Frequent flyer applications had been traditionally designed in order that the one who is sitting in an airplane seat on an eligible paid ticket can be the one who earns the miles towards elite standing and that subsequent candy award ticket redemption.

However the origins of frequent flyer applications are actually 40 years behind us, and the way in which folks journey has modified. Households are capable of fly far more continuously collectively now than they might within the early Eighties.

Because of flying extra, children are incomes extra frequent flyer miles. 5 members of the family who every have 5,000 miles of their respective accounts might not be capable to do a lot with their miles. Nonetheless, if these balances may very well be mixed into one pooled account, you then’re 25,000 whole miles — or sufficient to presumably guide an award flight.

Fortunately, lately, some frequent flyer applications have turn out to be extra family-friendly on this regard than others.

In 2024, United Airways MileagePlus grew to become the primary of the 4 largest U.S. frequent flyer applications — American Airways AAdvantage, United MileagePlus, Delta Air Traces SkyMiles and Southwest Airways Speedy Rewards — to permit households to pool their miles.

United joined a number of different frequent flyer applications that permit households to pool miles, each throughout the U.S. and internationally. Here is a listing of them.

In 2024, United Airways introduced the addition of miles pooling, which is able to permit MileagePlus members of all ages to share and redeem miles in a single account.

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Since there isn’t any age restriction on members having the ability to join a MileagePlus account, additional and unused miles from children, as an example, can be utilized in a single account. As much as 5 members may be added to a pool, and there’s no restrict to the variety of miles you’ll be able to contribute to a pool.

Some stipulations exist. You possibly can enter and exit a pool at your individual discretion, however the airline will implement a 90-day “cooling” interval while you exit a pool, so you may have to attend earlier than becoming a member of one other one.

If you’re contributing miles to a pool, you may have 24 hours to reverse a transaction. After 24 hours have handed, you can not get the miles you contributed to a pool again.

You should be no less than 18 years outdated to create a pool and turn out to be the “pool chief.” You may as well solely function in a single pool at a time, so that you can’t be part of a number of swimming pools.

United additionally notes that pooling miles won’t have an effect on a member’s Premier standing.

JetBlue

JetBlue TrueBlue is probably the most family-friendly frequent flyer program within the U.S. It permits each family and friends members to pool their miles to guide awards sooner.

JetBlue TrueBlue members are eligible to pool miles with as much as seven associates or members of the family with out a charge. The pool chief (who should be no less than 21) will handle all of the factors within the Factors Pooling account. You can contribute factors to the Factors Pooling account upon becoming a member of Factors Pooling initially and with every future transaction for zero switch charges.

Frontier Airways

In June 2018, Frontier launched household pooling for as much as eight folks, but it surely’s solely accessible if the top member within the pool has both Frontier Airways elite standing or the Frontier Airways World Mastercard®. Should you qualify for Frontier Household Pooling, the eight invited pool members don’t have to be from one household — they are often anybody you would like.

The data for the Frontier Airways World Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

An individual can solely be a member of 1 Frontier household pool at a time and should wait 90 days between switching swimming pools. If in case you have a household, remember that children can fly free at choose instances on Frontier.

Associated: Final information to Frontier Miles: The way to earn and redeem miles

Hawaiian Airways

The HawaiianMiles program from Hawaiian Airways doesn’t provide household pooling within the conventional sense. Nonetheless, it permits HawaiianMiles members to share their miles with a Hawaiian Airways main credit score or debit card holder freed from cost.

There are not any minimums or maximums for the variety of miles that may be transferred. Nonetheless, Hawaiian Airways debit or bank card holders might solely obtain 10 free transactions in a calendar 12 months.

This technique of sharing miles may work for a household if one particular person has an eligible Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard and the opposite members of the family ship their miles to that cardholder’s account as wanted.

The data for the Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

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Spirit Airways

In 2021, Spirit Airways added the power to pool factors for these with Free Spirit elite standing and people who maintain a Spirit Airways bank card (just like the Free Spirit® Journey Extra World Elite Mastercard®).

The data for the Free Spirit Journey Extra World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Those that are eligible can run a factors pool with as much as eight associates or members of the family. The members of the pool don’t have to have a Spirit bank card or maintain elite standing; solely the top of the pool should meet a kind of necessities.

Aegean permits members 18 years outdated and up with no less than one Aegean, Olympic Air or Star Alliance flight booked or an Aegean Mastercard to activate a Collectively account and add as much as 5 members, whatever the extra members’ elite standing ranges.

The entire award miles earned by Collectively members are robotically transferred to the top member’s account. Particular person members retain their very own elite qualifying miles, however redeemable miles get pooled into one head account.

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Aeromexico

Aeromexico permits households to create an Aeromexico Rewards Household Group to switch factors between eligible accounts. Membership in a Household Group is proscribed to spouses and youngsters. The final names on the accounts should match, or you’ll be able to write to the airline to qualify your authorized guardianship in different circumstances.

Youngsters within the Household Group account should be beneath 21 years of age, and solely the account holder can cease the linking of the accounts of their youngsters, besides when the kid is over 18.

Air Canada

Air Canada overhauled its Aeroplan frequent flyer program in 2020 with largely neutral-to-positive modifications. One of many constructive modifications was the introduction of Household Sharing for as much as eight whole folks. Every member who joins the Household Sharing account could have their factors steadiness added to the pool of factors, together with factors earned earlier than the Household Sharing account was created.

As soon as the household has accrued sufficient factors, they will use the shared pool to redeem awards for every member of the family. When somebody from the Household Sharing account makes a redemption, Aeroplan will deduct factors from all members’ accounts in proportion in order to create a good expertise.

What makes this program cool is that if one member of the household has elite standing or holds a cobranded bank card, all members of the Household Sharing account will be capable to benefit from the popular award pricing granted to the standing holder.

Associated: The way to redeem Aeroplan factors for max worth

Air France and KLM

Air France and KLM enhanced their Flying Blue Household program in 2022. The enhancement makes it simpler for households to earn and redeem miles and benefit from elite advantages. Flying Blue permits members of the family to pool their miles from as much as eight accounts. There generally is a most of two adults and 6 youngsters on every household account. After six months, you’ll be able to depart the household account in case you determine to.

Because the household account chief, you’ll be able to switch your loved ones members’ miles to your account freely. Moreover, the Flying Blue Household program now additionally gives a 25% low cost on non-promo award tickets for kids between 2 and 11 (in any cabin) and no mileage expiration for members beneath 18.

Air India

Air India has a household pooling program often called MeraParivar. It permits two or extra particular person members — who’re associated to one another — to hyperlink their particular person accounts for automated transferring and pooling with the top of the account. The top of the account is the one member approved to redeem factors from the pool.

There generally is a most of 9 members within the pool, and youngsters should be no less than 2 years of age.

All Nippon Airways

ANA Mileage Membership permits Household Accounts for its members who reside exterior of Japan. These ANA members exterior of Japan can register two to eight members — together with the top member — for a Household Account. Eligible members generally is a partner, accomplice or family members inside two levels of kinship. Which means a grandchild and a grandparent can be eligible members of your Household Account however not a great-grandparent or great-grandchild.

There is a registration charge of 1,000 miles so as to add members to the Household Account. Mileage is accrued by every ANA Mileage Membership member’s quantity after which mixed to guide awards as wanted.

Asiana Airways

Asiana Airways permits as much as eight members of the family to be a part of a Household Mileage Plan, which might embody the household consultant’s partner, youngsters, dad and mom, paternal and maternal grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and fogeys of their partner.

You may have to submit a Household Mileage Plan registration kind and proof of household relationships.

British Airways

Inside the British Airways Government Membership, the one approach for kids to earn Avios is to be a part of a Family Account.

A Family Account consists of as much as seven individuals who dwell on the similar handle. In any other case, youngsters can not earn and spend their very own British Airways Avios till they’re 18 years outdated. Similar to with a person account, your Family Account Avios stick with you so long as you acquire, spend, buy or share some Avios no less than as soon as each 36 months.

The draw back to the British Airways Family Account was once that you simply could not redeem your Avios for others who weren’t on the Family Account. This was a deal breaker for me, as I wish to redeem Avios every now and then for associates, aunts, cousins, grandparents and extra. Nonetheless, British Airways now gives a Household and Associates listing to accompany a Family Account. This implies you’ll be able to redeem Avios award tickets for as much as 5 extra folks added to your listing who do not dwell inside your family.

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Etihad Airways

The Etihad Visitor program gives a Household Membership that allows as much as 9 members of the family to pool their miles. Eligible members of the family embody brothers, sisters, father, mom, partner, youngsters, grandchildren, grandparents, parents-in-law, stepparents, stepchildren, stepsiblings, stepgrandchildren, nieces, nephews and even one family employees member. The phrases point out that Etihad might audit Household Memberships and request proof of household relationships.

As soon as added on-line, the members above 13 years outdated will obtain an electronic mail for them to simply accept the request. Members beneath 13 shall be included within the family with out electronic mail acceptance.

Associated: The final word information to Etihad Airways companions: The way to earn and redeem Etihad Visitor miles

Emirates

With the Emirates My Household program, as much as eight members of the family ages 2 and older with an eligible household relationship might take part. This features a husband, a spouse, a accomplice, a mom, a father, a stepmother, a stepfather, a mother-in-law, a father-in-law, a son, a stepson, a daughter, a stepdaughter, a brother, a sister, a granddaughter, a grandson and a home helper.

Members of the Emirates My Household program can pool all or only a proportion of their Skywards miles earned on Emirates flights, in addition to miles earned from accomplice applications. Members of the family could also be requested to supply Emirates Skywards with extra proof of their relationship to the top member.

Egyptair

Star Alliance accomplice Egyptair gives a novel household program in that it is not solely redeemable miles which can be pooled but in addition elite qualifying miles. With an Egyptair Plus Household Miles account, as much as 5 members with a “first-degree household relationship” can pool their miles in a single account to earn each award flights and elite standing sooner. Solely the top member of the family will earn elite standing, however that particular person may then use a few of their perks to profit accompanying members of the family.

You have to electronic mail a replica of every potential member’s passport to customeraff@egyptair.com and specify their relationship to you. The member of the family should be no less than 2 years outdated to be eligible. Every member could have their very own membership quantity, however miles earned will all be pooled within the head member’s account.

Japan Airways

The JAL Household Membership permits household pooling of miles and is open to JAL members who reside exterior of Japan. A JAL Household Membership can have as much as 9 members of the family, together with the first member’s partner, youngsters and fogeys, and the partner’s dad and mom. There’s a 1,000-mile charge for every member added to the Household Membership, in addition to a 1,000-mile renewal charge each 5 years.

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Korean Air

The Korean Air SkyPass program permits as much as 5 members of the family to hitch a Household Plan. Eligible members of the family embody a partner, youngsters, dad and mom, siblings, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren. You have to submit paperwork displaying proof of the connection, and these can take a few weeks to course of.

When pooling household mileage, you’ll be able to designate the variety of miles to pool. The Household Plan might not apply to a few of the award applications. Sure kinds of awards, corresponding to SkyTeam awards, can’t be booked by way of the SkyPass Household Plan.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa Miles & Extra permits mileage pooling for as much as two adults and 5 youngsters for members in choose nations. These nations at present are: Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Denmark, Eire, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia.

All of the members’ award miles may be collected in your pool, and the 2 adults can redeem pooled miles. The adults don’t must be companions or married. Actually, associates can earn miles collectively.

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Norwegian Reward permits as much as seven members to pool CashPoints in a single account. Whereas this system was designed with households in thoughts, it may be utilized by associates, too. When becoming a member of or making a Household Account, you settle for being a part of it for no less than three months. Know that you simply will not be capable to take any of the pooled factors with you in case you depart the household account. Youngsters beneath 16 may be Household Account members and may depart the pool as soon as they flip 16 if they need.

Qantas

Qantas would not will let you pool your factors, per se, but it surely does will let you switch factors to eligible members of the family — corresponding to a partner, dad and mom, a home accomplice, a toddler, a sibling, grandparents, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many others. — for no charge. You possibly can switch 1,500 factors or extra with an infinite variety of transfers annually. Household transfers do not rely as a legitimate exercise for level expiration functions.

Associated: Full information to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program

Qatar Airways

The Qatar Airways Household Programme permits members to appoint as much as 9 members of the family to their Qatar Airways Privilege Membership membership, together with a partner, youngsters and their dad and mom. You are required to connect documentation of the connection with the appliance kind.

All Avios earned by members of the family are credited to the first member’s account, however members of the family’ flight actions do not earn Qpoints towards standing. As soon as added, members of the family can’t be changed for twenty-four months. Nonetheless, members of the family over the age of 18 can unlink from the household account and have their very own membership accounts as predominant members. The Avios earned earlier than unlinking will stay within the main member’s account.

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Singapore Airways

With the KrisFlyer for Households program, dad and mom and guardians can hyperlink their kid’s (2 years and older) account to theirs, and so they’ll then be capable to pool miles earned. As much as 5 youngster accounts may be linked to 1 grownup account, and you may switch as much as 50,000 KrisFlyer miles per kid’s account every calendar 12 months.

Sadly, in contrast to many different applications on the listing, there is a charge to switch factors. It will value $5 or 500 miles for each 5,000 KrisFlyer miles (or half thereof) transferred out of your kid’s account. Which means you’re looking at a complete value of $50 or 5,000 miles if transferred in increments of 5,000 miles as much as the 50,000-mile cap. In comparison with the various different home airways that cost a charge, that is nonetheless very cheap.

Take into account that you are not capable of switch miles out of your account to your kid’s account. Which means dad and mom are usually not capable of transfer factors round to mix their very own factors — it is really a hyperlink solely between a single dad or mum and the kids. As soon as an account is linked, it can’t be unlinked till the kid is 16 years outdated.

Associated: Singapore KrisFlyer: Final information to incomes, redeeming and elite standing

Turkish Airways

Miles&Smiles, the Turkish Airways frequent flyer program, permits households to acquire miles in a household membership, offered that the top member has the airline’s Traditional Plus elite standing or greater. Household membership permits the miles from the top member, their partner and single youngsters beneath 25 to pool collectively as “Household Miles.”

With a household membership, your entire members of the family’ miles earned from Turkish Airways flights, Star Alliance member flights and program companions shall be added to your Traditional Plus account. Every member of the family could have their very own account. Member of the family actions shall be counted as “Bonus Miles” to the Traditional Plus member’s account. The flights of members of the family shall be added to their very own account as “Standing Miles” to allow them to improve their membership stage.

To open a household membership, you will need to full a suggestions kind and ship it together with photocopies of the wedding certificates and ID playing cards referring to your loved ones members (accomplice and youngsters), their Turkish ID numbers and a signed request that features your full handle, phone and electronic mail.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership members with Silver or Gold elite standing can create a family account and hyperlink a most of 9 Flying Membership memberships with the identical family handle because the Silver or Gold member. All miles earned by family account-linked members will robotically switch to the Silver or Gold member’s account after every mileage transaction is full, however every member will earn their very own factors towards elite standing.

Associated: The way to guide Delta award flights with Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors

Virgin Australia

The Virgin Australia Velocity Household Pooling program permits as much as six members of the family residing on the similar handle to pool each Velocity factors and standing credit. Their Household Pooling can embody as much as two members over 18 years outdated and as much as 4 members beneath 18 years outdated.

You possibly can select to pool both Velocity factors or each Velocity factors and standing credit to the beneficiary. Which means one member of the family can earn elite standing throughout the Velocity program a lot sooner by having the entire household’s flights rely towards standing.