Miles Credit Card Switzerland: Which Card Earns the Most?
Most Swiss residents collect miles on the wrong card. They pick the brand they know (usually SWISS), swipe without thinking, and end up with a pile of miles that cost more in fees than they're worth. After analyzing every miles credit card available in Switzerland, I can tell you: the best card isn't always the most obvious one.
Switzerland has three distinct paths to earning airline miles through credit cards: Miles & More direct cards (from Swisscard and Cornèrcard), transferable point cards (American Express), and the often-overlooked Flying Blue option. Each path suits a different type of traveler. The difference in value between the best and worst choice can easily reach CHF 500 per year.
Here's what this guide covers: every miles credit card on the Swiss market, the real earning rates after fees, and an honest framework to pick the right one for your travel habits.
Every Miles Credit Card Available in Switzerland
The Swiss market offers more miles-earning options than most people realize. Here's the full landscape, organized by loyalty program.
6 cards from Swisscard (SWISS-branded) and Cornèrcard. Earn Miles & More miles directly on every purchase. Annual fees from CHF 120 to CHF 750. Best for Star Alliance loyalists.
3 cards (Green, Gold, Platinum). Earn flexible points transferable to 9+ airline programs including Miles & More, Flying Blue, and British Airways. Annual fees from CHF 140 to CHF 900.
Flying Blue World Mastercard for KLM/Air France flyers. Plus indirect options: Coop Supercard (free, converts to M&M miles) and LibertyCard Plus (converts to M&M miles).
That's roughly 12 cards across three earning strategies. Let's break down what actually matters: how many miles you earn per franc, and what those miles are really worth.
How Many Miles Do You Actually Earn Per Franc?
This is where it gets interesting. Not all "1 mile per CHF" claims are equal. Some cards have dual networks with different rates, and the effective earning depends heavily on which card in the pair you use.
Miles & More (SWISS)
SWISS cards come as an Amex + Mastercard pair. The earning rates differ dramatically between the two:
- Classic: 0.75 miles/CHF on Amex, 0.5 miles/CHF on Mastercard
- Gold: 1 mile/CHF on Amex, 0.4 miles/CHF on Mastercard
- Platinum: 1.2 miles/CHF on Amex, rate varies on Mastercard
The Amex earns roughly 2.5x more miles than the Mastercard on the Gold tier. If you can't use Amex for at least 60% of your spending, the effective rate drops significantly. The 2.5% foreign exchange fee also eats into value on international purchases.
Miles & More (Cornèrcard)
Cornèrcard pairs a Visa with a Diners Club card. The rates work differently:
- Classic: 0.6 miles/CHF on Visa, 1 mile/CHF on Diners Club
- Gold: 0.6 miles/CHF on Visa, 1 mile/CHF on Diners Club
- Platinum: up to 1 mile/CHF on Visa, 1 mile/CHF on Diners Club
The Diners Club card earns more, but acceptance is limited in Switzerland. The 1.2% foreign exchange fee (vs 2.5% on SWISS cards) is a massive advantage for international spending. Cornèrcard Gold also includes Priority Pass lounge access and CHF 40,000 trip cancellation insurance.
Amex Membership Rewards
American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points (1 point per CHF) that transfer to multiple airline programs:
- Transfer to Miles & More: 2 points = 1 mile (0.5 miles/CHF effective)
- Transfer to British Airways: 3 points = 2 Avios (0.67 Avios/CHF)
- Transfer to Flying Blue, Delta, Etihad: 2 points = 1 mile
The raw earning rate looks lower than direct Miles & More cards. But here's the strategic advantage: you're not locked into one program. If Miles & More has poor availability for your route, transfer to British Airways or Flying Blue instead. That flexibility can be worth more than a higher earning rate on a single program.
SWISS cards come as an Amex + Mastercard pair. The earning rates differ dramatically between the two:
- Classic: 0.75 miles/CHF on Amex, 0.5 miles/CHF on Mastercard
- Gold: 1 mile/CHF on Amex, 0.4 miles/CHF on Mastercard
- Platinum: 1.2 miles/CHF on Amex, rate varies on Mastercard
The Amex earns roughly 2.5x more miles than the Mastercard on the Gold tier. If you can't use Amex for at least 60% of your spending, the effective rate drops significantly. The 2.5% foreign exchange fee also eats into value on international purchases.
Cornèrcard pairs a Visa with a Diners Club card. The rates work differently:
- Classic: 0.6 miles/CHF on Visa, 1 mile/CHF on Diners Club
- Gold: 0.6 miles/CHF on Visa, 1 mile/CHF on Diners Club
- Platinum: up to 1 mile/CHF on Visa, 1 mile/CHF on Diners Club
The Diners Club card earns more, but acceptance is limited in Switzerland. The 1.2% foreign exchange fee (vs 2.5% on SWISS cards) is a massive advantage for international spending. Cornèrcard Gold also includes Priority Pass lounge access and CHF 40,000 trip cancellation insurance.
American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points (1 point per CHF) that transfer to multiple airline programs:
- Transfer to Miles & More: 2 points = 1 mile (0.5 miles/CHF effective)
- Transfer to British Airways: 3 points = 2 Avios (0.67 Avios/CHF)
- Transfer to Flying Blue, Delta, Etihad: 2 points = 1 mile
The raw earning rate looks lower than direct Miles & More cards. But here's the strategic advantage: you're not locked into one program. If Miles & More has poor availability for your route, transfer to British Airways or Flying Blue instead. That flexibility can be worth more than a higher earning rate on a single program.
Which Miles Credit Card Earns the Most Miles?
Let's put real numbers on it. For CHF 25,000 in annual spending, here's what each card path delivers:
- Annual fee: CHF 220/year
- Miles on CHF 25k spend: ~20,000
- Earning rate: 1 mile/CHF (Amex), 0.4 miles/CHF (Mastercard)
- Watch out: 2.5% FX fee on foreign purchases
- Read our full review
- Annual fee: CHF 220/year
- Miles on CHF 25k spend: ~18,000
- Earning rate: 0.6 miles/CHF (Visa), 1 mile/CHF (Diners Club)
- Key perks: 1.2% FX fee, Priority Pass, CHF 40k trip cancellation
- Read our full review
- Annual fee: CHF 350/year
- Points on CHF 25k spend: 25,000 MR (= 12,500 M&M miles)
- Welcome bonus: 40,000 points (worth 20,000 miles)
- Key advantage: Transfer to 9+ airline programs
- Read our full review
- Annual fee: FREE
- Miles on CHF 25k spend: ~6,250 (via Superpunkte)
- Earning: Superpunkte convert to M&M miles at 2:1
- Key advantage: Zero risk, guaranteed positive return
- Read our full review
Miles & More vs Amex Membership Rewards: Which Program?
This is the fundamental strategic choice for Swiss frequent flyers. Both have merits, and the right answer depends on how you travel.
- Higher raw earning rates (up to 1.2 miles per CHF)
- Simpler: miles go straight to your account, no transfers needed
- Status point earning possible (SWISS cards can convert award miles to status points)
- Welcome bonuses of 15,000 to 60,000 miles depending on tier
- Best for committed Star Alliance flyers who know they'll redeem on SWISS/Lufthansa
- Lower earning rate (0.5 miles per CHF after transfer)
- Requires manual transfer of points to airline program
- Amex acceptance in Switzerland is around 70%, limiting everyday use
- Higher annual fees (CHF 350 for Gold, CHF 900 for Platinum)
- Points can expire if account is inactive for 12+ months
The verdict for most Swiss flyers: If you fly Star Alliance exclusively and spend mostly in Switzerland, a direct Miles & More card (especially Cornèrcard Gold) gives you better value per franc. If you fly multiple alliances or want maximum flexibility, the Amex Gold paired with a low-FX-fee card for foreign spending is the smarter play.
For a deep dive into every Miles & More card specifically, see our Miles & More credit card comparison.
What Is a Mile Actually Worth in Switzerland?
This is the question nobody answers honestly. A mile's value depends entirely on how you redeem it. Here's the reality for Miles & More miles redeemed from Switzerland:
- Short-haul economy (Europe): ~15,000 miles, worth CHF 150-250. Value: 1-1.7 cents/mile
- Long-haul economy (US/Asia): ~50,000 miles, worth CHF 600-1,200. Value: 1.2-2.4 cents/mile
- Business Class upgrade: 15,000-30,000 miles, potentially worth CHF 500+. Value: 2-5 cents/mile
- Miles & More shop merchandise: 0.2-0.5 cents/mile
- Hotel bookings through M&M portal: 0.5-0.8 cents/mile
- Car rentals through M&M: 0.3-0.6 cents/mile
- Transferring miles to third parties: destroys value (fees apply)
A reasonable average value is 1 cent per mile for typical Swiss redemptions. That means 20,000 miles are worth roughly CHF 200. Use this as your baseline when calculating whether a miles card beats a cashback card or travel card.
How to Choose the Right Miles Card for You
If you fly SWISS, Lufthansa, or other Star Alliance partners 4+ times per year, a Miles & More card makes sense. Fewer flights? The miles won't accumulate fast enough to be useful. Consider cashback instead.
Below CHF 15,000, a free card (Coop Supercard) or no-fee cashback card wins. Between CHF 15,000-30,000, mid-tier cards like SWISS Gold or Cornèrcard Gold work. Above CHF 30,000, premium options including Amex Gold become viable.
If more than 20% of your spending is in foreign currencies, the FX fee matters enormously. Cornèrcard's 1.2% fee vs SWISS's 2.5% can save you CHF 130 on CHF 10,000 of foreign purchases. This single factor often tips the decision.
Flying only Star Alliance? Go direct Miles & More. Flying multiple alliances or unsure about future travel patterns? Amex Membership Rewards gives you options. You can always transfer to whichever program has the best availability for your specific trip.
Expert Recommendation
After crunching the numbers on every miles credit card in Switzerland, here's my honest recommendation. For most frequent flyers spending CHF 20,000+ annually, the Cornèrcard Miles & More Gold at CHF 220/year delivers the best overall value. You get decent mile earning, a 1.2% FX fee that won't punish international spending, Priority Pass lounge access, and CHF 40,000 trip cancellation coverage. If you fly multiple alliances and want flexibility, the Amex Gold at CHF 350/year is worth the premium for its transferable points and 40,000-point welcome bonus. And if you fly fewer than 3 times a year? Skip miles entirely. A no-fee cashback card will serve you better. The math simply doesn't work for occasional travelers. Check our credit card reviews for alternatives.
Common Mistakes with Miles Credit Cards
SWISS Gold earns 1 mile/CHF on Amex but only 0.4 miles/CHF on Mastercard. Using the wrong card costs you 60% of your potential miles. Always default to the higher-earning network (Amex for SWISS, Diners Club for Cornèrcard) and only switch when the merchant won't accept it.
SWISS cards charge 2.5% on foreign transactions. Cornèrcard charges 1.2%. On CHF 10,000 of foreign spending, that's CHF 250 vs CHF 120. Many people choose SWISS out of brand recognition without realizing they're overpaying CHF 130 per year on every international purchase.
If you don't know when and where you'll use your miles, you're likely better off with cashback. Miles lose value through inflation, program devaluations, and expiry risk. Have a target redemption in mind before committing to a miles card.
The Miles & More shop offers tempting gadgets and gift cards, but the redemption value is terrible: 0.2-0.5 cents per mile vs 1-3+ cents for flight redemptions. That's 5-10x less value. Be patient and save your miles for flights or upgrades.
The Coop Supercard is completely free and converts Superpunkte to Miles & More miles. On CHF 5,000 of Coop spending, that's roughly 2,500 free miles per year. It's not glamorous, but it's pure profit with zero risk. Combine it with any other card for a simple two-card strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which credit card earns the most airline miles in Switzerland?
For raw miles per franc, the SWISS Platinum earns up to 1.2 Miles & More miles per CHF on its Amex card. For overall value including fees and insurance, the Cornèrcard Miles & More Gold (CHF 220/year) offers the best balance of earning rate, low FX fees (1.2%), and included benefits like Priority Pass and travel insurance.
Is it better to collect miles or cashback in Switzerland?
It depends on your flying habits. If you fly Star Alliance 4+ times yearly and spend CHF 20,000+ on your card, miles can deliver CHF 300-600 in annual flight value. If you fly fewer than 3 times per year, a cashback card earning 0.5-1% gives you guaranteed, hassle-free returns. Most occasional travelers are better off with cashback. The Swiss financial regulator FINMA oversees all card issuers equally, so consumer protections are the same regardless of card type.
How many miles do I need for a free flight from Switzerland?
Short-haul economy within Europe costs about 15,000 Miles & More miles. Long-haul economy to North America or Asia runs 50,000-70,000 miles. Business Class upgrades start at 15,000 miles for short-haul. Note that Miles & More uses dynamic pricing, so costs fluctuate based on demand and booking date.
Can I earn Miles & More miles without a Miles & More credit card?
Yes. The Coop Supercard (free) earns Superpunkte that convert to Miles & More miles at a 2:1 ratio. American Express cards earn Membership Rewards points transferable to Miles & More at 2:1. The LibertyCard Plus earns points convertible at 5.6:1. You can also earn miles directly by flying Star Alliance airlines or through Miles & More retail partners.
Do miles expire on Swiss credit cards?
On SWISS Gold and Platinum cards, miles don't expire as long as you make at least one purchase per month. On the SWISS Classic, miles expire after 36 months without frequent flyer status. Cornèrcard Miles & More cards prevent expiry with monthly card activity. Amex Membership Rewards points expire only if your account is inactive for 12+ months.
