Points and miles glossary.

Terms

Alliance

A group of airlines that share benefits: oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam. Miles from one can be used on another in the same group.

Avios

The points currency of Iberia Plus, British Airways Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Aer Lingus and Vueling. They can be moved between several of these programmes.

Award availability

The seats an airline releases for redemption with miles. Not every seat on the plane is open for awards.

Award ticket

A flight paid with miles or points instead of money. Taxes and surcharges are usually paid separately.

Basic fare

The cheapest fare, usually without checked bags or changes.

Co-branded card

A credit card linked to an airline or hotel that earns that programme's points on every purchase.

Double dipping

Earning points twice for the same purchase, for example with your card and the shop's programme.

Elite status

The tier you reach in a programme (silver, gold, platinum...). It gives perks like lounges, extra bags or priority boarding.

Error fare

A mistaken price published by an airline or agency. Sometimes honoured, sometimes cancelled.

Expiry

The date your points vanish if there is no activity. Many programmes reset it with any earning or spending.

Fare class

The letter on a ticket that decides how many miles you earn and its rules.

Free night

A hotel night redeemed with points or given by a card or a status tier.

Layover

A short stop between two flights on the same trip.

Lounge

An airport area with seats, food and drinks for business travellers, elite members or some card holders.

Loyalty programme

An airline or hotel club where you collect points and move up tiers.

Miles

Points from airline loyalty programmes. You earn them by flying or, mostly, by spending with partner cards and shops.

Open jaw

A return ticket where you fly into one city and back from another.

Point value

How much money you save per point redeemed. Divide the cash price by the points used.

Points transfer

Moving points from a bank or card to an airline or hotel programme. Sometimes there are bonus promotions.

Positioning flight

A cheap flight to another city to start a better deal from there.

Shopping portal

An airline or hotel site that gives points for shopping at online stores through it.

Status challenge

A challenge to earn a tier by completing a number of flights or nights in a short time.

Status match

When a programme gives you its equivalent of a tier you hold elsewhere.

Stopover

A long stop (over 24 hours on international flights) in a city along the way, on the same ticket.

Taxes and surcharges

What you pay in cash on an award ticket. It varies a lot by airline and route.

Transfer ratio

How many destination points you get per source point, for example 1:1 or 2:1.

Upgrade

Moving to a higher cabin (for example from economy to business) using miles or money.

Welcome bonus

The extra points a card gives when you sign up and meet a minimum spend. Usually the fastest way to collect.