Lufthansa Miles & More

Lufthansa Miles & More
Name	Lufthansa Miles & More
Founder	Lufthansa
Type	Frequent-flyer program
Established	1993
Headquarters	Cologne
Area served	Global

Lufthansa Miles & More

Lufthansa Miles & More is the frequent-flyer program of Lufthansa established in 1993. It serves passengers of Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings Discover, Air Dolomiti and other carriers in the Star Alliance and partner networks. The program links airline travel with banking and retail services, connecting members to products from Deutsche Bank, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Eurowings Discover, Air Canada, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and other multinational firms.

Overview

Miles & More functions as a loyalty scheme that issues award miles and status miles for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and financial transactions. It incorporates partnerships across aviation, hospitality, retail and finance, aligning with networks such as Star Alliance and alliances with non-allied carriers. The program categorized rewards into award travel, upgrades, shopping redemptions and exclusive services, liaising with firms like Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, Avis Budget Group, Europcar, Sixt SE and payment providers including Mastercard and Visa Inc.. Corporate travel departments from multinationals like Siemens and BMW have historically interfaced with Miles & More for employee travel procurement.

Membership tiers and benefits

Membership tiers include basic member levels and status levels that grant privileges on Lufthansa and partner carriers. Status classes such as Senator and HON Circle confer benefits like lounge access, priority boarding and extra baggage allowances, comparable to programs administered by British Airways, Air France–KLM, Iberia, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Top-tier privileges often reference reciprocal arrangements with carriers in Star Alliance including Avianca, Turkish Airlines, Aegean Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines. Benefits extend to premium check-in counters at hubs such as Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, Zurich Airport, Vienna International Airport and Brussels Airport.

Earning and redeeming miles

Members earn award miles and status miles on flights operated by participating airlines, with accrual rates varying by fare class and carrier, similar to accrual rules in programs by Qatar Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and ANA (All Nippon Airways). Miles accrue from transactions with hotel chains like AccorHotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and from car rental firms Hertz, Avis Budget Group and Sixt SE. Redemption options include award tickets on partner carriers such as Air Canada, United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Avianca, upgrades on long-haul services including those operated by Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines, and merchandise or experiences with retail partners like Amazon (company), Apple Inc. and IKEA. The program also integrates financial earning via co-branded products with banking institutions such as Deutsche Bank and payment networks Mastercard and Visa Inc..

Partner network

The partner network spans airline alliances, non-alliance carriers, hospitality groups, car rental companies, retail brands and financial institutions. Airline partners include Star Alliance members like Avianca, Air Canada, United Airlines, Aegean Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines, as well as selected non-allied partners. Hospitality partners include Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, AccorHotels and InterContinental Hotels Group. Car rental partners include Hertz, Sixt SE, Avis Budget Group and Europcar. Retail and lifestyle partners have included Amazon (company), Apple Inc., IKEA and duty-free operators at hubs such as Frankfurt Airport and Munich Airport. Financial partners comprise Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, Mastercard and Visa Inc. which facilitate co-branded credit cards, insurance and savings products.

Miles & More credit cards and financial products

Miles & More issues co-branded credit cards and savings products via partner banks, providing miles accrual on everyday spending and travel-related purchases. Card products have been distributed in markets through institutions such as Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, Austrian National Bank-partnered issuers and other regional banks, mirroring arrangements in co-brand programs with American Express, Barclays, Santander and BNP Paribas. Financial products have at times included mileage-linked savings accounts, installment offers and insurance bundles tied to travel, echoing product mixes available from HSBC, Citigroup and Wells Fargo in other markets.

Controversies and criticisms

The program has faced scrutiny over mileage devaluation, award availability, and the complexity of earning across partner fare classes, similar to criticisms leveled at programs run by British Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Regulatory and consumer groups in jurisdictions including Germany, Austria and Switzerland have debated transparency in award charts and the terms of co-branded financial products. Corporate governance issues affecting Lufthansa and strategic shifts in alliance partnerships have occasionally influenced member sentiment, as seen in public discussions involving European Commission air transport policy and national aviation authorities such as Bundesamt für Verkehr (Switzerland) and Austro Control. Consumer advocacy organizations and travel industry commentators from outlets covering IATA, CAPA - Centre for Aviation and major newspapers have critiqued changes to mileage accrual rules, redemption pricing and blackout conditions.

Category:Frequent-flyer programs