Can I earn the miles if I buy someone a ticket?
Editor's Note
Maybe you owe someone a favor. Or, maybe you're just that nice.
Whatever the reason, you're buying a plane ticket for someone else (hopefully with a rewarding credit card). Can you earn the miles on that flight? It's your money, after all.
Here's a look at which points and miles you can earn as the person paying for the ticket — and the ones you won't earn, no matter how badly you want them.
Passenger or payer: Who earns miles on this flight?
Most airline loyalty programs have multiple ways to earn miles. It could be from renting a car with a partner, shopping in the carrier's duty-free magazine or using one of the airline's credit cards. But what about flights — specifically, flights where you paid but someone else flew?
For simplicity, we'll refer to two individuals in this scenario: the passenger (the person flying) and the payer (the one paying for the ticket with points, miles or cash). Let's look at who earns the miles from taking the flight.
Frequent flyer programs require the name on the ticket to match the name on the frequent flyer account; otherwise, no miles or flight credits will be awarded.
This can prove tricky for those with a recent name change or hyphenated last names (since not all computer systems accept these).
For example, Qantas has the following in its help center:
"Does the name on my Frequent Flyer account need to match the name on my airline ticket?
Yes. Qantas and our airline partners require name validation before crediting Qantas Points to a Frequent Flyer account. If the name on your airline ticket matches the name on your Frequent Flyer account, points will automatically be credited. If there are differences between the name on your Frequent Flyer account and the name used on your airline ticket, you may not receive Qantas Points and Status Credits through the automated process."
Thus, the name on the frequent flyer account and the name on the ticket must match exactly. You can't put your loyalty number on someone else's ticket to receive miles for a flight where you weren't the passenger.
Even if you paid for the ticket, only the passenger earns miles from the flight. This applies to parents paying for flights for their children as well. That's why children need their own frequent flyer accounts.
Related: Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
How can you earn rewards when paying for someone else's flight?
While the passenger earns miles for flying, the payer can earn points and miles in other ways.
First, you can earn with your credit card. By using a travel rewards credit card where "flights" or "travel" is a bonus category, you can earn bonus miles or bonus points for each dollar spent on the ticket. This also applies to paying just the taxes and fees on award flights booked with miles.
Second, if you're paying for the ticket online, you may be able to use shopping portals to earn extra points, miles or cash back. While most airlines don't partner with these sites, many online travel agencies do.
Just be aware of the potential pitfalls of booking with third-party sites instead of going directly to the airline.
Lastly, the payer and the passenger may be able to pool their miles together after the flight. Numerous airlines allow loyalty members to pool rewards, though each program's rules differ.
Depending on which airline the passenger flies and which loyalty program the flight is credited to, the passenger may be able to earn miles from the flight and then transfer these to the payer. However, there might be a fee for this, so check the program's rules in advance.
Bottom line
While you might feel you're entitled to receiving the airline miles accrued when you pay for someone else's ticket, only the passenger can earn miles from flying.
However, there are ways to earn miles when paying for someone else's ticket. That comes from using the right credit card, stacking with shopping portals and potentially sharing the miles through points pooling after the fact.
Related: Can I get credit cards in someone else's name to earn more points?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.