PROGRAM CARD - Miles+Bonus

Program name: Miles+Bonus
Distinction: a Greek tier program at the heart of Star Alliance
Brand / operator: AEGEAN Airlines S.A.
Family / owner: AEGEAN Group (Aegean Airlines + Olympic Air)
Industry: travel and aviation
Industry benchmark: no
Market: GR (base market); global reach through the Star Alliance network
Related programs: Star Alliance FFP (interoperability with 40+ programs); Aegean Bonus Visa / Aegean Mastercard (co-brands); genAIRation AEGEAN (sub-program for ages 18-25)
Status: active
Legal / temporal status: A new four-tier structure (Blue / Silver / Gold / Platinum) with new qualification thresholds comes into force on 05/11/2026; requirements for members with a renewal date on or after that date automatically increase (e.g., Gold requires 12 Aegean/Olympic flights to maintain). No other legal restrictions.
Launch year: no public data (the program has been active at least since Aegean joined Star Alliance on 30/06/2010)
Main type: tier-based
Additional type: points-based
Cost of joining: free; 1,000 welcome miles after registration
Channels: online (aegeanair.com), mobile app (iOS / Android / Huawei AppGallery), in-person (check-in at airports across the Aegean/Olympic network)
Reach: no public data

Comparative parameters (estimated ratings)

Implementation difficulty (1-5): 4 - a multi-tier program with Star Alliance integration, handling of mileage liabilities in two categories (Tier Miles / Award Miles), a financial model (miles purchase, transfer, donation), tier logic that changes every 12 months, and complex handling of black-outs and fares.
Main KPI (impact strength): basket value - high

Descriptive sections

0. Summary

Miles+Bonus is the loyalty program of AEGEAN Airlines and Olympic Air, based on four tiers (Blue, Silver, Gold, Platinum). Members earn two kinds of miles - Tier Miles (which determine the level and expire after 12 months) and Award Miles (for redemption, they never expire) - for flights on their own network, flights with Star Alliance partners, and purchases with a growing group of non-airline partners. Rewards include flight tickets, upgrades to Business Class, and experiences from the Memories catalog.

1. Objectives and context

The program aims to increase passenger loyalty toward AEGEAN and Olympic Air as base carriers, while at the same time monetizing the customer base through a network of non-airline partners. The key KPIs are increased flight frequency and share of travel-spend wallet (hotels, car rental, credit cards). The program also serves an acquisition function - online registration with 1,000 welcome miles lowers the barrier to entry.

2. Target group

The main group is adults (18+) who fly regularly or occasionally across Europe and beyond, especially from Greece and markets Aegean flew to directly. The genAIRation sub-program is aimed at passengers aged 18-25 with a 15% discount on tickets.

3. Architecture and type

Registration - free, online or via the app; the Member immediately receives a digital Blue card and 1,000 welcome miles.
Earning miles - every AEGEAN/Olympic or Star Alliance flight is credited simultaneously with Tier Miles and Award Miles according to tables that depend on the route and ticket class; Award Miles also come in from partners (hotels, car rental, credit cards, shops).
Tier advancement - Tier Miles are counted within a 12-month window; once a threshold is crossed (Silver → Gold → Platinum), the Member advances and unlocks further benefits (e.g., free upgrades to Business, access to Star Alliance lounges).
Redemption - Award Miles are redeemed for flight tickets (from 5,000 miles for a domestic route in Greece), upgrades to Business Class (on Aegean/Olympic and SA partners), additional airline services (Miles+Cash: 200 Award Miles = €1), or experiences from the Memories catalog.

4. Earn & burn mechanics

Accrual: Tier Miles and Award Miles are earned in proportion to distance and ticket class according to published tables (there is no simplified conversion rate of "X miles per zloty" - full tables are on aegeanair.com). Partners (hotels, rental companies, shops) credit only Award Miles at their own rates.
Threshold and redemption: Aegean/Olympic tickets from 5,000 Award Miles (domestic routes in Greece); regional and continental flights from 7,000 miles (Economy); Star Alliance Business Class Europe-Asia from ~55,000 miles. Services via Miles+Cash: min. 200 Award Miles, conversion rate of 200 miles = €1.
Reward forms: flight tickets (Aegean/Olympic + Star Alliance), Economy→Business Class upgrades (Aegean/Olympic + list of SA partners), additional airline services (baggage, fast track, seat selection), cultural and recreational experiences (Memories), products and services from external partners.
Point expiration: Tier Miles - valid for 12 months from the flight date; Award Miles - never expire. Holders of the Aegean Bonus Visa or Aegean Mastercard do not lose account status even without flight activity.

5. Emotional value

Miles+Bonus builds the sense of exclusivity characteristic of "gold card" class programs - advancing to Gold brings recognition across airport networks (the *G marking in Star Alliance, access to lounges worldwide). The program also emphasizes a community aspect: the Together feature lets a family or a couple pool Award Miles for joint travel, and Memories gives miles the character of experiences rather than just discounts.

6. Gamification

The dual currency (Tier Miles / Award Miles) motivates flying even when Award Miles are already sufficient - "progress toward status" also counts.
The 12-month window to earn or maintain a tier creates time pressure and an activity cycle.
genAIRation: 50% extra Award Miles for flights on a favorite route (from the 3rd flight) - a habit loop mechanism aimed at young travelers.
The Platinum tier (from 11/2026) with the ability to gift Gold status to another person - a "gift prestige" mechanic that strengthens the attachment of loyal customers.
Purchasing Tier Miles (up to 3,000/year for Gold) gives a sense of control over advancement.

7. Differentiation

Compared with other mid-size European loyalty programs, Miles+Bonus stands out with its dual currency (Award Miles never expire), the Together feature for families, and the genAIRation sub-program dedicated to young travelers. Access to the full Star Alliance network through the Greek gateway of Athens allows members to build a global reward portfolio at relatively low entry thresholds (advancement to Silver is possible after just 16 regional flights). Worth noting are the favorable redemption fares for long-haul Business Class with SA partners (from 55,000 Award Miles for Europe-Asia/North America).

8. Data and personalization

Data scope: personal data (first name, last name, date of birth, address, nationality, phone, e-mail), flight history and partner transactions, payment card details (when purchasing miles).
Consents: registration = acceptance of AEGEAN's Terms and Privacy Policy; biometric data (photo of a document) required for identity verification and genAIRation. Optional newsletter.
Personalization: Favorite route in genAIRation (50% extra miles from the 3rd flight); personalized offers and communication via app/e-mail; partner recommendations based on transaction history (outside the terms - not confirmed in the T&C).

9. Technology

AEGEAN mobile app (iOS, Android, Huawei AppGallery) - booking, Miles+Bonus account management, Together, mile redistribution, mile purchase.
The aegeanair.com platform - full self-service (retro-claim, miles calculator, mile purchase/transfer/donation, Memories catalog).
Integrations: Star Alliance SIS (accrual/redemption with 40+ airlines); Booking.com; Marriott Bonvoy (mile transfer); Hertz; co-branded cards (Aegean Bonus Visa, Aegean Mastercard); an online calculator with a real fare base.
Platform provider: no public data.

10. Communication and lifecycle

Communication channels: e-mail (newsletter, transaction notifications), app (push), the News section on the website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube).
Onboarding: immediate 1,000 welcome miles; digital card by e-mail; ability to retroactively claim flights from the 12 months before registration.
Retention / reactivation: reminders about upcoming Tier Miles expiration; tier hold for maternity/paternity leave and military service; Tier Miles purchase as a last-resort tool for maintaining status; partner promotions that increase the Award Miles balance.

11. Conclusion / inspiration for the almanac

Miles+Bonus shows how a smaller national carrier can offer a complete premium-class program by leveraging Star Alliance: access to a global network of lounges, partners, and routes extends the program's value far beyond its own flight schedule. The key takeaway: two separate currencies (a status currency with an expiration date + a rewarding currency without expiry) elegantly separates the motivation to fly from the motivation to spend with partners, without forcing the customer to choose between "collecting status" and "collecting rewards."

Sources: aegeanair.com/milesandbonus (program page), aegeanair.com/conditions-notices/milesbonus-terms-and-conditions (terms), en.about.aegeanair.com/media-center/press-releases/2025/new-milesandbonus-tier (press release on the new Platinum tier), upgradedpoints.com, boardinggroup.one, pointalize.com
Terms (link): https://en.aegeanair.com/conditions-notices/milesbonus-terms-and-conditions/
Entry compiled on: 2026-06-23

Miles+Bonus