Lufthansa: Pioneering Excellence in the Skies & Unlocking the Power of Miles & More

Imagine this: “Your Limousine is ready, sir/Ma’am.” You look up at the Chauffeur who is courteously waiting for you to make a move. You then look around at the amazing company of the First class lounge you just enjoyed and the scrumptious meal that satiated all your senses; and give a nod to the Chauffeur. He guides you to your luxury Mercedes Classe E waiting just for you at the private Terminal. The journey is short as you reach to board the legendary  “Queen of the Skies” Lufthansa!

Lufthansa has always led the aviation industry in terms of innovation, luxury and world class services to its passengers. With more than 700 aircrafts Lufthansa serves around 80 countries and 200+ destinations on its own. Thus, flaunting the status of Europe’s second- largest airlines with more than 15000+ connections.

What makes Lufthansa all the more special and aspirational for anyone who is a frequent flyer or enjoys luxury travel without breaking the bank is their infamous frequent flyer program called Miles & More. Miles & More is Europe’s largest loyalty program, offering some amazing travel perks ranging from free award flight tickets to luxury upgrades, lounge access to even the basic membership, and the chance to earn and redeem points on hotel stays and car rentals. In this article, we will explore Lufthansa’s legacy, its contributions to aviation, and how travellers can leverage Miles & More to unlock premium travel experiences with Milesly’s expert tips.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa has defined Premium air travel for decades. It is well known for its innovations, punctuality and German hospitality worldwide. The partnership with Star Alliance and other partners has elevated the status of Lufthansa to Europe’s leading airline and most sought-after for international travel.

Miles & More is its frequent flyer program that gives its members the opportunity to book free tickets, get upgrades and Luxury travel even for their base level. The fact that it can be used with 45+ airlines makes it a global currency of the travel world. Here we are deep diving into how we can travel to 200+ destinations, book stays in 500,000 hotel partners, and rent a car from 150,000 pick up points.

So, let’s explore the world of luxury and innovation with Lufthansa’s Miles & More!

Lufthansa: A Legacy of Sky Dominance

Lufthansa is known for its German precision and five star luxury services, making it the most sought after airlines in Europe.

Pioneering Global Aviation:

It was founded in 1953, and became Germany’s Flag carrier, setting their corporate headquarters in Cologne.It is well known for its fuel efficient modern fleets like Airbus A350 and Boeing 747-8. Thus, becoming an industry leader in the aviation sector.

Setting the Bar for Premium Travel:

Anyone who has travelled to Frankfurt and enjoyed the access to the iconic First Class Terminal in Frankfurt will recommend this experience at least once in their lifetime. You get to enjoy Michelin-star dining, Chauffeur service in a Limousine and Business class lie-flat seats in Lufthansa.

Fleet of Innovation:

Lufthansa is well known for its fuel efficient fleets, including:

Airbus A350 which is 25% more fuel efficient than its predecessors which significantly reduces CO2  emissions. Their cabins are equipped with the latest HEPA filters which improves cabin air circulation. You also have larger windows, improved humidity control and quieter cabins. A350 frequently runs on long-haul international flights for example from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru to Frankfurt and Munich.

The iconic Boeing 747-8 also known as  “Queen of the Skies”. It is famous for its unique upper deck which gives its passengers a private jet-like experience. Their new GEnx-2B67 engines consume 16% less fuel than previous versions. It has been designed for long-haul luxurious experiences (like Frankfurt to Bengaluru, Frankfurt to New York).

Recently Lufthansa has added Boeing 787 Dreamliner (787-9) to its long-haul fleet services. It is also a fuel efficient carrier like others. One more modern aircraft in Lufthansa’s inventory is the Airbus A320neo which you can experience while travelling in their short-haul routes.

Star Alliance Co-Founder:

Lufthansa is one of the five founding members of the Star Alliance  which was established in 1997 and is now the world’s largest airlines alliance. It connects passengers to 1300+ destinations with its 26+ alliance partners.

The best part of being a part of the Star Alliance member is that passengers can choose and fly between the partner airlines under one ticket and even earn miles, thus making traveling hassle-free and easy.

As a member of Star Alliance Gold frequent flyers get access to 1000+ premium lounges worldwide, priority check-ins, extra baggage, and seamless airport handling.

Also, Lufthansa’s Miles & More has partnered with Star Alliance, which means passengers can choose to travel across all 26+ Star Alliance airlines and even earn and redeem their Lufthansa miles.

What Is Miles & More?

Miles & More, which was started in 1993, is Europe’s largest loyalty program offering some amazing travel  perks ranging from free award flight tickets to luxury upgrades, lounge access to even the basic membership(Silver tier), and the chance to earn and redeem points on hotel stays and car rentals.

It gives you access to earn and redeem miles through almost 40+ airlines partners including Lufthansa, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Luxair, Croatia Airlines, 26+ other Star Alliance members and some non star alliance partners.

What this actually means is that you can redeem miles earned with Lufthansa across a global network of these airline partners, making it one of the most powerful loyalty currencies in the world.

Exploring Miles & More Partnerships

Airline Partners:

Hotel Partners:

You can choose from over 500,000 partner hotels on Hotels & Cars (by Rocket travel by Agoda) booking portal to earn up to 18000 Miles per night. You can similarly book hotels via Booking.com(1 miles per euro spent) and earn and redeem miles using the Miles & More service card number.

There are 75 Lufthansa’s hotel partners. Some worthy mentions are:

• Best Western: Earn up to 1000 miles per stay.
• IHG: Earn up to 2 miles per $1 spent.
• Marriott Bonvoy:  Earn up to 2 miles per $1 spent.
• Wyndham:  Earn up to 2 miles per $1 spent.
• Hyatt: 500 miles per stay.
• Leonardo Hotels: Earn 1 mile per Euro spent.
• World Hotels: 500 miles per stay.
• Althoff Collection: 500 miles per stay.

 Car rental Partners:

You can earn anywhere between 500 to 2000 miles on Car rental partners with Miles & More.Cash & Miles option can also be utilized  (to part pay by Cash) for booking rentals. You get to choose from 150,000 pick up destinations worldwide on Hotels & Cars (by Rocket Travel by Agoda)

Here is the list of car rental partners:

• Avis: Earn up to 3 miles per Euro spent. (A minimum total of 750 miles is required)
• Hertz: Earn up to 500 miles per rental
• Budget: Earn up to 500 miles per rental.
• Sixt: You earn 500 to 2000 miles per rental depending on the vehicle chosen. (Sixt  luxury cars will give 2000 miles per rental)
• Europcar:  Earn up to 500 miles per rental.
• Thrifty: Earn up to 500 miles per rental.

Shopping Partners:

If you travel to Europe often you can choose from the following shopping partners:

• Bicester Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• The Bicester Collection: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• La Vallee Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• La Roca Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Las Rozas Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Fidenza Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Lufthansa Inflight shopping: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Maasmechelen Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Ingolstadt Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Suzhou Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Kildare Village :Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Wertheim Village: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• World Shop: Earn 1 mile per  €1 spent.
• Heathrow Rewards: Transfer ratio 1:1

Banking Partners:

• Lufthansa Co Branded Card with AXIS: Miles & More Axis Bank World Select Card: You get 15000 Miles as a welcome bonus. You will earn 6 Miles for every 200 INR of eligible spending.
• Lufthansa Co Branded Card with AXIS: Miles & More Axis Bank World Card:  You get 5000 Miles as a welcome bonus. You will earn 4 miles per 200 INR of eligible spending.
• Miles & More Axis Bank World Traveller Forex Card: You get 1000 Miles as a welcome [1] [2] bonus. You will earn 5 miles for every 5 USD spent.

Star Alliance Transfer Partners:

• HDFC Infinia Credit Card: 1 RP = 1 reward point.
• HDFC Diner Club Black Credit Card: 1 RP = 1 reward point.
• HDFC Regalia Credit Card: 1 RP =0.30 reward points.
• Axis Bank Magnus Credit Card: 5 Edge RP = 2 partner miles.
• Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card:  5 Edge RP = 2 partner miles.
• Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card:  5 Edge RP = 4  partner miles.

          Lufthansa Co-Branded Card:

• Miles & More World Elite Mastercard: it is issued by Barclaycard for  You will earn 2 Miles for each Dollar spent on Lufthansa purchases and 1 Mile per Dollar for other spends on the card (United States only)

With 6,0000 Miles & more points as a welcome bonus after spending $3000 in the first 90 days.

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 I found it on their website, here’s the link: https://www.miles-and-more.com/row/en/earn/india-miles-and-more-axis-bank-world-traveller-car

Why Should You Choose Miles & More?

Here are the Top reasons why Milesly recommends you to Choose Miles & More:

• Lufthansa is the only airline that has a Fixed Award chart and does not base redemption on dynamic pricing. This means you will know exactly how many miles would be needed for redeeming any award flight and it will remain constant throughout the year.
• Another perk of being a Miles & More Member is that you get to retain the membership status for 2 years as compared to other airline programs which reset the status every year.
• Even the basic tier of Miles & More i.e. the Frequent Flyer (Silver) Tier gives you Business class Lounge access and priority check-ins, which other airline programs do not give even to their second tier members.
• And the best part of being a Miles & More member is getting access to book the Lufthansa’s First class Cabin ticket 360 days in advance which non-members usually get access to 2-3 days in advance.
• Miles & More users get access to Mileage Bargains (Meilenschäppchen) which is a monthly rotation award ticket where you can avail award flights for up to 50% off.
• Currently, Miles & More is running an offer “Bundle & Go”  to buy Miles at a 50% bonus on all its bundles(extra small, small, medium, and large) up until 31st March 2025.

So, now that you have enough reasons to be part of the Miles & More club let’s get on to how you can Earn and Redeem these miles.

Best ways to Earn Miles & More

Earning Miles is similar to any other frequent flyer programs, the only drawback of Lufthansa’s only transfer partner in India is Axis Bank  and  it doesn’t have any other transfer partners like Marriott Bonvoy or Amex cards from which let you can directly transfer their points to Lufthansa. But there are multiple ways in which you can rake miles, here’s how:

1. Flying with Lufthansa & Partner Airlines

• This is the easiest and fastest method of earning Miles. When you book flights directly on the Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Eurowings, and Brussels Airlines you earn based on ticket price which is 4 miles per €1.
• For Miles and More users along with the Lufthansa group who are part of the membership tier they earn an additional bonus of 25% for Senator status and 30% for being in HON Circle when booking via the Lufthansa website/app.
• Star Alliance Partners and non-Star alliance partners of Lufthansa who hold Miles & More Senator/ HON Circle status also earn a 25% additional bonus on their tickets on the Lufthansa website/app.
• With third- party booking you earn Miles depending on your distance travelled and class of ticket booked.
• This simply means that whether you are flying on Lufthansa or any of their airline partners you are sure to make a decent amount of miles for your next trip.

2. Credit Cards & Financial Partners

• You Get co-branded Miles & More credit cards which are available in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other European countries.  “Miles & More World Elite Mastercard” issued by Barclaycard can be applied from  other countries. You get to earn 2 Miles for each Dollar spent on Lufthansa purchases and 1 Mile per Dollar for other spends on the card. The best part is there are no foreign transaction fees overseas.In US Barclay co branded card is Offering 60000 bonus miles as welcome bonus after spending 3000 in first 90 days.
• In India, you can transfer points from HDFC Infinia /Diners Club or Axis Bank Magnus/Reserve/Burgundy using Star Alliance, with Miles & More Axis Bank World select and Miles & More Axis Bank World traveler card you can earn miles directly.

3. Hotels, Car Rentals & Lifestyle Spending

• Earn miles with 75+ hotel partners which include luxury stays like Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt,  IHG,and many more. You can earn up to 18000 miles per day and you get to choose from 500,000 properties worldwide.
• Redeem or earn miles using Miles & More at Lufthansa’s WorldShop for premium goods like Antonio Banderas, Adidas, Samsonite, Albrecht, Apple gadgets, and duty-free shopping at Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Berlin Brandenburg airports.
• You can Book car rentals with Avis, Sixt, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty,  and Hertz and earn anywhere between 500 to 2000 miles per rental.

4. Business Travelers & Corporate Benefits

• Companies can enroll in Lufthansa PartnerPlusBenefit, a corporate rewards program to maximize travel perks. Each employee earns benefit points which can be redeemed with Lufthansa group and Miles & more partners. 
• You get 3000 Benefit points as a welcome bonus. The perks include free flights, upgrades, discount codes, excess baggage allowance, awards from WorldShop,  and VIP service at airports.

5. Miles & More App:

• You also earn a joining bonus of 500 miles for installing and using the MIles & More app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store for the first time.

6. Bundle & Go:

• You can buy Miles at a 50%  bonus on all its bundles (extra small, small, medium, and large) up until 31st March 2025. This is a limited- time offer running from 2022.

Redeeming Miles & More

1. Lufthansa Award Flights:

This is one of the best features for the Miles & More members, you get to book and experience the luxurious Lufthansa First class Cabin award ticket 360 days in advance. You can redeem miles on Lufthansa Group and all its partner airlines. Booking is easy via the website or the app.

Lufthansa runs a monthly rotation Miles & More offer called “Mileage Bargains” (Meilenschäppchen) which resets to a new destination every month. This gives a great opportunity for travelers to book their tickets at up to 50% off pricing. The offer applies to all the airlines in Lufthansa Group and LOT Polish airlines.

Pro tip: One of the best and easiest ways to book Lufthansa’s first and business class utilizing the power or star alliance collaboration and book it using Air Canada Aeroplan. Aeroplan and Lufthansa Miles & more have a great partnership. You can find some amazing deals using aeroplan points.

It doesn’t hurt to bookmark this page and check it before booking your destination. Or simply, subscribe to the Milesly newsletter and get these deals delivered right to your email and never miss any chance of Great redemption!

2. Upgrade to First & Business Class

You can use your miles to upgrade to Lufthansa’s world-class First Class and Business Class Class cabins. For example: A one-way upgrade from Economy to Business Class on Frankfurt-New York will cost you approximately 20,000 miles.

You get three options to upgrade, either you can upgrade at a fixed cash price available at the website or you can try your luck and bid for an upgrade at your suitable price and the third way is you can opt to pay by miles.

Priority is always given to Miles & More status holders before regular passengers for upgrades available at the last minute.

3. Non-Flight Redemptions: Hotels, Shopping & More

You can also use your miles for hotel bookings in luxury hotels like Ritz- Carlton, Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Badrutt’s Palace, Taj Lake Palace, and 500,000 + properties worldwide.

The car rentals start at a minimum of 7500 miles per rental for redemption and you can rent from a Mercedes Benz to Porche depending on your taste .

You can use miles for luxury experiences like Michelin-star dining in Paris or a Private Helicopter Tour in the Swiss Alps.

You can also use miles to get VIP lounge access and private airport transfers, and you can spend on duty-free shopping at the Frankfurt and Munich airports.

4. Miles & Cash: Flexible Payment Options

You can always combine miles & cash even for booking award flights or upgrades when you don’t have enough miles for complete redemption.

There is an option of opting for Cash & Miles for Hotel bookings and Car rentals where you can do part payment by Cash and the rest in Miles.

Exclusive Perks for Miles & More Status Tiers

Lufthansa HON Circle (Platinum status)

This status is earned by acquiring 6000 HON circle points in a calendar year.

Perks:

• All perks of Senator status are included in this tier.
• First-class check-in.
• You get access to First Class Lounges and First Class Terminals.
• Limousine transfer service.
• Free Senator status for your spouse or partner.
• Six upgrade vouchers.
• 50% reduction on flight awards for your companion.
• 24-hour service line in selected airline locations.
• Booking guarantees up to 24 hours before departure.
• The highest waiting list priority.
• The best flight award availability.
• You get an additional Senator Partner Card on earning 650000 Hon Circle Select miles.
• As a HON Circle Member, you can temporarily overdraw your Miles & More account by up to 100,000 miles.

Lufthansa Senator (Gold status)

This status is earned by acquiring 2000 points and 1000 qualifying points in a calendar year.

Perks:

• All perks of Frequent Flyer status are included in this tier.
• First-class check-in.
• You get access to Senator Lounges and Star Alliance Gold Lounges.
• Star Alliance Gold tier status.
• Two upgrade vouchers.
• You get access to booking guarantees up to 48 hours before departure.
• Mileage advances.
• Increased flight award availability.
• Higher waiting list priority.
• 2 Upgrade eVouchers on earning 125000 Select Miles.
• Senators can temporarily overdraw their Miles & More account by up to 50,000 miles.

Lufthansa Frequent Traveller (Silver Status)

This status is earned by acquiring 650 points and 325 qualifying points in a calendar year.

Perks:

• Business-class check-in.
• You get access to the Business Lounge.
• Star Alliance Silver tier status.
• You get a higher baggage allowance.
• Higher waiting list priority.
• Your Miles don’t expire.
• You get access to a service hotline.
• Earn a Business Lounge Voucher after earning 50000 Select Miles.

(You earn one selection point for every status mile, through the Miles & More Selections program. It resets every year and is valid for the following airlines:

Lufthansa, Eurowings, Brussels Airlines, Air Dolomiti, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Luxair, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Adria Airways.)

Maximizing Miles & More

Here are Milesly’s tips for Maximizing your Miles:

• Book for long haul Business/ First class flights on Lufthansa and Star Alliance partners to earn the maximum Miles.
• Use redemption to upgrade from Economy to Business Class or First Class. Or use your miles with cash to redeem First class award flights or luxury hotel stays.
• Keep an eye out for promotions, discount deals, and monthly bargains on the Miles & More website/app. Or simply, subscribe to Milesly!
• If you are reading this before 31st March 2025 and are already a member, take advantage of the “Bundle & Go” limited-time offer and purchase miles at a discounted rate. (Opt for Medium and Small Bundle combination to get the best deal)

Why Lufthansa/ Miles & More Are Perfect for Indian Travelers

• Lufthansa has direct flights from major cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru to Frankfurt and Munich.From there you can fly to 200+ destinations using their partner airlines including the US, Canada, and Europe.
• You can also use Miles & More for booking flights on partner airlines like Singapore Airways, Air India, Swiss, United Airlines, or any of the Star Alliance partners.
• You get the option of opting for Indian meals and also have a Hindi-speaking crew onboard.
• Milesly’s Pro tip would be to pay in cash for Economy to earn miles and use redemption miles for booking First /Business class. Better still use your redemptions for upgrading from economy to Business class.

Clearing Common Myths

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

So, are you ready to earn and redeem like a pro? With Lufthansa, it’s going to be a memorable experience of hospitality, luxury and rewards. Milesly will recommend you to experience the Frankfurt lounge experience at least once in a lifetime!

And whether you are a frequent business trip flyer or a immaculate vacation planner, Lufthansa will take you to your destination with ease and style. With Miles & More you will be able to do so more frequently without breaking the bank.

If you have already experienced the magic of Lufthansa, do share your experience in the comments and any tips that you would like to share with our readers. And if you are looking to make the most of your travel experiences and want to keep yourself updated with rewards and perks of loyalty programs, just Subscribe to Milesly!