How Loyalty Programs Work in Brazil: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

For anyone who loves to travel — or simply wants to save money — loyalty programs are a powerful tool. In Brazil, these programs have become increasingly popular, helping people earn and use points or miles to fly, stay at hotels, or even shop online. If you’re curious about how loyalty programs work in Brazil, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to optimize your current strategy.

What Exactly Are Loyalty Programs?

A loyalty program is a marketing strategy used by companies to reward customers for their continued use of services or products. In Brazil, loyalty programs are especially strong in the airline and banking industries. These programs allow users to accumulate points or miles through various actions, including flying, spending on credit cards, or shopping with partner stores.

Over time, these accumulated points can be converted into airline tickets, hotel stays, gift cards, or even cash equivalents. The key is knowing how and when to earn — and when to use — your points wisely.

Why Loyalty Programs Are So Popular in Brazil

Brazilian consumers have embraced loyalty programs in a big way. With high airfare prices and the popularity of credit cards with reward systems, loyalty programs provide a way to reduce travel expenses and gain access to exclusive deals.

Some of the reasons loyalty programs thrive in Brazil:

• Widespread use of credit cards, especially those tied to banks with reward systems.
• Frequent promotions offering point or mile bonuses.
• The cultural love for travel, both domestic and international.
• Inflation and rising prices make free or discounted travel even more attractive.

Top Loyalty Programs in Brazil

Understanding how loyalty programs work in Brazil starts by getting familiar with the most popular ones. Each one operates differently, but the goal is always the same: reward loyal behavior.

Airline Loyalty Programs

1. Smiles (Gol Airlines)
   Offers miles for flights, credit card spending, and shopping. You can also subscribe to Clube Smiles for monthly mile bonuses.
2. Latam Pass (Latam Airlines)
   Allows you to earn miles through Latam flights, credit card partners, and promotions. Latam Pass Club offers benefits for frequent users.
3. TudoAzul (Azul Airlines)
   Similar model with earning opportunities through Azul flights and its points club, Clube TudoAzul.

Bank Reward Programs (That Transfer to Airlines)

1. Livelo (Bradesco and Banco do Brasil)
   One of the most flexible programs, with multiple airline and store partners.
2. Esfera (Santander)
   Offers promotions for transferring points to airlines and redeeming products.
3. Itaú Sempre Presente
   Points can be transferred to multiple airline programs or redeemed for products.

Step-by-Step: How to Join a Loyalty Program in Brazil

If you’re new to this world, joining is easy and usually free. Here’s how to get started:

1. Visit the official website of the program you’re interested in (e.g., smiles.com.br, latampass.latam.com).
2. Register using your CPF, name, email, and a secure password.
3. Confirm your account through your email or SMS.
4. Log in and begin exploring how to accumulate miles or points.

You can also download the mobile apps for faster access and real-time updates.

How to Accumulate Points and Miles

This is where the strategy begins. In Brazil, there are multiple ways to earn rewards, and understanding each one will help you maximize your earnings.

1. Flying With Airlines

The most direct way is flying with the program’s associated airline. The miles you earn depend on:

• Ticket fare class
• Distance flown
• Your loyalty program tier (higher tiers earn more)

For example, a business class ticket from São Paulo to Miami on Latam can earn significantly more points than a discounted economy ticket on the same route.

2. Using Credit Cards

This is the most efficient way to earn points in Brazil. You earn points based on your spending, and those points can be transferred to airline programs.

• Look for cards that offer at least 1.5 points per R$1 spent.
• Cards like Bradesco Elo Nanquim, Santander Unlimited, and Itaú Latam Pass Platinum are popular choices.
• Some cards also offer international spending bonuses.

3. Shopping With Partner Stores

Many programs run online shopping portals where you earn miles by purchasing through affiliate links. These include:

• Magazine Luiza
• Casas Bahia
• Netshoes
• Fast Shop
• Americanas.com

Before buying anything online, it’s smart to check the program’s shopping portal — sometimes you can earn up to 10x miles per real spent during special promotions.

4. Subscribing to Points Clubs

Programs offer paid monthly clubs that reward you with extra miles, longer expiration periods, and exclusive promotions.

Example: Clube Smiles

• R$42/month for 1,000 miles/month
• Exclusive 100% bonus promotions on point transfers
• Extended expiration dates

Most experienced travelers in Brazil consider club memberships a must for serious mileage accumulation.

5. Promotional Campaigns

Frequent transfer bonus promotions can significantly boost your mileage balance. Watch for emails and alerts from Livelo, Esfera, and the airline programs themselves.

Common bonuses range from 50% to 100% extra miles, especially when you’re part of a mileage club.

How to Redeem Miles in Brazil

Now that you’ve earned your miles, it’s time to use them! Redemption processes vary, but most follow the same general path:

1. Log into your loyalty account.
2. Search for flights using the “Use Miles” option.
3. Select travel dates and choose available flights.
4. Pay the taxes and fees separately — these are not covered by miles.
5. Confirm and receive your e-ticket.

Tips for Efficient Redemption

• Book in advance: 60 to 90 days ahead usually offers better value.
• Be flexible: Sometimes leaving one day earlier or later can cut the required miles in half.
• Consider round-trip redemptions: Some programs offer better rates this way.

How Much Are Miles Worth?

This varies a lot depending on how you redeem them, but here’s a rough guide in Brazil:

• Domestic flights: ~4,000 to 12,000 miles (one-way)
• South America: ~15,000 to 30,000 miles (round-trip)
• North America: ~35,000 to 70,000 miles
• Europe: ~50,000 to 100,000 miles

To calculate if you’re getting good value, divide the ticket price in reais by the number of miles needed. Aim for R$0.03 to R$0.04 per mile or higher.

Points and Miles Expiration: What You Need to Know

Expiration is real — and frustrating. Here’s what you need to know:

• Livelo: Points expire in 24-36 months unless you’re part of Clube Livelo.
• Smiles: Expiration varies between 12 and 36 months depending on your tier.
• Latam Pass and TudoAzul: Similar time frames, but club members get extensions.

Monitor your balances regularly to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Tools and Apps That Help You Manage Everything

To stay organized and make the most of your points, try these tools:

• AwardWallet – Track all your balances in one place.
• Melhores Destinos – Follow deals and promo alerts.
• Hotmilhas / MaxMilhas – If you choose to sell miles, do it safely.
• Google Sheets – Great for tracking your earnings and redemptions manually.

Are Loyalty Programs Really Worth It?

Absolutely — but only if you understand how they work. Many people lose value by:

• Letting points expire
• Transferring points without bonuses
• Redeeming for low-value flights
• Paying high annual fees on underperforming credit cards

With proper planning and a bit of learning, loyalty programs can deliver amazing rewards — sometimes saving you thousands of reais on trips.

Real-Life Example: How João Used His Miles

João, a teacher from Curitiba, joined Clube TudoAzul in 2023 and started using a Livelo-partner credit card. He made all his daily purchases with that card and transferred points during a 100% bonus campaign. Six months later, he booked a round-trip flight to Santiago, Chile, using miles only — paying just R$250 in taxes.

This is just one of many cases showing how loyalty programs in Brazil are practical and powerful for travelers and everyday users alike.