By Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, Founder and CEO of The Points King. Last updated: October 12, 2026. Editorial Policy
Miles and Smiles vs Maximiles compares programs that share the word “miles” and little else. Miles&Smiles is the frequent flyer program of Turkish Airlines. Maximiles is the name of two unrelated programs: a credit card rewards program from Türkiye İş Bankası (İşbank), in which 1 MaxiMil is worth 1 Turkish lira toward travel, and an online survey and shopping rewards site run by Bilendi in the UK and Europe.
Neither Maximiles program publishes a way to convert its points into Miles&Smiles miles.
I am Joseph Hellman-Benjamin, and I have run The Points King since 2017. We buy Miles&Smiles miles, and the similar names cause real confusion: Turkish Airlines’ program has nothing to do with the two programs called Maximiles. This page sorts out which is which, using each program’s own published terms. There are no affiliate links on this site.
Miles and Smiles vs Maximiles at a Glance
| Miles&Smiles | İşbank Maximiles | Bilendi Maximiles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Airline frequent flyer program | Credit card rewards program in Turkey | Online survey and shopping rewards site |
| Run by | Turkish Airlines | Türkiye İş Bankası | Bilendi |
| How you earn | Flights on Turkish and Star Alliance airlines, partner cards, hotels, car rental | Card spending: 1 MaxiMil per 200 TL in most everyday categories | Surveys, partner offers, emails and games |
| What one unit is worth | Depends on the award | 1 MaxiMil = 1 TL | About 0.33 pence per point |
| What you can get | Award flights and upgrades | Flights on any IATA airline, hotels and car rental, through İşbank’s channels | Gift cards, merchandise and charity donations. No cash |
| When it expires | End of the third calendar year after the miles post | End of the second year after the year earned | Deleted after 12 months without account activity |
| Who can join | Open enrollment | İşbank Maximiles cardholders | UK residents aged 16 or over, on the UK site |
Miles&Smiles: Turkish Airlines’ Program
Miles&Smiles is a Star Alliance frequent flyer program, based around Turkish Airlines’ hub in Istanbul. You earn miles by flying Turkish or its partners and through partner credit cards, hotels and car rental companies. You spend them on award flights at prices set by a published chart.
- One way between North America and Istanbul on Turkish Airlines costs 40,000 miles in economy and 65,000 in business at the promotion level, on Turkish Airlines’ award chart as read on October 10, 2026.
- In the United States, Capital One, Citi and Bilt points transfer to Miles&Smiles.
- Miles expire at the end of the third calendar year after they post. Turkish sells a three-year extension for $20 per 1,000 miles.
For how it stacks up against another Star Alliance program, see Miles&Smiles vs KrisFlyer.
İşbank Maximiles: A Credit Card Program in Turkey
This is the Maximiles most likely meant when the name appears next to Miles&Smiles. İşbank describes it as a travel credit card with a miles program, and the unit it pays out is called MaxiMil. The family includes the Maximiles, Maximiles Select, Maximiles Black and Maximiles Business cards.
- Value. İşbank states that 1 MaxiMil equals exactly 1 TL.
- Earning. The standard card earns 1 MaxiMil per 200 TL, which is 0.5%, in categories such as groceries, fuel, clothing, travel, restaurants and e-commerce. Other categories earn 0.2%. Both have per-transaction caps.
- Spending. MaxiMil buy flight tickets on any IATA airline, hotel stays and car rental through İşbank’s travel channels.
- Expiry. MaxiMil can be used until the end of the second year after the calendar year in which they were earned, then they are deleted.
- A change ahead. İşbank’s site says that from February 1, 2027, MaxiMil will be earned on single transactions of 1,000 TL or more.
Because a ticket bought with MaxiMil is an ordinary purchased fare, İşbank’s FAQ notes that the airline’s own loyalty program applies to it under that airline’s rules. That is the main practical difference from an airline award ticket.
One point to check with the bank: İşbank’s Turkish-language FAQ values a MaxiMil at 1 TL on international tickets too, while its older English pages describe a higher value on international flights.
Can MaxiMil be converted to Miles&Smiles miles?
Not by any route either company publishes. İşbank’s transfer page covers only transfers between Maximiles cards. İşbank does not appear on Turkish Airlines’ list of program partners. The Miles&Smiles credit cards that Turkish Airlines lists in Turkey are issued with Garanti BBVA, QNB and Kuveyt Türk.
Bilendi Maximiles: Surveys and Shopping Rewards
The other Maximiles is a consumer rewards site, online since 1999 and now run by Bilendi, a market research company listed on Euronext Growth Paris. It has country sites in the UK, France, Spain, Italy and elsewhere. It has nothing to do with flying.
- Earning. Points come from online surveys, offers from partner brands, opening and clicking emails, and games.
- Value. On the UK site on October 10, 2026, a £15 gift card cost 4,500 points. That is about 0.33 pence per point, or 300 points to the pound.
- Rewards. Gift cards, merchandise and charity donations. The UK site does not pay cash, and its terms say rewards cannot be transferred or exchanged.
- Expiry. Points are deleted if the account is inactive for 12 months.
- Who can join. On the UK site, UK residents aged 16 or over.
On Trustpilot, Maximiles UK had a score of 4.1 out of 5 from 2,283 reviews on October 10, 2026.
A Third Name to Know: Max Miles
HeyMax, a rewards app, calls its currency Max Miles. Unlike either Maximiles, it is an official Miles&Smiles partner: Turkish Airlines’ partner page says Max Miles transfer to Miles&Smiles at 1:1, with a minimum of 1,000.
Which One Do You Want?
- Award flights and upgrades on Turkish Airlines and Star Alliance: Miles&Smiles.
- A Turkish credit card whose rewards buy any airline’s ticket at a fixed value: İşbank Maximiles.
- Small rewards for surveys, from home, in the UK or Europe: Bilendi Maximiles.
If You Have Miles&Smiles Miles You Will Not Use
Brokers, including The Points King, buy Miles&Smiles miles for cash. Selling them is against the program’s terms, which say Turkish Airlines can terminate a membership and declare its miles invalid. Read the risks of selling miles and points first, then see what Miles&Smiles miles sell for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maximiles the same as Miles&Smiles?
No. Miles&Smiles is Turkish Airlines’ frequent flyer program. Maximiles is either İşbank’s credit card rewards program in Turkey or Bilendi’s survey rewards site.
Can I convert Maximiles to Miles&Smiles miles?
Neither Maximiles program publishes a way to do it, and neither appears on Turkish Airlines’ list of program partners.
What is 1 MaxiMil worth?
İşbank states that 1 MaxiMil equals 1 Turkish lira when used for travel through its channels.
How much is a Maximiles point worth on the UK survey site?
About 0.33 pence. On October 10, 2026, a £15 gift card cost 4,500 points.
Do Miles&Smiles miles expire?
Yes, at the end of the third calendar year after they post, unless you pay to extend them.
Sources
- Turkish Airlines: award ticket charts, read October 10, 2026
- Turkish Airlines: program partners
- Turkish Airlines: credit cards in Turkey
- İşbank: Maximiles card
- İşbank Maximiles: how MaxiMil are earned (in Turkish)
- İşbank Maximiles: frequently asked questions (in Turkish)
- Maximiles UK: FAQ
- Maximiles UK: terms and conditions
- Trustpilot: Maximiles UK, read October 10, 2026