Lufthansa’s Miles & More is one of Europe’s most extensive frequent flyer programs, serving as the loyalty program for not only Lufthansa but also several other European carriers. While it may not be as well-known to U.S. travelers as some domestic programs, Miles & More offers unique redemption opportunities, particularly for premium cabin travel on Star Alliance carriers.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about earning and maximizing Lufthansa miles, achieving elite status, and getting the most value from the program.
Miles & More is the loyalty program of Lufthansa Group airlines and several other European carriers. It’s one of the largest frequent flyer programs in Europe, with over 40 million members worldwide.
Unlike many other loyalty programs, Miles & More miles have a fixed expiration date regardless of account activity. However, miles don’t expire for elite members (Frequent Traveller and above) as long as they maintain their status, or for members who hold a co-branded Miles & More credit card and make at least one purchase per month.
Miles & More uses a combination of points, qualifying points, and HON Circle points for elite status qualification. These are earned primarily through flying:
To qualify for each status level, you need to earn:
Points are earned based on travel class and flight type:
Once you qualify for elite status, benefits begin immediately and are valid for at least two years (the remainder of the current year plus the entire following year).
When flying on Lufthansa and other Miles & More member airlines, you earn miles based on the fare and a multiplier. For example, on Lufthansa flights, the multiplier is 6, meaning a $290 round-trip flight would earn 1,740 miles ($290 × 6).
Different Miles & More airlines use different multipliers:
The best way to determine your exact mileage earning is to use the Miles & More award calculator on their website.
When flying with Star Alliance partners, miles are earned based on distance flown and booking class. The exact earning rate varies by partner and fare class, so it’s important to check the specific earning chart for each airline on the Miles & More website.
For U.S. residents, the primary way to earn Miles & More miles through credit card spending is with the Miles & More® World Elite Mastercard® issued by Barclays. This card offers:
Miles & More has partnerships with various hotel chains and car rental companies:
You can also earn miles by booking through the Miles & More hotel portal, though this may prevent you from earning hotel loyalty points or using elite benefits.
The primary and most valuable way to redeem Miles & More miles is for award flights. Miles & More uses a zone-based award chart with fixed prices based on origin, destination, and class of service.
Sample one-way award prices (in miles):
Important notes about award bookings:
Miles & More miles can be used for upgrades on Lufthansa and select partner airlines. The mileage required depends on the route and original booking class. Not all fare classes are eligible for upgrades, so check the specific rules before booking your original ticket.
While these options provide flexibility, they typically offer much lower value per mile compared to flight redemptions.
One of the biggest advantages of the Miles & More program is access to Lufthansa first class award space well in advance of departure. While other Star Alliance programs can only book Lufthansa first class awards at most 14 days before departure (and often only 3 days before), Miles & More members can book months in advance.
At 91,000 miles one-way between Europe and North America, this is a competitive rate for one of the world’s best first-class products. However, be prepared for high fuel surcharges of approximately $850 round-trip.
You can book United Airlines economy flights from anywhere in the United States to Hawaii for just 20,000 miles each way. This is particularly valuable for East Coast departures, where the distance and cash prices are typically higher.
Flights from North America to Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of Oceania cost just 71,000 miles one-way in business class. This is significantly lower than what many other programs charge for similar routes.
Similarly, business class flights from North America to Southeast Asia are priced at 71,000 miles one-way. While fuel surcharges apply, you can experience premium products on carriers like Air Canada, ANA, and EVA Airways at a fraction of the cash price.
Senator and HON Circle members can add a companion to any award ticket on Miles & More airlines at a 50% mileage discount. This effectively allows you to book two premium cabin tickets for 1.5 times the normal mileage cost.
The rigid 36-month expiration policy for miles is one of the program’s biggest drawbacks. Unlike most loyalty programs where activity extends the life of your miles, Miles & More has a hard expiration date regardless of account activity. The only exceptions are for elite members and credit cardholders who meet specific requirements.
Miles & More imposes substantial fuel surcharges on most award tickets, which can significantly reduce the value of your redemptions. For example, a first-class round-trip between the U.S. and Europe can incur approximately $850 in surcharges, on top of the miles required.
One of the most frustrating aspects of the program is that you need at least 7,000 miles in your account before you can even search for award availability online. This makes it difficult for new members to plan redemptions before committing to the program.
Compared to other major airline programs, Miles & More offers fewer ways to earn miles, especially for U.S.-based members. The program has no major U.S. transfer partners, and the earning rates on the co-branded credit card are modest.
The following airlines use Miles & More as their primary loyalty program:
As a member of Star Alliance, Miles & More allows you to earn and redeem miles on all Star Alliance airlines:
Miles & More also partners with several airlines outside of Star Alliance:
Note that there may be restrictions regarding which flights are eligible for earning or redeeming miles with these non-alliance partners.
For European residents, Miles & More offers several co-branded credit cards with more generous earning rates and benefits. These vary by country but typically include higher welcome bonuses and category spending multipliers than the U.S. version.
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