As in the past four installments, our aim here is to spotlight the airlines that make getting miles easy, which we’ve done through what FCF calls the Rapid Miles Accumulation Rating.
Quick Recap
In January FCF rated SkyTeam, in April Star Alliance, and in June non-Alliance airlines. This month we aggregate all of that information into an A-list of carriers best at offering easy mileage access.
FCF’s Grading System
The grades awarded—A through F—are based on the breadth of Mileage Purchase Opportunities an airline offers. There are two criteria:
- The airline’s annual mileage-purchase limit—and the price of miles when they go on sale.
- The number of points that can be purchased annually from each carrier’s credit-card transfer partners.
The more ways to purchase miles (or transfer), either through the airline or credit card partners, and the higher the purchase limit, the better the grade.
That’s because mileage-purchase is one of the best strategies for those who have few or no miles but want to pursue low-cost upgrades.
Also included in the charts are short explanations as to why these airlines made FCF’s A-list. The reasons range from offering various deals: lower mileage awards, promotional 50%-off awards, and 100% bonus buying promotions to a “buy down” option to get the miles needed for an award.
The Grades
Non-Alliance Airlines
Alaska / Mileage Plan: A+
No purchase limit (but a maximum 40,000 miles per transaction and only four transactions per credit card, per month).
Emirates / Skywards: A-
Mileage purchase limited to 30,000 annually. Emirates has two credit-card transfer partners, both of which sell points: Amex Rewards (500,000-point purchase limit) and Starwood (20,000 limit).
Virgin Atlantic / Flying Club: A
Good purchase limit (100,000 miles), plus four credit card transfer partners, three of which sell points: Amex Rewards, Chase, Citi ThankYou (100,000-point purchase limit), and Starwood.
Star Alliance Airlines
Air Canada / Aeroplan: B+
It has one tough hurdle for buying miles: You already have to have at least 50% of the miles needed for a ticket in your account—and then you can only buy the rest of the miles needed for the ticket. On the upside, Air Canada is an Amex Rewards transfer partner and a Starwood partner.
All Nippon Airways / ANA Mileage Club: B
Does not sell miles, but has two credit-card transfer partners, Amex Rewards and Star wood, so the point purchase opportunities are good.
Avianca / LifeMiles: B-
High purchase limit (150,000 miles) and priced as low as 1.65¢ when on sale. Plus, it has a second option for buying miles, the “buy down miles for more money” choice. That means you get a discount on the purchased miles (up to 60% of the miles needed for as low as 1.55¢ per) by putting up more money for the ticket.
Singapore Airlines / KrisFlyer: A-
To buy miles you must have at least 50% of the miles needed for the ticket already in your account—and then you can only buy the rest of the miles needed for the ticket. On the upside, Singapore has four credit-card transfer partners, three of which sell points: Amex Rewards, Citi Thank You, Star wood, and Chase Ultimate Rewards.
[aside headline="You’re Married, But Single on Your Card" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"] Credit cards have purchase-point limits, so never add anyone to your credit card account. If you and your spouse have separate cards, you have, in effect, doubled the buying point opportunity.
One Way Around Annual Purchase Limits
If you travel often with a partner or friend, or just need more miles than the annual limits allow, make sure each of you has a mileage account.
My mother, who travels little, has various accounts that I can use to purchase miles when I hit my annual maximums. I use my credit card to buy miles for her account, and then use the miles in her account for my travel.
Most loyalty programs allow you to redeem miles in one account for travel for someone else (not just family members). My dear dad and brother have many mileage accounts, too. I use them more than they do.[/aside]
Oneworld Airlines
British Airways / Executive Club: A-
The purchase limit is low (35,000 miles), but BA has three credit-card transfer partners, two of which sell points, so the point purchase opportunities are good: Amex Rewards, which periodically offers transfer promotions ranging from 40% to 50%, and Starwood. It also offers a “buy down miles for more money” choice: 50% more miles than the limit, for as low as 2.8¢ per mile.
Cathay Pacific / Asia Miles: A-
Another tough hurdle for buying miles: You have to already have 70% of the miles needed for a ticket in your account and then you can only buy the other 30%. On the upside, Cathay Pacific has good partners, all of which sell miles: Amex Rewards, Citi Thank You, and Starwood.
Iberia / Iberia Plus: B+
Low purchase limit (35,000 miles), but Amex Rewards is a transfer partner. It also has the “buy down miles for more money” choice: 50% more miles than the limit, for as low as 2.6¢ per mile.
SkyTeam Airlines
Air France, Air Europa, KLM / Flying Blue: A+
Increased point-purchase limit (now 75,000 miles) and other huge point purchase and transfer opportunities; Flying Blue partners are Amex Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Starwood.
Alitalia / Millemiglia: A-
You have to already have 25% of the miles needed for a ticket in your account and then you can buy the other 75%, with a limit of 40,000 miles. Transfer partners: Amex Rewards and Starwood, both of which sell points.
Delta / SkyMiles: A-
Annual purchase limit from the airline is 60,000 miles once you’ve earned at least one mile in your account, which can be done by transferring points from partners Amex Rewards and Starwood.
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