How to Earn Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Miles in 2026

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles can be earned through Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance flights, transferable credit card rewards, hotel stays, car rentals, shopping, and other participating partners. The program provides both flight and non-flight earning opportunities, making regular Turkish Airlines travel unnecessary for building a useful mileage balance.

Turkish Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, which substantially expands the program’s flight-earning opportunities. Members can credit eligible flights from participating alliance carriers to Miles&Smiles, although earning rates depend on the operating airline and booking class.

For members who do not fly frequently, transferable rewards and travel partners can provide alternative ways to increase a Miles&Smiles balance.

Ways to Earn Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Miles

Method	How Miles Are Earned
Turkish Airlines flights	Eligible paid tickets earn according to fare and flight
Star Alliance flights	Eligible partner flights can be credited to Miles&Smiles
Other airline partners	Earnings depend on partner and booking class
Transferable rewards	Eligible bank points can be converted into miles
Miles&Smiles credit cards	Eligible spending earns miles directly
Hotel partners	Earn miles on qualifying hotel stays
Hotel-point transfers	Convert eligible hotel currencies
Car rentals	Earn through participating rental companies
Shopping	Earn through eligible shopping partners
Tourism partners	Earn through qualifying travel activities and services

The Upgraded Points reference identifies flights, credit cards, hotels, rental cars, tourism partners, and shopping as major Miles&Smiles earning channels.

1. Join Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

The first requirement is a Miles&Smiles account.

Membership is free, and enrollment can be completed through Turkish Airlines.

Once registered, members receive a Miles&Smiles membership number that can be added to eligible flight bookings and qualifying partner transactions.

The program uses different mileage categories for different purposes. Miles function as the reward currency, while Status Miles contribute toward elite-tier qualification.

These should not be treated as interchangeable balances.

2. Earn Miles by Flying Turkish Airlines

Eligible paid Turkish Airlines flights are one of the primary ways to earn Miles&Smiles miles.

The amount credited can depend on:

• Route
• Travel class
• Fare class
• Ticket type
• Miles&Smiles status
• Applicable program rules

Higher fare classes can generally produce greater mileage accrual than deeply discounted fares.

Therefore, two travelers flying on the same aircraft and route may receive different mileage amounts.

3. Check the Booking Class Before a Flight

The cabin name alone does not determine mileage earnings.

Turkish Airlines uses fare and booking classes that can have different accrual rates.

This makes the booking-class letter particularly important when calculating expected mileage.

Before crediting a flight, relevant details include:

• Operating airline
• Marketing airline
• Booking class
• Cabin
• Eligible accrual percentage

The same principle applies when earning through Star Alliance partners.

4. Earn Miles With Star Alliance Airlines

Miles&Smiles members can earn miles on eligible flights operated by participating Star Alliance airlines.

This is one of the program’s biggest advantages because Star Alliance provides a large international network.

The reference highlights partners such as Air Canada and ANA as examples of airlines whose eligible flights can generate Miles&Smiles credit.

Other participating Star Alliance carriers also provide earning opportunities according to Turkish Airlines’ applicable partner charts.

Partner Flight Earnings Can Vary

Not every partner ticket earns the same amount.

Mileage accrual can vary according to:

• Partner airline
• Booking class
• Fare type
• Flight distance
• Cabin

Some discounted booking classes can earn reduced mileage, while others may not qualify at all.

Checking the current Turkish Airlines partner accrual chart before purchasing a ticket can prevent unexpected mileage shortfalls.

5. Earn Miles With Other Airline Partners

Turkish Airlines also maintains relationships beyond standard Star Alliance earning opportunities.

Where eligible, partner flights can be credited to Miles&Smiles according to the airline-specific rules.

The important consideration is that partnership alone does not mean every fare earns miles.

Eligibility should therefore be verified before selecting Miles&Smiles as the loyalty program for a flight.

6. Transfer Credit Card Rewards to Miles&Smiles

Transferable credit card rewards provide one of the most useful non-flight methods for accumulating Turkish Airlines miles.

The September 2026 reference identifies 4 major transferable currencies available to U.S. members:

• Bilt Rewards
• Capital One Miles
• Citi ThankYou Points
• Marriott Bonvoy

This represents a major improvement over the period when earning Turkish Airlines miles in the U.S. relied much more heavily on flight activity.

Transfer ratios, minimums, and processing times should always be verified before moving points.

7. Transfer Bilt Rewards Points

The reference currently lists Bilt Rewards as a 1:1 Miles&Smiles transfer partner.

This means:

1 Bilt Point = 1 Turkish Airlines mile

The reference also describes transfers as generally occurring nearly instantly.

Transfer timing should still be treated as an estimate rather than a guarantee, particularly when award availability is limited.

8. Transfer Capital One Miles

Capital One provides another way for eligible cardholders to build a Miles&Smiles balance.

Eligible Capital One Miles can be transferred to Turkish Airlines under the applicable transfer terms.

This can make Miles&Smiles accessible without requiring regular Turkish Airlines travel.

Transferable rewards are particularly useful because points can remain within the bank program until a specific airline redemption is identified.

9. Transfer Citi ThankYou Points

Citi ThankYou Rewards is another transfer option identified by the reference.

Eligible Citi cardholders can transfer qualifying ThankYou Points into Miles&Smiles according to the applicable conversion ratio and card requirements.

Not every Citi product necessarily provides the same transfer functionality, so eligibility should be checked before accumulating points specifically for a Turkish Airlines redemption.

10. Transfer Marriott Bonvoy Points

Marriott Bonvoy provides a hotel-points route into Miles&Smiles.

This can be useful when a member has a large Bonvoy balance but needs additional airline miles for a particular redemption.

However, hotel points can also provide value when redeemed for accommodation.

The potential value of the airline redemption should therefore be compared with keeping the points within Marriott Bonvoy before completing a transfer.

11. Avoid Speculative Point Transfers

Bank-to-airline transfers are generally one-way transactions.

Once rewards have been converted to Miles&Smiles, they usually cannot be moved back to the original transferable-points account.

Before completing a transfer, several factors deserve attention:

• Award availability
• Required mileage
• Taxes and fees
• Transfer ratio
• Processing time
• Miles expiration
• Alternative redemption options

Transferring only when an award is available can reduce the risk of leaving unused miles in the account.

12. Earn With a Turkish Airlines Credit Card

The reference confirms that the U.S. now has a dedicated Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Premier Visa Signature Credit Card.

This creates another direct earning route for eligible cardholders in addition to transferable bank points.

Co-branded cards can provide advantages for members who regularly use the Miles&Smiles program because eligible spending generates the airline’s miles directly.

However, annual fees, welcome offers, earning categories, and card benefits can change. Current issuer terms should therefore be checked before applying.

13. Miles&Smiles Credit Cards Outside the U.S.

Turkish Airlines also has financial partnerships in other countries.

Availability varies according to the local banking market.

Depending on the card, eligible spending can earn Miles&Smiles miles directly.

Local cards may also provide benefits such as:

• Welcome miles
• Category bonuses
• Turkish Airlines spending bonuses
• Travel privileges
• Promotional mileage opportunities

Card-specific terms determine the actual earning potential.

14. Earn Miles Through Hotel Stays

Hotels provide another route to Turkish Airlines miles.

Participating accommodation partners can award Miles&Smiles miles on qualifying stays under their individual rules.

Earning conditions may depend on:

• Hotel brand
• Property
• Eligible room rate
• Booking method
• Length of stay
• Miles&Smiles membership number

The Upgraded Points reference specifically identifies hotel stays among the non-flight ways to accumulate Turkish Airlines miles.

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15. Convert Eligible Hotel Points

Certain hotel loyalty currencies can also provide access to Turkish Airlines miles through transfers.

Marriott Bonvoy is one of the most prominent examples identified in the reference.

Point conversion differs from directly earning airline miles on a hotel stay.

With direct earning, the hotel transaction produces Miles&Smiles miles. With conversion, an existing hotel-points balance is moved into the airline program.

The relative value of both options should be compared before choosing.

16. Earn Miles Through Car Rentals

Participating car rental companies can award Miles&Smiles miles on qualifying rentals.

The reference includes rental cars among its 15 major earning strategies.

Actual mileage can depend on:

• Rental company
• Location
• Rental duration
• Vehicle category
• Booking channel
• Promotional offer

The Miles&Smiles number generally needs to be attached to the qualifying rental.

Rates should be checked before booking because individual partner offers can change.

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17. Earn Miles With Tourism Partners

Turkish Airlines also works with tourism-related companies.

These partnerships can provide additional mileage opportunities for eligible travel purchases and activities.

The reference identifies tourism partners as a separate method of earning Miles&Smiles miles beyond conventional airline, hotel, and rental-car transactions.

Such opportunities can be particularly useful when several components of the same trip qualify for mileage earning.

18. Earn Miles Through Shopping

Shopping provides another non-flight earning channel.

Depending on the market and available Turkish Airlines partnerships, qualifying purchases can produce Miles&Smiles miles.

The reference dedicates a separate section to earning through shopping, demonstrating that the program extends beyond traditional travel purchases.

Shopping offers can be promotional or partner-specific, so current rates and conditions should be reviewed before making a purchase primarily for mileage earning.

19. Take Advantage of Promotional Offers

Miles&Smiles periodically provides opportunities to earn additional miles through promotions.

Offers may involve:

• Turkish Airlines flights
• Partner flights
• Hotels
• Credit cards
• Shopping
• Rental cars
• Tourism partners

Some promotions require advance registration.

Bonus-mile promotions can accelerate earning, but unnecessary purchases should not be made solely to generate additional mileage.

20. Claim Missing Miles

Eligible mileage may occasionally fail to post.

Keeping flight and transaction records can help when submitting a missing-mile request.

Useful documentation can include:

• Ticket number
• Boarding pass
• Flight information
• Booking reference
• Hotel invoice
• Rental agreement
• Partner receipt

Mileage claims are generally subject to eligibility requirements and time limits.

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How Are Turkish Airlines Miles Calculated?

The exact calculation varies according to the transaction.

For Turkish Airlines flights, factors such as travel class, fare class, route, and membership status can determine the number of miles awarded.

For partner flights, Turkish Airlines generally applies the relevant partner accrual rules.

For non-flight partners, the earning method may instead be based on:

• Amount spent
• Number of nights
• Rental period
• Fixed transaction bonus
• Point-transfer ratio

This makes it difficult to apply one universal mileage formula to every earning method.

Do Award Tickets Earn Miles&Smiles Miles?

Award travel should not be assumed to earn miles in the same way as eligible revenue tickets.

Miles are primarily earned from qualifying paid travel and participating partner transactions.

The fare and ticket conditions should therefore be reviewed when determining whether a particular itinerary generates additional Miles&Smiles credit.

What Is the Difference Between Miles and Status Miles?

The distinction is important.

Miles are the reward currency that can be redeemed for eligible benefits.

Status Miles are used for determining Miles&Smiles elite status.

Earning a large number of redeemable miles through credit cards or transfers does not necessarily produce the same amount of Status Miles.

Therefore, a member can have a substantial reward balance without qualifying for elite status.

Miles&Smiles Elite Status

Turkish Airlines has several Miles&Smiles membership levels.

Elite qualification is based primarily on eligible Status Miles rather than simply the redeemable mileage balance.

Higher status can provide travel privileges under applicable Miles&Smiles and Star Alliance rules.

The reference notes that Turkish Airlines’ Elite tier corresponds with Star Alliance Gold recognition.

Qualification and renewal thresholds can change, so current Turkish Airlines requirements should be used when planning specifically for status.

How Long Do Turkish Airlines Miles Last?

Miles&Smiles miles generally follow a fixed validity structure rather than remaining active indefinitely simply because new account activity occurs.

This makes expiration management important when miles are being accumulated over several years.

A member planning a large future redemption should review:

• Current mileage balance
• Expiration dates
• Planned earning
• Expected redemption date

Fixed-expiration programs require greater attention than programs where qualifying activity automatically extends the entire balance.

Can Turkish Airlines Miles Be Purchased?

Miles&Smiles provides options that can help members increase a balance when additional miles are needed.

Purchasing miles may be useful for a relatively small award shortfall, but the cost should be compared with other methods such as:

• Credit card transfers
• Upcoming flight earnings
• Hotel transfers
• Partner earnings

Buying a large mileage balance without a planned redemption can create poor value and additional expiration risk.

Can Miles Be Transferred Between Members?

Miles&Smiles provides mileage-management options subject to program rules and applicable fees.

A direct mileage transfer should not automatically be treated as equivalent to transferring flexible credit card points into the program.

Fees can materially affect the value of moving airline miles between accounts.

Which Method Is Best for Earning Miles&Smiles Miles?

The most useful method depends on travel and spending habits.

Member Profile	Potential Strategy
Frequent Turkish Airlines traveler	Credit eligible Turkish Airlines flights
Frequent Star Alliance traveler	Compare partner booking-class accrual
Bilt Rewards member	Transfer eligible Bilt points
Capital One cardholder	Transfer eligible Capital One Miles
Citi cardholder	Use eligible ThankYou transfers
Marriott member	Consider Bonvoy transfers
Frequent hotel guest	Use participating hotel partners
Frequent car renter	Credit eligible rentals
Regular shopper	Check Miles&Smiles shopping opportunities
Small award shortfall	Consider transfers or permitted mileage purchase

Combining several earning methods can generally produce a balance faster than relying exclusively on flights.

Tips for Earning Turkish Airlines Miles Efficiently

Several practices can help improve mileage accumulation:

• Add the Miles&Smiles number to eligible reservations.
• Check fare-class accrual before purchasing partner flights.
• Compare partner earning rates before selecting a frequent flyer program.
• Keep flexible bank points untransferred until needed.
• Confirm award availability before transferring points.
• Monitor mileage expiration dates.
• Register for promotions when required.
• Review hotel and car-rental partner terms before booking.
• Keep boarding passes and receipts until mileage posts.
• Submit missing-mile requests when necessary.
• Compare transfer costs with the value of the planned award.

The strongest strategy generally uses purchases and travel that would occur regardless of the mileage earned.

Why Miles&Smiles Can Be Useful

Miles&Smiles provides access to Turkish Airlines’ own network as well as Star Alliance redemption opportunities.

The program can therefore appeal to members interested in international award travel.

Its expanding transferable-points relationships have also made the program easier to access without frequent Turkish Airlines flights.

The reference notes that earning was historically less straightforward for U.S. members, but the availability of Bilt, Capital One, Citi, Marriott, and a U.S. co-branded card has changed that significantly.

Important Points to Remember

The major earning methods include:

• Turkish Airlines flights
• Star Alliance partner flights
• Other eligible airline partners
• Bilt Rewards transfers
• Capital One Miles transfers
• Citi ThankYou transfers
• Marriott Bonvoy transfers
• Miles&Smiles credit cards
• Hotel partners
• Rental-car partners
• Tourism partners
• Shopping
• Promotional bonuses

Not every transaction qualifies, and earning rates can vary substantially.

Final Thoughts

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles miles can be accumulated through a combination of flights, transferable credit card rewards, hotels, car rentals, shopping, and travel partners.

Flying Turkish Airlines remains one of the most direct methods, while Star Alliance membership expands flight-earning possibilities considerably. Partner fare classes should always be checked because discounted tickets may earn fewer miles or no miles at all.

For members who fly less frequently, transferable rewards have made Miles&Smiles considerably more accessible. The September 2026 reference identifies Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and Marriott Bonvoy as major transfer options for U.S. members.

Combining flight earnings with carefully timed transfers and partner transactions can provide a more efficient route toward a useful Miles&Smiles balance than relying on a single earning source.

Frequently Asked Questions