Miles and much more

Not all miles and points programmes are created equal. Below are some of our favourite programmes.

Lufthansa's Miles and More

It comes with four status levels, each providing distinct benefits and greater privileges. The base level is a Miles and More Member, followed by a Frequent Traveler (35,000 miles or 30 scheduled flights in one calendar year), a Senator (100,000 status miles in a calendar year) and a Hon Circle member (600,000 HON Circle miles in two consecutive calendar years). Miles do not expire for 36 months, and once you move up in status, it never expires as long as you maintain your status.  Level two, Frequent Traveler, is similar to the Star Alliance Silver status, but offers Business check-in and free lounge privileges in any dedicated business lounge of the Lufthansa Group, e.g. lounges of Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian,Luxair etc. As part of Star Alliance, the miles can be used on any of the other airlines' points and miles programmes, with certain restrictions and conditions. 

British Airways Executive Club

As part of the One World Alliance, Avios points can also be earned and spend on any of the member airlines, including American, Qantas, Qatar, Japan Airlines, Iberian & Cathay Pacific.

The Executive Club membership begins as a Blue Member, with few benefits, but as you move to through the tiers of the Club, members gain greater benefits. Bronze membership
for example, obtained after collecting  300 Tier Points, allow for 25% bonus Avios, priority boarding and more miles for flights completed. However, for business lounge access, you have to get to Silver. Gold members have access to First class lounges and spa treatments.

Air France's Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme of the Air France/KLM Group. It comes in four levels, Ivory, Silver (25,000 level miles), Gold (40,000) and Platinum (70,000), each with increasing levels of benefits. Silver, for example, gives you 50% extra Award Miles on SkyTeam flights, free extra baggage allowance, and discounted access to more comfortable seating options, SkyPriority services at the airport and paid lounge access (free if you fly Premier economy and higher) . 

With SkyPriority you have priority access at over 1,000 airports, from check-in, baggage drop-off and delivery, security and boarding. On Air France flights, SkyPriority is reserved for Flying Blue Gold and Platinum, or SkyTeam Elite Plus members, passengers in the La Première, Business and Premium Economy cabins and a few others.   

Emirates' Skywards frequent flyer programme allows members to earn and spend Miles with Emirates and a wide selection of partners, including Air Mauritius, Qantas, Alaska, Japan Airlines, SAA, Malaysian, JetBlue and others.  Members can also convert American Express Rewards® points into miles, earn and convert miles and points with all top car rental companies and with all major hotels groups such as IHG, Marriott and Fairmont. Tier levels start with Skywards Blue with basic benefits such as welcome miles and waitlist priority. Its gets more interesting at Silver level, 
(25,000 Tier Miles or 25 flights) where members have access to Emirates Business Class Lounges in Dubai, 25% bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates flights, instant upgrades with Miles, priority check-in and priority boarding. At Gold (50,000 miles or 50 fights) level members get access to  Lounges throughout the Emirates network, 50% bonus Skywards Miles and more. Platinum members basically receive all of the above and much more.