• 21 May, 2025
  • Travel tips

Using airline miles to book Lufthansa flights will provide endless travel possibilities while allowing customers to travel with one of the globe's top airlines at reasonable prices. This guide provides step-by-step instructions along with strategic advice for mile booking of Lufthansa flights, starting from picking the best loyalty program to securing premium redemptions.

The Miles & More of Lufthansa

Miles & More stands as the European leader in frequent flyer programs owned by Lufthansa. Since its establishment in 1993, the program allows members to collect and spend miles which are valid across their extensive airline partners' network that incorporates all members of Star Alliance. Members earn miles by flying with the airline and staying at hotels, renting vehicles, and using credit cards associated with the program.

Is it possible to earn Lufthansa Miles? 

Several methods exist to earn Lufthansa miles except for those in the United States, since Lufthansa lacks credit-card transfer partners and its co-branded Lufthansa credit card yields few miles compared to similar options. Most American travelers receive more benefits when they credit their Star Alliance flights to United Airlines, which operates within the country. 

Obtain Lufthansa Miles by Flying 

Flight is the most convenient way to obtain Lufthansa miles. This is the easiest method to accumulate miles through the airline. By flying Lufthansa together with any of its partner airlines you will build up your mileage, which works through both the Miles & More program and Star Alliance.                        

Earn miles with Credit cards

Customers can gain miles through their use of the Miles & More World Elite Mastercard issued by Barclaycard. This Lufthansa Mastercard delivers two miles for every dollar Lufthansa purchases while generating one mile from each dollar on other transactions, yet eliminates all international transaction fees. The Miles & More World Elite Mastercard welcomes new applicants through a competitive sign-up bonus after they achieve the opening requirement.

Hotels and rental cars

Lufthansa allows you to build up miles through website bookings of hotels and rental cars, but take note that elite perks are not available to customers who book their travel this way.

Customers of Lufthansa can choose different types of fares for their travel experience

  • You will find Economy class seats in the back section of the cabin.
  • Premium economy provides somewhat increased legroom comparable to what domestic first-class airlines offer.
  • The business class cabin gets you lie-flat seats, yet access to the aisle requires you to literally step over the seat next to you.
  • Among Lufthansa aircraft, you will find First Class arrangements that consist of personalized service and eight seats per flight.

Note: Different flight routes with specific aircraft types determine which of these options become available to passengers. The short-distance operations of Lufthansa's first class feature only economy service while restricting half of the passenger capacity to empty middle seats. 

The procedure to reserve Lufthansa flights through rewards points

Award ticket booking on Lufthansa operates through a straightforward process, even if U.S. passengers usually reserve flights with other programs than Lufthansa miles.

  • Transferring points from the major credit card programs, such as Amex, Chase, or Capital One, is impossible because Lufthansa lacks any single credit-card transfer partner, and they impose fees at every stage of the booking process, regardless of ticket type.
  • You can take advantage of Lufthansa flights by booking award tickets through other partner programs such as Miles & More and Star Alliance members, which include Air Canada and United Airlines. 

You can book Lufthansa first-class awards using miles

People find the expense of obtaining Lufthansa first-class reservations worth it when they finally find available award seating. The availability of first-class award seats from Lufthansa becomes perceptible less than two weeks before actual departure. The past requirement of waiting 14 days until takeoff for booking awards no longer applies because the booking timeframes now stretch from three to four days before departure. First-class award flights for Lufthansa should be searched only within a few days before departure, since they are not released until very late.

  • The most effective method to achieve Lufthansa first-class flights is through partner searches instead of direct booking from Lufthansa. The point.me website lets you easily find Lufthansa first-class flight awards by entering your departure dates along with your destination to view available partner airline options.
  • You should act immediately when discovering Lufthansa first-class award tickets, since these seats rapidly disappear from the market. Most airline mileage programs grant various methods to redeem points for award flights.
  • As Lufthansa participates in the Star Alliance, you can take advantage of various loyalty schemes to book flights with Lufthansa or its partners Air Canada Aeroplan and United Airlines MileagePlus, and Avianca Lifemiles.
  • Redemptions operate at varying values in the market. Reserved first-class seats tend to become expensive when fees apply, as Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, enforce this practice.
  • United Airlines, Avianca, and Air Canada are exempt from extra fees but they may not deliver the most valuable offers to customers. One-way Lufthansa first-class passengers must pay 100,000 Aeroplan points together with $78 CAD taxes before securing their ticket. Air Canada Aeroplan points and United Airlines miles become available when points are transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The process to obtain the optimum value from Lufthansa miles

Travellers from the United States must generally avoid using Lufthansa miles because their redemptions for domestic flights prove unbeneficial. The rarity of earning Lufthansa miles prevents most American travelers from obtaining them except through spending money on credit cards and flight bookings under the Lufthansa Miles & More program.

  • Fans of Lufthansa miles should find it disappointing because the airline offers outstanding flight and ticket award programs, including specialized Mileage Bargain deals that provide deep discount rates worldwide.
  • All members of the Lufthansa group receive benefits from their Mileage Bargain program, including Lufthansa along with Austrian Airlines and SWISS Airlines and Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. The company includes LOT Polish Airlines among its network of brands.

The worst ways to redeem Lufthansa miles

Flight rewards stand as the top use of your rewards, no matter what airline you are affiliated with; however, you need not use miles for flight awards. Any use of Lufthansa miles other than their flight awards becomes pointless, considering the extreme challenge for earning these rewards. Lufthansa award members who truly want to use their miles can make purchases through the Worldshop or donate the points, or use them to offset their CO2 emissions and upgrade flight classes, and book hotels or car rentals.

  • Upgrading from economy class
  • Offsetting your CO2 footprint
  • Hotel stays or rental cars
  • Donating miles
  • Online shopping via the Worldshop

These are recommended methods to locate Lufthansa award flight seats

Vacant first-class seats on Lufthansa are challenging to locate, whereas both economy- and business-class award seats prove simple to identify. You should check Lufthansa award flights through United's fare calendar since this tool provides monthly flight availability. You can begin searching for Lufthansa seats for all classes starting 360 days in advance, and the first-class seats become available between 14 and 2 days beforehand.  The point.me website provides excellent service because it conductively evaluations of multiple partner networks to track down the hard-to-find Lufthansa first-class awards. The system requires you to add your travel information, followed by a search that generates the necessary details.

Lufthansa features three separate categories included in its tier status system

Lufthansa has three tier levels:

  • The frequent Traveller status gives travelers priority check-in service alongside more checked baggage allowance and entrance to airport lounges. 
  • Senator: Earned after 100,000 miles. Members with this Lufthansa credit card gain access to first-class queues, Star Alliance Gold status as well as two annual upgrade vouchers. 
  • The membership offers first-class lounge access along with limousine transfers and provides six annual upgrade certificates. 

FAQs

Q1. What is the method for accumulating Lufthansa miles?

Ans: Fly with Lufthansa or book hotels or rental cars, along with using their credit cards for travel purchases, to accumulate miles.

Q2. Through which process can I exchange my Lufthansa miles? 

Ans: Lufthansa provides its customers with an online platform to exchange earned miles. The website of each airline partner to Lufthansa enables you to book reward flights on this airline. 

Q3. How many Lufthansa miles would be necessary to claim a free flight?

Ans: Your Lufthansa Miles & More reward flight cost depends on the flight distance and route in combination with promotions and fare class options so point.me assists members in optimizing their reward redemption to get more value from earned miles.

Q4. Is there an option for the User to book Lufthansa flights through their United miles account?

Ans: The United website enables members to use their miles for Lufthansa flights via a service that allows booking with miles.

Q5. Are SkyMiles valid for purchasing Lufthansa bookings?

Ans: SkyMiles does not offer Lufthansa flight booking as a redeemable option.

Q6. Do Chase points allow transfer to Lufthansa?

Ans: It is not possible to move Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the Lufthansa airline.

Q7. Do Lufthansa miles expire?

Ans: The expiration period for Lufthansa miles extends to 36 months from the date of earning.

Q8. Is it possible to transfer or present your Lufthansa miles to another individual?

Ans: You can accomplish online transfers or gifts of your Lufthansa miles to another person.