What is Air Miles Credit Card: Working, Earnings & More

The popularity of credit cards has increased a lot in a few years, and India having more than 100 million active credit cards speaks for itself. This popularity is because credit cards provide their users with convenience, borrowing power, emergency funds, rewards and more. One of the rewards that most credit cards provide is known as Air Miles, which helps you reduce your travel costs.

So, what is Air Miles credit card exactly? This article will break it down for you, along with explaining how to redeem it, earn it and much more.

What is Air Miles Credit Card?

Air Miles is a kind of reward that you can earn from your credit card. You can redeem these rewards for flights, hotel stays or other travel benefits. This benefit comes in handy for a frequent traveller as air miles are related to an airline's frequent flyer programs as well.

Several airlines provide air miles, but they have named them differently, along with their loyalty program that offers them. A few of these airlines and their frequent flyer miles are as follows:

1. Etihad Airways: Etihad Guest Miles
2. Vistara Airlines: CV Points
3. Air India: FR Points
4. Singapore Airlines: KrisFlyer Miles
5. British Airways: Avios Points

Note that Air miles do not match the real distance you can fly. Holding 10 air miles does not mean you fly 10 miles free. Airlines decide the conversion rate for using miles on flight bookings and you enjoy the benefit as per that rule.

How Do the Air Miles Work: Explanation with Example

Vandana is a frequent traveller as she usually goes on business trips. So every time she books a ticket, she does it with a fixed airline with which her credit card was co-branded. Each time this happens, she earns Air Miles, which she later redeems to reduce the cost of her next flight booking.

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How to Earn Air Miles?

A person can earn airline miles with their co-branded credit cards or as a general reward with a normal credit card. The types of spending that earn air miles are numerous, including hotel bookings, shopping with partners and more. However, the most air miles that you can get are through ticket bookings.

Credit cards also offer airline miles in different ways, such as:

1. Milestone Bonus

Milestone Bonus refers to the reward that the credit cards give if customers reach a spending limit in a fixed amount of time. The credit card then gives them air miles as a reward.

For instance, Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card gives a premium economy ticket voucher when you spend ₹1,50,000.

2. Welcome/Sign-up Bonus

Air miles are an extensive benefit which is not commonly offered on any credit card. Usually, air miles credit cards come with joining fees and annual fees. Therefore, to make up for the fees, these credit cards offer their customers air miles when they complete the sign-in process or just as a welcome gift after they get the credit card.

For instance, Axis Bank ATLAS Credit Card gives 2,500 bonus EDGE Miles when you make the first transaction within 37 days of setup. This welcome reward helps you begin with a solid air mile balance in your card account.

3. Flexible Rewards

Certain credit cards offer various other kinds of rewards which can be converted into air miles. This conversion of the airline miles is a good treat for people who are not frequent travellers. The use of the reward points through several other kinds of things increased their usability and decreased the chances of the rewards expiring.

For instance, HDFC Diners Club Miles Credit Card provides 4 reward points for every ₹150 spent and you can convert these rewards into air miles of Vistara, Jet Airways, British Airways, or Singapore Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

4. Accelerated Miles

As miles programs work like rewards programs, you can plan card usage to collect more miles. If a card grants bonus miles for booking flights on the bank’s portal, you can book there to gain accelerated miles. Use the card for spending that yields extra air miles earnings.

For instance, the Air India SBI Signature Credit Card gives additional rewards on ticket bookings through the Air India website or mobile app and you can convert those rewards into Air India Air Miles.

How Can You Redeem Air Miles?

The primary use of the air miles that you earn is in the form of air ticket fare. However, there are many other ways that you can redeem air miles. These are as follows:

1. Flexible Booking: You can use air mile earnings to book in flexible legs. For instance, you book one leg of your journey by using air miles and the other by cash.
2. In-flight Purchases: For some airlines, you can also use air miles to get yourself some in-flight things such as entertainment or Wi-Fi, beverages and meals.
3. Priority Boarding: You can also get the privilege of boarding your flight on priority by using air miles.
4. Higher Service Class Upgrade: Upgrading from basic economy to premium economy or from standard economy to business class can also be a redemption option.
5. On-the-ground Purchases: You can also use air miles to get yourself some in-airport purchases, such as food and accessories.
6. Gift Cards: You can convert your air miles and use them as a gift card for other kinds of things, such as for retailers like Amazon.
7. Events: If your card issuer has a partner for any event, they can also offer you ticket purchases for those events, such as movie tickets.
8. Retailers’ Merchandise: Having credit card companies partnered with a retailer also lets you convert your air miles for use in retailers’ shopping portals.

5 Best Credit Cards to Earn Air Miles

1. Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card

2. SBI Air India Signature Credit Card

3. Etihad Guest SBI Premier Credit Card

4. Axis Bank ATLAS Credit Card

5. HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Edition

💡Make timely credit card payments using the PICE App.

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Why Should You Get an Air Miles Credit Card?

An airline miles card rewards you with miles or points on every spend, letting you cut down future travel costs or even bag a free ticket after steady use. So, if you often fly with one airline, co-branded cards can help you in maximising the miles program. On the other hand, if you travel frequently across multiple airlines, flexible cards that allow redemption with multiple airlines suit you better.

Furthermore, air miles are not the only benefit these cards bring; they also provide you with extra travel benefits. Some of these are:

• Complimentary airport lounge access
• Priority check-in and added baggage allowance
• Lower foreign currency mark-up fees
• Exclusive hotel privileges

Conclusion

Knowing what is Air Miles credit card can help you save a lot if you are a frequent traveller. Air Miles help you get a lot of discounts for reward flight purchases. They also have other redeemable ways, such as Air Miles conversion into reward points to use at retail purchases or hotel bookings. So, check for the ways you can earn air miles while getting a credit card, as it will help you save money.

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