Turkish Airlines invited Miles&Smiles members to fly to all six continents and earn 1,000,000 bonus miles. In a surprising turn of events, the airline pulled the promotion early due to overwhelming demand. Here’s what happened and what you need to know if you managed to book in time.

UPDATE: This Promotion Has Been Closed

This promotion was officially terminated on July 8, 2025, much earlier than the original October 27, 2025 deadline.

According to Turkish Airlines, members who had already purchased at least one eligible ticket by July 8, 2025, can still complete the challenge and earn the 1 million miles. All travel must still be completed by October 27, 2025.

No new bookings made after July 8, 2025, are eligible for this campaign.

TL;DR

  • Book Turkish Airlines flights between June 27 and July 8, 2025.
  • Fly on Turkish metal via Istanbul to all six continents by October 27, 2025.
  • The promotion is now closed for new bookings.
  • Only members who booked at least one flight by July 8, 2025, remain eligible.
  • Earn a 1,000,000-mile bonus after arriving on the sixth continent.
  • The challenge highlighted the immense interest in large-scale loyalty promotions.

In This Article

Campaign at a Glance

Check the official information here.

Booking Window June 27 – July 8, 2025 (Now Closed)
Travel Window June 27 – October 27, 2025
Reward 1,000,000 Miles&Smiles bonus miles
Eligible Flights Operated by Turkish Airlines, booked in Miles&Smiles account, origin or transit through Türkiye
Itinerary Types One-way, round-trip or multi-city; only arrival continents count
Registration Add flights to your Miles&Smiles profile before departure
More Details Official page

How the 6 Continents Challenge Works

  1. Book between June 27 and July 8, 2025.
  2. Fly on Turkish Airlines metal—each segment must start or connect in İstanbul. Travel must be completed by October 27, 2025.
  3. Visit all six continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania.
  4. Register every ticket in your Miles&Smiles account before you travel.
  5. One-way, round-trip or multi-city bookings all count; only the arrival continent is tallied.
  6. Codeshare flights and purely domestic/intra-regional routes (e.g., Singapore to Melbourne) are not eligible.

Eligible Continents & Sample Destinations

Turkish’s network covers dozens of countries in each region. Here are a few gateway cities to plan around:

Continent Sample Destinations
Europe London, Paris, Berlin, Rome
Asia Dubai, Tokyo, Mumbai, Seoul
Africa Cairo, Nairobi, Johannesburg
North America New York, Toronto, Chicago
South America São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogotá
Oceania Sydney, Melbourne

Reflections: A Challenge Too Good to Last?

The abrupt end of the “6 Continents Challenge” tells a fascinating story about loyalty programs and the passionate community of travelers they serve.

Turkish Airlines’ campaign was the latest in a series of “gamified” loyalty contests, following in the footsteps of the wildly successful SAS EuroBonus Millionaire challenge. These promotions tap into the aspirational nature of travel, transforming point collection from a passive activity into an active, globe-spanning quest.

It seems that Turkish Airlines, much like SAS before them, severely underestimated the dedication of the frequent flyer community. What was likely planned as a niche marketing campaign for a small number of top-tier flyers quickly became a viral phenomenon. The logistical puzzle of routing all travel through Istanbul—a significant hurdle—was seen not as a barrier but as an exciting part of the game.

Ultimately, the promotion likely became a victim of its own success. The prospect of awarding 1 million miles (with a cash value of roughly $15,000) to potentially thousands of participants would represent a massive, unplanned financial liability. The early cancellation suggests the airline chose to cap its exposure rather than lean into the overwhelming demand.

This short-lived challenge is a powerful lesson for the industry. The appetite for grand, ambitious loyalty promotions is enormous. However, airlines must now design them with the expectation of massive participation, perhaps by setting clear caps or more intricate rules from the start. For those who got in under the wire, an epic adventure awaits. For the rest of us, it remains a compelling tale of a promotion that was too good to last.

Is It Worth Chasing 1,000,000 Miles?

On paper, a million Turkish miles can be valued at around 1.5 ¢/mile (≈ US $15,000). If you managed to book six inter-continental segments via İstanbul for under USD $6,000, you’re looking at a potentially strong return—and the bonus of visiting every corner of the globe.

But there are trade-offs:

  • You must route every trip through İstanbul, which adds time and airfare.
  • This challenge favors people already flying Turkish Airlines regularly.
  • A strict carrier requirement: only flights operated by Turkish Airlines count.

If you live near a TK hub and already had flexible travel plans, it was a great way to top up your balance. But for most travelers, the extra connections and ticket costs may have outweighed the benefits—unless you were truly committed to the adventure.

Rules & Key Details

  • Each continent counts once you arrive there on a qualifying Turkish flight.
  • No codeshares: the flight must be operated by TK.
  • Tickets must have been registered in your account before departure.
  • You can include flights back to Türkiye as part of your continent tally.
  • Past flights or retroactive changes are not accepted.
  • Standard award-sector restrictions apply; check the full terms for excluded fare classes.

Planning Your Route

For those who are still eligible to complete the challenge:

  1. List the six continents in an order that minimizes back-and-forth via İstanbul.
  2. Use a tool like AwardFares to search Turkish-operated award availability for other trips, but remember this challenge requires cash tickets.
  3. Compare one-way vs. multi-city itineraries for best pricing if you need to adjust any remaining bookings.
  4. Ensure every leg is registered in your Miles&Smiles profile before check-in.
  5. Keep seat-change fees and visa requirements in mind.

This was one of the most ambitious bonus-mile offers out there. Study the rules, map your itinerary, and if you’re one of the lucky few, good luck on completing your journey!

Start Planning Your Next Adventure

Want to maximize your Miles&Smiles award seats for future trips? AwardFares helps you:

  • ✈️ Search Turkish Airlines & Star Alliance award availability
  • 📆 Search across multiple dates using our Timeline View
  • 🔔 Set alerts for Turkish intercontinental award openings
  • 🗺️ Map your award routes seamlessly

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