EVA Air, the Taiwan-based airline, is known for its amazing service and expansive network of flight routes. If you fly with EVA often, you’re probably familiar with their frequent flyer program, Infinity MileageLands, which allows you to redeem award flights and unlock other travel benefits.
While Infinity MileageLands can be super valuable, especially if you’re looking to snag a Business Class award, it can be a little complicated to navigate. To really maximize the benefits, you need to understand how the program works.
That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to Infinity MileageLands! We’ll cover everything from award pricing and earning opportunities to the program’s sweet spots, helping you make the most of your EVA mileage and travel like a pro.
Understanding Infinity MileageLands Award Pricing
So, you’re ready to use your EVA MileageLands miles for an award flight. Let’s break down how those awards are priced, whether you’re flying on EVA Air, UNI Air, or one of their Star Alliance partners.
Award Flights on EVA Air/UNI Air
When you redeem miles for flights on EVA Air or UNI Air, the number of miles you’ll need is determined by their award chart. This chart spells out how many miles are required for different routes and cabin classes. A one-way award generally costs 50% of what a round-trip award would cost.
How does EVA Air’s award pricing stack up against other programs? Let’s take Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program as an example. Business Class awards from Singapore to Europe or North America can be significantly cheaper through EVA Air than through KrisFlyer. For instance, a one-way flight from Singapore (SIN) to London (LHR) or Los Angeles (LAX) might cost you fewer miles with EVA MileageLands.
Award Flights on Star Alliance Partners
One of the great things about being an Infinity MileageLands member is the ability to redeem your miles for flights on any Star Alliance partner airline. These awards often come with flexible routing rules, allowing for stopovers and open jaws (flying into one city and out of another).
Another potential perk: EVA Air may release award seats to its own members before releasing them to Star Alliance partners. This means you might find award availability on EVA Air through Infinity MileageLands even when it’s not showing up on partner airlines’ websites. Keep an eye out for those hidden gems!
Finding the sweet spots in the Infinity MileageLands program
Knowing how to redeem your miles for maximum value is key to getting the most out of any airline loyalty program. Here are some ideas to consider when booking travel with EVA Air’s Infinity MileageLands.
EVA Air sweet spots
Look for routes or cabin classes that offer exceptional value. Business Class awards between Singapore and Europe or North America are a prime example.
Also, keep an eye out for award sales. EVA Air sometimes offers award sales with big discounts. In the past, they’ve offered as much as 50% off Economy Class awards on some routes.
Star Alliance sweet spots
You can also maximize value on Star Alliance awards. For example, you could use stopovers and open jaws to visit multiple destinations on a single award ticket.
Consider booking routes where EVA Air has more award availability than other Star Alliance partners.
Fuel surcharges and other fees
Be aware that EVA Air imposes fuel surcharges and airport fees on award tickets. Fuel surcharges on EVA Air awards can be as high as S$100 on a one-way long-haul flight to the USA.
Earning Infinity MileageLands Miles
Want to rack up those EVA Air miles? Here’s how you can do it:
Flying with EVA Air and UNI Air
When you fly with EVA Air or UNI Air, you’ll typically earn miles based on how far you fly and what class of fare you purchase. Keep an eye out, too, because EVA Air sometimes offers bonus miles promotions for certain routes or fare classes.
Credit card partnerships
EVA Air has partnered with certain credit card companies to help you earn Infinity MileageLands miles when you make purchases. The earning rate will depend on the specific card, but it’s worth checking out the offers to see if one aligns with your spending habits. Some cards also offer sign-up bonuses or other promotions to sweeten the deal.
If you’re trying to build up your miles balance, using a credit card can be a great strategy, especially if you pay off the balance each month to avoid interest charges. Utilizing services like Citi PayAll during promotional periods can help you earn even more miles.
Navigating the Complexities: Booking for Companions, Changes, Cancellations, and Expiry
Using EVA Air’s Infinity MileageLands program can be a great way to save money on flights, but there are a few quirks and rules you should know about before you dive in.
Booking Award Tickets for Companions
Reserving multiple seats using your EVA miles can be tricky. The process is often convoluted, frequently requiring you to transfer miles to a nominee. Because booking for multiple passengers is so complex, it really needs its own separate guide.
Changes and Cancellations
Need to change or cancel an award ticket? Here’s what to expect:
- Changes: Award ticket changes are often free.
- Cancellations: Cancellations usually come with a fee, typically around US$50. However, elite members may have this fee waived.
Miles Expiry
Don’t forget that your Infinity MileageLands miles don’t last forever. They typically expire after 36 months.
If your miles do expire, you have the option to buy them back, but it’ll cost you. The buyback rate is US$10 per 1,000 miles, with a limit of 150,000 miles per calendar year.
Traveling with infants
Before you book an award ticket, it’s important to understand the rules and costs associated with traveling with an infant.
Airlines usually charge extra for infants to travel, even on award tickets. The fee is often a percentage of the best available fare – typically around 10 percent. It’s best to contact the airline and ask about the charge before you book.
Keep in mind that some airlines may require you to book infant tickets over the phone. So, it’s best to be prepared to call them anyway.
Putting It All Together
EVA Air’s Infinity MileageLands program offers competitive award pricing, especially if you like to fly Business Class. However, booking award travel with Infinity MileageLands can be complicated, particularly if you’re traveling with multiple people. And be aware that fuel surcharges and other fees can add considerably to the cost of your “free” tickets.
If you regularly fly between Singapore and destinations served by EVA Air and its Star Alliance partners, Infinity MileageLands could be a good fit for you. Just be prepared to spend some time learning the program rules and planning your bookings carefully.
Before you commit to Infinity MileageLands or any other frequent flyer program, do some research and compare the options to find the one that best meets your individual needs and travel style.