Programme news

From 28 October 2026Korean Air SKYPASS

A new Morning Calm Select tier

SKYPASS is adding Morning Calm Select between Morning Calm and Morning Calm Premium. It gives SkyTeam Elite Plus status, so lounge access across the alliance, and it's the tier that Asiana's Diamond and Diamond Plus members will move into when the two programmes combine.

In the calculator: Morning Calm Select is already included, with its target of 100,000 miles flown on Korean Air. Check a trip

Source: Asiana Airlines: Asiana and Korean Air mileage integration guide

From 1 December 2026Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Qatar's reduced tier targets end

Since June, Qatar has asked for fewer Qpoints to move up or keep a tier. That window closes on 30 November. From 1 December, moving up needs 150 Qpoints for Silver, 300 for Gold and 600 for Platinum, up from 135, 270 and 540. Keeping a tier over 12 months goes back to 135, 270 and 540 Qpoints, up from 110, 225 and 450. The 24-month route to keeping a tier is unchanged.

If you're close to a target, flights completed before 1 December count against the lower figures.

In the calculator: the targets switch automatically on 1 December. Check a trip

Source: Qatar Airways: Collect Qpoints to upgrade or retain your tier

From 8 December 2026Qantas Frequent Flyer

Status Credits without flying, and rollover

Qantas will let members earn up to 140 Status Credits a year on the ground, through Qantas Points earned across ten categories such as credit cards, banking, hotels and shopping. Activity earlier in the membership year you're in on 8 December counts.

From the same date, members with status can roll over up to half of the Status Credits they earn beyond their target into the next year. Points Club and Green Tier close on 8 December, with 7 December the last day to qualify. Qantas has said more tier benefits and lifetime milestones will follow in 2027.

In the calculator: Status Credits are worked out from flights only. Add any credits earned on the ground or rolled over to your own total. Check a trip

Source: Qantas: Frequent Flyer program changes

16 and 17 December 2026Korean Air and Asiana

Asiana joins Korean Air, and leaves Star Alliance

Asiana leaves Star Alliance on 16 December and becomes part of Korean Air, in SkyTeam, on 17 December. Asiana Club balances then move into SKYPASS accounts as a separate balance that can be used for 10 years. Members can convert it into SKYPASS miles at any time, but only all at once: miles earned by flying convert one for one, while miles from credit cards and other partners convert at 0.82 SKYPASS miles each.

Asiana elite members are matched to the equivalent SKYPASS tier. Crediting Asiana flights to other Star Alliance programmes stopped with flights on 15 October. If you hold a Star Alliance award ticket on Asiana for travel after the merger, check with the programme that issued it.

In the calculator: SKYPASS is covered. Asiana Club is not, as it closes in December. Check a trip

Source: Asiana Airlines: Asiana and Korean Air mileage integration guide

From 1 June 2027Emirates Skywards

Skywards Miles will last three years from when you earn them

Skywards Miles currently last three years, but expire at the end of your birth month. From 1 June 2027, newly earned miles will instead expire three years after the flight or partner activity, at the end of that month. Miles earned before then keep the current rule. For some members, this means new miles expire a few months sooner than they would today.

In the calculator: nothing changes, as the calculator works out Tier Miles rather than expiry dates.

Source: Emirates: Skywards programme updates

Until 31 March 2027Etihad Guest

Etihad's 25% lower targets continue

For members who held Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum on 17 March 2026, Etihad's reduced tier targets run until 31 March 2027: 18,750 Tier Miles for Silver, 37,500 for Gold and 93,750 for Platinum, with 15,000, 30,000 and 75,000 to keep them. The standard targets of 25,000, 50,000 and 125,000 return after that.

In the calculator: the reduced targets are shown now, and the standard ones from 1 April 2027. Check a trip

Source: Etihad Airways: Etihad Guest tiers and benefits

Expected in the second half of 2026SAS EuroBonus

Air France-KLM moves to take control of SAS

Air France-KLM plans to raise its stake in SAS to 60.5%, subject to regulatory approval, and has said it wants to integrate the airlines in areas including loyalty. SAS says EuroBonus remains in place, and no changes to the programme have been announced. Many expect EuroBonus to be folded into Flying Blue eventually, but that's speculation for now.

In the calculator: EuroBonus is covered as it works today. Check a trip

Source: Air France-KLM: Air France-KLM initiates proceedings to take a majority stake in SAS

Ended 31 August 2026Emirates Skywards

Emirates' status promotion has finished

From 8 May to 31 August, Emirates let members reach or keep a tier with 80% of the usual Tier Miles or qualifying flights, and added 20% bonus Tier Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights. Both offers have ended, so the standard targets apply again: 25,000 Tier Miles for Silver, 50,000 for Gold and 150,000 for Platinum.

In the calculator: the standard targets are used. Check a trip

Source: Emirates: Skywards programme updates

From 1 July 2026Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles

New Lotusmiles tier targets

Lotusmiles now asks for 15,000 tier miles or 20 segments for Titanium, 30,000 or 30 for Gold and 50,000 or 50 for Platinum, within 12 months. Vietnam Airlines also updated its earning table on 1 March.

In the calculator: both the new targets and the March earning table are used. Check a trip

Source: Vietnam Airlines: Lotusmiles tier benefits and eligibility

From 1 June 2026Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Lower targets after the Gulf disruption

After the disruption to Gulf flying earlier in the year, Qatar extended tiers for some affected members and cut the Qpoints needed to move up or keep a tier until 30 November. See the December entry above for what happens next.

In the calculator: the reduced targets apply until 30 November. Check a trip

Source: Qatar Airways: Collect Qpoints to upgrade or retain your tier

22 April 2026Air New Zealand

Airpoints becomes Koru, with a new Black tier

Air New Zealand renamed its programme Koru. Existing tiers moved across as Koru Silver, Koru Gold and Koru Platinum, the old Elite tier, with Koru Bronze for members without status. A new top tier, Koru Black, needs 3,200 Status Points in a year, including 1,920 from flights. Qualification targets for the other tiers didn't change.

In the calculator: the Koru tier names and targets are used. Check a trip

Source: Air New Zealand: refreshed loyalty programme Koru officially takes off

2 April 2026United MileagePlus

United pays more miles to cardholders

United now pays fewer miles per dollar to members without a United credit card: 3 miles per dollar for general members, against 6 with a card, and 5 to 9 for Premier members, against 8 to 12 with a card. General members without a card earn nothing on Basic Economy, and Basic Economy no longer counts as a Premier qualifying flight for anyone.

In the calculator: tick the United card box to see the cardholder rates. Check a trip

Source: United Airlines: What's new with MileagePlus