Here's something that doesn't come up often enough: most UK points collectors are sitting on cards that could be earning them miles with 26 different airlines - and they don't even realise it.

Star Alliance is the world's largest airline alliance, and until very recently there was no direct UK card for earning its miles. That changed in March 2026. But is the new card actually worth it - or are the indirect routes still better? Let's dig in.

Which of the following is NOT currently a Star Alliance member airline?

The answer is waiting near the bottom... keep scrolling 👇

If you've ever looked at flying with Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, or Ethiopian Airlines on points, you've probably noticed that earning miles in those programmes from UK spending has always been a bit awkward. There's now a direct option - but four different routes to choose from, and they're not all equal.

In March 2026, United Airlines launched the first UK payment card that earns Star Alliance miles directly - specifically MileagePlus miles. The card costs £175 per year and comes with up to 15,000 miles as a sign-up bonus plus up to 2,500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) per year towards United elite status.

The key detail: cardholders get an extra 3 miles per $1 when flying United, a 10% mileage reduction on United redemptions, and access to extra award availability. The FX fee is also a very reasonable 0.99% - far better than the 2.99% on most rival cards. If you fly United regularly and care about MileagePlus status, this card is probably a no-brainer.

But here's where it gets interesting: if you're a more casual points collector who just wants to occasionally redeem with a Star Alliance airline, the £175 annual fee is steep - and the everyday UK earn rate is lower than alternatives. For most readers, it's a pass unless United Airlines is genuinely your airline of choice.

The most popular indirect route is via American Express Membership Rewards points, which transfer to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer at a rate of 3 Membership Rewards points = 2 KrisFlyer miles. That's the only Star Alliance airline in the Amex UK transfer partners list, so if you want miles elsewhere, you'll need a different route.

The timing is notable right now though. Until 26th May 2026, the Amex Platinum sign-up bonus has been increased to 75,000 Membership Rewards points plus a £250 Amex Travel credit (spend target: £10,000 in six months). And the Amex Gold is offering 40,000 Membership Rewards points (spend target: £5,000 in six months, free in year one). Those 40,000 Amex Gold points would convert to roughly 26,600 KrisFlyer miles - that's real money towards a Singapore Airlines business class redemption. You can check your eligibility with our Amex Welcome Bonus Eligibility Tool before applying.

To put the value in perspective: 26,600 KrisFlyer miles at roughly 1.5p per mile is worth around £399 in potential flight value - just from the sign-up bonus. Use our Avios Value Calculator for a rough comparison on how different point currencies stack up.

If you want miles with Star Alliance airlines beyond Singapore Airlines, a Marriott Bonvoy card is arguably your most versatile option. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to 14 Star Alliance airlines including Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, TAP, Thai Airways and United Airlines - among others.

The standard transfer rate is 3 Bonvoy points = 1 airline mile, but this improves to 3:1.25 if you convert 60,000 points at once (meaning you get a 5,000-mile bonus). For United Airlines specifically, the rate is even better at 2:1 when converting 60,000 Bonvoy points - so 60,000 Bonvoy points becomes 30,000 MileagePlus miles. That's a genuinely strong deal if you're targeting United without wanting the debit card.

There are three Marriott Bonvoy UK cards to choose from - an Amex credit card and two debit cards - each with different fees, bonuses and earn rates. The two debit cards also have low FX fees of just 0.5%, which matters a lot if you spend abroad. And of course, if you change your mind about the airline miles, you can always just use your Bonvoy points for hotel stays instead.

HSBC Premier cards transfer to Singapore Airlines and Air India, and the earn rates are genuinely good - up to 1.5 miles per £1 on the paid card. The catch is a big one though: you need a HSBC Premier current account, which has strict income and savings requirements. It was also weakened in February 2026 when TAP Air Portugal and EVA Air left as transfer partners. Still worth knowing about if you do qualify - but it's not a realistic option for most readers.

Bottom line: for most UK collectors, the Amex Gold (40,000 points, free year one) is the best starting point for Singapore Airlines miles, and a Marriott Bonvoy card is the best all-round option for the wider Star Alliance. The United card is only really compelling if you're a genuine United loyalist. You can compare your options using our Credit Card Comparison tool.

Quick one here, but worth flagging. Radisson Rewards is running a promotion offering 10,000 bonus points per stay at selected "Spotlight Hotels" across Europe. No registration required, which is a nice change from the usual faff.

The key terms: you need to book by 14th April 2026 and complete your stay by 18th May 2026. Bookings must be made on a prepaid (non-refundable) rate via the Radisson website or app. Participating properties include several UK hotels, including the Radisson Blu London Stansted Airport - handy if you have a trip coming up.

Heads up: the non-refundable requirement is the main catch here. Only commit if your travel dates are locked in. But if they are, 10,000 bonus Radisson points per stay is a solid top-up - especially if you're building towards a free night redemption.

This one's been getting some attention in the UK points community and it's easy to see why. Wine Flyer - the wine retailer that lets you earn Avios on wine purchases - currently has a triple Avios promotion running.

The reason this stands out: wine is one of the few categories where you can earn Avios on something you'd genuinely buy anyway, without any extra effort. If you're buying wine as a gift (or yourself - we don't judge 😉), doing it via Wine Flyer at triple the usual rate is a straightforward points win. There's no complex sign-up process or status requirement involved.

Worth pairing with our Avios Value Calculator to see what those Avios are actually worth in flight redemptions. At our estimate of 1p per Avios, even a modest wine order can add up to a meaningful points contribution over time.

The answer is 🔵 Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic is a SkyTeam member, not Star Alliance. ITA Airways (Italy's rebranded national carrier) joined Star Alliance on 1st April 2026, making it the alliance's 26th member. Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines are both longstanding Star Alliance members.

Have you ever earned miles with a Star Alliance airline from a UK card - or do you stick to Avios and Virgin Points? I'm curious whether any of our readers are actively collecting KrisFlyer, MileagePlus or similar. Hit reply and let me know - I read every response!

That's all for today. If you found the Star Alliance card breakdown useful, it's worth bookmarking - there are now more options than ever for UK collectors. See you Friday. ✌️

- Smart With Points

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Looking to redeem your points? Here's what's available right now (via Award Travel Finder):

Hotels:

Status Matches:

See all award deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →

Before we wrap up, I wanted to share some timely opportunities I've been tracking (courtesy of our friends at AwardTravelFinder). These deals won't last long, so let's dive in.

Airline programs:

Hotel programs:

These are the top credit card welcome bonuses we're tracking. Offers change frequently - see all cards.

1. Platinum Card: 75,000 points after spending £10,000 in 6 months (£650/yr)

2. Business Gold Card: 60,000 points after spending £6,000 in 3 months (£195/yr (waived first year))

3. Business Platinum Card: 50,000 points after spending £6,000 in 3 months (£650/yr)

4. Gold Card: 20,000 points after spending £3,000 in 3 months (£195/yr (waived first year))

Award Travel Finder hunts down the best redemptions so you don't have to.

See all deals at AwardTravelFinder.com →