15 February 2024

With hardly any advance notice and without any official communication about it, Turkish Airlines will increase award levels in its Miles&Smiles program as of tomorrow, both on its own flights and on partner airlines. Not only is the increase rather unbelievable in most cases, but moreover, awards will now be priced on a sector basis. As a rough guideline, the former roundtrip award levels are now one-way award levels – even the Turkish Lira devaluates less… So while you pay today 75,000 miles for a roundtrip in Economy Class from Western Europe to Australia on Thai Airways, you will be charged tomorrow for the same flight 100,000 miles for the first flight to Bangkok and 170,000 miles for the flight from Bangkok to Australia. 270,000 miles vs. 75,000 miles. Definitely a strategy not every customer is likely to understand or support. The picture only looks a bit better – but far from acceptable – on Turkish Airlines direct flights. For instance, a Business Class roundtrip between Istanbul and North America increases “only” from 90,000 miles to 130,000 miles. The current promotion for double miles in Economy Class and triple miles in Business Class (bookings by March 24, travel by August 11) is only a very temporary relief in that situation…