The DOs & DON’Ts of Flight 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 (with the new Deutsche Bank M&M cards, your miles are protected unconditionally as long as you hold the card — no minimum spend required).

Use the Payback app and browser extension consistently for online shopping. Check the live transfer offer first; July 2026 pays 10% on one transfer of at least 4,000 points.

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.

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.