By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: Turkish Miles and Smiles was beloved for low Star Alliance pricing, including 7,500-mile United domestic flights and cheap business class to Europe. A major devaluation on February 16, 2024 changed that, raising key awards by 30 to 90 percent and switching to segment-by-segment pricing that punishes connections, especially through Istanbul.
The famous sweet spots
For years Turkish Miles and Smiles offered some of the best Star Alliance value anywhere. United domestic economy flights cost just 7,500 miles one-way, domestic business 12,500, and US to Europe business was a steal, which made the program a favorite despite a clunky website and frequent need to call. Those sweet spots are exactly what the 2024 devaluation targeted. See Turkish guide.
The February 2024 devaluation
Effective February 16, 2024, Turkish carried out a major devaluation. United domestic economy rose from 7,500 to 10,000 miles and domestic business from 12,500 to 15,000. Long-haul business took bigger hits: a Chicago to Istanbul to Frankfurt award jumped from 45,000 to 85,000 miles, and Los Angeles to Istanbul to Delhi from 52,500 to 100,000. Pricing also became additive, charged segment by segment, which sharply raised the cost of connecting itineraries. See award charts.
What remains
Even after the cuts, Turkish keeps a published chart and some value on shorter Star Alliance awards, and its miles still come cheaply from Capital One, Citi, and Bilt, plus Rove, often with transfer bonuses. But the standout deals are gone, and the segment-by-segment pricing makes connections expensive, so confirm the current price before transferring. See best points for Turkish and the devaluation overview.
Frequently asked questions
Did Turkish Miles and Smiles devalue?
Yes, significantly, effective February 16, 2024. United domestic economy rose from 7,500 to 10,000 miles, long-haul business roughly doubled on some routes, and pricing became segment-by-segment, which raised the cost of connecting flights.
What were the old Turkish sweet spots?
United domestic economy for 7,500 miles and business for 12,500, plus cheap US to Europe business class. These were among the best Star Alliance values until the February 2024 devaluation roughly doubled many of them.
What is segment-by-segment pricing?
Charging miles for each flight segment separately rather than one price for the whole itinerary. Turkish adopted it in 2024, which significantly increases the cost of connecting awards, especially those routing through Istanbul.
Are Turkish miles still worth it?
Less than before, but they still come cheaply from Capital One, Citi, and Bilt plus Rove, and shorter Star Alliance awards retain some value. Confirm the current segment-by-segment price before transferring, since the best deals are gone.
Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. Every card is ranked by what it actually returns, with all points valued at a flat 1 cent and offers verified against issuer sources. About the author.
