Miles Calculator

Air China PhoenixMiles guide

Rules checked October 5, 2026

PhoenixMiles is the program of Air China and its group airlines, and a member of Star Alliance. It counts in kilometers: you earn mileage from the distance you fly and the operating airline's rate for your booking class, and you reach Silver, Gold or Platinum by flying enough qualifying kilometers or qualifying segments.

At a glance

How you earn

• Distance and rate. Mileage is calculated in kilometers, from the distance between the origin and destination as set by IATA, multiplied by the operating airline's earning rate for your booking class on the day you fly.
• Air China Group. You earn on flights operated by Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Beijing Airlines, Dalian Airlines, Air China Inner Mongolia and Air Macau.
• Star Alliance partners. You also earn on Star Alliance member airlines, and on Cathay Pacific, UNI Air and Juneyao Air. Air China publishes a table for each: a rate by booking class, a minimum number of kilometers per flight (800 in business, 500 in economy, 1,000 in first), and whether the class counts as a qualifying segment. Lufthansa business (J, C) pays 200% and counts as a qualifying segment; Lufthansa economy class M pays 75% and doesn't. Qualifying segments never apply to Star Alliance Connecting Partners.
• What doesn't earn. Award tickets, charter flights, designated flights and special-offer tickets don't earn mileage. You can't earn on the same flight in more than one frequent flyer program.
• Expiry and claims. Redeemable mileage is valid for 36 months from the month of the flight. If mileage is missing, you can claim it up to six months after you fly.

Status

A new Silver, Gold or Platinum tier lasts 24 months, from the month you qualify to the end of the 24th. A renewed tier lasts 12 months. Tiers are reached one level at a time. Lifetime Platinum is a permanent card for members who build up very high lifetime mileage, and gives Star Alliance Gold.

Using your mileage

You can redeem mileage for award tickets and class upgrades on Air China Group airlines, award tickets and upgrades on Star Alliance member airlines, and award tickets on Star Alliance Connecting Partners and other partners. Before you can redeem for reward tickets or upgrades, you must complete at least four qualifying flight segments. You pay the taxes and fees on award tickets, and mileage isn't refunded once spent.

What your PhoenixMiles level means across Star Alliance

Reaching these levels gives you Star Alliance status, recognized by every Star Alliance airline. Levels below the first one listed carry no alliance status.

What each Star Alliance status gives you

Star Alliance Silver

• Priority waitlisting when your class of service is fully booked
• Priority airport standby (where the law allows)

Star Alliance Gold

• Everything in Silver
• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding (where available)
• Priority baggage handling
• Extra baggage allowance: 20 kg or one more piece, depending on the airline
• Lounge access at over 1,000 lounges worldwide, when flying any Star Alliance airline (some restrictions apply)
• Gold Track fast lanes at security and immigration, where available

Subject to each airline's fare conditions and local regulations. PhoenixMiles may add benefits on its own airline. Source: Star Alliance: benefits and privileges. Checked October 5, 2026.

Who it suits

Travelers who fly Air China or its group airlines regularly, or who want Star Alliance Gold through distance: Platinum needs 160,000 kilometers, about 100,000 miles, in 12 months, or 90 qualifying segments.

The calculator covers 27 partner airlines, using the tables Air China publishes. Air China's own group airlines, such as Shenzhen Airlines and Shandong Airlines, are worked out as Air China flights.

Sources: PhoenixMiles member's guide (PDF); PhoenixMiles: airline partners. Checked October 5, 2026.