Airlines that allow families to earn miles [Updated 2022].
Traditionally, frequent flyer programs are designed to allow individual travelers to earn miles by purchasing specific airline tickets. A [...]
Traditionally, the frequent flyer programs are designed to allow the individual traveler to earn miles by purchasing specific airline tickets. Depending on the program he or she joins, and the airline he or she flies with, the traveler may also purchase tickets for his or her family members and friends. However, the major frequent flyer programs do not allow miles earned by different family members to be combined or transferred from one traveler to another (except by paying a hefty fee).
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It is therefore difficult for family members to achieve a satisfactory status in a short time. Four people with a 5k-mile frequent flyer account cannot do much with it, while with 25k it is likely to be able to acquire a prize ticket. Fortunately, in recent years, some frequent flyer programs have become family-friendly. Let us therefore discover together Which airlines allow families to earn miles.
Which airlines allow mileage pooling
Let's consider the companies that operate in Europe, to identify which one to focus on if you often travel with family in tow.
British Airways. To accumulate Avios points traveling with British Airways you have to open a Collective Account. It is free to open and allows travelers to share points with 6 other people in their household (including children).
How it works. You choose the Principal Member, who must already be a member of the Executive Club, and link family members' names to it. All members of the Collective Account enjoy the individual benefits of Club membership, accumulate Executive Club points and advance in membership levels independently, but they can also use Avios Of the Collective Account. You must be 18 years of age or older to use the accumulated Avios points.
Lufthansa. The program Lufthansa's Miles & More allows family units (maximum 2 adults and 3 minor children) to form a "pooling" of miles. All miles accumulated by individual participants end up in a virtual account, and adults can then use them for individual award tickets or their own family travel.
Eithad. Eithad Guest offers the option Family Membership, which allows you to earn miles individually by flying with the company or a partner carrier, and then enjoy them as a family. Members, up to 9, must be enrolled in Eithad Guest. And each of them can enjoy the accumulated miles. The advantage is that an extended family concept applies, including not only parents and children but also siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and even... one's own children's nanny! Email acceptance is mandatory for all travelers over the age of 13.
Emirates. Among the airlines that allow families to earn miles is Emirates. Simply create a account for Families, to pour the Skywards miles accumulated with the Emirates flights and with company partners. There can be up to 8 participants (and as with Eithad, the concept of "extended family" applies). Sometimes, the company may ask for proof certifying the emotional/relative relationship with the main partner.
Virgin Atlantic. Who has one Gold status within the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club can create a family account and add up to 9 other members in the loyalty program (residential address must be the same). The miles earned by the individual traveler feed into the "joint" account and allow the person to advance in status.
Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways allows join the Privilege Club together with their family. The account-holding member can add up to 9 other people including spouse, children over the age of 2 and parents. Each member receives a personal card and earns Qmiles every time they fly Qatar Airways or one of the alliance airlines Oneworld. The miles are thus credited to the main account.
Aegean. Aegean is among the airlines that allow families to earn miles. Silver and Gold status holders can open the Together Account and add up to 5 members (regardless of status). The accumulated miles are all transferred to the Together Account, but individual travelers also continue to accumulate miles on their personal account so as to advance in status.
Air France / KLM New for 2022 is the Flying Blue loyalty program that has just launched the his proposal dedicated to families.
Only two adults can be part of the family, but that is something.
In conclusion
If you are scheduled to fly with a company that does not allow mileage pooling, you can always credit it with one of the above companies depending on the alliance and convenience. As few or as many miles as you accumulate, you can also use them in the future for small payments and not necessarily only for award tickets.