28 Airlines & Hotels That Let You Pool Points & Miles for Free [2024]

Points and miles can help unlock some incredible travel experiences. But when small balances are spread across multiple accounts, it can be hard to put together enough travel rewards for a good redemption. This is especially true when traveling as a family or with loved ones.

If you’ve been traveling as a family for a few years now, the likelihood is that each member of the family should have a few thousand points or miles in their account. If one member travels more for work and/or has one of our favorite travel credit cards, they likely have a larger stash of points.

Instead of that family member or loved one using all their points and miles for a group trip, some programs allow individuals to pool their points together so that anyone in the family can use them. This allows small balances to be used up and avoids the risk of having them expire.

While this sounds like a great rewards program feature (it is), unfortunately, not all airlines and hotels offer this benefit.

Let’s take a look at which airlines offer free pooling and which hotels offer free transfers so that you can maximize all of the points and miles in your family’s accounts.

Why Combine Points and Miles?

Before we dive in, let’s address why combining points and miles is a good idea for many people.

As mentioned above, pooling points will allow you to combine small balances that otherwise might not be worth enough to book a flight or hotel on their own. In many cases, this will prevent points from expiring, which can happen if they go unused for a certain amount of time.

Another benefit of pooling is that you will have more points and miles to book your family on a single itinerary, as opposed to multiple tickets if each member had to book on their own. This will increase your chances of staying together in case there are travel interruptions, plus the added bonus of receiving frequent flyer perks if one of the members has elite status or a co-branded airline credit card.

And finally, it makes the booking process easier. No need to log in to multiple accounts and make multiple reservations. You can see your combined balance in 1 place and make reservations as needed.

Hot Tip: Interested in how to transfer points from credit card programs to various household members? Check out our ultimate guide to transferring flexible points to other accounts.

Airline Loyalty Programs

Aegean Miles+Bonus

Aegean lets Silver or Gold elite members create a shared account with up to 5 additional members for no cost.

Together accounts are managed by the Head of the Together account and all members will have their award miles automatically transferred into the common account.

The Head is responsible for all of the administration and redemptions for the Together account.

Aeromexico Club Premier

Aeromexico Club Premier has a nice option for families who want the option to share points, but not necessarily pool them.

The Club Premier Family Group allows spouses, parents, and children to transfer points to each other for free. 

All members of the Family Group must have the same last name and children must be under the age of 21.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada Aeroplan is a popular program thanks to some great partner redemption options and a very friendly family-sharing program.

Aeroplan Family Sharing allows up to 8 members to join and share points while keeping their own accounts. Every point earned by a member is available for any member to redeem, and if one of those members has Aeroplan elite status or is a primary cardholder of an Aeroplan^® Credit Card, everyone in the pool can benefit from their preferred pricing. 

The setup process is easy, a Family Lead just needs to invite up to 7 family members (spouse, partner, children, siblings, in-laws, parents, grandparents … it’s not strict) and all balances are automatically combined once members accept the invitation.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France and KLM share the Flying Blue frequent flyer program which can provide some excellent value, especially when booked with a Flying Blue Promo Award.

Flying Blue Family lets members transfer miles and redeem them at no extra cost.

There can be up to 8 Flying Blue members per Family with a maximum of 2 adults and up to 6 children. Once a Flying Blue Family is created, the leader can transfer other members’ points into their own accounts and redeem them for flights without a transfer fee. 

Air India Flying Returns

Air India offers a points-sharing program, known as MeraParivar (My Family Pool), for up to 9 active members.

MeraParivar allows members 2 years and older, who are related to each other, to link their accounts and pool all or a pre-determined amount of their points into the Head of Family’s account.

To create a Family Pool you must submit your information to FAMILYPOOL.FFP@AIRINDIA.COM, and it may take up to 14 business days to complete. There are also some fees (paid with points) associated with creating a Family Pool, which varies based on the activity.

ANA Mileage Club

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is one of the best ways to fly to Japan, but ANA Mileage Club has plenty of value with its partner network, too, so combining points can be a great idea.

The ANA Mileage Club Family Account Service (AFA) is only available for members who live outside of Japan, but it allows those members to share miles with between 2 to 8 family members. The registered family members must be a spouse, partner, or relative within 2 degrees of kinship.

The process and requirements are a bit cumbersome, but it may be worth it for some families. There is a registration fee of 1,000 miles and the process can take up to 2 weeks, plus members must have accrued miles from at least 1 ANA Group international flight within 3 years from the time of a redemption request.

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club

Asiana Airlines has a pretty generous family-sharing program, but the process to set it up may be a deterrent.

The Family Mileage Plan allows members to add a family member’s frequent flyer number to their reservations in order to use their miles to help reserve a mileage ticket or upgrade a seat.

A Family Mileage Plan can have up to 8 family members (including the family representative) and can include a spouse, children, parents, paternal/maternal grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and even parents of the spouse.

To apply for a family plan, you must download forms from the website, scan and prove your identity, and then complete the application. This can also be done in person at an Asiana branch.

British Airways Executive Club

British Airways Executive Club is one of the more user/family-friendly programs when it comes to pooling points, plus it has recently added Qatar Airways to its list of Avios partners.

Household Accounts allow you to pool Avios with up to 6 people who live with you, which is important if you want your kids to be able to earn and redeem miles before they are 18 years old.

The process is relatively easy to complete online, and Avios will not expire as long as there has been some Household Account activity once every 36 months.

EgyptAir Plus

EgyptAir offers a unique points pooling program for up to 5 family members (first-degree) over the age of 2.

Once a Family Program is set up, the redeemable miles and the elite qualifying miles earned by all members will be created to the main member’s account. 

Although the membership level of all family members will remain at Blue Level, the main member can gain and share the benefits of elite status earned from the Family Program.

There is a fee of 1,000 miles to make changes to the Family Program, and setup requires emailing customeraff@egyptair.com.

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards is the best way to book an Emirates first class flight, so pooling your Skywards miles together is a no-brainer if you want to get to where you are going faster.

My Family is the Emirates pooling program and it allows members to create a family account and invite up to 8 family members to pool their miles together. Members can be a spouse, partner, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son, stepson, daughter, stepdaughter, brother, sister, granddaughter, grandson, and even a domestic helper.

Members can choose what percentage (25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%) of future miles they want to contribute to the pool (existing miles won’t be added), and the miles can be redeemed from the pool for flights and upgrades.

Etihad Guest

Etihad Guest offers some great redemption opportunities, and combining your family’s points will help you book those trips sooner.

The Etihad Guest Family Membership allows up to 9 family members to combine their individually earned miles into a pool where the Family Head can redeem them for flights or items from the Reward Shop.

Family Membership members can be extended family, including spouses, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, grandparents, parents-in-law, stepparents, stepchildren, step-siblings, step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and up to 1 household helper.

Frontier Miles

Frontier is known for its cheap fares, but also its generous family pooling program — if you qualify.

The Family Pool allows up to 8 people to share as little or as many Frontier Miles as they have for free. Essentially anyone can join the pool, “…friends, coworkers, roommates, and even grandma. Whoever you consider family can be a part of your Family Pool.”

The only catch is that to unlock Family Pooling you need to reach Elite Silver status or hold a Frontier Airlines World Mastercard^®.

Hawaiian Miles

Like most airlines, Hawaiian Airlines lets you transfer miles to friends or family for a fee, but there is a way to do it for free…

If you have a Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^®, you can share and pool your Hawaiian Miles for free!

The Share Miles for free perk is also available for cardholders of the following 3 cards: Hawaiian Airlines^® Business MasterCard^®, Bankoh Hawaiian Airlines Visa^® check card, and Hawaiian Airlines Visa^® credit card-Japan.

There is no limit on the number of miles you can send, but there is a limit of 10 transactions per year. Besides that, this is a great (and unique) program.

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank can unlock some great travel opportunities, and if you live outside of Japan you can combine your miles with family members for “free.”

The JAL Family Club allows up to 9 family members to participate in pooling miles that can then be redeemed for award travel. Family members can be the primary member’s spouse, children, step-children, parents, and spouses’ parents.

Although the JAL Family Club doesn’t cost any money, there are some fees to be aware of. There is an Initial Registration Fee of 1,000 miles, a Renewal Fee of 1,000 miles every 5 years, and Family Member Additional Fee of 1,000 miles for every new family member added to the Family Club.

JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue has long been known to be a family-friendly carrier, and that continues to be the case when talking about sharing miles.

Points Pooling is JetBlue’s program that lets you earn and burn TrueBlue points with your friends and family — yes, friends, too! 

There can be up to 7 friends or family members in a Points Pool and members contribute 100% of their points to the pool which can then be managed by the pool leader.

This is a great way to combine your TrueBlue points with roommates, friends, and family so that you can book a trip together.

Korean Air SkyPass

Korean Air also offers an option for families to share miles known as Mileage Pooling via Family Plan.

A Family Plan can have up to 5 total members which can be a spouse, parent, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law.

The program is not flawless as the application process can be long, plus, family pooling redemptions are not available on SkyTeam partners.

Lufthansa Miles & More

Lufthansa Miles & More does offer the pooling of miles, however, the program is not available to residents of the U.S.

Mileage Pooling allows 2 adults and up to 5 children to combine their award miles into 1 pool for free.

Currently, only residents of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland can participate in Mileage Pooling.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas does not offer a family pooling program, but the airline does allow you to transfer Qantas Points to eligible family members for free — which can be just as useful.

Members can transfer points to other eligible family members with a minimum of 5,000 and a maximum of 600,000 points per transfer.

There are unlimited transfers allowed, but points are capped at 600,000 per 12 months.

Qatar Privilege Club

Qatar Privilege Club now uses Avios as its currency, so combining your balance with your family (and transferring to them British Airways if you want) can be a great way to book the famous Qsuites.

The Family Programme can have up to 9 members, including your spouse, children over the age of 2, parents, and parents of your spouse.

Once enrolled, all family-earned Avios will be credited to the primary member’s account, but they won’t count towards elite status.

Singapore KrisFlyer

Singapore KrisFlyer does not offer a pooling program, but it does provide an option to combine miles for parents and kids.

KrisFlyer for Families lets children 2 and older earn miles, and once they do, a parent can set up a Parental Link which allows you to transfer miles from the kid’s account to the parent or guardian’s.

There is a fee of $5 or 500 miles for every 5,000 miles transferred between accounts. You can transfer up to 50,000 KrisFlyer miles from your child’s account every calendar year.

Spirit Free Spirit

Spirit’s Points Pooling program allows Free Spirit members with Silver or Gold elite status or a Free Spirit credit card to become the Pool Pilot. This person can invite up to 8 friends or family members to their pool where points can be combined and redeemed starting at 2,500 points.

Turkish Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines allows families to pool miles as long as the head member is a Classic Plus, Elite, or Elite Plus member.

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 25 can be added to a Family Miles account and their miles will be added to the head member’s account in the form of Bonus Miles which can be used for award redemptions. Each individual member will still earn their own elite Status Miles.

Opening a Family Miles account is free, but you will need to fill out an online feedback form as well as submit proof of identity and address.

United MileagePlus

United has recently rolled out the option to pool miles for free with up to 4 other MileagePlus members.

These members can be friends, family, co-workers…or anyone you trust.

The pool leader must be at least 18 years old and the pooled miles can only be used on United and United Express flights.

Additionally, there is is cooling off period of 90 days for any member who leaves a pool.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

If you are a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver or Gold elite tier member, you can create a household account for up to 9 members.

Once linked, all members will have their earned miles automatically transferred to the head member’s account while still earning their own elite status miles.

This program used to be only available to Gold members, so although it still isn’t available to everyone, it is more easily attained for frequent Virgin Atlantic flyers.

Virgin Australia Velocity

Virgin Australia has a great point-sharing program for families.

Velocity’s Family Pooling allows members to share either their Points or Points and Status Credits with members living at the same address.

A family pool can have a maximum of 6 members and can be a great way to help fast-track a family member to reach elite status by crediting everyone’s points and status credits to their account.

The combined points can then be redeemed for rewards seats, at the Velocity Reward store, or at the Velocity Wine Store.

Hotel Loyalty Programs

While points pooling still isn’t the norm, most U.S. hotel chains make it a little bit easier to share points compared to airlines.

So with a little bit of planning and legwork, you can still combine your family’s points towards a redemption that will help you take advantage of extra free nights and elite status perks.

Here are the few that let you do so for free …

Hilton Honors

Hilton makes it easy to share your Hilton Honors points with your friends and family.

Simply invite up to 10 other members, and once they accept, members can transfer points to each other for free. This is a great way to book family trips if 1 member has elite status and wants to share the perks with other rooms.

There is a limit of 500,000 points sent and 2,000,000 points received per year.

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott lets you transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to another member’s account for free, and you can now do this online.

You can transfer a minimum of 1,000 points per transaction and a maximum of 100,000 points per calendar year to other accounts. You can receive a maximum of 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points via transfer per calendar year.

World of Hyatt

Hyatt also lets you share World of Hyatt points with friends and family for free, but the process takes the most effort compared to Marriott and Hilton.

To transfer points, you must download and fill out the Point Combining Request Form and then email it to worldofhyatt@hyatt.com.

Just beware that this manual process can take up to 2 to 4 weeks (though it’s usually processed sooner), so you will need to plan ahead if you want to combine points for a specific redemption.

Final Thoughts

It is no secret that points and miles are very valuable, so when you earn them by paying for your kids (for example) to fly with you, it is entirely reasonable to expect that you should be able to redeem them, too.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case, especially in the U.S. where many airlines charge a hefty fee to share miles.

Fortunately, there are plenty of airlines and hotels that make the process of sharing and pooling points and miles easy and, most importantly, free!

If you and your loved ones have miles spread across multiple accounts, check to see if you can combine them so that you can use them for a great redemption, rather than letting them expire due to hard-to-use small account balances.

Safe travels!

The information regarding the Bankoh Hawaiian Airlines Visa^® check card and Hawaiian Airlines Visa^® credit card-Japan was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.