What are Thai Airways miles?

Thai Airways’ frequent flyer program is called Royal Orchid Plus. The miles that you can accrue and spend are Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus miles, or Thai Airways miles for short.

Which credit cards earn Thai Airways miles?

You can transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards Points and Marriott Bonvoy points to Thai Airways. The best way to leverage credit card spending is with Citi ThankYou Rewards Points-earning cards. The best way to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards Points is via the Citi Strata Premier card and Citi Prestige cards. To earn Marriott Bonvoy points, you can use the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card or Marriott Boundless card. There are other co-branded and non-co-branded credit cards that earn Thai Airways miles directly, but these options are for travelers based in Asian countries such as Thailand or Japan.

What are Thai Airways miles worth?

The value of Thai Airways miles is variable. With lower-level economy redemptions, your redemption rate might be close to 1 cent per point. With first and business class redemptions, you may get a cent-per-point value of 5 to 10. A 5-cent-per-point value is like getting a $100 ticket for 2,000 miles.

How do I transfer Thai Airways miles to a spouse?

Unfortunately, you cannot transfer Thai Airways miles to other people. What you can do, however, is use award nominees to redeem awards for family, friends, or anyone else. You can nominate up to 5 names for free.

Who are Thai Airways' partners?

Thai Airways partners with all Star Alliance airlines and THAI Smile (its budget airline). It partners with the following hotel brands: AccorHotels Dusit Hotels and Resorts Hyatt Intercontinental Hotel Group Langham Hospitality Group Okura Nikko Hotels Marriott Worldhotels

When do Thai Airways miles post in your account?

Generally, Thai Airways miles take up to 3 days to post to your account. If they still haven’t posted after 15 days, you can use Thai Airways’ online claim service.

Are Thai Airways miles refundable?

Yes. For travel dates or flight number changes on domestic travel, you can pay a $16 or 500฿ fee per person per reservation. Domestic award tickets can be redeposited for a $60 or 1,800฿ fee. For international travel, the only changes that can be made are flight date and number changes. The fee for international award cancellation and re-credited miles is $125 or 3,750฿ for regional routes and $190 or 5,700฿ for intercontinental routes.

When do Thai Airways miles expire?

Thai Airways miles expire after 3 years. Specifically, they expire at the end of the quarter, 3 years after mileage accrual.

15 Best Ways To Earn Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Miles [2025]

Updated: May 14, 2025, 9:38pm CDT

Edited by:

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Table of Contents

Sign Up for a Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus Account
Earn Thai Airways Miles With Credit Cards
Earn Miles Through Travel
Earn Miles through Shopping and Dining
Specialty Earnings for Thai Airways Miles
Final Thoughts

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Thai Airways is known as one of the top airlines in the world, particularly for its first class. As a Star Alliance airline member, there’s no shortage of ways to fly on Thai Airways. Not so obvious, however, is how to earn Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus miles.

There aren’t too many ways to earn these miles, but there are still a variety of opportunities for us to explore. Let’s get started.

Signing up for a Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus account is made easy by the online website.

Here’s how to register:

Visit the Thai Airways Registration Link.
Check the box that says I accept Royal Orchid Plus Terms & Conditions.
Click Next.
Populate your personal information, contact details, preferences, and credentials.
Submit the online form.
You’re registered!

You’ll be able to earn Thai Airways miles from any sort of qualifying activity, whether it’s on flights or shopping with its partners.

Now that you’re set up with a Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus account, let’s get into the best ways to earn Thai Airways miles.

Earn Thai Airways Miles With Credit Cards

Earning Thai Airways miles is made easier by the transfer partners it has. Redeeming Thai Airways miles for first or business class will take a lot of miles, especially when redeeming for multiple people or a family.

The best way to accrue Thai Airways miles is through the methodical use of point-earning credit cards.

We have quite a few options here, and although we’re focusing on the options for U.S. credit card holders, there are actually a lot of options for international card holders, too!

1. Citi ThankYou Rewards Credit Cards (Best Option)

Without a doubt, the best way to earn Thai Airways miles quickly is by transferring points from Citi ThankYou Rewards. Citi ThankYou Rewards Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 1,000.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

U.P. Rating

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome OfferFor a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
$100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

$95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
$100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Citi Rewards+^® Card

U.P. Rating

*The information regarding the Citi Rewards+ card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Citi Rewards+^® Card

*The information regarding the Citi Rewards+ card has expired, and the card is no longer open to applicants.

Welcome OfferNo offer available
No offer available

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$0

Annual Fee

APR

17.74% to 27.74% variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Rewards+ card is an excellent way to earn Citi ThankYou points with a $0 annual fee while receiving perks like point round-ups, a 10% point redemption rebate, and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

5x points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025
2x points on at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year
Round up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase

Cons

Doesn’t offer access to the entire collection of Citi transfer partners
Charges foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

No welcome offer available.
Earn a total of 5 Thank You^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.*
Earn 2X ThankYou^® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou^® Points on All Other Purchases.
The Citi Rewards+^® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
No annual fee.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 17.74% to 27.74% variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars

Citi Double Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Citi Double Cash^® Card

Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!

Welcome OfferEarn $200 cash-back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
$200 cash-back

Annual Fee

APR

0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!

This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.

Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
Flexible redemption options
No annual fee

Cons

No bonus categories
3% foreign transaction fees

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Bonus Offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers; after that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Citi Double Cash^® Card Travel Portal Special Offer
Earn a total of 5 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rental, and attractions, excluding air travel, when booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal via cititravel.com or by calling 1-833-737-1288 (TTY: 711). Offer is valid through 12/31/2025.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

U.P. Rating

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, without an annual fee!

Citi Custom Cash^® Card

Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, without an annual fee!

Welcome OfferEarn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
$200

Annual Fee

APR

0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% to 28.24%.

Credit Recommended

Fair to Excellent (580-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Custom Cash^® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, with a $0 annual fee.

Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.

Pros & Cons

Pros

5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
$0 annual fee
Multiple redemption options

Cons

Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Get 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% to 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.
No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
$0 annual fee.
Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash^® Card account per person.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% to 28.24%.
Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%

In order to transfer points from Citi ThankYou Rewards, you’ll need to have a credit card that not only earns ThankYou Rewards Points but also has the points transfer functionality for all partners. For example, the Citi Strata Premier card is eligible to transfer ThankYou Points to all airline partners, while the Citi Rewards+ card (closed to new applicants) has reduced partners and ratios. You must have a Citi Strata Premier card or Citi Prestige^® Card (closed to new applicants) to transfer points to Thai Airways.

Hot Tip: Want to know how to earn more Citi ThankYou Rewards Points than you thought possible? Check out our complete guide on how to earn 100,000+ ThankYou Points in 90 days!

2. Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

When it comes to points flexibility, Marriott Bonvoy takes the cake. Marriott Bonvoy has traditionally been known as a hotel currency, but there are, arguably, better ways to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for flights than hotels.

With 40+ transfer partners to choose from, there’s no shortage of ways to creatively use your points.

The main difference between Citi and Marriott Bonvoy points is the transfer ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to most of its partners at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points you transfer, meaning you’ll receive 25,000 Thai Airways miles for transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.

Yes, you’ll need more Marriott Bonvoy points since the ratio is 3:1, but the ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points are much more plentiful. The best part is that both American Express and Chase have Marriott co-branded credit cards.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
30,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$210

Annual Fee

APR

20.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
2x points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
5 Elite Night Credits each year

Cons

Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card from Chase^®!
Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Card.
Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Travel now, pay later - Break up purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest plus no plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
NEW! Pay Yourself Back^® - Redeem Marriott Bonvoy^® points for a statement credit to cover qualifying travel purchases made directly with airlines or at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, up to $750 total in redemptions per year.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

NEW OFFER

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Welcome OfferEarn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) plus 50,000 bonus points after qualifying purchases.
Up to 3 Free Night Awards + 50,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $1,400

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.49% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
Automatic Silver Elite Status

Cons

$95 annual fee
Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) plus 50,000 bonus points after qualifying purchases.
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Card.
Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Welcome OfferEarn up to 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 85,000 points after you spend $5,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Up to 135,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $945

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

$250 annual fee (rates & fees)
Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn up to 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 85,000 points after you spend $5,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®.
Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy^® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®.
With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy^® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy^® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
Plan It^® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
$250 Annual Fee.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Up to 150,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $1,050

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy^® American Express^® Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
With Marriott Bonvoy^® Platinum Elite Status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when the stay is booked with a Qualifying Rate at hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, subject to availability upon check-in.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy^® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
Enroll in Priority Pass Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
With Cell Phone Protection*, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. *Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
$650 Annual Fee.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

3. Refer a Friend for Bonus Miles

By utilizing referral bonuses, you can help your friends and family earn points and reward yourself.

American Express has the Refer-a-Friend program, which allows you to refer your friends and family to virtually any personal card in the American Express portfolio when you have a personal card. If you have an Amex business credit card, you can refer to almost any business card.

Chase also offers a similar Refer-a-Friend program, though you can only refer a card to friends if you currently have that card.

Hot Tip: Referral bonuses are subject to change. Using referral bonuses is an excellent way to increase your points balance with very little effort.

4. Other Credit Card Partners

Thai Airways has a number of co-branded and non-co-branded credit cards that earn Thai Airways miles. However, these are only available to cardholders who are residents of other countries.

For those who are located abroad, you can learn more about Thai Airways’ international credit card partners.

Here are the options for (international) co-branded credit cards:

AEON
American Express
Citibank
JCB
KTC
Sumitomo Mitsui Bank

Here are the options for (international) non-co-branded credit cards:

AEON
American Express
Bangkok Bank
Central Credit Card
Citibank
Diners Club International
Kasikorn Bank
Krungsri
KTC
SCB
TMB
UOB

As you can see, there are many options to earn Thai Airways miles internationally, more so than in the U.S.

Earn Miles Through Travel

As you might imagine, the best way to earn Thai Airways miles without credit card spending is through travel. You can earn a lot of Thai Airways miles through paid travel on Thai Airways, travel partners, and hotel bookings.

This section is focused on using paid travel through partners and Thai Airways to rack up tons of Thai Airways miles.

5. Airfare and Airline Purchases

Thai Airways Boeing 747 - First Class — Thai Airways Boeing 747 – First Class. Image Credit: Cherag Dubash

One of the best ways to earn Thai Airways miles quickly is by purchasing tickets to fly on the airline’s flights.

For every flight on Thai Airways, you’ll earn at least 500 miles, with the exception of some booking classes.

Check out this chart for the definitive accrual of miles on Thai Airways:

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Class of Service	Operating Booking Class	Percentage of Actual Miles Flown
Royal First Class	F	250%
Royal First Class	A / P	200%
Royal Silk Class	C / D	150%
Royal Silk Class	J / Z	125%
Premium Economy Class	U	110%
Economy Class	Y / B	110%
Economy Class	M / Q / H	100%
Economy Class (Discount)	T / K / S	75%
Economy Class (Discount)	G	50%
Economy Class (Discount)	V / W	25%
Economy Class (Discount)	L	No miles
Ineligible Booking Classes	O / I / X / E / N / R	No miles

Keep in mind that if you pay for an upgrade at the airport, your mileage earning will be based on the original fare instead of the upgraded fare.

Interestingly, you won’t earn any bonus miles with Royal Orchid Plus elite status. Instead, you’ll earn a one-time Tier Status Threshold Bonus each time elite status is attained or retained as shown here:

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Royal Orchid Plus Membership Tier	Tier Status Threshold Bonus
Basic Status	0 miles
Silver Status	3,000 miles
Gold Status	5,000 miles
Platinum Status	10,000 miles

Thai Airways also publishes the flight distances of all its routes.

Remember that the terms and conditions for earning Thai Airways miles are subject to change at any time, so be sure to verify all the information with Thai Airways.

6. Crediting Partner Airlines to Thai Airways Miles

You can earn miles flying on a partner airline with Star Alliance airlines. Most airlines have separate accrual rates for each airline in the alliance. However, Thai Airways keeps it simple.

You’ll accrue miles as per the following chart:

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Class of Service	Actual Miles Flown
First Class	150%
Business Class	125%
Economy Class	100%

Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of earning miles from Star Alliance travel.

Overall, there are a ton of ways to credit partner airlines to Thai Airways thanks to the large network of airlines from Star Alliance.

7. Car Rentals and Other Ground Transportation Partners

Thai Airways has 5 car rental and ground transportation partners:

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Partner	Bonus Miles	Partner	Bonus Miles
Avis	500 miles per rental	Hertz	500 miles per rental outside of Asia, 250 miles per rental within Asia
Budget	500 miles per rental	SIXT	500 miles per rental, 1,000 miles per Sixt limousine transfer
Blacklane	2 miles/$1

In addition, you’re eligible to stack promotions to get discounts and earn double or even triple miles, which we’ll discuss at the end of this guide.

8. Thai Airways Hotel Partners

Intercontinental New York Barclay Premium View Room — Earn up to 750 miles per stay at the InterContinental New York. Image Credit: Katie Seemann

Thai Airways has a ton of hotel partners, and you can earn up to 750 miles per qualifying stay. You can also earn miles based on spending activity with hotel partners.

The earning structure for every partner is not published. When making a reservation, you must insert your Royal Orchid Plus membership number online or make your reservation through the call center.

Here are Thai Airways’ hotel partners:

AccorHotels
Dusit Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt
Intercontinental Hotel Group
Langham Hospitality Group
Okura Nikko Hotels
Marriott
Worldhotels

It’s easy to find a hotel that fits you and also enables you to earn Thai Airways miles with so many brands to choose from. For more information on the exact terms and conditions, visit the Thai Airways website.

9. Transfer From Hotel Loyalty Programs

Several programs offer the ability to transfer their points to Royal Orchid Plus miles, but we wouldn’t recommend this as you’ll receive a low value for your points.

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Program	Minimum	Transfer Ratio
ALL – Accor Live Limitless	4,000	4,000:2,000
IHG One Rewards	10,000	5:1
Marriott Bonvoy	3,000	3:1
World of Hyatt	5,000	5:2

10. Thai Airways Hotel Booking Portals

Thai Airways partners with hotel booking portals to enable travelers to earn Thai Airways miles.

Here are its hotel booking portal partners:

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Booking Portal	Miles Earning	Booking Portal	Miles Earning
Agoda	Up to 10,000 miles with PointsMAX packages	Trip.com	6 miles/100฿
Kaligo.com	Up to 20 miles/$1

Be sure to confirm that the prices you’re getting are not significantly higher than the cheapest available rates. In other words, it’s best to shop around before committing.

11. Thai Airways Communications Partners

Thai Airways partners with Travelling Connect, which is a mobile network for international calling and texting.

You’re eligible to earn miles for up to 4 mobile phone numbers (including your own).

The way it works is that Travelling Connect partners with other networks in a variety of different countries and offers miles depending on what network you’re using, what country you’re using it in, and what activity you’re doing.

Here’s the complete chart of partner networks:

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Country	Network	Miles per Minute Outgoing Call	Miles per Minute Incoming Call	SMS and/or Data
Asia
India	Vodafone	1	1	–
Kazakhstan	Kcell	3	–	–
Maldives	Ooredo	3	–	–
South Korea	KT	1	–	–
Thailand	True Move	3	–	–
Vietnam	Viettel	1	–	2
Europe
Armenia	Beeline	1	–	–
Montenegro	T-Mobile	3	–	–
Turkey	Turkcell	4	–	1 mile per 2 SMS
Middle East and Africa
Afghanistan	Roshan	2	–	2 per MB
Algeria	Djezzy	7	–	–
Bahrain*	Zain	3	3	3
Kuwait	Ooredo	4	–	–
Seychelles	Cable & Wireless	5	–	4 per MB
Sudan	MTN	2	–	–
Oceania
Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu	Digicel	3	–	3 per MB

_{* When using Zain in Bahrain, you’ll earn 3 miles per 1 euro.}

Your specific mileage accrual is dependent on your exact travel situation.

Earn Miles through Shopping and Dining

If you need some ways outside of credit card spending, or perhaps in conjunction with credit card spending, there are a few ways to earn Thai Airways miles quickly.

If you’re in Thailand, you can eat at several restaurant partners to earn Thai Airways miles. Alternatively, Thai Airways has a few health and wellness partners that you can use to accrue extra miles.

12. Thai Airways Dining Partners

Thai Airways has a relatively small list of dining partners, and all are located in Thailand. Most of these partners are restaurants located in hotels, so you’re somewhat limited there.

Still, if you’re planning on eating there anyway, you’ll be pleased to know you can earn 50 Thai Airways miles for every 500฿ spent.

Here’s the list of participating hotels, but you’ll want to review the dining partners page for participating dining establishments and cuisine types:

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok
Dusit Devarana Hot Spring & Spa Conghua, Guangzhou
Dusit Princess Chiang Mai
Dusit Princess Srinakarin, Bangkok
Dusit Thani Dongtai, Jiangsu
Dusit Thani Dubai
Dusit Thani Fudu Qingfeng Garden Hotel, Changzhou
Dusit Thani Guam Resort
Dusit Thani Hua Hin
Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket
Dusit Thani Manila
Dusit Thani Pattaya
dusitD2 Chiang Mai
dusitD2 Fudu Binhu Hotel, Changzhou
dusitD2 kenz hotel dubai
Pathumwan Princess, MBK Centre, Bangkok
Puff & Pie Bakery House
The Sukosol
Yellow Orchid Restaurant

13. Thai Airways Health and Wellness Partners

Thai Airways’ main health and wellness partner is Divana. Divana has 5 locations, all of which are in Bangkok. Divana is a wellness spa, where you can experience massages and body and facial treatments, along with other wellness and medical therapies.

You can earn 50 Thai Airways miles for every 500฿ spent there.

In addition, you can also visit the Devarana Spa at Dusit Hotels. There are 4 locations in Pattaya, Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai. You’ll earn 50 Thai Airways miles for every 500฿ you spend at Devarana Spa.

Specialty Earnings for Thai Airways Miles

The last method we’ll be discussing will be categorized as a specialty earning method. There are ways to multiply your Thai Airways earnings.

14. Thai Airways Promotions

From time to time, Thai Airways will run promotions with its partners. Some promotions are for redemptions while others are for mileage accrual.

For example, Hertz partnered with Thai Airways to offer a global sale that allows members to save up to 20% and earn 1,000 miles per rental, which is a fantastic deal. Other promotions have historically included opportunities to earn double or triple miles.

It’s definitely a smart move to take advantage of these promotions when they come about. Follow the Thai Airways website to learn about the latest promotions.

15. Tax Refund With utu

When shopping tax-free aboard, earn 3,125 miles for every $100 tax refund with utu.

Final Thoughts

There are plenty of great ways to earn Thai Airways miles.

Royal Orchid Plus is a worthwhile frequent flyer program to look into. Although they pass on fuel surcharges, the available transfer partners along with the ability to book Star Alliance flights make this program worth looking into.

If you spend a lot of time in Thailand, you’ll notice that there are tons of ways to boost your mileage balance even more. Now you have an idea of the best ways to earn a lot of Thai Airways miles.