Smiles
The Brazilian Varig Airlines has been in many financial situations, which resulted in bankruptcy, and financial crisis. Later it emerged from bankruptcy, was purchased by Varilog, and latest by GOL - part of Gold Linhas Aereas Inteligentes. After that, the new Varig operated flights for the GOL Company. The Smiles Program was integrated later, a frequent flyer program that rewards frequent flyers with air miles, a kind of a loyalty program.
Members of the program are able to earn miles and earn points when they fly through Varig, GOL, Air France, American Airlines or KLM. Members will earn one mile per each mile they fly, in general. Bonuses for different classes apply - as well as different percentages depending on the class (coach, business, or first class). This program collaborates with many companies such as rental car companies, hotels, credit cards, restaurants, and many more, over 150 companies.
The awards on this program are classified into two types "standard" and "any day" awards. "Any day" rewards are not limited by dates or capacity, while standard rewards has certain restrictions. "Any day" rewards will require more mileage.
The program has an elite program with three tiers - silver, gold, and diamond. These levels will depend on type and amount of miles that a person will fly during the year. A member can book some awards online, but others have to redeem missing miles a person has to do it through the mail. The program seems to be popular with many members who enjoy its rewards. |
| Details | |
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| URL: Smiles Homepage |
| Customer Service contact number: BR: 0800-887-000; US: 1 800 468 2744; DE: 692-999-3205; UK: +44 207 660-0283 |
| Number of members in millions (2009): 6.8 |
| Validity: Three Years |
| Miles/Points transferable to other members?: No |
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| Membership Levels | |
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| Level | Benefits | Activity needed |
| Smiles Silver | - 25% Bonus miles over the mileage flown with VARIG and Gol.
- A 5,000 Mile, one-time bonus, credited after reaching the Silver level, and an additional 3,000 Smiles Mile bonus upon each renewal.
- 10 kg of excess baggage allowance. | 20,000 miles or 25 flown segments within a 12 month period. | | |
| Smiles Gold | - 50% Bonus miles over the mileage flown with VARIG and Gol.
- A 7,500 Mile, one-time bonus, credited after reaching the Gold level, and an additional 5,000 Smiles Mile bonus upon each renewal.
- 20 kg of excess baggage allowance, or one extra volume free of charge, in countries where the piece concept applies.
- Check-in at the Executive Class counters and access to the Executive Class Lounge or access to the lounges indicated by the STAR GOLD logo (at airports where this facility is available), regardless of the class of service in which you are traveling.
- Exemption from payment of the Urgency Service Fee for issuance of Smiles Awards.
- Special Smiles Service Center for Gold and Diamond clients. | 50,000 flown miles or 60 flown segments within a 12 consecutive month period. | | |
| Smiles Diamond | - 100% Bonus miles over the mileage flown with VARIG and Gol.
- A 10,000 Mile, one-time bonus, credited after reaching the Diamond level, and an additional 7,000 Smiles Mile bonus upon each renewal.
- 20 kg of excess baggage allowance, or one extra volume free of charge, in countries where the piece concept applies. | 100,000 flown miles or 100 flown segments within a 12 consecutive month period. | | |
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| Travelcards | |
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Airlines Hotels Car Rental The Travelcards give you a quick overview of earning possibilities of this frequent flyer program. Print the Travelcards to take them with you on your journey or have them ready when booking your travel. |
| Earn Miles with these partners | Type | Remarks / Ratio |
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| Air France KLM | Airline | 1 Miles per flown Mile |
| aloft Hotels | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| American Airlines | Airline | 1 Miles per flown Mile (minimum 500 Miles) |
| Candlewood Suites | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Conrad International Hotels | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Courtyard by Marriott | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Delta Air Lines | Airline | 1 Miles per flown Mile (minimum 500 Miles) |
| Doubletree Hotels | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Element Hotel | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Embassy Suites Hotels | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Fairfield Inn by Marriott | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Four Points by Sheraton | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| GOL | Airline | 1 Miles per flown Mile |
| Golden Tulip Hotels | Hotel | 500 Miles per stay |
| Hampton Inn | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Hilton Garden Inn | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Hilton Grand Vacations Club | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Hilton Hotels | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Holiday Inn Express | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Home2 Suites by Hilton | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Horizons by Marriot Vacation Club | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Hotel Indigo | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Inter-Continental Hotels & Ressorts | Hotel | 500 Miles per stay |
| JW Marriott | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Marriott Hotels | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Marriott Vacation Club | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide | Hotel | 500 Miles per day |
| Renaissance Hotels, Resorts & Suites | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Residence Inn by Mariott | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Royal Tulip | Hotel | 500 Miles per stay |
| Sheraton Hotels & Resorts | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Springhill Suites by Mariott | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| St. Regis | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| The Luxury Collection | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| The Waldorf-Astoria Collection | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Towneplace Suites by Mariott | Hotel | 1 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Tulip Inns | Hotel | 250 Miles per stay |
| Unidas | Car rental | 500 Miles per rental |
| Varig Brasil | Airline | 1 Miles per flown Mile |
| W Hotels | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
| Westin Hotels & Resorts | Hotel | 2 Miles per spend 1 US$ |
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