Can I earn frequent flyer miles if I book a free airline ticket?
While you can generally earn frequent flyer miles by booking a ticket using miles or points, the mileage earned is often significantly less compared to booking a revenue (paid) fare.
Airline loyalty programs have specific rules regarding miles accrual on award tickets, with some carriers allowing a percentage of the normal mileage earned and others prohibiting any miles for free ticket bookings.
The amount of miles you'll earn on an award ticket can vary widely by airline - some may offer 25% of the normal mileage, while others provide no mileage accrual at all.
Certain airlines incentivize purchasing revenue fares over redeeming miles by offering elite qualifying miles or segments only on paid flights, not award tickets.
Many airlines stipulate that basic economy or other deeply discounted fare classes are ineligible for mileage accrual, even on paid tickets, further limiting earning potential on some bookings.
Some loyalty programs have exceptions where you can earn a partial mileage credit on award tickets, for example a percentage based on the cabin class.
The mileage earned on an award ticket may also be dependent on your elite status level within the airline's frequent flyer program.
Award ticket bookings often do not count toward airline status qualification, even if you earn some mileage, reducing the overall value compared to a revenue fare.
Factors like the route, booking class, and whether you're flying on the airline's own metal or a partner carrier can all impact the mileage accrual on award tickets.
Redeeming miles for an international first or business class ticket may result in a higher mileage earn rate compared to using miles for a domestic economy class award.
Airline loyalty programs are constantly evolving, so it's crucial to review the latest program terms to understand the mileage earning policies on award tickets.
In some cases, it may be more valuable to book a revenue fare and earn miles than to use miles for an award ticket, especially if the mileage accrual is significantly reduced.