Turkish Airlines lands its first Australian credit card partner

Australians can now earn frequent flyer points in the Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles program from their everyday credit card spends, thanks to a new partnerships with Citibank: the airline’s first Australian banking partner, covering cards issued under the Visa, Mastercard and Diners Club banners.

Citibank customers with the Citi Prestige Visa Infinite credit card can convert three Citibank Rewards points into one Turkish Airlines mile (3:1).

Based on the card's current earning rates, that unlocks one Turkish mile per dollar spent abroad and at major restaurants, hotel chains and airlines in Australia; 0.66 Turkish miles per dollar spent at major petrol stations, supermarkets and national retailers; and 0.33 Turkish miles per dollar spent everywhere else.

Separately, Diners Club Rewards members can convert their hard-earned points across to Turkish Airlines on a 2:1 basis – Diners Club cards being issued by Citibank – so with the personal Diners Club charge card delivering two Diners Club Rewards points per dollar spent, that’s on-par with one Turkish Airlines mile earned per $1 spent.

Whipping out Diners’ backup companion World Mastercard instead delivers 0.75 Diners Club rewards points per dollar spent: equal to 0.375 Turkish Airlines miles.

As a member of Star Alliance, Turkish miles can be used to book not just Turkish Airlines flights, but also journeys aboard its partner airlines including Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Thai Airways and United Airlines in Australian skies.

More broadly, Turkish Airlines miles can also be used towards flight bookings with carriers such as Austrian Airlines, EgyptAir, Lufthansa, SAS and Swiss, among others.

The move comes as Turkish Airlines eyes flights from Istanbul to Australia once more – as the airline doesn’t yet grace Australia's skies – and follows a signed order for as many as 40 new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets.

Aussie spenders can also book Turkish Airlines flights using their credit card points via the Air New Zealand Airpoints, EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus frequent flyer programs, which are transfer partners of various Australian banks.

Chris Chamberlin

A Brisbane-based contributor to Executive Traveller, Chris Chamberlin lives by the motto that a journey of a thousand miles begins not just with a single step, but also a strong latte, a theatre ticket, and later in the day, a good gin and tonic.