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When you think of deals on Star Alliance award bookings, your first thoughts might be Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. However, the Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles program can offer a wide variety of excellent redemptions that are often overlooked.
Assuming you hold Bilt, Capital One, or Citi rewards currencies (or even Marriott Bonvoy points), you can transfer these to Turkish for even better redemptions. Today, we'll review a few of Turkish Airlines' top sweet spots within its Miles and Smiles rewards program.
Page Contents
- Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Award Chart
- Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Sweet Spots
- Fly United Airlines in the United States
- Fly United Airlines Polaris from the United States to Europe
- Fly Turkish Airlines from the United States to Turkey
- Fly EgyptAir business class from the United States to Egypt
- Fly business class from the United States to India
- Fly business class from the United States to eastern Asian hubs
- How To Earn Turkish Miles and Smiles
- Final Thoughts
Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Award Chart
Turkish Airlines has made it significantly easier over the years to redeem miles for partner awards, not just for flights on Turkish metal. Unlike airlines with dynamic pricing, Turkish offers an award chart, so you can determine how many miles a flight will typically cost.
The chart itself is quite large, so to make it easier to read, keep in mind a few key points. First, the prices listed are for round-trip bookings. If you want the price for a one-way ticket, just divide the price listed in half. For example, Turkish publishes round-trip award tickets from North America to Europe at 90,000 miles in business class. Therefore, the price of a one-way ticket would just be 45,000 miles.
If you're redeeming miles for domestic flights, you'll want to notice the domestic pricing chart, which can be found after the extensive main award chart. It specifically states that domestic Star Alliance economy-class tickets in any country will cost 15,000 miles round-trip (7,500 one way), while business-class tickets (which Turkish also uses to price domestic first-class tickets within the United States) cost 25,000 miles round-trip (12,500 each way). 
In the section titled “Award Region Table,” you will find which countries make up each region. For example, Europe 1 consists of eastern European countries, while Europe 2 consists of western European countries.
Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Sweet Spots
After reading the extensive award chart, you might be confused about some of the sweet spots that are available for redemption with Turkish miles. Thankfully, we have listed six incredible sweet spots below to help you plan your next trip.
Fly United Airlines in the United States
As stated above, any domestic United Airlines ticket will cost just 7,500 miles in economy. Turkish does not change the mileage cost of the ticket based on your departure and arrival destination for domestic tickets — or based on the popularity of the route. No matter your flight, whether it is from Austin to Houston or Newark to Honolulu, your ticket will cost the same price as long as it is within the same country.
This particular redemption has saved me hundreds of dollars throughout my travels, as I have been able to find last-minute flights at this redemption rate that would otherwise have cost me hundreds of dollars. In fact, transferring 7,500 Capital One miles to Turkish to redeem them for a United Airlines domestic flight is my most frequent redemption. Here is an example of one such fare:
If you can find domestic first-class award availability, United Airlines domestic tickets will only cost 12,500 miles. This is an excellent deal, especially for longer flights across the United States.
Related:Â Which Credit Card Should You Use to Pay Award Taxes and Fees?
Fly United Airlines Polaris from the United States to Europe
Business-class tickets from the United States to Europe only cost 45,000 Turkish miles. While this makes for an excellent redemption all around, it is especially valuable from the West Coast, because the longer distance does not equate with a more expensive ticket when using Miles and Smiles miles — unlike other programs that add a premium for the extra distance. Here's the pricing for a United Airlines Polaris ticket from San Francisco to London:
While other Star Alliance carriers, such as Lufthansa and SWISS, also appear in award search results for tickets from the United States to Europe at 45,000 miles, we've noticed the taxes and fees are typically several hundred dollars more. As a result, we suggest redeeming Turkish miles for United Polaris tickets when traveling to Europe.
Related:Â How to Find Airline Partner Award Flight Availability
Fly Turkish Airlines from the United States to Turkey
Business class tickets to Turkey on Turkish Airlines also only cost 45,000 miles plus fees. Turkish flies to nearly every corner of the United States — including Chicago, Dallas–Ft. Worth, Miami, New York, Newark, Los Angeles, and Seattle — making this airline an excellent option for cheap international business-class tickets from most major cities. Here's an example fare from Dallas to Istanbul:
While the $216.70 in taxes and fees is more than you'd pay flying with United Airlines, it's less than you might pay flying similar routes with fee-heavy partners like Lufthansa.
Related:Â Do Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Miles Expire?
Fly EgyptAir business class from the United States to Egypt
Turkish Airlines offers solid redemptions on business-class tickets to northern Africa. One option with quite a bit of availability over the next year is EgyptAir with nonstop flights to Cairo. These are redeemable for just 60,000 miles plus fees, available from New York and Washington, D.C.
Fly business class from the United States to India
Turkish miles are by far the cheapest way to redeem business-class tickets from the United States to India. While Star Alliance business-class tickets on other mileage programs can easily cost 90,000 miles or more, using Turkish Airlines miles will only cost 52,000 miles plus fees for the same flights. Here's an example routing on Air India from Chicago to Bangalore via Delhi. And look at those fees — just $29.90!
Related:Â Best Credit Cards for Travel Purchases
Fly business class from the United States to eastern Asian hubs
Turkish Airlines also charges just 67,500 miles to fly from the United States to East Asia in business class. Here's an example United Polaris fare from Chicago to Tokyo:
How To Earn Turkish Miles and Smiles
You can earn Turkish Miles and Smiles miles by crediting Turkish flights or Star Alliance partner flights to Turkish Airlines. You also can transfer a multitude of points directly to Turkish Miles and Smiles.
That means cards like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Citi Premier® Card, and The Bilt Mastercard® will all transfer rewards directly to Turkish Airlines for redemption in the Miles and Smiles program.
Related:Â What Are the Best Flexible Rewards Points for Free Travel?
Final Thoughts
One disclaimer with Turkish Miles and Smiles is that the Turkish website is not always the best at displaying Star Alliance partner availability, as I was unable to find Ethiopian, EVA, and Singapore Airlines redemptions that I could spot with Aeroplan and LifeMiles. However, if you call the Miles and Smiles support line at 800-874-8875, the Turkish Airlines team should be able to book Star Alliance flights that you've found in other programs but not on the Turkish website.
That being said, Turkish Miles and Smiles has some of the best award program sweet spots. And with the addition of Bilt Rewards and Capital One miles as transfer partners over the last couple of years, transferring your points and miles to Turkish has never been easier. Whether you are flying domestically on United Airlines or halfway around the world on a Star Alliance partner, Turkish Miles and Smiles should be a core part of your mileage redemption strategy.
What's your favorite use of Turkish Miles and Smiles awards? Let us know in the comments below.
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I have saved some TY points for a trip to Hawaii with Turkish miles, but this is the first time I noticed the requirement that the United itinerary to Hawaii must be non-stop. That would eliminate starting from our home airport, OMAha.
Where could I find more information about the sweet spot of flying from Hawaii to Aukland?
I could be wrong about this, but I thought mainland U.S. to Hawaii tickets allowed connections, but that there was a max connection time (like maybe 4 hours?). Are you sure this changed to nonstop only?
Does Turkish Air have Hawaii in the North America, or Oceana?
Thank you for these descriptions of sweet spots for Turkish Air. If Hawaii is in the North American region and a round trip to Hawaii is only 15000 miles, Then I will want to use Turkish miles for that trip!
How can I use my Miles and Smiles credit card for shoping? Where are these shops in Istanbul Kamal Ataturk Airport. Thank you.
I don’t know if my last post made it to be state. How do I book a flight from LA to Nairobi with a stopover in Istanbul ? I can book the business award online but I don’t see a way of putting in the stopover does anyone know?
I *think* you need to call. The best place for this question is in our Facebook Community – Award Travel 101 – https://Award.Travel/101
I will be flying LA to Nairobi through Istanbul . I do not see a way to book it with award business with a stop in Istanbul either one way or Round trip. Do u know how to do this?
I *think* you need to call. The best place for this question is in our Facebook Community – Award Travel 101 – https://Award.Travel/101
This is very useful information. Thank you!
How fast do they transfer from Citi Thankyou Rewards?
within 2 business days
Miles and Smiles has had variable (but sometimes quite favorable) pricing on awards in my experience. I’ve gotten different prices for the same itinerary by calling again and speaking with a different agent. Sometimes the price has been substantially below the posted price on their award chart. Just FYI.
100% YMMV 🙂
Looks like there are some good value redemption opportunities.
It’s good to learn about a new program. Useful info.
Very informative, thanks. Helps to demystify this new program for serious consideration.
A lot of airlines in Star Alliance and choosing is quite difficult!
I earn miles in two other programmes already.
Miles & Smiles seems not very different from the others.
Seeing lots of Europe flights in Business Class with stops in Istanbul next May.
I’d like to know what is considered ‘steep’ taxes for the South Africa route. I’m looking for 4 tickets from SA to the USA and wondering if this would be the best airline to use?
Expect over $400 each.
reasonable cancellation fees
Transcon round trip in business class for 25K miles is definitely a sweet deal, but the non-stop requirement is a pain for sure.
Great post though, very informative.
Thanks!
Thank you for this information. I am seriously thinking about this. I do need to review the taxes and fees added on.
Just waiting for my 24 month clock to tick down to zero to get more of these points. Apparently Barclays has started something similar too
Thanks for the tips!
Citi keeps improving the usefulness/value of TY points; very nice to see. TY remains an untapped resource for me; might be time to look at those cards more seriously.
Thanks for the info
Much prefer Istanbul as hub than the Gulf Countries
Not a bad program.
Thanks for always finding the “sweet spots” as far as mileage redemption!
Anyone have experience with business/first class product on Turkish metal? How do they rank with respect to Cathay and Singapore? Seeing good availability (as others have mentioned) on a route I am considering, wondering if I should pull the trigger and transfer.
They have a solid business class product — no first class. I would not shy from them at all.
that’s amazing value for both US to europe and US transcon business class redemption!
This is an interesting program and the sweet spots might be useful. I think the complexities are probably too much for me.
Does it still allow you to earn Star Alliance Gold after earning just 40 000 miles? Is that miles earned flying or could it be earned through transferring Thankyou points?
It does; miles must be paid/flown.
The prices for ticket redemptions are very good.
Thanks for a great article and breaking it down . Can you do an article on the family membership part of the program and how miles can be accumulated quickly and how status can be achieved quickly . I believe combined family membership gives one status faster.
Status miles do not pool with Turkish, but they do with EgyptAir: https://awardwallet.com/blog/best-airline-star-alliance-gold-egyptair-plus/
Maybe the 6,000 points I have I can actually use then.
Your forget one of the sweetest spots!
BKK-USM on TG for 7500 points only. UA or LH want double the miles and revenue price is 160$
Great find! Bangkok Airways also has some great fares as well on that route. My wife and I love Bangkok Airways (Asia’s Boutique Airline) 🙂
Thats a great one! Didn’t know, but will look into it some more! Thanks!
Have flown Turkish Air in Europe. Great fares, stellar service in economy.
If you depart in Europe you can bag some great redemptions in higher class seats for relatively easy points and low taxes.
Turkish have great first and business products at relatively lower amount of points.
Agreed, they’re on their way to being equivalent to Emirates or Etihad.
How do you search awards?
Here’s a great resource on that: https://awardwallet.com/blog/find-airline-partner-award-availability/
Thanks
Good Airline, just wish the hard product was better.
turkish airways has good availabilty from sfo-ist. this is great,
Would you think its a good idea to transfer some Amex Points to M&S and use them on the Spots?
For US Amex Membership Rewards account you cannot do this.
Good Point! I’ll check mine – maybe this is one of these Moments where being Europe-based is a plus 😀
great info
love the hawaii to Tahiti for 30k.
Wow some of these rates are awesome. Much lower redemption rates than other carriers.
One thing worth mentioning is that TK award space is excellent in Business Class.
Sure you are paying surcharges, but at least you are getting to where you want to go on pretty close to the date you want to travel…
You might also want to highlight where Turkish flies to in North America…
Love the name miles and smiles! Great job whoever came up with it!