Point Systems Lufthansa Miles & More

Airline
Points are relatively easy to collect, though we don't love the bank partners or transfer options as much.
Lufthansa Miles & More

Lufthansa Miles & More

#15 Among Airlines

Point Value

1.20 ¢

Hobby Score

4.3

View Ratings

Sweet Spots

US to South America
US to Australia/New Zealand
US to South America
See More Sweet Spots

Top Transfers

Booking Tips For This Reward Program

Familiarize yourself with the Award booking chart
Be aware of high surcharges
Avoid These Pitfalls

Key Takeaways

There are no credit card transfer partners for Miles and More, making it a program we rarely recommend

  • While Miles and More miles are difficult to earn, they can be redeemed on Lufthansa or any of its 40 partner airlines
  • Fuel surcharges on Lufthansa are amongst the highest of airline loyalty programs
  • If you have Miles and More miles, they are best used on United or Air Canada flights within North America or flights within Europe
  • You cannot even search award availability unless you have at least 7000 miles in your account

Reward Program Ratings

1.20¢
Point Value
Yes
Points Expire
No
to Spouse
No
to Friends

Hobby Score

4.3
Brand Footprint 2
Real World Practicality 4
Earn/Redeem Efficiency 4
Policy Fairness 8
Ease of Holding 4
Product Quality 4

Travel Partner Transfers

Transfers In

No direct transfers into Lufthansa Miles & More. Lufthansa Miles & More generally cannot receive transfers from other point programs.

Transfers Out

No direct transfers out of Lufthansa Miles & More. Lufthansa Miles & More generally cannot be moved to other point programs.

Points Transfer Guide

5,500 Lufthansa Miles & More Points

Transferable Points

Transfer to
Spouse
5,219,403
19,000
74% Value Retained
No
125,000
45,000
85% Value Retained
Yes
34,950
2,000
12% Value Retained
Yes

Associated Alliances

Lufthansa Miles & More associated alliance is Star Alliance

Visit Star Alliance

Airlines within Star Alliance Alliance

How to Earn Miles

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:

  • Air Dolomiti
  • Austrian Airlines
  • Brussels Airlines
  • Croatia Airlines
  • Discover Airlines
  • Eurowings
  • LOT Polish Airlines
  • Lufthansa
  • Lufthansa City
  • Luxair
  • SWISS

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.

Earn by Flying on Airlines That Use Miles & More

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.

Earn by Opening Co-Branded Credit Cards

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.

Flying with Partners (alliance and non-alliance 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:

  • Continental flights: Earn a flat rate based on booking class.
  • Intercontinental flights: Earn based on booking class and distance flown.

Earning rates vary by partner airline. Check Lufthansa’s partner page for details on how many miles you’ll earn with each.

Our Favorite Cards

Other Options to Earn

There are many ways to earn Miles & More miles through non-airline partners. While none provide high earning rates, they’re useful to know since there are no major transferable credit card partners.

Breaking Points

How to Redeem Miles

Redeem for Airfare

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.

  • Lufthansa uses a standard award chart instead of dynamic pricing.
  • Award flights are priced by zone and class of service for both Miles & More airlines and Star Alliance partners.
  • You can download the full award chart here.

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.

  • You can often avoid high surcharges by booking award flights on Air Canada or United Airlines.
  • This works best on domestic routes or flights to South America and Latin America.
  • These lower-surcharge options generally do not apply to flights to or from Europe.

Hotel stays, Car rentals, and Other Redemption Options

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.

Sweet Spots Finder

Look at the chart below to find the best sweet spots for this airline. Use the filters to find the optimal Sweet Spot for your trip and points.

Award System

Lufthansa Miles & More

Max. Point Value 1.20 ¢

Do Points Expire? Yes

Point Transfer Options

Transfer To Spouse/Partner No

Transfer To Friends No

You load your points. We’ll show you valuation and transfer options.

Add My Points

Travel Partner Transfers

Outside Point System Lufthansa Miles & More

The Highlights

There are no credit card transfer partners for Miles and More, making it a program we rarely recommend

  • While Miles and More miles are difficult to earn, they can be redeemed on Lufthansa or any of its 40 partner airlines
  • Fuel surcharges on Lufthansa are amongst the highest of airline loyalty programs
  • If you have Miles and More miles, they are best used on United or Air Canada flights within North America or flights within Europe
  • You cannot even search award availability unless you have at least 7000 miles in your account

What to Know About This Point System

Miles & More is the loyalty program for Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline. Lufthansa operates flights to 18 destinations within Europe and 197 destinations outside of Europe, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington D.C.

You’ll earn Miles & More points when traveling on Lufthansa or any of its 40 partner airlines. You can also accrue points by making purchases with partner hotels, car rental agencies and cruise lines. Points can be transferred from Marriott (3:1 rate), IHG (5:1) and Hilton Honors (10:1) to the Miles & More program.

Use your Miles & More points to book flights and upgrades on Lufthansa — or to book a hotel or rent a car with a partner. The Miles & More program is part of the Star Alliance, so your points can be used on partner airlines such as United and Air Canada.

Bottom Line: Lufthansa is Europe’s largest airline, so there are plenty of flight options to book with your Miles & More points. Your points can also be used on other Star Alliance airlines, including United and Air Canada.

Associated Alliance

Star AllianceAirlines within Star Alliance

How to Redeem

Redeem for Airfare

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.

  • Lufthansa uses a standard award chart instead of dynamic pricing.
  • Award flights are priced by zone and class of service for both Miles & More airlines and Star Alliance partners.
  • You can download the full award chart here.

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.

  • You can often avoid high surcharges by booking award flights on Air Canada or United Airlines.
  • This works best on domestic routes or flights to South America and Latin America.
  • These lower-surcharge options generally do not apply to flights to or from Europe.

Hotel stays, Car rentals, and Other Redemption Options

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.

Visit Lufthansa Miles & More

Status Levels Explained

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.

  • Points are earned on flights operated by the Lufthansa Group, co-issuing Miles & More partners, and Star Alliance airlines.
  • Qualifying Points are earned only when flying with the Lufthansa Group and co-issuing Miles & More partners.
  • HON Circle Points are earned only on Business or First Class flights with Lufthansa Group airlines and co-issuing Miles & More partners.

What to Know Before Canceling

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.

Lufthansa Miles & More