Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to upgrade Turkish Airlines flights with Miles&Smiles
Upgrading with Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles means spending the Miles in a Miles&Smiles account on a cabin upgrade — one of the uses of Miles that the programme itself names, such as award tickets, Cash&Miles and Shop&Miles. [2]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Miles&Smiles runs two separate balances: Miles, which can be spent, and Status Miles, which cannot. [2]
- Cabin upgrades are one of the benefits the programme names for Miles, in a list that also includes award tickets, Cash&Miles and Shop&Miles. [2]
- Miles are valid for three years. [2]
- Turkish Airlines lists Business Upgrade among its additional services, in the same menu group as seat selection and extra baggage. [2]
What can you spend Miles&Smiles Miles on?
Miles&Smiles is the frequent flyer programme of Turkish Airlines. Miles can be used for benefits such as award tickets, cabin upgrades, Cash&Miles and Shop&Miles. [2] Award tickets can be issued for travel on Turkish Airlines and on partner airlines, so the redemption menu reaches beyond the airline's own network. [2]
Shop&Miles is the programme's shopping channel, where Miles are redeemed with programme partners for products and services. [2] Cash&Miles appears as a separate option under the same Redeem Miles heading, alongside Award Ticket and a set of channels for redeeming Miles. [2] If you want to see the award side in more detail, the guide to booking Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles awards covers it.
Cabin upgrades appear in that same list of uses, and the programme page names them again in a second list, saying the Miles a member earns “gain you award tickets, in-flight service, cabin upgrades, extra baggage allowance, as well as Shop&Miles and special services from our program partners”. [2] Separately, Turkish Airlines lists Business Upgrade among its additional services, in the same menu group as seat selection and extra baggage. [2] The general term for this kind of spending is an upgrade award.
Miles or Status Miles: which balance pays for an upgrade?
Two balances run side by side. Miles are earned from flights operated by Turkish Airlines or partner airlines, from spending on Miles&Smiles co-branded credit cards, and through programme partners. [2] Status Miles are earned from flights operated by Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance member airlines. [2]
Only one of them can be spent. Status Miles determine a member's programme status — Classic, Classic Plus, Elite or Elite Plus — and cannot be redeemed or spent for any award. [2] Miles, by contrast, are the balance the programme names when it describes award tickets and cabin upgrades. [2] The guide to earning Status Miles in Miles&Smiles explains how the non-spendable balance is calculated.
Miles do not stay indefinitely. As of 18 October 2026, the programme states that Miles are valid for three years. [2] That three-year window is the horizon within which an upgrade paid with Miles has to be planned.
How do you request an upgrade with Miles&Smiles?
Turkish Airlines lists Business Upgrade among its additional services, in the same menu group as seat selection and extra baggage. [2]
Members who want to compare the other ways of spending before committing are pointed to the Redeem Miles section, which covers Award Ticket, Cash&Miles, Shop&Miles and the channels the programme publishes for redeeming Miles. [2] Because Miles carry a three-year validity, it is worth confirming that the balance is still live before you count on it for a cabin change. [2]
The programme also describes cabin upgrades as one of the benefits its Miles deliver, in a list that includes award tickets, in-flight service and extra baggage allowance. [2] The Miles&Smiles programme page collects the surrounding detail on tiers and partners.
What are the limits of a Miles&Smiles upgrade?
- Status Miles are excluded. The programme states that Status Miles cannot be redeemed or spent for any award, while cabin upgrades are named among the uses of Miles. [2]
- Miles expire after three years. The programme states that Miles are valid for three years. [2]
- Cash&Miles and Shop&Miles are separate products. The programme lists them as distinct uses of Miles, alongside cabin upgrades. [2]
- Tier status is earned, not spent. Whether a member is Classic, Classic Plus, Elite or Elite Plus follows from Status Miles. [2]
- Scope of this guide. It covers the uses of Miles named on the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles programme page. [2]
For travellers who reach the airport in a higher cabin, the Turkish Airlines Lounge page covers the ground-side part of the journey.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay for a Turkish Airlines upgrade with Status Miles?
No. Status Miles decide your programme status and cannot be redeemed or spent for any award, while cabin upgrades are named among the uses of Miles. [2]
How long do Miles&Smiles Miles last?
The programme states that Miles are valid for three years. [2]
What else can I use Miles&Smiles Miles for besides an upgrade?
Miles can be used for benefits such as award tickets on Turkish Airlines and partner airlines, cabin upgrades, Cash&Miles and Shop&Miles, among other uses. [2]
Where is the upgrade option listed on the Turkish Airlines website?
Turkish Airlines lists Business Upgrade among its additional services, in the same menu group as seat selection and extra baggage. [2]
Do flights on partner airlines build the same Miles balance?
Yes. Miles are earned from flights operated by Turkish Airlines or partner airlines, as well as from co-branded card spending and programme partners. [2]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Only the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles programme is covered here; upgrade rules in other frequent flyer programmes, including those of other Star Alliance member airlines, are not covered.
- Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles programme pages, checked 18 October 2026