A Comprehensive Guide to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- Noboundlife
- Mar 31
- 7 min read
Table of Contents
When considering which airline loyalty programs to invest your time and effort in, Turkish Airlines stands out as a strong contender.
It boasts the third-largest route network globally (behind American and Delta), flying to 129 countries—more than any other airline. It connects destinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa that U.S. airlines often overlook, making it a compelling choice, especially for frequent travelers to Türkiye. Additionally, the Miles&Smiles award chart is well-known for its attractive sweet spots.
But is the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles program truly worth your investment of time and money? This in-depth, point-by-point analysis aims to answer that question.
Overview of the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Program
The Nobound Life team is a big fan of Turkish Airlines’ Miles&Smiles loyalty program, and for good reason. It features some of the best sweet spots in the points and miles arena. With a fixed award chart and the ease of earning Turkish miles, this program offers more than it initially appears.
Based in Istanbul (IST), Turkish Airlines serves 129 countries, more than any other airline worldwide. As a member of the Star Alliance, which includes over 25 partner airlines, you can earn and redeem Turkish miles for flights across the globe on both Turkish-operated and partner airline flights.
Turkish Airlines also provides an exceptional business class product, which can be booked at attractive mileage rates due to its competitive award pricing.
Additionally, Miles&Smiles includes an elite status tier system for its most dedicated frequent flyers.
How Do You Join Miles&Smiles?
Joining Miles&Smiles can be done simply by filling out this sign-up form. It’s free to join.
There are a few things worth noting, though. The password you set for Turkish is more like a PIN for an ATM card. It can only contain numbers and must be 6 digits. Your password cannot contain your date of birth, cannot include 3 consecutive digits (e.g., “3-4-5”), and cannot use the same number more than 2 times.
How To Sign in to Your Miles&Smiles Account
You sign in to your Miles&Smiles account from the Turkish Airlines homepage. You sign in with your Miles&Smiles membership number or email address and your 6-digit password.
How To View Your Account Activity
The easiest way to check your Miles&Smiles mileage balance is to:
Log in to your Miles&Smiles account.
Click the drop-down menu button next to your name.
Click on Miles Transactions.
From here, you can see all the information regarding your Miles&Smiles account, including your member number, your current elite status, your current miles balance, and when your miles will expire.
How To Earn Miles & Smiles Miles
Turkish Airlines’ loyalty program, Miles&Smiles, uses Miles&Smiles miles (try saying that five times fast) as its currency. Anyone can earn these miles, but you must first sign up for a free account. The registration process requires some basic information, and once you’re registered, you can start earning miles right away.
There are numerous ways to accumulate Miles&Smiles miles beyond just flying. For instance, you can earn miles through co-branded credit cards, converting transferable points, shopping, and renting cars.
Flying with Turkish Airlines
You can earn Miles&Smiles miles every time you fly with Turkish Airlines or its subsidiary, AnadoluJet. Additionally, you can accumulate miles on partner flights.
The number of miles you earn is influenced by several factors, including the cabin class of your ticket, whether the flight is domestic (within Turkey) or international, and your elite status level.
Earn with Status Miles
Holders of elite status earn bonus points for each eligible flight. The additional points you can earn depend on your tier level, commonly referred to as an “elite card.”
The Turkish Airlines loyalty program features four elite cards (status levels), each with its own bonus earning rate when flying with Turkish Airlines. These rates vary based on whether you’re traveling in economy or business class.
Miles Expiration
Turkish miles expire 3 years from the time they’re earned. You can extend the expiration date for a price: For every 1,000 miles, you can pay a fee of $10 to extend them for another 3 years.
Miles&Smiles Mileage Program
Once you’ve started earning your miles, you can start achieving higher tiers, using those tiers to increase your earnings and rewards.
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Elite Status
The Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles program features four elite tiers: Classic, Classic Plus, Elite, and Elite Plus.
You can achieve Turkish Miles&Smiles Elite status by accumulating Status Miles, which are earned from flights with Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance member airlines.
To earn or renew Classic Plus elite status, you can either earn Status Miles or meet specific flight segment requirements. However, for Elite and Elite Plus status, there is no option to qualify through flight segments; you must earn the required Status Miles.
| Classic | Classic Plus | Elite | Elite Plus |
Status Upgrade | N/A | Earn 25,000 Status Miles OR Fly 40 fights in the last 12 months | Earn 40,000 Status Miles in the last 12 months | Earn 80,000 Status Miles in the last 12 months |
Renew Your Status | N/A | Earn 17,000 Status Miles OR Fly 30 fights in 1 year OR Earn 35,000 Status Miles or fly 30 fights in 2 years | Earn 30,000 Status Miles in the first year* OR Earn 45,000 Status Miles in 2 years* | Earn 40,000 Status Miles in the first year OR Earn 60,000 Status Miles in 2 years |
Status Mile Accrual on Business Class International Flights | Up to 1.5x | Up to 1.75x | Up to 1.75x | Up to 1.75x |
Status Validity Period | Lifetime | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Classic
Prerequisite: Signing up
This is the entry-level membership assigned automatically when you create an account. You can collect miles while flying with Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance partners. You also earn 1,000 welcome miles after your first flight.
Classic Plus
Prerequisite: Earning 25,000 Status Miles or 40 flights in the previous 12 months
This tier enhances Classic benefits with:
Access to business class check-in counters for domestic flights
Lounge access for domestic flights
An extra baggage allowance of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) (not applicable on flights with the piece baggage concept)
Star Alliance Silver card privileges
Elite
Prerequisite: Earning 40,000 Status Miles in the previous 12 months
You receive all Classic Plus privileges plus:
Access to the Istanbul Airport International Arrivals Terminal special passport desk
Lounge access for you and a guest (or spouse and children)
Special telephone help-line assistance
An extra baggage allowance of 20 kilograms (44 pounds) or 1 extra piece of baggage
Private entrances and passport control at Istanbul Airport
Star Alliance Gold card benefits
Free standard seat selection (only for Turkish Airlines-operated flights)
Elite Plus
Prerequisite: Earning 80,000 Status Miles in the previous 12 months
You enjoy all Elite benefits plus:
2 free cabin upgrades on Turkish Airlines flights
Upgrades on reward tickets for companions
Guaranteed seats for certain classes
An Elite gift card for up to 3 people
An extra baggage allowance of 25 kilograms (55 pounds) or 1 extra piece of baggage
Elite Status upgrade with Nobound Life
With Nobound Life, you can upgrade your Turkish Airlines membership to Elite Status/Star Alliance Gold for a duration of 4 months. If you take an international flight with Turkish Airlines during this period, your status will be extended for an additional 8 months.
Furthermore, if you earn 15,000 Status Miles from international flights with Turkish Airlines in the first year of your Elite membership, your membership will be extended for another year, keeping it valid for a total of 2 years after the initial upgrade.
What makes Turkish Airlines unique?
Turkish Airlines stands out by flying to more countries than any other airline through its Istanbul hub. This extensive network, combined with its Star Alliance membership, low-fare carrier AJet, world-class catering from DO&CO (including onboard chefs), and excellent lounges, enhances the overall travel experience.
Free Layover Hotel in Istanbul
Eligibility:
Economy Passengers: 12-hour or longer layover in Istanbul
Business Class Passengers: At least 9-hour layover
Hotel Accommodations:
Business class travelers enjoy five-star accommodations for up to two days.
Economy class travelers receive four-star hotel stays for one day.
These hotels are not just airport facilities; they allow travelers to explore Istanbul during ultra-long layovers, essentially turning a layover into a mini-trip.
Process:
Immigration: Eligible travelers must go through immigration and visit the Turkish Airlines hotel desk located in the international arrivals section of Istanbul Airport.
Hotel Voucher: Confirm eligibility for a hotel voucher at the check-in counter at least 72 hours in advance, as not all fares or itineraries qualify.
Connecting Flights: You must take the next available connection to your destination. For example, if flying from New York to Dubai via Istanbul, you won't be eligible for a hotel stay if you choose a later flight over an earlier one.
Important Notes:
The connecting flight must be Turkish-operated or a Turkish code-share, and all flights must be part of the same reservation.
Turkish Airlines selects the hotel and provides transportation to it. However, polite requests for specific hotels may be honored if available.
This service exemplifies Turkish Airlines' commitment to providing a seamless and enjoyable travel experience, even for those not enrolled in the Miles&Smiles program.
Free Istanbul tour
If you have an international flight connecting via Istanbul Airport and have more than six hours between flights, you can take advantage of Touristanbul. It is complimentary and offers tours to famous sites such as Dolmabahçe Palace, the Golden Horn, Taksim Square and Fener Greek Orthodox College.
This is a great way to kill time between flights but is not eligible on itineraries where you have a 24-hour or longer layover between flights.
You can check availability and see what tours are offered each day by entering your reservation details online. Sign up for tours at the hotel desk in the international arrivals section of the airport.
Student and disability discounts
Students with proper identification can earn up to a 20% discount on flights, and passengers with qualifying disabilities can receive savings of 20% on domestic flights and 25% on international flights. They simply need to upload proper documentation to their Miles&Smiles account. Companions on the same reservations also receive the same savings.
In summary
While many Star Alliance flyers in the U.S. gravitate towards regional programs like United MileagePlus or Aeroplan, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles offers a compelling alternative for those who travel internationally.
Key Benefits:
Top-Tier Benefits: Turkish Airlines serves as a gateway to premium travel perks that enhance your journey.
Superior Economy Class: The economy class experience is often rated higher than that of many U.S. carriers, providing more comfort and service.
Award-Winning Cuisine: All cabin classes feature exceptional dining options, with meals crafted by renowned chefs.
Despite recent devaluations, the Miles&Smiles program remains valuable for frequent international travelers, making it worth exploring for those looking to maximize their travel experience.
With Nobound Life, you can directly get Turkish Airline Elite Status immediately, without the need to meet the pre-requisite requirement.
