Lufthansa: Miles & More

Lufthansa: Miles & More—Your Complete Guide to Earning and Redeeming Points

Are you a frequent flyer—or aspiring to be one—looking to maximize rewards with Lufthansa? You’re in the right place! Miles & More, the official loyalty program of Lufthansa (and the largest frequent-flyer program in Europe), lets members earn award miles and status miles for flights, upgrades, and an array of travel perks. In this SEO-optimized guide, we’ll walk you through Lufthansa Miles & More, from signup to elite tiers and insider tips for getting the best redemption rates. Read on for the ultimate Lufthansa Miles & More breakdown, designed to help you unlock amazing travel rewards and get the most from every flight.

Table of Contents

1. What Is Lufthansa Miles & More?
2. Why Join Miles & More?
3. Earning Miles with Lufthansa & Partners
4. Miles & More Elite Tiers and Benefits
5. Redeeming Miles for Flights, Upgrades & More
6. Maximizing Miles & More: Top Tips
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
8. Conclusion

1. What Is Lufthansa Miles & More?

Miles & More is Lufthansa’s primary frequent-flyer program, created in 1993 to reward loyal passengers of not only Lufthansa but also numerous partner airlines—especially within the Star Alliance network. Today, Miles & Moreencompasses:

• Over 40 airline partners (including SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, United, Air Canada, and more)
• Dozens of non-airline partners (hotels, car rentals, financial services, retail brands)

By collecting miles on flights and everyday purchases, you can redeem them for free or discounted tickets, cabin upgrades, lounge access, and other exclusive travel benefits.

2. Why Join Miles & More?

1. Extensive Star Alliance Network
   • Earn and spend award miles across Star Alliance carriers—covering flights worldwide.
2. Elite Status
   • Achieve Frequent Traveller, Senator, or HON Circle status for priority services, lounge privileges, extra baggage, and more.
3. Multiple Earning Channels
   • From airfare to hotel bookings, credit card spend, and online shopping—Miles & More has numerous ways to rack up miles faster.
4. Premium Travel Perks
   • Enjoy priority boarding, business-class check-in, lounge invitations, mileage upgrades on long-haul flights, and other premium amenities.

Pro Tip: Even if you don’t fly Lufthansa often, the broad Star Alliance coverage means you can still gather significant miles for your next big trip.

3. Earning Miles with Lufthansa & Partners

3.1. Flight Miles

• Lufthansa Flights
  • Earn award miles and status miles based on ticket fare class, flight distance, and booking channel.
  • Business and First Class tickets net substantially more miles.
• Star Alliance Flights
  • Accumulate miles by flying partner airlines like SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, United, Air Canada, etc.
  • Check specific earning tables on the Miles & More website to confirm accrual rates for each carrier and fare class.

3.2. Credit Card Spending

• Co-Branded Credit Cards
  • In certain countries, Lufthansa or Miles & More credit cards allow you to earn 1 mile or more per currency unit spent.
  • Often includes a welcome bonus and accelerated earning on specific categories (e.g., airline purchases).

3.3. Hotels & Car Rentals

• Hotel Partners
  • Earn miles by staying at partner hotel chains (Marriott, Hilton, IHG, etc.), typically at a set rate or miles per €1 spent.
• Car Rental Deals
  • Major rental agencies (Avis, Hertz, Sixt) may offer a flat mile bonus or miles per rental day.
  • Periodic promotions can double or triple your mileage earnings.

3.4. Shopping & Lifestyle

• Miles & More Online Shopping
  • A dedicated portal that rewards miles on purchases from an array of online retailers.
• Magazine Subscriptions & Financial Services
  • Earn significant miles through partner banks, mortgage or investment promotions, or magazine sign-ups.

Pro Tip: Keep updated on short-term promotions—Miles & More frequently runs double miles campaigns or special deals that can rapidly boost your balance.

4. Miles & More Elite Tiers and Benefits

Miles & More has three main elite tiers beyond the basic membership:

1. Frequent Traveller

   • Requires 35,000 status miles (or 30 segments) in a calendar year.
   • Benefits: Business Class check-in, increased baggage allowance, lounge access (select lounges), etc.

2. Senator

   • Requires 100,000 status miles in a calendar year.
   • Benefits: Greater lounge access across Star Alliance, extra baggage, upgrade vouchers, priority waitlisting, etc.

3. HON Circle

   • Requires 600,000 HON Circle miles across two consecutive years (only earned on Business or First Class flights with Lufthansa Group airlines).
   • Benefits: Top-tier privileges, including First Class Lounge access, personal assistance, additional upgrade vouchers, priority everything.

Pro Tip: Elite status miles differ from award miles—status miles help you achieve tier levels, while award miles can be redeemed for flights and upgrades.

5. Redeeming Miles for Flights, Upgrades & More

1. Award Flights

   • Use your award miles for free or discounted tickets on Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, plus Star Alliance partners.
   • Taxes and surcharges still apply. Higher-tier membership might reduce or waive certain fees.

2. Upgrades

   • Upgrade from Economy to Business Class, or Business to First on qualifying Lufthansa Group flights.
   • Typically requires a set mileage amount depending on route distance and cabin type.

3. Companion Awards

   • Occasionally, Miles & More members access promotional “companion tickets” or discounted second tickets for their partner or friend.

4. Other Redemptions

   • Airport lounge vouchers, car rentals, hotel stays, and online shopping—Miles & More partners span many non-flight options.

Pro Tip: Miles & More “Meilenschnaeppchen” (mileage bargains) frequently discount award flights on select routes, letting you save up to 50% miles or more.

6. Maximizing Miles & More: Top Tips

1. Focus on Lufthansa Group
   • Earn more status miles flying Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines rather than lower-tier Star Alliance partners.
2. Leverage Credit Cards
   • If available in your region, use a Miles & More co-branded card for everyday purchases to turbocharge your mile accrual.
3. Watch Promotions
   • Keep track of email newsletters or the official website for double/triple miles offers, especially for renting cars or booking certain hotels.
4. Plan Elite Runs
   • If you’re close to a status threshold (e.g., for Senator), consider a “mileage run” on discounted Business fares to quickly gather more status miles.
5. Redeem Wisely
   • Long-haul or premium cabin award tickets often yield the best value per mile. Use short-haul or economy awards sparingly if you want top ROI.

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do Miles & More miles expire?

• Award miles typically expire after 36 months unless you’re Frequent Traveller status or higher. Elite members can keep miles active indefinitely.

2. Can I pool miles with family or friends?

• Miles & More has Family & Friends options in some markets, but pooling is limited. Check the official site for up-to-date rules.

3. Are there booking classes that earn zero miles?

• Certain heavily discounted or promotional fare classes might earn reduced or no miles. Check earning charts before booking.

4. How do I claim missing miles?

• Submit a retro-credit request via the Miles & More website, providing your flight ticket number and boarding pass details.

5. What if I want to downgrade from HON Circle or Senator?

• If you don’t meet re-qualification requirements, you’ll lose the tier benefits at the end of the membership validity period.

8. Conclusion

Lufthansa: Miles & More stands out as one of Europe’s most comprehensive frequent-flyer programs, offering substantial opportunities for mile accumulation across Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance partners. By focusing on the right fare classes, leveraging credit card sign-up bonuses, and tapping into strategic promos, you can quickly amass enough award miles for Business or First Class flights—enjoying premium service at a fraction of the cost. Elite tiers like Frequent Traveller, Senator, and HON Circle open the door to exclusive lounges, extra baggage, upgrade vouchers, and more.

For further airport guides, airline loyalty tips, and insider flight deals, keep exploring airport.co—your top source for smarter, more rewarding travel adventures. Sign up for Lufthansa Miles & More today, and let your next flight pave the way for unforgettable travel experiences!