#17 Among Airlines
Point Value
1.20 ¢
Hobby Score
5.3
There are no credit card transfer partners for Miles and More, making it a program we rarely recommend
Lufthansa Miles & More associated alliance is Star Alliance
Visit Star Alliance
It’s harder to earn Miles & More miles since the program does not partner with any major transferable credit card system and has only one co-branded U.S. credit card. Because of that, the most reliable way to earn miles is by flying. Miles & More is the loyalty program for several European airlines, not just Lufthansa.
You can earn and redeem Miles & More miles on these airlines:
Lufthansa is also part of Star Alliance, so you can earn miles by flying with any Star Alliance carrier. They also partner with several non-alliance airlines, giving you additional ways to earn, though earning rates vary by partner.
You can earn Miles & More miles by flying on any airline that uses the currency. You’ll earn miles based on the fare cost, with amounts varying by airline and elite status level. The easiest way to see your earnings for a specific flight is to use the Mileage Calculator.
Lufthansa offers only one co-branded credit card in the U.S.: the Lufthansa Miles & More Credit Card. It’s worth considering only if you’re loyal to Lufthansa or have an upcoming trip where you plan to fly Lufthansa or one of its partners.
Lufthansa is part of Star Alliance, so you can earn Miles & More miles when flying with any Star Alliance partner. Lufthansa also partners with several airlines outside the alliance. If traveling on a partner airline that earns Miles & More miles, you will earn miles in the following way:
Earning rates vary by partner airline. Check Lufthansa’s partner page for details on how many miles you’ll earn with each.
Special Offers Related to Lufthansa Miles & More.
- Limited Time offer with Barclays Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite Mastercard, 80,000 miles after spending $3000 in 3 months with an $89 annual fee.
- Limited Time offer with Barclays Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard, 90,000 miles after spending $10,000 in the first year ($2000 in the first 3 months / $8000 rest of the year) with a $99 annual fee.
- Limited Time offer with Barclays JetBlue Business Card, 80,000 miles after spending $2000 in 3 months with a $99 annual fee.
The best way to redeem Lufthansa Miles & More miles is for airfare on Lufthansa or one of its partner airlines. You can also redeem miles for hotels, shopping, or gift cards, but these options offer far lower value.
One major drawback is that you must have at least 7,000 miles in your account before you’re allowed to search for award availability. This limitation is annoying, but the predictable award chart still helps you know the expected mileage cost ahead of time. You just won’t see real availability without the required balance.
There are several sweet spot redemptions with Miles & More, but it’s important to know that surcharges can be very high on award flights, especially in premium cabins.
Lufthansa partners with many travel and non-travel companies for alternative mile redemptions. These options generally offer far less value than using your miles for airfare, but they’re available if you want to explore them.
You can review all non-flight redemption options here.
Discover your points' highest-value redemption options. Use the filters to find the optimal sweet spot for your next trip.
Flying to Europe from the U.S. will result in very high surcharges, particularly in premium cabins
Lufthansa Miles & More is a niche program that appeals to a small subset of points and miles users. If you live in Europe, visit often, or regularly fly on Lufthansa Group airlines who use Miles & More as their currency, this program can make sense. For most travelers, though, it won’t be worth it, especially since Miles & More is not a transfer partner with any major credit card rewards system. You’re generally better off earning miles with a Star Alliance partner like United MileagePlus or Avianca LifeMiles, where you’ll still have access to Lufthansa award flights.
There’s no doubt that Lufthansa’s first class cabin is among the best in the world. If this is the experience you’re aiming for, Miles & More is the loyalty program to join. Booking Lufthansa First Class through partners is extremely difficult unless you are very flexible and can afford to wait until the last minute. Miles & More members get access to award bookings 360 days in advance vs. only 14 days in advance for partners. It's also important to be aware that Lufthansa award flights come with some of the highest fuel surcharges in the hobby.
Lufthansa has three elite status tiers. Once you qualify for a tier in a calendar year, you receive benefits immediately, and they remain valid until the end of February the year after next, with a minimum term of one year.
To achieve status, you need Points, Qualifying Points, or HON Circle Points. These are based on your travel class and whether your flight is continental or intercontinental.
Here are the three levels, requirements you’ll need to get to each level, and the benefits of each
If you have Lufthansa miles and know how you plan to redeem them, canceling your card isn’t a big deal. But if you don’t have a plan, be aware that miles expire at the end of the quarter 36 months after they’re earned. When you hold the card, your miles do not expire, so consider keeping it until you’re ready to use your balance.
