Is collecting airline miles still worth it? 5 things travellers should know

Loyalty programmes of an airline have now become an integral part of air travel. From its humble beginnings as a means of rewarding frequent flyers decades ago, it has transformed into a complex world of points, miles, and rewards. Nowadays, not only can one collect miles by flying with an airline, but also through credit cards, hotel stays, car rentals, and other daily purchases. One can use these points to get flights, upgrade seats, access airport lounges, and other travel-related rewards. But on the other hand, it is also argued that airline loyalty programmes have become increasingly complex with varying rewards and limited availability of seats.
With proper utilization of these points, one can save money and even have a great flying experience. Here are five reasons why it is still worthwhile to collect airline miles:

One of the greatest benefits of collecting miles is that you can redeem them to get free or discounted air travel. Many travelers accumulate enough points to travel internationally at a significantly reduced price or even get free air travel, except for taxes and charges. Frequent flyers may use their miles to travel long-haul flights or upgrade to business or first class on airlines like Singapore or Emirates, where the ticket costs can be extremely high. In such instances, miles can provide excellent value for money

Frequent flyers use their miles to upgrade their economy class tickets to business or first class. For many travellers, this can turn an ordinary long-haul journey into a far more comfortable experience, with better seating, meals and service. Several loyalty programmes allow passengers to use miles to upgrade seats on partner airlines through alliances such as Star Alliance and Oneworld.

Frequent travellers who accumulate enough miles or loyalty status may receive access to airport lounges, priority boarding and extra baggage allowances. These benefits can make travel much smoother, particularly on busy international routes. Some of the major airlines that offer such schemes include Qatar Airways and British Airways. These airlines offer tiered loyalty schemes in which customers can gain more benefits as they collect more miles.

Frequent flyers with elite status may be given priority in flight disruptions such as flight delays and cancellations. They may be able to get their flights rearranged faster or boarded on another flight faster compared to regular passengers. For frequent flyers, this is one of the major benefits of having elite status in terms of flight disruptions.

Although airline miles may not be limited to flights only for regular passengers, there is often an opportunity for unique experiences for frequent flyers. For instance, it is often possible for frequent flyers to use their airline miles for hotel stays and events.