Here's something most travel hackers miss: Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles might just be the most underrated frequent flyer program for booking Star Alliance awards. While everyone's chasing United MileagePlus and Aeroplan sweet spots, Turkish quietly offers some of the best redemption rates in the alliance—if you know where to look.

I'll be honest, the Miles&Smiles website isn't winning any design awards, and yes, you'll probably need to call for some bookings. But stick with me here. The savings can be massive, especially for business class to certain regions. We're talking about flying Lufthansa business class to Europe for 45,000 miles or United Polaris to South America for just 60,000 miles one-way.

Let's dive into exactly how to maximize this hidden gem of a program, including the sweet spots that can save you tens of thousands of points compared to other Star Alliance programs.

Quick Answer: Is Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles Worth It?

Yes, if you're looking for Star Alliance business class awards. Turkish Miles&Smiles excels at medium to long-haul business class redemptions, often pricing them 20-40% lower than United or Air Canada. The program is particularly valuable for flights to Europe, Africa, and South America on Star Alliance partners.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Miles&Smiles Basics
• The Award Chart Advantage
• Top 10 Sweet Spot Redemptions
• How to Earn Miles&Smiles Miles
• Booking Process and Tips
• Comparing vs Other Programs
• Advanced Strategies
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Before we jump into the sweet spots, let's cover what makes Miles&Smiles different. Unlike United's dynamic pricing or Air Canada's market-based awards, Turkish still uses a fixed, zone-based award chart. This is huge—it means predictable pricing and no surprise devaluations based on "demand."

The program divides the world into regions, with set mileage requirements based on distance and class of service. Here's the kicker: their chart often prices Star Alliance partner awards lower than the airlines' own programs.

Key Program Benefits

• Lower fuel surcharges on many partners compared to other programs
• Generous stopover rules allowing exploration of Istanbul
• Family pooling available for easier accumulation
• No close-in booking fees unlike United's $75 fee
• Flexible date changes for a reasonable fee

The Drawbacks (Let's Be Real)

• Website functionality is... challenging
• Phone agents have varying expertise levels
• Some partners don't show online (looking at you, Singapore Airlines)
• Miles expire after 3 years of inactivity
• Limited transfer partners from US credit card programs

The Turkish Airlines Award Chart Advantage

Let me break down the most valuable routes for you. These are one-way prices from Turkish's award chart—compare them to what you'd pay with other programs:

North America to Europe

• Economy: 30,000 miles
• Business: 45,000 miles (United charges 60,000+)
• First: 60,000 miles (if you can find Lufthansa first!)

North America to Asia

• Economy: 45,000 miles
• Business: 75,000 miles (compared to 85,000+ with United)
• First: 105,000 miles

North America to South America

• Economy: 40,000 miles
• Business: 60,000 miles (Avianca wants 63,000 for their own flights)
• First: 80,000 miles

Intra-Europe Flights

• Economy: 7,500-15,000 miles
• Business: 15,000-22,500 miles

The value here is undeniable, especially when you consider that Chase Ultimate Rewards and other major programs don't transfer directly to Turkish.

Top 10 Sweet Spot Redemptions

1. US to Europe in Business: 45,000 Miles

This is the crown jewel. You can fly Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, LOT Polish, TAP Portugal, or even United Polaris for just 45,000 miles one-way. United charges 60,000-80,000 for the same flights. That's a 25-44% discount.

2. US to Northern South America: 40,000 Miles in Business

Fly United or Copa to Colombia, Venezuela, or northern Brazil for just 40,000 miles in business. Avianca charges 63,000 for their own flights! Perfect if you're planning to explore South America on points.

3. Lufthansa First Class to Europe: 60,000 Miles

While Lufthansa blocks first class awards from most programs, Turkish can book them. Just 60,000 miles for an experience that typically costs $5,000+. You'll want to use ExpertFlyer to track availability.

4. Intra-Asia Business Class: 12,500-25,000 Miles

Fly Singapore Airlines, ANA, or Thai Airways between Asian cities for a fraction of what those programs charge. Bangkok to Singapore? Just 12,500 in business.

5. US Domestic First Class: 12,500 Miles

United domestic first class for half what United charges. Perfect for transcons like NYC-LAX or SFO-BOS. Consider this instead of buying United miles when they're on sale.

6. Europe to Middle East/Africa: 20,000-25,000 Economy

Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, or Turkish's own flights for budget-friendly positioning or exploration.

7. Trans-Pacific to Southeast Asia: 75,000 Business

Fly ANA, Singapore, or United to Bangkok, Singapore, or Bali for 15,000-30,000 miles less than competitors.

8. South America Long-Haul: 57,500 Business

Reach Argentina or Chile for less miles than United's saver awards, with better availability on partners.

9. Istanbul Stopovers on Turkish Metal

Add a free stopover in Istanbul on Turkish-operated flights. Two destinations for the price of one! Check out our guide to maximizing stopovers for more ideas.

10. Short-Haul Europe: 7,500 Economy

Fly between European cities on any Star Alliance carrier for just 7,500 miles. Beats paying cash for budget airlines with baggage fees.

How to Earn Miles&Smiles Miles

Here's where things get interesting. You can't transfer from Chase, Amex, or Capital One directly, but you've got options:

Transfer Partners

• Citi ThankYou Points: 1:1 transfer ratio (best option)
• Marriott Bonvoy: 3:1 ratio (plus 5,000 bonus per 60,000 transferred)
• Capital One Miles: Transfer to TAP Portugal first, then to Turkish (1:1 both ways)

Flying and Credit Cards

• Earn on Star Alliance flights: Typically 25-300% based on fare class
• Turkish Airlines credit cards: Available internationally, not in US
• Shopping portals: MilesOptimax offers earn opportunities
• Hotel stays: Earn with Marriott, Hilton, and other partners

The Citi ThankYou Strategy

Your best bet? Stack up Citi ThankYou points. The Citi Strata Premier earns 3X on travel and dining, transfers 1:1, and often has transfer bonuses. During a 25% bonus, your 45,000-mile business class ticket only costs 36,000 ThankYou points. That's incredible value, especially if you maximize the Citi Strata Premier's benefits.

Booking Process: What to Expect

Let me prepare you—booking isn't always smooth. Here's your game plan:

For Online Bookings

1. Search on United.com first to find availability
2. Note the flight numbers and dates
3. Search the same on Turkish's site
4. Book online if it appears (about 60% success rate)

For Phone Bookings

1. Call during Turkish business hours (better English speakers)
2. Have flight numbers ready from United's site
3. Be patient—holds can be long
4. Ask for email confirmation before hanging up

Pro tip: Turkish's call center is +90 212 444 0 849. Call via Skype or Google Voice to save on international fees. Consider using Point.me to search multiple programs simultaneously.

Understanding Fuel Surcharges

Here's what you'll pay in surcharges by airline (approximate for transatlantic business class):

No or Low Surcharges ($0-150):

• United: $5.60 (basically nothing!)
• LOT Polish: ~$100
• Turkish: ~$150

Medium Surcharges ($150-300):

• TAP Portugal: ~$200
• SAS: ~$250

High Surcharges ($400+):

• Lufthansa: ~$600
• Austrian: ~$600
• Swiss: ~$500

Choose your airlines wisely—those Lufthansa surcharges can kill an otherwise great redemption. Check our guide to avoiding fuel surcharges for more strategies.

Comparing Turkish vs Other Star Alliance Programs

Let's look at how Turkish compares for popular business class routes:

US to Europe (Business Class)

• Turkish: 45,000 miles (BEST VALUE)
• United: 60,000-120,000 miles
• Aeroplan: 60,000 miles
• Avianca LifeMiles: 63,000 miles

US to Japan (Business Class)

• Turkish: 75,000 miles (BEST VALUE)
• United: 85,000-150,000 miles
• Aeroplan: 75,000 miles
• ANA: 95,000 miles

US to Northern South America (Business)

• Turkish: 40,000 miles (BEST VALUE)
• United: 50,000-80,000 miles
• Aeroplan: 50,000 miles
• Avianca: 63,000 miles

Turkish consistently wins on price, though availability and booking ease favor other programs. For more comparisons, see our complete Star Alliance program comparison.

Advanced Strategies for Maximum Value

1. The Excursionist Perk Equivalent

While United has the Excursionist Perk, Turkish offers free stopovers in Istanbul on round-trip awards. Book your award as a round-trip with a long layover (up to 24 hours free, longer for a fee) to explore Turkey.

2. Mixed Cabin Pricing

Turkish prices mixed-cabin awards favorably. If only economy is available on one segment, you'll get weighted average pricing rather than all-business pricing like United.

3. Partner Sweet Spot Stacking

Combine Turkish awards with positioned flights. For example:

• Buy cheap cash ticket to European hub using Google Flights
• Use Turkish miles for premium cabin long-haul from there
• Save 15,000+ miles vs US departure

4. Family Pooling Strategy

Create a family account to pool miles from multiple members. Unlike United's complexity, Turkish makes this straightforward—perfect for reaching award thresholds faster. Learn more about family travel strategies.

5. Upgrade Awards

Turkish offers reasonable upgrade awards using miles. If you find cheap economy tickets, upgrading with miles often costs 50-70% of a full business award. The Citi Strata Elite can help you earn miles quickly for upgrades.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not checking partner availability first - Always search United/Aeroplan before calling Turkish
2. Ignoring fuel surcharges - Factor these into your value calculation
3. Waiting too long to book - Turkish releases space with partners, grab it early
4. Not considering round-trips - Sometimes cheaper than two one-ways
5. Forgetting about expiration - Miles expire after 3 years, set calendar reminders
6. Missing transfer bonuses - Citi occasionally offers 25% bonuses to Turkish
7. Booking Lufthansa without checking fees - Those $600 surcharges can kill the value

When Turkish ISN'T the Best Choice

Let's be honest about when to skip Turkish:

• Last-minute bookings: Availability disappears faster than other programs
• Complex itineraries: Multi-stop trips are harder to book
• If you value flexibility: Changes cost €60 per ticket
• Short-haul US flights: Better options with Southwest Companion Pass or cash
• When surcharges are high: Lufthansa Group fuel surcharges can exceed $600

Maximizing Your Transfer Strategy

Since Citi ThankYou is your best transfer option, here's how to maximize:

1. Wait for transfer bonuses (typically 20-25% annually)
2. Use Citi Strata Premier for 3X on travel/dining
3. Stack with shopping portals for additional earning
4. Consider Citi business cards for sign-up bonuses
5. Pool points with family members before transferring

Remember: Transfers are instant from Citi, so you can grab awards immediately when you find them. Check our Citi ThankYou maximization guide for advanced strategies.

Real Example Bookings

Case Study 1: NYC to Athens in Business

• Searched United: Found Swiss via Zurich
• Cost via United: 60,000 miles + $78
• Cost via Turkish: 45,000 miles + $95
• Savings: 15,000 miles (25% discount)

Case Study 2: LAX to Tokyo in Business

• Searched Aeroplan: Found ANA direct
• Cost via ANA: 95,000 miles + $250
• Cost via Turkish: 75,000 miles + $180
• Savings: 20,000 miles + $70

For more real booking examples, check our award booking case studies.

The Bottom Line

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles isn't perfect—the website's clunky, phone bookings can test your patience, and fuel surcharges vary wildly. But if you're willing to work around these quirks, the savings are real and substantial.

Focus on business class awards to Europe, South America, and Asia where Turkish consistently beats other programs by 20-40%. Use Citi ThankYou points for transfers, search for availability on other sites first, and be prepared to call when needed.

The sweet spots I've outlined above can literally save you hundreds of dollars or tens of thousands of points per redemption. In the world of award travel, that's worth dealing with a few inconveniences.

Ready to start earning transferable points? Check out our best credit cards for beginners or jump straight to the Citi Strata Premier application to start earning ThankYou points that transfer to Turkish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I book one-way awards with Turkish Miles&Smiles?

Yes! Turkish prices one-way awards at exactly half the round-trip cost, making them excellent for flexible travel planning.

How far in advance does Turkish release award space?

Turkish typically releases partner award space 360 days out, matching most Star Alliance programs. Turkish's own flights may appear earlier.

Can I change or cancel Miles&Smiles awards?

Yes, changes cost €60 per ticket when made 24+ hours before departure. Cancellations follow similar fees with miles redeposited to your account.

Does Turkish allow stopovers on award tickets?

Yes! Turkish allows one stopover in Istanbul on round-trip awards using their own flights. Stopovers under 24 hours are free; longer stays may incur fees.

Which Star Alliance partners can I book with Turkish miles?

You can book most Star Alliance partners including United, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, and more. Some partners require phone bookings.

How do I search for Lufthansa first class availability?

Search on United.com (you'll see it even though you can't book it there), note the flights, then call Turkish to book. Lufthansa first typically costs 60,000 miles to Europe.

Are fuel surcharges always charged with Turkish miles?

Fuel surcharges depend on the operating airline. United and Turkish have low fees, while Lufthansa Group airlines charge high surcharges (~$600 for transatlantic).

How long do Citi transfers to Turkish take?

Citi ThankYou transfers to Turkish Airlines are typically instant, though occasionally may take up to 24 hours. Always transfer only when you're ready to book.

Can I book Star Alliance awards online with Turkish?

About 60% of Star Alliance awards can be booked online. United, LOT Polish, TAP, and some others show online. Singapore, ANA, and others require calling.

Is Turkish Miles&Smiles family pooling worth it?

Absolutely. Family pooling is free and allows up to 8 members to combine miles instantly. It's much simpler than United's complicated family pooling rules.

Should I get a credit card specifically for Turkish transfers?

The Citi Strata Premier is your best option since it transfers 1:1 to Turkish and earns 3X on travel and dining. The annual fee is justified if you'll use Turkish sweet spots regularly.