Air China Fare Classes: PhoenixMiles Earning and Cards
Type the booking class letter from your Air China ticket to see its cabin and the PhoenixMiles kilometres it earns, as published by Air China.
Air China fare classes
Each Air China booking class earns a percentage of the distance flown in kilometres of PhoenixMiles mileage, with a minimum per flight, plus qualifying segments toward the cards. Where Air China prints two values, the first is for flights within Mainland China and the second for international and regional flights.
| Fare | Cabin | Mainland China | International and Regional | Qualifying segments (Mainland / International) | Minimum per flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | |||||
| F | First | 300% | 300% | 3 | 1,000 km |
| A | First | 200% | 250% | 2 / 2.5 | 1,000 km |
| Business | |||||
| J | Business | 300% | 250% | 3 / 2.5 | 800 km |
| C | Business | 200% | 200% | 2 | 800 km |
| D | Business | 150% | 150% | 1.5 | 800 km |
| Z | Business | 125% | 125% | 1.25 | 800 km |
| R | Business | 110% | 125% | 1.1 / 1.25 | 800 km |
| Premium Economy | |||||
| G | Premium Economy | 110% | 110% | 1.1 | 500 km |
| E | Premium Economy | 90% | 90% | 0.9 | 500 km |
| Economy | |||||
| Y | Economy | 110% | 110% | 1.1 | 500 km |
| B | Economy | 100% | 110% | 1 / 1.1 | 500 km |
| M | Economy | 100% | 100% | 1 | 500 km |
| U | Economy | 100% | 75% | 1 / 0.75 | 500 km |
| H | Economy | 75% | 75% | 0.75 | 500 km |
| Q | Economy | 75% | 75% | 0.75 | 500 km |
| V | Economy | 75% | 75% | 0.75 | 500 km |
| W | Economy | 50% | 50% | 0.5 | 500 km |
| S | Economy | 50% | 50% | 0.5 | 500 km |
| T | Economy | 50% | 50% | 0.5 | 500 km |
| L | Economy | 25% | 25% | 0.25 | 500 km |
| K | Economy | 25% | 25% | 0.25 | 500 km |
| P | Economy | 25% | 25% | 0.25 | 500 km |
| Earns nothing | |||||
| O, I, X, N | OtherAir China lists these classes at 0% with no qualifying segments. | 0% | 0% | none | none |
The percentage is of the IATA distance in kilometres for the flight, and each flight earns at least the minimum shown. The two-value classes (A, J, R, B and U) are printed by Air China as "Mainland China/International&Regional" in a single column; this chart reads them as a flight within Mainland China first and an international or regional flight second, because Air China does not explain the two columns further. The rates apply to flights operated by Air China; flights by a partner earn by the operating airline's rules. Air China publishes no fare family names, only booking class letters.
Calculate what this flight earnsMileage and qualifying segments
- Mileage for a flight is the distance between the two airports as calculated by IATA, in kilometres, times the booking class percentage on the day of travel, or the minimum for the class if that is more (1,000 km in First, 800 km in Business, 500 km in Premium Economy and Economy). A connection is two flights, each counted on its own.
- Qualifying segments per flight are shown in the chart. Air China counts them for flights by Air China group carriers, and for some bookings on Star Alliance member airlines depending on the booking class.
- Status mileage is the mileage that counts toward upgrading and renewing a card. Air China's pages do not say whether it equals the mileage earned from the chart, so the calculator does not count it for a flight; it shows the card thresholds and your progress from the totals you enter.
- Elite bonus: Silver 25%, Gold 30% and Platinum 50% extra mileage on flights by Air China group carriers, as spendable mileage only. It does not count toward a card. Air China does not say what the percentage is applied to, so the calculator shows it as a note.
- Not eligible: award, charter, designated flight and special offer tickets earn no mileage. Mileage is credited only for the class paid, and reward upgrades earn by the original booking class. Redeemable mileage is valid for 36 months from the month of the flight. Junior members earn half an adult's mileage per flight.
- Partner flights earn by the operating airline's own accrual rules; this chart covers flights operated by Air China only.
Silver, Gold and Platinum cards
| Card | Upgrade: qualifying km | Or qualifying segments | Renew: qualifying km | Or qualifying segments | Star Alliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | 40,000 | 25 | 35,000 | 23 | Silver |
| Gold | 80,000 | 40 | 70,000 | 36 | Gold |
| Platinum | 160,000 | 90 | 145,000 | 80 | Gold |
- To upgrade, earn the kilometres or the segments in the previous 12 consecutive months, including the month the assessment starts. A new card is valid from the month of the upgrade to the end of the 24th month after it.
- To renew, earn the renewal number in the 12 consecutive months from the month before the one in which the card expires; the card is then valid to the end of the 12th month after it.
- Qualifying mileage counts flights by Air China group carriers and flights by Star Alliance members under their own or Air China group codes, excluding Star Alliance Connecting Partners. Elite bonus mileage does not count.
- Above Platinum are the Lifetime Platinum card (1 million lifetime mileage) and the Annual Premium Lifetime Platinum card (300,000 lifetime mileage in a calendar year), both Star Alliance Gold.
Good to know
- How many PhoenixMiles does an Air China flight earn?
- The distance in kilometres (Air China uses IATA distance) times the percentage for the booking class, or the minimum for the class if that is more: 1,000 km in First, 800 km in Business and 500 km in Premium Economy and Economy. For example 110% in Y, 100% in M, 75% in H, Q and V, 50% in W, S and T, 25% in L, K and P, and 300% in F. Booking classes O, I, X and N earn nothing.
- What do the two percentages mean in Air China classes A, J, R, B and U?
- Air China prints two values for those classes, such as 200% / 250% for A. Its page says only "Mainland China/International&Regional", so this chart reads the first as a flight within Mainland China and the second as an international or regional flight (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are regional). Check your ticket if it matters.
- How do I get Silver, Gold or Platinum on Air China PhoenixMiles?
- Earn the qualifying kilometres or the qualifying segments in the previous 12 months: Silver 40,000 km or 25 segments, Gold 80,000 km or 40 segments, Platinum 160,000 km or 90 segments. To renew, Silver needs 35,000 km or 23 segments, Gold 70,000 or 36 and Platinum 145,000 or 80. Star Alliance maps Silver to Silver and Gold and Platinum to Gold.
- Do Silver, Gold and Platinum members earn extra mileage?
- Yes, on flights by Air China group carriers: 25% for Silver, 30% for Gold and 50% for Platinum, as spendable mileage only. The bonus does not count toward your card. Air China does not say whether the percentage applies to the distance flown or to the mileage after the class percentage, so the calculator does not add it.
- Which Air China booking classes earn no mileage?
- O, I, X and N. Award, charter, designated flight and special offer tickets are not eligible for mileage either, and mileage is credited only for the class actually paid.
Source: Air China. PhoenixMiles: Kilometer Accrual, Earning Mileage and Elite Member pages | PhoenixMiles Member's Guide | Elite Member's Guide | Mileage accrual calculator
Air China and PhoenixMiles are trademarks of Air China Limited. This page is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by Air China. Information is provided for reference only and may not reflect the most current program terms.
Crediting Air China flights to another program? See what they earn with United MileagePlus or Aeroplan.
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