In short
They work differently and can be used together. Airline miles usually have no fee and reward flying you already do, so they suit frequent flyers. A club charges a membership fee, but its points build steadily from your payments and go towards cruises and stays. Many people use miles for the flight and club points for the cruise.
Side by side
| Travel club | Airline miles program | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to take part | A monthly membership fee | Usually no fee to join |
| How you collect value | Points from your membership payments, every paid month | Miles from flights and linked spending, such as a credit card |
| What it pays for | Ocean and river cruises, hotels and resorts through the club | Mainly flights and upgrades, sometimes partner hotels |
| Predictability | Points build steadily with payments | Depends on how much you fly and spend |
| What it doesn't cover | Points don't pay for flights | Rarely a whole cruise |
| Best when | You cruise or take holidays regularly | You fly often, especially for work |
Where airline miles win
- Extra value on what you already do: if you fly a lot, miles add up without changing your habits.
- No fee to join in most programmes.
- Flights and upgrades: exactly the part of a trip that club points don't cover.
Where a travel club wins
- Steady points: they build up with every paid month, whether or not you fly.
- Aimed at the holiday itself: points lower the price of the cruise — up to 50%, or up to 100% if you book 270 days or more before departure and have saved up enough.
- A member price about 17% below the listed price, if you prefer to pay in money.
How they work together
This isn't either-or. A common combination: miles for the flight to the departure port, club points for the cruise itself. And if you live near Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Hamburg, you may not need a flight at all — see cruises from Rotterdam.
Which suits whom
| Your situation | What works well |
|---|---|
| You fly a lot for work | Miles for flights; the club if you also cruise regularly |
| You fly once or twice a year | Miles add up slowly; club points build regardless of flying |
| You want a yearly cruise | The club, possibly combined with miles for the flight |
Common questions
What is the difference between club points and airline miles?
Miles come from flying and are mainly used for flights. Club points come from your membership payments and lower the price of cruises and stays booked through the club.
Can I use club points for flights?
No. Points can't be used for flights; that is where miles are useful.
Can I use miles for a cruise?
Some programmes have partners, but miles rarely cover a whole cruise. They are most useful for the flight to the port.
Is it worth having both?
Often, yes: miles for flights, club points for the cruise. They complement each other.
Do club points expire?
While your membership is paid, your points keep building up. If a bill stays unpaid for 30 days, they turn into Base Points, which have no time limit but give at most 17% off.
General comparison; rules of airline miles programmes differ. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.