Shared points currency
Avios
Avios is the points currency used by several airline loyalty programs. MileSeat groups British Airways, Iberia and Qatar Airways here so you can compare award-seat dates across the supported Avios airlines.
Miles and points guide
Airline Loyalty Programs: Compare and Find Award Flights
A flight loyalty program turns eligible travel and partner activity into miles or points that may be redeemed for reward tickets. The hard part is not collecting another currency—it is choosing a program that fits your route and finding a seat you can actually book. Compare the programs MileSeat currently supports, then search award availability before you transfer or spend points.
Airline loyalty programs supported by MileSeat
These are not interchangeable accounts. Each program has its own rules, and award access can vary even when two programs can book the same airline. The comparison below focuses on the airlines MileSeat currently tracks for each currency.
| Program or currency | Tracked airlines | Useful starting point | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|
Avios Shared points currency | British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways | Travellers whose usual routes are served by British Airways, Iberia or Qatar Airways. | Program guide → |
Flying Blue Air France–KLM program | Air France, KLM | Travellers comparing Air France and KLM options through Paris or Amsterdam. | Program guide → |
Cathay / Asia Miles Cathay points currency | Cathay Pacific | Travellers targeting Cathay Pacific routes through Hong Kong. | Program guide → |
Virgin Points Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Virgin Atlantic | Travellers looking for Virgin Atlantic award seats, especially on long-haul routes from the UK. | Program guide → |
Compare each miles and points program
Air France–KLM program
Flying Blue
Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France, KLM and Transavia. MileSeat currently tracks award-seat availability on Air France and KLM, letting you check both carriers before choosing a date.
Cathay points currency
Cathay / Asia Miles
Asia Miles is the points currency within the Cathay membership program. Use this section to find Cathay Pacific award seats and compare dates before starting a redemption in your Cathay account.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Points
Virgin Points is the reward currency used by Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. MileSeat's current program page focuses on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights and their Economy, Premium and Upper Class cabins.
How a flight loyalty program works
Most airline rewards programs separate two ideas: redeemable miles or points, which can pay for rewards, and status progress, which can unlock travel benefits. They are not always earned or spent in the same way. For an award flight, the practical path is to earn the right currency, find eligible inventory, and then redeem through the program that can access that seat.
01
Earn
Build a balance through eligible flights, cards or program partners. The available methods depend on your country and account.
02
Find
Look for award inventory on the route and in the cabin you want. A wide date range usually gives you more options.
03
Redeem
Book through the relevant program and pay the required points plus any taxes, fees or carrier-imposed charges shown there.
How to choose the right program
Choose for a real trip, not from a generic ranking. A valuable balance is one you can use on routes you want, on dates when a seat exists, at a total cost you accept.
- Route fit: Which supported airline actually flies between your preferred airports?
- Award access: Can the program see the seat you want, including partner inventory?
- Total cost: Compare the points requirement with the taxes and charges due in cash.
- Earning path: Can you realistically earn or transfer enough points before the seat disappears?
A safer award-booking order
- 1Start with the trip, not the points
Choose your origin, destination, cabin and a realistic date range. That immediately narrows the airline programs that can help.
- 2Check award-seat availability
Search the operating airline in MileSeat and scan the full-year calendar. Availability matters before a theoretical points price does.
- 3Confirm the cost with the program
Open the airline program's booking flow and confirm the miles, taxes, surcharges and rules for the exact itinerary you found.
- 4Transfer points only when ready
If you use transferable card points, confirm that the seat is still available before moving them. Transfers can be one-way and timing varies by provider.
Airline loyalty program FAQs
What is an airline loyalty program?
An airline loyalty program lets members earn a program currency—usually called miles or points—and redeem it for eligible rewards. Flight rewards are only one use; benefits, partners and status rules vary by program.
Is a flight loyalty program the same as a frequent flyer program?
Usually, yes. Both terms describe an airline rewards program. “Frequent flyer program” is the established industry phrase, while “flight loyalty program” is a common way travellers describe the same type of scheme.
Which airline loyalty program should I join?
Start with the airlines and routes you actually use, then consider where you already earn transferable points. There is no single best program for every trip because routes, award access, fees and availability differ.
Can I use one program to book more than one airline?
Often. Many programs allow redemptions on partner airlines, but the available seats, points price and booking method can differ from the operating airline's own program. Check the final itinerary in the program you plan to use.
Does MileSeat book the reward ticket for me?
No. MileSeat helps you find award-seat availability across supported airlines. You complete the redemption with the relevant airline or loyalty program after confirming the current points price, taxes and booking rules.
Why should I search before transferring points?
A points balance does not guarantee that a reward seat is available. Searching first reduces the risk of moving points into a program and then discovering that your route, date or cabin cannot be booked.
Find the seat before you spend the points
Search MileSeat's full-year award calendar across supported airlines, compare cabins and dates, then confirm the redemption in your airline loyalty program.