Miles & More Credit Card Switzerland: What You Need to Know
The average SWISS Miles & More cardholder in Switzerland pays CHF 220 per year in fees and collects about 15,000 miles. That's roughly enough for a short-haul economy flight within Europe. Is that a good deal? It depends entirely on how you use it.
Miles & More is the largest frequent flyer program in Europe, covering SWISS, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and over 40 Star Alliance partners. In Switzerland, two issuers offer Miles & More credit cards: Swisscard (the official SWISS-branded cards) and Cornèrcard (a Ticino-based alternative most people overlook). The difference between these two paths matters more than most comparison sites will tell you.
Here's the bottom line upfront: if you fly Star Alliance at least 3-4 times a year and put CHF 15,000+ on your card annually, a Miles & More card can deliver genuine value. If you don't, you're probably better off with a simple cashback or travel card instead.
Every Miles & More Card in Switzerland Compared
Switzerland has six Miles & More credit cards across two issuers. Each comes as a card duo (two networks in one package). Here's what they actually cost and deliver.
- Annual fee: CHF 60 first year, CHF 120 after
- Earning: 1.5 miles / CHF 2 (Amex), 1 mile / CHF 2 (Mastercard)
- Welcome bonus: 17,000 miles
- Insurance: Basic only
- Key detail: Miles expire after 36 months without status
- Annual fee: CHF 110 first year, CHF 220 after
- Earning: 2 miles / CHF 2 (Amex), 0.8 / CHF 2 (Mastercard)
- Welcome bonus: 30,000 miles
- Insurance: Solid coverage
- Key detail: Miles never expire while card is active
- Annual fee: CHF 350 first year, CHF 700 after
- Earning: 2.4 miles / CHF 2 (Amex)
- Welcome bonus: 35,000 miles
- Insurance: CHF 15,000 trip cancellation
- Key detail: SWISS Business Lounge access included
- Annual fee: CHF 70 first year, CHF 140 after
- Networks: Visa + Diners Club
- FX fee: Just 1.2%
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 miles
- Key detail: Priority Pass lounge access
- Annual fee: CHF 110 first year, CHF 220 after
- Networks: Visa + Diners Club
- FX fee: 1.2%
- Welcome bonus: 40,000 miles
- Key detail: CHF 40,000 trip cancellation, CHF 1.5M medical, Priority Pass
- Annual fee: CHF 750/year
- Networks: Visa + Diners Club
- FX fee: 1.2%
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 miles
- Key detail: CHF 60,000 trip cancellation, CHF 1.5M medical, full Priority Pass
Want to see how these stack up against other travel cards? Compare all credit cards side by side or browse the best travel credit cards in Switzerland.
Notice something? Cornèrcard charges half the foreign exchange fee (1.2% vs 2.5%) and often includes better insurance at the same price point. The SWISS cards earn miles faster on the Amex side, but you'll pay for it every time you swipe abroad.
Is Miles & More Worth It in Switzerland?
Let's be honest about this. Miles & More is worth it for a specific type of person, and that's not most people. Here's how to figure out if you're in that group.
- You fly SWISS, Lufthansa, or Star Alliance partners 3+ times a year
- You put CHF 20,000+ on your credit card annually
- You actually redeem miles for flights (not merchandise, which gives terrible value)
- You value the insurance package and would buy travel insurance anyway
- You're willing to use the Amex card wherever accepted for better earning rates
- You fly fewer than 3 times per year
- Your annual card spending is under CHF 15,000
- You mostly travel outside the Star Alliance network (SkyTeam, oneworld)
- You prefer guaranteed cashback over points you need to optimize
- The 2.5% FX fee on SWISS cards would eat into your international spending
Here's a practical example. With the SWISS Gold card (CHF 220/year), spending CHF 25,000 annually earns you about 25,000 miles. A short-haul economy award flight costs around 15,000 miles. So you're earning roughly 1.5 free short-haul flights per year. Worth it? If those flights would have cost CHF 200+ each, then yes. If you're comparing to a cashback card earning CHF 125 on the same spending (0.5% rate, no fee), the miles card wins only if you actually use the miles.
The uncomfortable truth: about 40% of loyalty miles globally go unredeemed. If you're the type to let miles sit in your account, get a cashback card and call it a day. Check our credit card reviews for cards that deliver guaranteed value.
SWISS Cards vs Cornèrcard: Which Miles & More Path?
This is the comparison most Swiss comparison sites skip entirely. Both issuers give you Miles & More miles, but the cards work differently.
Choose SWISS (Swisscard)
SWISS Miles & More cards come as an Amex + Mastercard duo. The Amex earns miles significantly faster (2 miles per CHF 2 on Gold vs 0.8 on Mastercard). If you can use the Amex for most purchases, SWISS cards deliver the best raw earning rate in Switzerland.
The catch: 2.5% foreign exchange fee. If you spend CHF 5,000 abroad annually, that's CHF 125 in fees. On the Gold card, those same CHF 5,000 earn you just 2,500 miles (worth maybe CHF 25-50 in flights). The math doesn't work for international spending.
Best for: people who spend heavily in Switzerland, use Amex wherever possible, and don't travel internationally much (ironic for a travel card, yes).
Choose Cornèrcard
Cornèrcard Miles & More cards pair a Visa with a Diners Club card. The earning rate is lower (1 mile per CHF 2 on Visa, 2 miles per CHF 2 on Diners Club), but the 1.2% FX fee is a game changer for international spending.
The Cornèrcard Gold also includes massively better insurance: CHF 40,000 trip cancellation and CHF 1,500,000 medical coverage vs essentially none on the SWISS Gold. Plus, you get Priority Pass lounge access, which SWISS only includes on Platinum.
Best for: frequent international travelers who want the full package (miles + low FX fees + insurance + lounge access) at the CHF 220/year price point.
SWISS Miles & More cards come as an Amex + Mastercard duo. The Amex earns miles significantly faster (2 miles per CHF 2 on Gold vs 0.8 on Mastercard). If you can use the Amex for most purchases, SWISS cards deliver the best raw earning rate in Switzerland.
The catch: 2.5% foreign exchange fee. If you spend CHF 5,000 abroad annually, that's CHF 125 in fees. On the Gold card, those same CHF 5,000 earn you just 2,500 miles (worth maybe CHF 25-50 in flights). The math doesn't work for international spending.
Best for: people who spend heavily in Switzerland, use Amex wherever possible, and don't travel internationally much (ironic for a travel card, yes).
Cornèrcard Miles & More cards pair a Visa with a Diners Club card. The earning rate is lower (1 mile per CHF 2 on Visa, 2 miles per CHF 2 on Diners Club), but the 1.2% FX fee is a game changer for international spending.
The Cornèrcard Gold also includes massively better insurance: CHF 40,000 trip cancellation and CHF 1,500,000 medical coverage vs essentially none on the SWISS Gold. Plus, you get Priority Pass lounge access, which SWISS only includes on Platinum.
Best for: frequent international travelers who want the full package (miles + low FX fees + insurance + lounge access) at the CHF 220/year price point.
For most frequent flyers who actually travel internationally (which is, you know, the point), the Cornèrcard Gold offers significantly better overall value than the SWISS Gold. The earning rate is slightly lower, but the savings on FX fees and the superior insurance more than compensate.
How to Earn Miles & More Miles Faster
Collecting miles efficiently requires some strategy. Here's how to maximize your earning without changing your lifestyle.
With a duo card, you have two networks. Use the higher-earning card (Amex for SWISS, Diners Club for Cornèrcard) wherever accepted. Switch to Visa/Mastercard only where necessary. This simple habit can double your earning rate on qualifying purchases.
Groceries, fuel, subscriptions, insurance premiums, even tax payments where accepted. Every CHF 2 spent is another mile. A household spending CHF 30,000 annually collects 30,000 miles with the SWISS Gold Amex, enough for 2 short-haul award flights.
The Miles & More program runs regular promotions with partner retailers, hotels, and car rentals. Booking through their shopping portal or partner links can earn 2-5x bonus miles. Check before any major purchase.
Most Miles & More cards offer additional cards at reduced fees. A partner card earns miles into the same account, effectively doubling your household earning potential for an extra CHF 30-60 per year.
One thing competitors rarely mention: earning miles is only half the game. Redeeming them wisely matters even more. A mile used for a Business Class upgrade can be worth 3-5 cents. The same mile spent on merchandise through the Miles & More shop? Maybe 0.3 cents. Always redeem for flights or upgrades.
Expert Recommendation
After analyzing every Miles & More card on the Swiss market, here's my honest take. For frequent Star Alliance flyers spending CHF 20,000+ annually, the Cornèrcard Miles & More Gold is the best overall value at CHF 220/year. You get decent mile earning, a 1.2% FX fee that won't punish your international spending, CHF 40,000 trip cancellation coverage, CHF 1.5M medical insurance, and Priority Pass lounge access. That's a lot of value packed into one card. The SWISS Gold earns miles faster on the Amex side, but the 2.5% FX fee and weak insurance make it harder to justify unless you spend almost exclusively in Switzerland. And if you fly fewer than 3 times a year? Skip miles entirely. A no-fee cashback card will serve you better. Compare your options in our miles credit card guide.
Common Mistakes with Miles & More Cards
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, a difference of CHF 130. Many people choose SWISS cards out of brand loyalty without realizing they're overpaying on every international purchase.
SWISS Classic miles expire after 36 months without frequent flyer status. If you're not flying enough to maintain status, those miles you carefully collected will just vanish. The Gold card (with unlimited mile protection) pays for itself if you're a slow collector.
Your duo comes with two cards at different earning rates. Using the Mastercard (0.8 miles per CHF 2) instead of the Amex (2 miles per CHF 2) on SWISS Gold costs you 60% of your potential miles. Always default to the higher-earning card and switch only when necessary.
The Miles & More shop looks tempting, but the redemption value is terrible, often 0.2-0.5 cents per mile. A flight redemption can deliver 1-3+ cents per mile. That's 5-10x more value for the same miles. Be patient and save for flights.
Cash withdrawals cost about 4% (minimum CHF 10) on both SWISS and Cornèrcard products. That's CHF 20 on a CHF 200 withdrawal. The Swiss consumer credit law caps interest rates, but withdrawal fees are separate. Use your debit card for cash. Always.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Miles & More worth it in Switzerland?
It depends on your flying frequency and spending level. If you fly Star Alliance 3+ times yearly and put CHF 20,000+ on your card, the miles can deliver CHF 300-600 in annual flight value. For occasional flyers spending under CHF 15,000, a no-fee cashback card delivers better guaranteed returns with zero effort.
Which Miles & More credit card is best in Switzerland?
The Cornèrcard Miles & More Gold offers the best overall value at CHF 220/year. It combines a 1.2% FX fee, CHF 40,000 trip cancellation, CHF 1.5M medical coverage, and Priority Pass lounge access. The SWISS Gold earns miles faster on its Amex card but charges a steep 2.5% FX fee.
How many miles do you need for a free flight with Miles & More?
Short-haul economy flights within Europe start at about 15,000 miles. Long-haul economy to North America costs around 50,000 miles. Business Class upgrades within Europe start at 15,000 miles. These are approximate values, as Miles & More uses dynamic pricing that fluctuates based on demand and availability.
Do Miles & More miles expire in Switzerland?
On SWISS Gold and Platinum cards, miles never expire as long as you make at least one purchase per month. On the Classic card, miles expire after 36 months without frequent flyer status. Cornèrcard miles don't expire with monthly card use after 3 months of membership.
Can I earn Miles & More with Cornèrcard in Switzerland?
Yes. Cornèrcard offers Miles & More Classic, Gold, and Platinum packages. They earn the same Miles & More miles as SWISS-branded cards, redeemable on the same flights and partners. The key advantages are a lower 1.2% FX fee (vs 2.5% on SWISS cards) and superior insurance coverage on the Gold tier.
