Lufthansa Miles & More: How to Use the Largest European Loyalty Program

Miles & More is the Lufthansa Group’s loyalty program, covering Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, and Brussels Airlines. It’s also the largest frequent flyer program in Europe by members — and one of the most underused by non-European travelers, despite offering access to Star Alliance partners that can unlock extraordinary value.

Lufthansa Cabin Products Worth Targeting

Lufthansa First Class — The Holy Grail

Lufthansa’s First Class cabin (on select A380 and 747-8 flights between Frankfurt and major global hubs) is widely considered the benchmark for full-service European airline first class:

• Seat: 34” wide window seat that converts to a 79” bed, positioned against the cabin wall with maximum privacy
• Dining: Pre-order menu in the My Lufthansa app, selected wines curated by Vinothek W in Wiesbaden
• Amenity kit: Rimowa aluminum kit (same manufacturer as the famous suitcase)
• Ground experience: Exclusive Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt (FRA) — a private terminal with dedicated chauffeur service, personal chef, fine dining restaurant, cigar lounge, and spa. Only for First Class passengers. One of the world’s most exclusive airport experiences.

Routes with First Class: FRA/MUC to select long-haul destinations (JFK, IAH, LAX, SIN, BKK, NRT, PEK, HKG).

Lufthansa Business Class (Allegris)

Lufthansa’s new Allegris business class (rolling out through 2025–2026) features individual suites with sliding privacy screens on A350 and A380 aircraft — a significant upgrade from the older “double-bed” style seats. The Allegris rollout makes Lufthansa Business newly competitive with peers.

Miles & More Award Chart

Miles & More uses a zone-based award chart for partner (Star Alliance) flights. Pricing for Lufthansa own metal:

Region Pair	Economy	Business	First
Europe–North America	30,000	60,000	120,000
Europe–Asia	30,000	55,000	110,000
Intra-Europe	10,000–20,000	18,000–36,000	—

These are one-way prices. Important: award space on Lufthansa own flights via Miles & More is notoriously scarce. Lufthansa releases minimal partner award space.

Fuel surcharges: Lufthansa charges significant fuel surcharges on its own metal, even when redeeming miles. A transatlantic business class award can carry $300–$600 in surcharges. This is a major consideration that limits the value of Miles & More for Lufthansa own flights.

Why Use Miles & More for Other Star Alliance Partners Instead

The most practical use of Miles & More miles is often Star Alliance partner awards — particularly on carriers with minimal surcharges:

• United Airlines: Low surcharges on UA metal when booking via Miles & More
• ANA: Some partner awards bookable via M&M with lower surcharges than booking on M&M’s own chart
• Air Canada (Aeroplan): Note that Aeroplan operates independently now

Earning Miles & More Points

Credit card (US-based): There are no US-based Miles & More credit cards currently. Non-US travelers should check their country for Lufthansa Group co-branded cards.

The main US transfer path: Currently limited. Miles & More is NOT a direct transfer partner for Chase, Amex, or Capital One. The indirect path:

• Earn Citi ThankYou Points → transfer to Miles & More if active (check current partnership status)

Flying Star Alliance: Earn M&M miles from paid flights on ANA, United, Singapore, Swiss, Austrian, and other Star Alliance members — credit miles to Miles & More account.

Lufthansa Partners: Car rental (Hertz, Avis), hotel partners, and airline shopping portals add miles on everyday spending for European residents.

HON Circle Status — The Most Exclusive Status in Aviation?

Lufthansa’s HON Circle status is earned via 600,000 “Hon Points” in 24 months — roughly the equivalent of 150,000 miles of business class travel per year for two consecutive years. It’s among the hardest status tiers to achieve:

HON Circle benefits:

• Access to the Frankfurt First Class Terminal (reserved for HONs and First Class passengers)
• Personal travel manager
• Maximum award ticket flexibility
• Guaranteed First Class availability on request (within limits)
• All Star Alliance lounge access globally

For frequent long-haul business travelers based in Europe, HON Circle represents the pinnacle of airline status benefits.

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Miles & More award chart verified at miles-and-more.com as of June 2026. Award pricing and partner relationships subject to change.