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Friends called to Barcelona for a Metallica concert.

We have already bought and booked everything. We are satisfied with how we saved on tickets: they fly for Aeroflot Bonus miles. I have been in the program for ten years, so I do not pass by the details.

Grigory Yaroshenko

counting miles

For nothing, - the friend beams, - only 30,000 miles and fees.

A check on the Aeroflot website confirms my doubts: this is the case when it is better to buy for money. I'll tell you why.

What are Aeroflot Bonus miles?

Miles are units by which the airline evaluates the loyalty of passengers. The same scheme applies here as in stores: you buy goods - you get bonuses - you spend them on other goods. In this case, you buy tickets - you get miles - you spend them on other tickets, hotels or car rentals.

The Aeroflot Bonus program encourages the loyalty of frequent flyers by accruing miles for using the company's services. They do not have an official cash equivalent, but when used, you can calculate the price, because you will exchange a certain number of miles for a service with a certain cost. And just like when exchanging currency, you can redeem your accumulated bonus miles at a favorable and unfavorable rate.

The more often you fly, the more bonuses you get and the higher your status. The program has three elite levels: silver, gold and platinum. Members of these elite tiers can earn extra miles for each flight operated by Aeroflot or a program partner airline.

What miles are earned for

Loyalty program "Aeroflot Bonus" offers two ways to earn miles: fly with Aeroflot flights and use the services of partners.

These miles are called qualifying miles. To move from the basic level to the next, silver, you need to collect 25,000 in a year qualifying miles or fly somewhere with Aeroflot 25 times.

Miles in the Aeroflot Bonus program are credited for flights on regular flights of Aeroflot or airlines that have become program partners. When buying tickets, you need to pay attention to the fares: not all fares are included in the accrual of miles.

Miles in the program are given based on the distance in miles between the airports of departure and arrival and the fare indicated on the ticket. Miles are earned only for completed flights.

Miles are credited for each segment of the journey. Such segments are called flight segments. If you fly on the Moscow - Istanbul - Delhi flight, you will have two flight segments. If on any of these segments you have purchased a ticket at a fare that does not contribute to mileage accrual, you will not be credited miles for that flight segment.

For flights less than 500 miles, 500 miles will be credited to the member's account. If you were flying with a partner airline, miles may be calculated differently. This is the case when the agreement between Aeroflot and the partner provides for a different calculation procedure. You can find out how miles will be credited in this case in the "Partners" section.

If you have already flown regular flights"Aeroflot" and only after a while have registered in the loyalty program, you will be credited with qualifying miles for all flights that took place within 6 months before the date of registration in the program, if tickets were purchased at the rates involved in the accrual of miles.

To take these flights into account in the program, enter the data about them in your personal account in the "Earn miles" section or send to "Aeroflot Bonus" flight documentation - a copy of the itinerary receipt and originals or copies boarding passes. You have 3 months from the date of registration in the program.

If there is a forced transfer from one Aeroflot flight to another or to a flight of a partner airline and new route will be different from the original one, miles will be credited to you according to the actual flight. If your flight is canceled and you are transferred to another non-program airline, you will not earn miles.

Miles for the purchase of goods or services of program partners. If the work is not related to business trips and you can get out on vacation a couple of times a year, it is more interesting to accumulate non-qualifying miles. They are received using the goods and services of program partners: hotels, car rental services, restaurants, banks. These miles can only be spent on an award ticket and do not count towards qualifying for the elite level.

Miles for partner products are credited to the member after registration in the program. Goods and services purchased before registration are not included in the collection of miles. Not all partner products are mileage eligible. You can find out what's eligible and what's not directly from the merchant.

Miles will automatically be credited to your account - it takes up to 60 days from the date of payment for the product or service of the partner, if you presented your membership card at the time of payment. And you need to do this before you generate a check. It will not be possible to restore miles after the fact of payment.

If you did everything right, but the miles on your account did not appear within the deadline, send to "Aeroflot Bonus" an application for the restoration of miles and a copy of the document confirming the receipt of the service. You have one year from the date the partner provided the service. An exception is if the terms of Aeroflot's cooperation with this company provide for a different period.

Miles for hotel bookings. One of Aeroflot's partners is the Booking.com hotel booking service. You can earn miles for booking hotels on this website. Please note: they will be credited only when you go to Booking.com from the Aeroflot website. Miles are credited automatically no later than 60 days after the end of your stay at the hotel.

Please provide your membership number when booking "Aeroflot Bonus". If you forget or enter the wrong one, you can update the details when confirming your booking.

If you book a room for several program participants "Aeroflot Bonus", miles will be credited only to one person.

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When miles are not credited

If you purchase something with miles, you will not earn new miles for the purchase at the same time. Or accrual, or write-off, but not both together.

Miles are not credited for lost, unused or expired tickets. Also, miles are not credited for award tickets, free air tickets, airline tickets for charter flights, air tickets paid for at special rates.

It’s easier not to figure out what type of fare you have, but to determine before buying whether they will give miles for your ticket. To do this, on the Aeroflot website, enter the city of departure and city of arrival and click "Find".

How to check miles

You can view the number of miles in your personal account on the airline's website or call the Aeroflot call center.

Do miles have a price

Miles are free. This is a loyalty award. On the other hand, they can pay for tickets. Miles become a means of payment between the passenger and the airline, such a surrogate for currency. Like any currency, the mile has a course. It may or may not be profitable.

When you sell a currency, for example, the euro after a trip to conditional Spain, you carefully choose an exchanger. It is unprofitable to change for 68 rubles, if on the next street they accept 70. With miles, the same thing: when you buy an award ticket, you sell miles to Aeroflot. To sell a mile for more, you need to know how to value it.

How to calculate the price of a mile

For my friends, each ticket cost 30,000 miles and 5,880 rubles in fees:

By choosing the usual payment method, you can fly to Barcelona on the same dates and in the same economy class for 14,465 rubles:

If you subtract the amount of fees from the total ticket price, and then divide the result by the mileage rate, you get the mile rate:

(14 465 − 5880) / 30 000 = 0,286

Friends sold 30,000 miles at 28.6 kopecks per mile. Is it expensive or not?

To understand, compare with another flight. A ticket to Havana costs 46,816 R:

And here are the conditions for an award ticket in the same direction:

70,000 miles in exchange for 33,796 rubles. This option is better - now a mile costs 48 kopecks.

To use the Aeroflot Bonus to the fullest, you need to get into the habit of counting miles and their cost. It will help not only to sell miles more expensively, but also to accumulate them faster.

How to earn miles if you rarely fly

The easiest way to earn miles is by using the services of program partners. The list includes dozens of companies, from Sberbank to Moskhoztorg. There is only one principle: when you spend money, you get miles as a bonus.

For example, every 30 rubles left in any of the Novikov Group restaurants bring one mile to the account. And ordering food through the Delivery Club service is the same mile for every 23 rubles. With Internet services, the following condition applies: you need to go to the partner’s website from the page of the Aeroflot Bonus program.

Aeroflot-bonus and partner banks

The easiest way to earn miles is with a partner bank card. Many banks offer joint programs: credit and debit cards. You pay your usual expenses - in return you get miles. For a certain amount spent on the card within a month or another period set by the bank, you will be credited with a certain number of miles.

Partners change, and it is better to follow this. When a new bank appears in the program, miles on its cards usually drip more than on the cards of banks - veterans of the program.

Usually miles cards have several statuses. The higher the status, the more miles it generates. The mid-tier card gives you more miles than the regular card, the premium card even more.

You can save on the cost of cards. Banks regularly hold promotions, you just need to ask. It's like a discount here: you won't get it until you ask. A platinum credit card brought me 60,000 Aeroflot miles last year. The grace period is over, and I closed it without loss.

What to do if banks do not offer interesting conditions. First, remember that a mile has a price - let's determine it in the region of 38 kopecks based on the results of the two examples given. Then estimate the monthly expenses that you are ready to pay with a card. Finally, compare how many miles the card will gain in a year.

How many miles will I earn in a year if I spend 140,000 rubles a month

Basic

Service per year

1000 R

Miles for 60 R

miles per year

Medium

Service per year

3500 R

Miles for 60 R

miles per year

Premium

Service per year

8000 R

Miles for 60 R

miles per year

The average card will earn 14,000 miles more than the base card. According to our exchange rate, this is 5320 rubles, which covers the cost of the annual maintenance of the card. It makes sense to take. But the premium does not hold out: you need to spend more or choose another card.

How many miles live

The expiration date of miles depends on the conditions of the loyalty program. For example, ALL Airlines miles live for 5 years, and Aeroflot miles burn out if you do not fly for money at least once every 2 years.

In order not to lose the earned miles, find out how long they will be valid and what needs to be done so that they do not burn out.

When and how to spend

The program is designed so that the cost of a mile depends on the amount you spend on the flight. The higher the ticket price, the more expensive miles can be sold to Aeroflot. So it was in the above example with Barcelona and Havana.

The highest price per mile will come with an upgrade from economy to business. You will have to buy an economy premium - this does not work with fares lower - and spend as many miles as you need for an award ticket. But the cost of a mile will be higher than one ruble - it will be possible to save a lot on a flight in business class. But you need to understand that you pay extra for comfort, and not for additional kilometers in the sky.

If you are not ready to spend money on an economy premium, you need to catch special offers. Interesting options for vacation or short trip found in the Light Award promotion, when the mile cost of flights is reduced by a quarter. The promotion takes place several times a year and includes popular destinations. The launch of the Light Award is announced by the airline's mailing list.

The cheapest miles are evaluated in the Aeroflot Bonus online store. There you can buy a suitcase, the tenth iPhone or a movie. Before you think about buying, remember our miles arithmetic lessons. Find out where is the best place to buy.

How to transfer miles to another person

The Aeroflot-Bonus program includes the Mileage Transfer service. With it, you can transfer your miles to another person. A prerequisite is the presence on the account of the participant who transfers bonus miles, at least one flight by Aeroflot for the last 24 months, for which miles were given. To transfer miles, you must be registered in the program "Aeroflot Bonus" at least 90 days prior to the miles transfer date.

You can transfer no more than 50,000 miles per calendar year and no more than 5,000 miles per transaction. The number of miles to be transferred must be a multiple of 500.

The recipient will be able to accept no more than 50,000 miles from one or different people. This amount must be within 10 transactions within one calendar year.

The transferred Award Miles will be non-qualifying for the recipient and will not affect promotion to the Elite tier or retention of the Elite tier in the program.

For the transfer of miles, Aeroflot takes a commission. You will see her in personal account member in the "Spend Miles" section when making a transfer. This is a fixed amount - 600 rubles for each transaction. Payment is made in rubles.

Elite members are allowed to transfer miles with a mileage fee of 20% of the number of miles transferred. Transfers with a commission in miles are subject to the following limits:

• Silver members can transfer a maximum of 10,000 miles per calendar year;
• members of the "Gold level" - no more than 20,000 miles per calendar year;
• Platinum Members - no more than 30,000 miles in a calendar year. For other transfers, the commission will be in rubles.

It is impossible to cancel a completed transfer of miles: it will not be possible to return bonus miles transferred from the account and the commission.

Can I buy or sell Aeroflot miles?

Aeroflot prohibits the sale of bonus miles, including by transferring them for a fee. If they find out that someone has sold or bought miles, Aeroflot has the right to cancel the accumulated miles, cancel or block the account for any period, cancel the elite level of the seller and buyer. Costs will not be reimbursed.

Remember

1. You don't have to be an avid traveler to fly miles.
2. Paying with miles means paying with money.
3. By using bank card really fly for miles once a year. When choosing a card, it is useful to count miles and their cost.
4. It is wise to plan a vacation with an eye on the Light Award.
5. "Aeroflot-bonus" the best place to buy a tenth iPhone.

An overview of the top 15 debit cards to earn miles in 2019. Answers to questions - what are miles cards, how to use them, and most importantly - how these same miles are accumulated and spent.

What does mile card mean

Almost all major banks have included cards with miles in their line of card products. They can be both debit and credit, but their main feature is the ability to accumulate bonus points (miles).

How to spend miles

Award miles can be spent on:

• purchase of air tickets with discounts;
• booking hotel rooms;
• service class upgrade during flights;
• car rental, including abroad, etc.

What are the bonus programs

Note that bonus programs under which miles are credited for purchases can be different:

1. Some banks enter into agreements directly with airlines, such as Alfa-Bank and Aeroflot;
2. Others issue co-branded plastics in cooperation with large alliances that include many airlines, for example, with the SkyTeam alliance, of which Aeroflot is a member, thanks to which the accumulated miles can be spent on buying air tickets from not one air carrier, but several at once;
3. The most attractive can be called such cards, according to which the accumulated miles can be spent on buying discounted air tickets of any companies - for example, such is the All Airlines card from Tinkoff Bank.

Which airlines have bonus programs

The most famous and largest alliances of air carriers are:

• Star Alliance is the largest and oldest aviation alliance with 27 full members;
• SkyTeam is in second place in the world ranking of the largest alliances, consists of 13 largest airlines (including Aeroflot);
• OneWorld is the third largest aviation alliance, including 12 full members. S7 Airlines consists of Russian companies in this alliance.

In addition, there are mileage programs developed by banks in conjunction with online booking sites. Such programs include, for example, OneTwoTrip, to which Tinkoff Bank is connected, and Travel Miles from Gazprombank, established jointly with iGlobe.ru.

How to choose a card with miles for yourself

Now let's try to answer the question, what is best card to earn miles. The main selection criteria include the following parameters:

1. low cost of annual maintenance;
2. the possibility of paying with accumulated miles for air tickets of any companies;
3. availability of welcome miles credited upon receipt of a bank card;
4. the maximum possible number of miles for spending;
5. accrual of interest on the balance of funds on plastic, etc.

It is believed that cards with bonus miles give the maximum benefit to those who fly at least 4 times a year.

How to earn miles

To accumulate bonuses, it is important to carefully study the bonus program of the bank. Miles are credited only for amounts spent by bank transfer. The rate varies from issuer to issuer: somewhere 1 mile is given for every 30 rubles spent, somewhere only for 100 rubles of purchases.

You need to know that miles are not credited for some transactions. Thus, most issuers do not take into account the following operations when determining the mile award:

• cash withdrawal;
• commissions deducted according to the bank's tariffs;
• write-offs in favor of casinos or sweepstakes;
• purchase of lottery tickets and bonds;
• purchase of insurance policies;
• transfers in favor of pawnshops or other creditors and so on.

Do the miles burn

The question of whether miles expire and when, you need to check with the bank when issuing a card. It is desirable that this moment was reflected in the contract.

Most often, miles are credited to the account for 2-3 years. Bonuses can also expire when, over the past year or two, the cardholder has not used tourist services, has not bought a ticket for a flight of a certain air carrier.

How many Aeroflot miles can be earned in one year

According to the Sberbank calculator, if you spend 30,000 rubles a month, then 6,000 miles will accumulate in 1 year of use. The air carrier has not set a limit on the number of accumulated bonuses, but the issuing bank has the right to set it. Sberbank, for example, does not have such a restriction in its rules for accumulating miles.

But according to the terms of the Aeroflot Bonus program, in order to maintain the mileage account, you need to fly Aeroflot or its alliance partners at least once every 2 years.

How many miles do you need for a free flight

Most programs provide for the exchange of 1 ticket for at least 20,000 miles. There are also promotions that will make the flight cheaper.

Most often, only the fare of the air carrier can be compensated with miles. Other fees must be paid in cash. This part of the ticket price can reach 50-70%.

How to get a miles card

A bank mile card is issued in the same way as other similar products. If you need a debit card, then usually you simply submit an application either on the issuer's website, including in your personal Internet banking account, or at the bank's office. Most often, such products are provided to customers who have reached the age of 18.

When ordering a credit card, they often additionally require proof of employment (2-NDFL certificates, salary account statements, and so on). Credit cards are issued no earlier than upon reaching the age of 21 years.

In any case, a passport is presented.

VTB mile card

It is offered to receive miles at VTB Bank using the Multicard when connecting the Travel option to the agreement.

The "Travel" option assumes the return of part of the money spent as miles for the corresponding purchases, that is, bonuses will be credited from the amounts used to purchase tickets for railway transport, for air travel, for payment and booking of hotel rooms, for car rental. The percentage of return according to VTB tariffs depends on the volume of turnover on the account:

• when spending 5,000 - 15,000 rubles, 1% will be received;
• 15,000 - 75,000 rubles - 2%;
• more than 75,000 rubles - 4%.

For 1 month, a maximum of 5,000 bonuses is allowed.

The accumulated miles are spent on the bank's branded travel aggregator, on travel.vtb.ru.

Advantages:

• the service will become free when the monthly turnover on the account exceeds 5,000 rubles. If less, then the commission will be 249 rubles per month;
• the card can also be used as a salary;
• it is possible to activate 1 of 7 options that allow you to receive rewards in the selected area. Changing the subject of purchases, where the maximum reward is due, is free of charge and is implemented by the client independently through the support service, mobile bank or Internet bank. Changing the option is possible no more than once a month;
• up to 6% per annum is accrued on the account balance. For example, with a balance of 5,000 - 15,000 rubles, income is calculated on the basis of 1% per annum, with an amount over 75,000 rubles - 6%;
• Cash can be withdrawn free of charge at any ATM in the world. When working with foreign currencies, there will still be some conversion costs;
• transfer of funds in favor of clients of other banks, including foreign ones, is carried out without commission;
• free SMS banking and internet banking;
• up to 5 additional cards are opened for 1 account;
• the account is opened in one of the currencies - in Russian rubles, in US dollars, in euros;
• accumulated bonuses do not expire.

In the first month of ownership, the maximum possible cashback on purchases in the selected category is provided.

Flaws:

• when accruing bonuses, card turnover for the previous month is taken into account, but when changing the option in current month the minimum possible remuneration is assigned;
• interest is calculated according to the smallest account balance for the past month;
• if the account turnover is less than 5,000 rubles, then the condition for free cashout is not valid, that is, at the end of the month, you can lose some amount;
• Only 1 premium option is allowed.

Mile cards of Alfa-Bank

Alfa-Bank offers 2 options for mile cards:

• Alfa Travel;
• Aeroflot.

Here 1 mile is equal to 1 ruble.

Universal AlfaTravel from Alfa-Bank

AlfaTravel VISA is a universal debit card or credit card. Available miles pay for the services of more than 60 tour operators and purchase tickets from more than 300 air carriers.

Owners of AlfaTravel Premium level products are provided with additional benefits, for example, a 20% discount on taxis, entrance to Priority Pass lounges, luggage wrapping as a gift, and so on.

Advantages:

• accounts are opened in rubles, US dollars, euros, Swiss francs, British pounds;
• with a turnover of more than 10,000 rubles or with a balance of more than 30,000 rubles, the service costs 0 rubles. In other cases, the commission will be 100 rubles per month. The first 2 months of ownership are free;
• when registering an account, 1,000 miles are given;
• accumulated bonuses are saved and are not canceled;
• cash can be obtained anywhere in the world for free;
• when ordering services on travel.alfabank.ru 9% is returned in miles;
• 3% of the cost of other purchases will also be returned in miles;
• up to 6% per annum will be charged on the balance of the ruble account within 300,000 rubles, taking into account the purchasing activity of the cardholder.

Flaws:

• extended insurance for those traveling abroad has a small coverage - 50,000 euros;
• a premium level card will cost 5,000 rubles annually, although the first year of ownership costs 0 rubles.

Mile cards "Aeroflot" from "Alfa-Bank"

Aeroflot MasterCard can be both credit and debit. Class - Platinum or World Black Edition. The card was created in partnership with Aeroflot and other airlines of the SkyTeam alliance.

Rules for the formation of mile rewards:

• 1,000 miles - given to each new client;
• up to 1.5 miles - for every 60 rubles ($1 or 1 euro);
• 1 mile is given for every 200 rubles ($30 or 300 euros) appearing on the AeroPlan account.

Advantages:

• account currency - Russian ruble, euro or US dollar;
• upgrade to business class is allowed;
• miles are also paid for the goods of companies that are members of the alliance;
• cardholders have the right to count on additional benefits from the bank - increased interest on deposits, an individual attitude, a special rate for currency conversion.

Disadvantage: servicing the card with a zero commission is possible only until the end of 2019. Then the preference is retained only when the amount of purchases exceeds 10,000 rubles, or if the minimum account balance is more than 30,000 rubles. In case of non-compliance with the specified requirements, the service fee is 100 rubles per month.

Mile cards "Tinkoff"

ALL Airlines (Tinkoff bank)

• 1.5% on any purchases, provided that the daily account balance is at least 100,000 rubles;
• 1% in all cases where this condition is not met;
• if the amount of purchases (from the card) per month exceeds 20,000 rubles, bonus points are credited to the balance of funds at the rate of 6% per annum;
• when booking hotels and buying air tickets of any airlines on the travel.tinkoff.ru website, up to 10% is charged, also in the form of bonus miles;
• the period during which the accumulated miles can be used is 5 years;
• the maximum number of accrued miles per month is 6,000;
• the minimum balance of accumulated miles for the possibility of reimbursement of the purchase price is 6,000.

Tinkoff Bank has already quite pleasant conditions for owning cards, and with the ALL Airlines bonus program, there are even more advantages:

• possibility of free card servicing;
• free cash withdrawal in the amount of 3,000 to 150,000 rubles at any ATMs and PVN;
• free travel insurance worldwide;
• profitable bonus program;
• possibility of contactless payment;
• the possibility of accruing interest on the balance.

Free card maintenance is possible if the daily balance on the card account exceeds 100,000 rubles. Otherwise, 299 rubles are deducted every month, or 3,588 rubles a year.

The disadvantages of owning this plastic include only a paid SMS bank - 59 rubles per month.

Tinkoff Bank has a very simple conditions registration and receipt of bank cards: the application is submitted online on the bank's website, the age at which you can become the owner of an ALL Airlines card starts from 14 years old, and the plastic itself is delivered free of charge throughout Russia.

Cards, including debit cards, will be delivered to your home or office.

The OneTwoTrip card is issued as a MasterCard in the World and Black Edition categories. It's not exactly a mile card. Here, tripcoins act as bonuses. According to the terms of the agreement, the following exchange rate is applied: 1 tripcoin = 1 ruble. This currency can be used on the travel aggregator website when paying:

• air tickets;
• train tickets;
• car rental;
• tours and excursions;
• hotels.

Bonuses are calculated as follows:

• 4% when purchasing plane tickets;
• 8% when paying for hotels;
• up to 5% when issuing train tickets;
• 1% for other purchases;
• 0-30% - from OneTwoTrip partners.

Advantages:

• there is the possibility of gratuitous possession of the card (if there is a loan or a minimum balance in excess of 30,000 rubles). In other cases, owning it means paying 99 rubles a month;
• opportunity to choose the advantageous offer for tourists from a variety of operators.

Flaws:

• transfer in favor of clients of other banks in the amount of more than 20,000 rubles provides for a commission of 1.5%;
• cash withdrawals up to 3,000 rubles in third-party banks cost 90 rubles.

If the account balance is less than 300,000 rubles with a monthly turnover of 3,000 rubles or more, then 6% per annum is charged. Income comes in tripcoins.

S7-Tinkoff is MasterCard. Miles are awarded for purchases here. They are used for:

• purchasing tickets for S7 Airlines or flights of other OneWorld members;
• increasing the level of service comfort to the level of business.

Miles are calculated as follows:

• 3 miles for every 60 rubles used on the S7 portal;
• 1.5 miles for 60 rubles for non-cash payments for other purchases;
• up to 18 miles will be credited for every 60 rubles spent on special offers.

Advantages:

• participation in special sales of air tickets, which are held 2 times a year;
• cash withdrawal in any ATMs of the world with zero commission;
• miles can be shared. Transmission up to 500 miles allowed;
• if you spend more than 800,000 rubles from your card account in a quarter, you can upgrade your class of service once a year free of charge, check in at a business level counter, check in additional luggage and choose a seat.

Disadvantage: card service with a commission of 0 rubles is available only if the balance on the card is more than 150,000 rubles. If you do not comply this condition, you will have to pay 190 rubles per month.

To receive a ticket fully paid for with bonuses, it is enough to accumulate 6,000 miles for one of the regular flights.

Mile card "Sberbank"

Sberbank issues an Aeroflot card. It is available in 3 variations:

• Classic - the cost of maintenance is 900 rubles in the 1st year of ownership and 600 rubles in subsequent years;
• Gold, which will cost 3,500 rubles per year of use;
• Signature - 12,000 rubles per year.

The fundamental difference between all cards is the availability and quality of preferences. For example, miles are credited based on every 60 rubles spent in a non-cash way, but Classic card holders will receive 1 mile, Gold - 1.5 miles, and Signature - 2 miles.

Advantages:

• no fees for cash withdrawals at branded ATMs within the established limits - 150,000 rubles for Classic version and 500,000 rubles for Signature;
• account currency - Russian ruble, euro or US dollars;
• It is possible to issue additional cards.

Flaws:

• high cost of premium products;
• Sberbank does not enter into alliances with other banks, which means that a commission must be charged when contacting the machines of other financial institutions, including abroad.

Mile card of Gazprombank

"Gazprombank - Travel Miles" - mile card of "Gazprombank". She confirms participation in the Travel Miles program, according to the terms of which the accumulated miles can be used to pay for travel services on the iGlobe.ru website.

The card can be either debit or credit. It is possible to issue both as a Visa and as a Mastercard.

Advantages:

• The bonus can be used to pay for various tourism services from different operators, and not just for buying tickets for flights of the same alliance;
• It is possible to issue an additional card to the main account. Spending from additional forms is taken into account when calculating bonus miles;
• the account is opened in Russian rubles, euros or US dollars.

Flaws:

• according to the tariffs, issuing a card is paid and costs from 1,300 rubles;
• The form is valid for 2 years.

Promsvyazbank

"Map of the world without borders" MasterCard World from Promsvyazbank can be both debit and credit. The principle of mileage accrual is 1.5% of the amount of the purchase made abroad and 1% of the value of other expenses. 1,500 miles are credited to the cardholder as a welcome bonus.

Advantages:

• validity of the form - 4 years;
• it is possible to make a salary card;
• free travel insurance is provided with coverage up to 50,000 euros;
• up to 5% per annum is accrued on the account balance;
• miles pay up to 100% of the cost of travel services;
• free internet banking and mobile banking;
• it is possible to deliver the card by courier;
• the card opens access to the PSB World of Discounts discount program, thanks to which you can get a discount of up to 20% from bank partners.

Flaws:

• cost of ownership for 1 year - 1,990 rubles;
• in order to get 1 mile, in Russia you need to spend 100 rubles.

Raiffeisenbank

Raiffeisenbank offers to issue 2 debit miles cards at once:

• buy

Their advantages:

• miles are accepted for payment for travel services on the site iGlobe.ru;
• the account can be in rubles and currency (in euros or in US dollars);
• mole bank and mobile app free;
• preferences from 4,000 bank partners.

Disadvantage: paid SMS informing about completed transactions - 60 rubles per month.

Buy&Fly

With the Buy&Fly MasterCard card, 1 mile is credited for every 100 rubles of purchases paid with the card. If more than 75,000 rubles are spent from the account in a month, then for amounts exceeding the specified one, you can get 3 miles for every 100 rubles. For 1 calendar year, you can get no more than 240,000 miles.

Advantages:

• you can issue an additional card;
• the card account is opened in rubles, euros or US dollars.

Disadvantage: cash withdrawal in the machines of other companies - 1% (at least 100 rubles).

If the card is ordered before 12/31/2019, the first year of service will be free.

Visa Classic Travel holders have the right to count on 1 mile for every 40 rubles spent and on a birthday gift in the amount of 1,000 miles.

Advantage: annual maintenance - from 500 rubles.

Flaws:

• cash withdrawal in Russia and abroad in partner banks of Raiffeisenbank without commission is possible only in the first 2 transactions. Then they will keep 1% (minimum 199 rubles);
• the card is not personalized - there is no name and surname of the holder on the form, although the account will be opened in his name.

"Opening"

Otkritie Bank issues a Travel card. The card is universal. The received bonuses are spent on travel services on the travel.open.ru website.

For purchases, they give 4 bonus rubles on the Premium card and 3 on the Optimal card.

Advantages:

• after the 1st purchase, 300 or 600 rubles of bonus are credited to the bonus account, taking into account the product class;
• according to the tariffs, an income equal to 5% per annum is accrued on the account balance;
• it is possible to issue up to 5 additional cards;
• the account is issued in one of the 3 main currencies;
• bonuses are used to pay for a wide range of travel services.

Flaws:

• a Premium level card costs 2,500 rubles per month, and an Optimal one costs 299 rubles;
• An SMS informer for a regular card will cost 59 rubles, and for a luxury card - 0 rubles.

Rosselkhozbank

Rosselkhozbank issues a Travel Card. It is released as:

• Visa Classic Instant Issue;
• Visa Classic;
• Visa Gold.

Advantages:

• there is a loyalty program "Harvest";
• order up to 8 additional cards;
• free SMS service;
• active customers are exempt from service fees;
• The card is used to pay for a variety of travel services from different operators.

In the first 2 months of owning the product, bonuses are accrued with a coefficient of 2.

Flaws:

• the account is opened only in rubles;
• you can take an instant card, the name of the holder of which will not be printed on the form. The account is still personalized. The instant issue card is valid for 2 years. Others - 3 years;
• paid issue of each card form - 99 rubles for Classic or 299 rubles for Gold.

"Vanguard"

Avangard Bank will provide Airbonus and Airbonus Premium based on VISA or MasterCard. Miles earned in branded Internet banking are used to pay for plane and train tickets, including Aeroexpress in Moscow.

Upon presentation of the first card form, special miles are credited as a welcome: 500 miles for Airbonus and 1,000 miles for Airbonus Premium. An increase of 1 bonus is carried out for every 20 rubles spent on the 1st type of cards and 30 rubles on the 2nd.

Advantages:

• for the budget Airbonus they pay 1,000 rubles a year ($40 or 40 euros);
• a card account is issued in one of 3 currencies - Russian ruble, US dollar, euro;
• free insurance for those traveling abroad with a coverage of 60,000 euros;
• there is a discount program;
• with Airbonus Premium, the Priority Pass card form is provided free of charge;
• IAPA card for Airbonus Premium holders is free.

Flaws:

• expensive Airbonus Premium service - 5,500 rubles ($200 or 200 euros) for 1 year;
• small ATM network.

"St. Petersburg"

Bank Saint Petersburg has prepared a Mastercard World Travel card for travelers.

Miles calculation rules:

• Mastercard World Travel - 1.5% in miles for all purchases and up to 8% for money spent on the branded Travel portal, and up to 3% per annum will be credited to the account balance;
• Mastercard World Travel Premium - 2% for any expenses, up to 10% for funds left on the bank's special website, up to 5% per annum on the account balance.

For purchases from 100,000 rubles for 1 month, miles are credited based on a rate of up to 30%.

Advantages:

• free travel insurance is provided;
• profitable bonus program.

Flaws:

• it is allowed free of charge to receive cash abroad, depending on the class of the card, 4 or 8 times;
• service is free of charge, when 30,000 rubles or more are spent per month or the account balance remains at a level of at least 100,000 rubles. Otherwise, the monthly commission is, according to the product class, 249 rubles or 1,249 rubles;
• account currency - only Russian ruble.

The best cards for earning miles

A comparison of maps with miles showed that the following products can be recognized as the best:

1. All Airlines from Tinkoff Bank, which offers a profitable mileage accrual system, free insurance when traveling abroad and allows you to spend bonuses on travel with various operators;
2. AlfaTravel from Alfa-Bank, thanks to which you can get a good cashback in the form of miles for purchases on a branded travel aggregator. It is important that the account can be opened in one of 5 currencies, which allows you to significantly save on conversion;
3. Visa Classic Travel from Raiffeisenbank. She is the best offer for those who often travel abroad, who pay in foreign currency and use European ATMs;
4. "Gazprombank - Travel Miles" from Gazprombank, which allows you to buy tours and tickets on the iGlobe.ru website. The mileage rate is also good.

The most profitable card with miles

The top-5 rating is headed by the OneTwoTrip card from Tinkoff. It is universal: its bonuses are used for calculation on the website of the travel services aggregator. The form will be delivered to your home or office. The moderate cost of ownership is ideally combined with a good rate of accrual of bonuses when paying for travel services, as well as interest on the balance in the form of the same premium tripcoins.

Olga Stepanova

Reading time: 9 minutes

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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 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. Resetting status miles takes place on 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 in large numbers 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, etc. 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 example, S7 Airlines' BP is called S7 Priority, Aeroflot's BP is Aeroflot Bonus, and UTair offers several programs at once - for business, family trips and ordinary.

How to choose the right program and earn miles?

Choosing for yourself bonus program, 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 free ticket(once) or for bonuses (for example, registration without a queue).
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 to save on airfare - 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 ( A priority) and UTair ( Status) and Family Status.

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.

Bonus projects are organized by many international aviation companies, did not stand aside and Aeroflot. 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 for individuals who have reached 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.

Clients who received special status(silver, gold, platinum) more options are provided.

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 score. 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, 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. To 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.

In series credit cards There are also three types:

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 operation.

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. Please note that air tickets must be purchased at the rate included in the bonus program.

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. Login to block Feedback" 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.