Auf Deutsch lesen →TWINT doesn't
earn miles.
TWINT is used by over 4 million Swiss residents for everything from Migros self-checkout to splitting dinner. It's fast, cheap for merchants, and deeply integrated into Swiss life. It also earns exactly zero miles. Here's why — and what to do about it.
Why TWINT can't earn miles
Miles and reward points in the credit card world exist because card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) charge merchants an interchange fee — typically 1–2% of each transaction — and issuers use a slice of that to fund rewards programmes. The merchant pays; you get points.
TWINT bypasses card networks entirely. It's a direct bank-to-bank transfer (or debits a prepaid balance), so there's no interchange, no card issuer margin, and nothing to fund a rewards scheme. This is exactly why Swiss retailers love it: lower transaction costs. And it's exactly why TWINT users earn nothing.
This isn't a feature gap TWINT plans to fix. The business model doesn't support it.
TWINT + linked credit card
Some banks let you link a credit card to TWINT and pay via the card's balance. In this case, the transaction does settle on the card — which may earn points depending on the card. However, many TWINT merchants specifically process payments via the TWINT rail regardless of your linked payment method. Check with your card issuer whether TWINT transactions on your linked card qualify for points earn.
What you're giving up
The average Swiss household spends roughly CHF 60,000–80,000 per year. Assuming half of that is on everyday purchases (groceries, fuel, restaurants, subscriptions) and a third of those are paid via TWINT instead of a miles card: you're leaving roughly 10,000–15,000 miles per year on the table.
At a value of CHF 0.015 per Flying Blue mile (a conservative rate for business class redemptions), that's CHF 150–225 in unrealised flight value annually. Over five years: a one-way Business Class flight to Southeast Asia, paid for by miles you didn't capture.
What to use instead
| Payment method | Miles earned | Works where TWINT does |
|---|---|---|
| TWINT (any plan) | 0 | Yes |
| Amex Platinum (Swisscard) | 1 MR / CHF (→ 0.5 miles) | Partly (Amex not universal) |
| Cornèrcard M&M Platinum | ~1.3 miles / CHF | Partly (Mastercard) |
| Revolut Metal (CHF) | ~1 point / CHF | Mastercard = broad acceptance |
| Bank debit card | 0 | Yes |
The practical problem
Amex has limited acceptance in Switzerland — around 60% of card-accepting merchants versus 90%+ for Mastercard and Visa. Many places that display the TWINT QR code don't accept Amex. This is where a Mastercard with a miles or points programme fills the gap.
The Cornèrcard Miles & More Platinum (Mastercard) earns miles directly and is accepted far more broadly. For merchants where you'd otherwise reach for TWINT, a Cornèrcard Mastercard or Revolut Metal (also Mastercard) is the closest like-for-like replacement with mile earn.
The honest tradeoff
TWINT is genuinely convenient, particularly for person-to-person payments (splitting bills, paying trades workers), which can't meaningfully be replaced by credit card. For merchant payments, the substitution is practical at most mainstream retailers.
You don't need to eliminate TWINT. You need to be deliberate about when it costs you miles versus when it's genuinely the only or best option. Paying for your morning coffee at a Migros checkout with a contactless Mastercard instead of TWINT earns you miles. Paying your plumber via TWINT because he has no card terminal is a sensible exception.
The rule
If a merchant accepts cards, use a miles card. If they only take TWINT or cash, TWINT is fine — you weren't earning miles there anyway.
The bigger opportunity is establishing the habit. Reaching for a miles card by default rather than TWINT on autopilot is worth CHF 150–225 per year in flight value with no additional effort.