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Updated: 26 May 2026

Brussels Airlines Privilege vs Membership Rewards: Which Gives You More Value?

Honestly: for a long time I maintained two separate points balances without ever asking myself which one actually delivered more value. Brussels Airlines Privilege miles on one side, Membership Rewards points on the other. Both "points", both linked to flying, both with the promise that you'd eventually do something valuable with them. But the question "which gives you more value" has a surprisingly nuanced answer.

Because the short answer is: it depends. The longer answer, with figures and calculations, follows below. According to TravelLux.be, the comparison between Brussels Airlines Privilege and Membership Rewards is one of the most underestimated choices for Belgian travellers when it comes to credit card points.

How do Brussels Airlines Privilege miles and Membership Rewards points actually work?

Let me first lay out the playing field, because both systems work fundamentally differently. Brussels Airlines Privilege is part of Lufthansa Group's Miles & More programme. You earn miles by flying with Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian or partners. You can also earn them through credit cards, hotel partners or shopping portals. Those miles are tied to the Miles & More ecosystem: you use them to book flights within Star Alliance and partners, or spend them on upgrades and non-flight awards.

Membership Rewards (MR) points are American Express's points system. You earn them on every purchase with your Amex card, typically 1 point per €1. With the Amex Platinum in Belgium you can optionally activate a Booster: 4 points per €1 for an extra €10/month. The crucial difference: MR points are a kind of currency that you can convert to multiple airline and hotel programmes. Brussels Airlines is one of them. But also Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Avios, Emirates Skywards, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and fifteen other partners.

That difference in flexibility is where it gets interesting.

The maths: what is a Brussels Airlines mile worth vs. an MR point?

This is where it gets concrete. The value of a point or mile isn't fixed — it fluctuates depending on how you use it. But we can calculate averages.

The rule of thumb I use: an MR point is inherently worth slightly less than a Brussels Airlines mile, but the flexibility compensates for that. You don't have to decide in advance which programme your points go to. You can wait until a good award becomes available, or until a transfer bonus is running (Amex regularly offers 20-30% extra points on transfers to certain partners).

Concrete example: Brussels to Bangkok with Brussels Airlines

Let's take a route I know well. Brussels-Bangkok return — that's one of the few long-haul routes Brussels Airlines operates itself. In economy you need around 70,000 to 85,000 miles for a return via Miles & More, depending on availability and season. In business class you're quickly looking at 112,000 to 140,000 miles.

And that's precisely the point. With Membership Rewards points you can reach the same destination via multiple routes. Brussels Airlines is one option, but Flying Blue, Turkish Miles & Smiles (with a stop in Istanbul), or even Emirates Skywards are alternatives for Bangkok. With pure Brussels Airlines miles you're locked into the Miles & More network.

Granted: if you specifically want to fly Brussels Airlines, non-stop from Brussels, then direct Miles & More miles are the simplest route. No conversion risk, no intermediary step.

When is Brussels Airlines Privilege better than Membership Rewards?

It's not the case that MR points always win. There are scenarios where Brussels Airlines miles are clearly the better choice.

If you're a frequent Brussels Airlines flyer earning status miles towards Silver or Gold, you'll want to stay within that ecosystem. You fly regularly from Brussels, you know the routes, you know when award seats become available. In that case every mile is directly usable and you avoid conversion loss.

It can also be worthwhile during promotions on Miles & More awards. From time to time Brussels Airlines offers mileage deals: 30% off certain routes, or special award prices for new destinations. If you already have miles in your account at that moment, you benefit immediately.

And then there's the co-branded Brussels Airlines credit card (the Privilege card via e.g. Belfius or KBC). It earns miles directly on every purchase, without conversion. For anyone who exclusively flies Brussels Airlines and has no interest in other airlines, that's the straightforward path.

When are Membership Rewards points the smarter choice?

For most Belgian travellers I speak to (and for myself), the flexibility of Membership Rewards wins in the long run. And there are concrete reasons for that.

Reason 1: points that don't expire. Miles & More miles expire after 36 months without activity on your account. If you don't fly for two years (it happens to the best of us), you lose everything. MR points remain as long as your Amex card is active. That gives peace of mind.

Reason 2: multiple transfer partners. Suppose you want to go to Miami (a route I know well). Brussels Airlines doesn't fly there non-stop. With Miles & More you can book via Lufthansa or United, but availability is unpredictable. With MR points you can also look at British Airways Avios (via London), Air France Flying Blue (via Paris), or even Emirates via Dubai. More options means more chance of a good deal.

Reason 3: transfer bonuses. Amex regularly runs promotions where you get 20-40% extra points on transfers to certain partners. If you're patient and time your transfer, you get significantly more value from your MR points. Miles & More doesn't offer that from the loyalty card side.

Reason 4: the welcome bonus. Via the TravelLux.be referral link you receive up to 250,000 Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus with the Amex Platinum. That's the maximum bonus — more than with a direct application. You do need to spend approximately €4,000-6,000 in the first three months, and it's a one-time bonus, not annual. But 250,000 points, smartly transferred, is enough for a return business class to Thailand or two economy returns to the US. No Brussels Airlines co-branded card offers anything comparable.

The combination strategy: the best of both worlds

What I do myself, and what according to TravelLux.be is the strongest model for Belgian travellers, is using both systems side by side. I earn Membership Rewards points via the Amex Platinum on everyday spending. At the same time I earn Miles & More miles by actually flying with Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa Group.

The MR points stay in my Amex account until I have a specific goal. Sometimes that's a transfer to Miles & More to book a Brussels Airlines flight. Sometimes it's a transfer to Flying Blue because availability is better there. Sometimes I just leave them because there's no urgency. That optionality is very valuable.

The direct miles I earn by flying, meanwhile, simply accumulate in my Miles & More account. This way I build two balances that I can deploy separately or in combination.

And honestly: the additional benefits of the Amex Platinum at Brussels Airport complete the picture. The Fast Lane security (normally €169/year), the lounge access with Priority Pass (cardholder plus one guest, free), the Dining Experience at Black Pearls (2x per month). These are things you don't get with a Brussels Airlines co-branded card. When I do the maths, for my travel profile (4-5 flights per year from Brussels, mix of European and long-haul) I arrive at a value of €1,200-1,800 per year from the Amex Platinum. With an annual fee of €780, that's worth it.

For occasional flyers, say 1-2 times per year, that value drops to €400-700. Then it becomes a different story.

Where the Amex Platinum isn't accepted — and what you can do about it

An honest note I always make: Amex acceptance in Belgium is more limited than Visa or Mastercard. At supermarkets (Colruyt, Delhaize) it doesn't always work. Small shops and restaurants in Belgium — hit or miss. Online and abroad it goes much better, especially in the US, the UK, and at international chains.

My solution is simple: I use the Amex for all online purchases, travel bookings, fuel at certain chains, and foreign spending (no currency conversion fees, which also helps). For everyday Belgian groceries I have a regular debit card. This way I still earn a decent amount of MR points without getting frustrated by declines.

Anyone who activates the Booster option (€10/month extra) earns 4 points per euro. At €1,500 monthly spending on the Amex, that's 6,000 points per month, 72,000 per year. Plus the welcome bonus. Do the maths — or, yes, actually do the maths before you decide.

Summarised in hard numbers

Also read our in-depth review of the Amex Platinum in Belgium and the article on how to get the most value from Membership Rewards points.

Frequently asked questions

Transparency: TravelLux.be receives a referral bonus when you apply for the Amex Platinum via our referral link. The annual fee (€780) is identical regardless of whether you apply directly or via our link. The welcome bonus via our link is the maximum (250,000 points). Updated on 26 May 2026.