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FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY

Miles vs kilometres as the distance unit

The distance unit is the unit a frequent flyer programme uses to measure flight distance: some programmes use miles and others use kilometres, so the same flight produces very different numbers.

Reviewed by: Content review · Last updated:

Key takeaways

  • In our verified rules, 10 programmes use miles and 5 use kilometres.
  • A mileage figure means little until you know its unit.
  • The official documents do not define a conversion between the two, so we do not convert.
  • When comparing programmes, check the unit first, then the earning rate.

Why there are two units

The table below shows the unit each programme uses in our verified rules. The Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Sichuan Airlines member guides state earning and status mileage in kilometres.

The unit changes how the number is written, not what a flight is worth: a programme paying 100% of kilometres and one paying 100% of miles post different numbers, and each prices awards in its own unit.

Unit by programme

Counted from the verified, published earning rules on this site.

Frequent flyer programmeUnitVerified rulesSource
Golden Panda ClubUnitkilometresVerified rules 6SourceOfficial source
Maharaja ClubUnitmilesVerified rules 25SourceOfficial source
PhoenixMilesUnitkilometresVerified rules 55SourceOfficial source
Dynasty FlyerUnitmilesVerified rules 3SourceOfficial source
Sky Pearl ClubUnitkilometresVerified rules 2SourceOfficial source
Ethiopian Airlines ShebaMilesUnitmilesVerified rules 21SourceOfficial source
Fortune Wings ClubUnitkilometresVerified rules 19SourceOfficial source
JAL Mileage BankUnitmilesVerified rules 8SourceOfficial source
Eastern MilesUnitkilometresVerified rules 5SourceOfficial source
ANA Mileage ClubUnitmilesVerified rules 28SourceOfficial source
Asiana ClubUnitmilesVerified rules 2SourceOfficial source
SAS EuroBonusUnitmilesVerified rules 2SourceOfficial source
KrisFlyer / PPS ClubUnitmilesVerified rules 1SourceOfficial source
United MileagePlusUnitmilesVerified rules 40SourceOfficial source
WestJet RewardsUnitmilesVerified rules 2SourceOfficial source

Sources and review

Every number comes from verified, published rules on this site, with originals archived in our knowledge base; anything unverified or unstated shows as unknown.

Reviewed by: Content review.