The DOs & DON’Ts of Miles Hacking

Focus on purchasing intercontinental flights (especially one-way for flexibility) or valuable upgrades with your miles.

Get an AMEX Gold Card, especially for the hefty sign-up bonus (often best obtained via a referral – you’ll find my link in the AMEX Gold Card section if you’re considering it!) and the flexibility to transfer points to many airlines. Make sure to use any statement credits (like for SIXT, Freenow) to offset the fee!

Get a Miles & More credit card (even the Blue Card one) primarily to prevent your M&M miles from expiring, especially those you earn from Payback (miles are protected as long as you hold the card and make one transaction per month).

Download and religiously use the Payback app and browser extension for online shopping. Transfer these points to Miles & More, ideally during a 25% transfer bonus event (like the one often seen around May!).

Regularly review your miles strategy and stay updated on program changes and new opportunities.

Don’t spend your hard-earned miles on low-value redemptions like merchandise. Stick to flights, upgrades, and occasionally high-value hotel stays.

Don’t overspend on award flights by ignoring taxes and fees. Hunt for bargains, consider flying via countries with lower airport taxes, and always compare the cash price.

Be very careful with using miles for short-haul flights within Europe; high airport taxes can make them poor value compared to intercontinental flights.

Don’t only earn miles directly with the M&M credit card. The earning rate (1 mile per €2) is poor. Your primary earner should be a flexible card like the Amex Gold. Use the M&M card solely to prevent miles (earned via Payback) from expiring.

Don’t let your premium cards (like Amex Gold Card/Platinum Card) sit passively. Actively use their credits and perks to justify the annual fee.

Don’t transfer points speculatively without a specific redemption in mind, as transfers are irreversible and tie your points to one program.