular customers for their choice. Each flight brings the client “points”, with which you can later become the happy owner of a free air ticket.

What are miles, what are they "eat" with, and are they so profitable?

What are bonuses, loyalty programs and mileage programs - define the concepts

Of course not!

Each air carrier is looking for its own benefit, which, in this case, consists in returning the client to the cabin of his particular aircraft.

Of course, one should not expect excessive generosity - flights, thanks to which you can accumulate bonuses, are strictly regulated (for one flight - a limited number of award tickets, especially during the season), and you can use miles only under certain conditions. Still, miles are beneficial for those who have to constantly fly, and loyalty programs can be used to their advantage. Unless, of course, you keep track of the expiration date of your accumulated miles, for promotions, and regularly improve your status.

Miles - what is it and why are they needed?

The term "miles" is now commonly used to call the unit in which air carriers evaluate our customer loyalty.

The bonus programs of companies are similar in their scheme to similar programs operating in large retail chains: I bought products (ticket), received bonuses (miles), spent on other products (air tickets, car rental, etc.).

Miles are classified as follows:

1. Premium. You can spend these bonuses directly on tickets or on an upgrade. The expiration date of such miles is 20-36 months, after which they simply burn out.
2. Status . And these miles can be exchanged for awards. In addition, they can improve the level of service. The more miles you have, the more important you will be. For example, you will be able to check in for your flight without a queue or be allowed to enter the VIP lounge area for free. Zeroing status miles takes place December 31st.

Bonus programs are beneficial…

• With constant flights. At least more than 3-4 per year. Regular flights for work and business very tangibly demonstrate the benefits of bonus programs.
• When flying with aircraft of the same carrier (carriers included in 1 alliance).
• With consistently frequent and high spending and a large number of bank cards (note - most carriers are partners of banking organizations). The more purchases and cashback, the more miles.

Where do miles come from?

The number of miles you can earn depends on…

1. Your loyalty card status.
2. From the route and distance (the larger it is, the more bonuses).
3. From the booking class.
4. And from tariffs (on some tariffs, miles are not provided at all).

All information is usually provided on the websites of carriers, where you can even calculate how many miles you will be given for a particular flight.

Types of bonuses and airline loyalty programs

You become a member of the loyalty program through ...

1. Registration on the carrier's website. You get your personal number and then keep track of how many miles you have, where you spent them and how much more you need.
2. carrier's office. Fill out the form, get your number and loyalty card.
3. When issuing a bank card , which is in partnership with the carrier. With such a card, you pay for purchases and earn miles at the same time.
4. During the flight itself . Individual companies can also issue loyalty cards in the cabin.

What are bonus programs?

There are about 250 air carriers in IATA, most of which offer their own programs and different mileage accrual algorithms.

The largest airline alliances - and their bonus programs:

• Star Alliance. Consists of 27 companies, including Lufthansa and SWISS, Turkish Airlines and THAI, United and South African Airways. For these companies, the key BP (note - bonus program) is Miles & More.
• skyteam . The alliance consists of about 20 companies, including Aeroflot and KLM, Air France and Alitalia, China Airlines, and others. The main BP is Flying Blue.
• Composition - 15 air carriers , including S7 Airlines and British Airways, American Airlines and airberlin, Iberia and others. Each company has its own program.

Considering that each carrier has its own program (most often), listing all types of programs simply does not make sense - you can familiarize yourself with them on the official websites of the companies.

for instance, S7 Airlines' BP is called S7 Priority, Aeroflot's BP is Aeroflot Bonus, and UTair offers several programs at once - for business, family and ordinary trips.

How to choose the right program and earn miles?

When choosing a bonus program for yourself, consider the main thing:

1. Where do you fly most often? . For flights within the country, it is better to choose Aeroflot Bonus, and when traveling to Asia, Qatar Airways BP may suit you.
2. Purpose of participation in the program. Why do you need points? They can be exchanged for a free ticket (once) or for bonuses (such as skip-the-line check-in).
3. - or still achieve comfort during flights? The type of accumulated miles depends on this answer.
4. Business class - or economy? The first option is more profitable in miles.

How to earn miles?

Take from the main sources. Namely:

• Fly with companies of the same alliance - or with aircraft of the same company if it is not part of any alliance.
• Use the services of carrier partners.
• Use bank cards with "mile" cashback.

You can also earn miles for…

1. Entry into the program.
2. Holidays and birthdays.
3. Participation in polls, quizzes, competitions of carriers.
4. Newsletter subscription.
5. Active writing reviews.

And you can get extra miles…

• Buy on the carrier's website.
• Buy from other holders of similar cards. Cardholders often sell miles they don't have time to redeem when they expire and no travel is expected.
• Choose indirect flights. More connections, more miles.
• Get through the use of co-branded cards.
• Get by using the services of partners. For example, a night at a carrier's partner hotel can earn up to 500 miles.
• Look for programs “Every n-th flight is free” (if you fly often to one point).

And don't forget to spend your miles before they burn out!

The maximum "expiration date" of a mile does not exceed 3 years.

Remember, that…

1. There are bans on bonuses when flying on special routes.
2. Miles are not credited for tickets purchased on hot sale or special fares.
3. Tickets purchased with "miles" are most often non-refundable.

How to use airline miles correctly to save on air tickets - seasoned tips

What is the best way to spend your accumulated miles?

• Study calculators and the programs themselves on sites.
• Fly long routes.
• Look out for family and package upgrades.
• Carefully choose an alliance of companies so that even international flights become more profitable.
• Explore catalogs that offer services and products for miles. They can pay for a hotel room and rent a car. It is more profitable to pay for only part of the goods or services.
• Sell ​​miles when they expire and no trips are expected.

For how many miles will you get a free ticket?

The price of one award ticket starts from 20000 miles. Some carriers - from 9000 miles.

But remember that miles will count towards the fare, but you will have to pay the fees yourself (and they can be up to 75% of the ticket price). There are companies that allow you to pay even fees with miles, but such carriers are rare (for example, Lufthansa).

Be sure to check before exchanging miles for a ticket whether this exchange will be in your favor.

Comparison of loyalty programs of various airlines

The choice of program primarily depends on "point B". If you live in the capital and usually fly, for example, to Krasnodar, then Aeroflot's BPs (BP Aeroflot Bonus) and Transaero (BP Privilege), Ural Airlines (Wings), S7 ( Priority) and UTair ( Status) and Status Family.

Remember that programs for comparison should be chosen from carriers of the same alliance! Low-cost airlines also have a BP, but you will have to pay for membership.

Special Internet services will help you not to get confused in the BP, allowing you to choose your program and compare it with others.