The DOs & DON’Ts of Flight Miles Hacking
Here is what you should and shouldn’t be doing with your miles.
DOs ✅
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!).
The most valuable points come from welcome bonuses. Always ensure you can comfortably meet the minimum spending requirement (e.g., €6,000 in the first 6 months for the Gold Card) to secure your bonus.
This is the most powerful method for long-term points accumulation. Read our dedicated guide on Card Cycling to learn how you and a partner can generate enough miles for business class flights every year.