The Swiss miles card landscape —
the short version
In Switzerland, there are three main issuers worth knowing about for miles collection: Cornèrcard, Swisscard, and American Express Switzerland. Each one plays a different role in a well-constructed miles strategy.
Most comparison sites in Switzerland treat these as interchangeable options in the same category. They're not. Cornèrcard has the best earning rate for everyday CHF spending. Swisscard has the brand recognition and SWISS integration. Amex is neither — it's a flexible points currency that can be deployed across multiple programmes, including Miles & More and Flying Blue.
The question isn't which card is best in isolation. It's which combination of cards gives you the fastest path to your next Business Class redemption.
- Welcome bonuses, annual fees, and earning rates change frequently — always verify on the issuer's website before applying
- Current promotional offers may differ from standard rates shown
- Referral codes embedded below are personal codes from customer referral programmes — not paid affiliate links
- This guide is for informational purposes only — not financial advice
Cornèrcard M&M —
the earning machine
Cornèrcard is a Ticino-based bank that most Swiss residents north of Lugano have never heard of. Their Miles & More card combo is the highest-earning miles card available in Switzerland — and it consistently offers the most competitive welcome bonuses of any Swiss issuer. It wins the Handelszeitung best card with annual fee award for 2026.
Welcome bonus (promo)
40,000
Diners earning rate
1 mile / CHF 1
Annual fee
CHF 220 (CHF 110 yr 1)
Why it works
- Best base earning rate in Switzerland (1 mile/CHF 1 on Diners)
- Highest welcome bonuses of any M&M issuer
- Spend milestone bonuses at CHF 10k/20k/30k
- Only 1.2% FX fee (vs 2.5% on Swisscard) — important for travel spending
- Lounge access from CHF 7,500 annual spend (5 free visits)
- Miles never expire with monthly card use
The trade-offs
- Diners Club not accepted everywhere
- No SWISS brand integration or prestige
- Less name recognition as a card issuer
Welcome bonus (promo)
60,000
Diners earning rate
2 miles / CHF 2
Annual fee
CHF 750
Why it works
- Best welcome bonus in Switzerland (up to 60–85k with sweepstakes)
- Priority Pass Prestige — unlimited lounge access
- No monthly spend cap on miles earning
The trade-offs
- CHF 750 annual fee is high
- Only worthwhile at CHF 30,000+ annual card spend
Swisscard M&M —
the SWISS card
Swisscard is the official issuer of the SWISS Miles & More credit card range. If you fly SWISS regularly and value the brand integration — premium check-in access on Platinum, the SWISS logo on the card — this is the natural home product. The earning rates are slightly lower than Cornèrcard, but the soft benefits for SWISS frequent flyers are meaningful.
Welcome bonus
20,000 miles
Extra benefit
CHF 300 SWISS voucher
Annual fee
CHF 700 (CHF 350 yr 1)
Why it works
- CHF 300 SWISS flight voucher — useful if you fly SWISS regularly
- SWISS First Class check-in desk access
- Up to 2.4 miles per CHF 2 on Amex (better than Cornèrcard Amex rate)
- Priority Pass included
- Miles never expire with monthly use
The trade-offs
- Lower welcome bonus than Cornèrcard
- 2.5% FX fee — expensive for international spending
- Voucher only works on swiss.com paid with the Amex card
Amex Membership Rewards —
the flexible reserve
The Swiss Amex Platinum isn't a Miles & More card. It earns Membership Rewards points — a flexible currency that can be transferred to multiple airline programmes including Miles & More and Flying Blue. The reason it belongs in this comparison: the welcome bonus alone is worth more than a year of spending on any other card.
Welcome bonus (Alpian offer)
75,000 MR pts
= M&M miles (2:1)
37,500 miles
Annual fee (Alpian)
CHF 450 yr 1
Why it works
- Best single welcome bonus in Switzerland
- Flexible — transfer to M&M, Flying Blue, BA, Singapore, Etihad and more
- 1 MR per CHF 1 earned on all spending
- Priority Pass Prestige (unlimited lounges)
- CHF 300 Alpian credit (via Alpian offer)
- CHF 200 Sixt credit annually
The trade-offs
- Swiss transfer ratio is 2:1 — worse than US Amex (1:1)
- CHF 900 annual fee (CHF 450 with Alpian, year 1)
- Points worthless if you don't transfer to a programme
Head-to-head comparison
| Metric | Cornèrcard Gold | Swisscard M&M Platinum | Amex Platinum CH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus (promo) | 40,000 miles | 20,000 miles + CHF 300 voucher | 75,000 MR pts |
| Base earning rate | 1 mile / CHF 1 (Diners) | 1 mile / CHF 2 (Mastercard) | 1 MR / CHF 1 (→ 0.5 miles at 2:1) |
| Annual fee | CHF 220 (CHF 110 yr 1) | CHF 700 (CHF 350 yr 1) | CHF 900 (CHF 450 via Alpian yr 1) |
| FX fee | 1.2% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Programme flexibility | Miles & More only | Miles & More only | 10+ programmes |
| Lounge access | 5 free from CHF 7,500 spend | Priority Pass included | Priority Pass Prestige (unlimited) |
| Best suited to | High everyday CHF spending | Frequent SWISS flyers | Welcome bonus + flexibility |
Which card for
which situation
Pick your situation
CHF 1,000–2,000/month on everyday expenses → Cornèrcard Gold
The 1 mile/CHF 1 Diners rate is the best in Switzerland for regular spending. The promo welcome bonus alone gets you 40,000 miles before you've bought a single coffee.
SWISS regularly and want status-adjacent perks → Swisscard Platinum
The CHF 300 SWISS voucher, First Class check-in access, and brand integration make this worthwhile if SWISS is your home carrier. Less compelling as a pure miles earner.
Maximum flexibility and the biggest single welcome event → Amex Platinum
75,000 MR points via the Alpian offer is the largest single earning event available in Switzerland. The 2:1 transfer ratio to M&M is inefficient, but the absolute number is large and the points can go to Flying Blue, BA, Singapore, or others instead.
Flying Blue miles specifically → Amex + Revolut
Amex transfers to Flying Blue at 2:1 (Swiss ratio). Revolut (Premium and above) transfers at 1:1. Together, these are the two most efficient paths to Flying Blue miles for Swiss residents without a dedicated Flying Blue card.
The optimal combination —
for most Swiss residents
The honest answer is that the best setup uses more than one card. Here's what the optimal combination looks like for someone focused on Miles & More redemptions:
Year 1: Cornèrcard Gold (40,000 miles welcome bonus) + Amex Platinum (22,500–37,500 miles via MR transfer). Day-to-day spending on the Diners. Amex as a reserve to deploy when the right award appears.
Card 1 — Cornèrcard Gold + Diners: Your primary everyday card. The Diners earns 1 mile per CHF 1. Use it everywhere it's accepted. Use the Visa for everywhere else. The welcome bonus is your single biggest earning event.
Card 2 — Amex Platinum: Applied for in year one (or whenever the best bonus is active). Keep the MR points flexible. Transfer to M&M or Flying Blue only when you've confirmed award availability. The CHF 900 annual fee is justified by the welcome bonus alone — re-evaluate in year two.
Card 3 — Swisscard M&M (optional): Apply via the referral code for the additional 15,000 bonus miles. The ongoing earning rate is lower than Cornèrcard, but the referral bonus is a meaningful one-time top-up.
- Cornèrcard Gold welcome (promo): 40,000 miles
- Swisscard referral bonus: +15,000 miles (code FM1GZ454U)
- Diners Club spending (CHF 18k/yr): 18,000 miles
- Amex Platinum MR transfer: 22,500–37,500 miles (45k–75k MR at 2:1)
- Coop Supercard conversion: ~3,000 miles
- Total year 1: ~98,500–113,500 miles — without a single flight
Frequently asked
questions
Which is the best Swiss credit card for earning miles in 2026? +
For maximum miles from everyday CHF spending, the Cornercard Miles & More Gold + Diners combo is the top pick at 1 mile per CHF 1. For the single largest earning event, the Swiss Amex Platinum via Alpian offers up to 75,000 MR points welcome bonus (37,500 M&M miles at the 2:1 Swiss ratio). Ideally, hold both.
What is the difference between Cornercard and Swisscard for Miles & More? +
Cornercard offers better earning rates (1 mile/CHF 1 on Diners vs 1 mile/CHF 2 on Swisscard Mastercard) and higher promotional welcome bonuses. Swisscard offers SWISS brand integration, First Class check-in desk access, and a CHF 300 SWISS flight voucher on the Platinum tier. If you fly SWISS regularly, Swisscard adds meaningful soft benefits on top.
Can I earn Flying Blue miles with a Swiss credit card? +
Yes - the Flying Blue World Mastercard issued by Viseca earns Flying Blue miles directly. Swiss Amex MR points transfer to Flying Blue at 2:1, and Revolut (Premium and above) transfers at 1:1. Flying Blue Promo Awards make this particularly powerful - up to 50% discounts on Business Class redemptions each month.
Do I need Swiss citizenship to apply for these cards? +
No - you need Swiss residency, not citizenship. Most cards require a valid B or C permit, a Swiss bank account, and a Swiss proof of address. Expats on L permits may face more difficulty depending on the issuer.
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