Miles Academy
From zero to advanced: learn to accumulate, transfer and redeem spending fewer points. Straight to the point.
Every term in the miles world, explained simply.
Transfer bonuses: the complete guide (2026)
Bonus campaigns are the heart of the miles strategy in Brazil. This complete guide covers how they work, the math behind them, when they appear, the step-by-step, the costly mistakes and when NOT to transfer.
Read article →When it's worth redeeming with miles (2026)
Miles aren't always the best deal. Learn to calculate the value per thousand, with numeric examples, a reference table and the situations where redeeming truly pays off — and when it's better to pay cash.
Read article →Is buying miles worth it? The definitive guide (2026)
Programs sell miles with bonuses all the time. Learn — with numeric examples — when buying is a great deal, when it's a trap, and how to compare buying with a transfer bonus.
Read article →How to calculate the value of a mile: the two numbers that decide everything
A mile has two different values — what you pay to get it and what it returns on a redemption. Learn to calculate both, with worked examples, and never transfer or redeem blindly again.
Read article →How to choose the best miles program for your profile
There is no universal “best program” — there's the best one for you. A decision guide by profile: where you fly, how you earn, what you value. With comparison table and flowchart.
Read article →How to book award tickets with fewer miles (2026 guide)
Practical techniques to lower the mileage cost of an award booking: date flexibility, low-fare calendars, redemption promos, partners, split tickets, low taxes and using elite status. An actionable step-by-step.
Read article →Esfera to Smiles: step-by-step and how to maximize in 2026
Complete guide to transferring Esfera points to Smiles: 1:1 ratio, recurring bonuses, Esfera and Smiles clubs, points + cash, timeframes, common mistakes and when it is worth it.
Read article →Livelo to Azul: transfer and bonus guide (2026)
How to transfer Livelo points to Azul Fidelidade at a 1:1 ratio, understand the recurring bonus tiers, the weight of Clube Livelo and Clube Azul Fidelidade, deadlines, common mistakes and when it is truly worth it.
Read article →Livelo to LATAM Pass: how to transfer, bonuses and when it is worth it (2026)
Complete guide to transferring Livelo points to LATAM Pass in 2026: step by step, points ratio, typical bonuses, crediting times, common mistakes and when it really pays off.
Read article →Credit cards with VIP lounge access: which ones are actually worth it
Understand how credit-card VIP lounge access works, the Priority Pass, LoungeKey and Dragon Pass networks, the difference between unlimited and limited visits, guest rules, and how to weigh all of it when choosing a card.
Read article →How to multiply the points your credit card earns
A practical guide to earning far more points with the same spending: concentration, shopping portals, subscription clubs, campaigns, bills and taxes, additional cards, and the mistakes that make you lose points.
Read article →Best credit card for earning miles in 2026: how to choose
Complete guide to choosing the best miles credit card in 2026 by profile: points per dollar, annual fee, coalitions, VIP lounges and a practical step-by-step.
Read article →Is a premium card's annual fee worth it? The real math
A premium card's annual fee is neither an expense nor an investment by default: it depends on the math. Learn to calculate, with numeric break-even examples, whether the points, VIP lounges and insurance pay for what you spend.
Read article →Miles to Europe: how many you need and the best programs (2026)
How many miles for Europe in economy and business, the best programs (TAP, Smiles, LATAM Pass, Iberia/Avios, Azul, Flying Blue), the weight of taxes and the accrual strategy. Updated ranges for July 2026.
Read article →How Many Miles Do I Need to Travel? Table by Destination (2026)
A complete guide with realistic mileage ranges by destination from Brazil: domestic flights, South America, the US and Europe, in economy and business. Understand why the cost varies, the role of mile value and taxes, and how to find the best dates.
Read article →BeginnerWhat are miles and points?
Points are the currency of bank and coalition programs (like Livelo and Esfera). Miles are the currency of airline programs (Smiles, LATAM Pass, TudoAzul). You accumulate points day to day and, at the right moment, transfer them to a miles program to book flights.
The real trick isn't 'collecting miles' for its own sake — it's knowing how much each mile is worth and using it when the return beats paying cash.
BeginnerHow to accumulate points and miles
The three main sources are: credit cards (points per unit spent), bonus transfers (next lesson's topic) and subscription clubs (you pay a monthly fee and get points every month). Points-mall shopping and one-off promotions round it out.
Tip: concentrate accumulation in one or two programs. Points scattered everywhere rarely turn into a good redemption.
IntermediateBonus transfers: the heart of the strategy
From time to time, origin programs (Livelo, Esfera) offer a bonus to transfer your points to a miles program: with a 100% bonus, 10,000 points become 20,000 miles. This is where most of the value comes from for miles travelers.
Radar Milhas tracks these campaigns in real time — check the Transfer Promotions showcase and turn on alerts so you don't miss the best ones.
IntermediateWhen it's worth redeeming with miles
The math is simple: find the 'value per thousand' of the redemption — the cash price of the ticket, minus fees, divided by the miles required (per thousand). If that value is higher than what your miles cost you, redeeming pays off.
Use Radar's Miles Calculator to run this in seconds, no guessing.
AdvancedCommon mistakes that cost you
Transferring points with no bonus and no redemption in sight; letting miles expire; redeeming short, cheap segments (where a mile is worth little); and ignoring boarding fees, which sometimes make a redemption worse than cash.
The golden rule: accumulate patiently, transfer with a bonus, and redeem when the value per thousand pays off.
ReferenceQuick glossary
Per thousand: the value of 1,000 miles. Transfer bonus: extra miles when transferring points. Redemption value per thousand: how much you extract from every 1,000 miles when redeeming. Club: monthly subscription that credits points. Boarding fees: the cash amount paid even on miles redemptions.