Thanks to Lufthansa’s recent generosity, many readers have probably already enjoyed their shiny Senator status. Combined with the current 100,000-mile challenge, it’s definitely time to take a closer look at how Lufthansa miles can actually be used – so let’s dive in.
A few notes
Because of a rather messy legal dispute in the past, Lufthansa once suspended almost all channels for buying or transferring miles. At the moment, the only relatively reliable way to acquire miles is through the official Bundle & Go offers. When there’s a promotion, Lufthansa miles can be bought at a cost of roughly 1p per mile.
Their award search engine is also notoriously frustrating. First, you need at least 7,000 miles in your account just to search for awards. Second, the Akamai security check they enforce is absolutely way too keen – very often I need to click three pop-ups during a single search.
Partner Redemption
Redeeming Lufthansa miles on non-Lufthansa-group partner airlines still follows fixed award charts, so let’s start with the simpler part. Star Alliance partners include Air China, EVA Air, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, amongst others.
You can find the award chart here. Overall, there aren’t many highlights: long-haul premium cabins are just about acceptable. For example (all one-way business class):
- Europe – Middle East: 37,500 miles
- Europe – North America: 62,500 miles
- Europe – Australia: 107,500 miles
- North America – South America: 62,500 miles
- North America – Asia: 85,000 miles
There’s also the Star Alliance Domestic Award sweet spot: for a one-way flight entirely within mainland China or United States, regardless of distance or number of connections, pricing is fixed at 12,000 miles in economy, 20,000 in business, or 27,500 in first class.
One thing worth noting is that even airlines like United, which normally don’t charge fuel surcharges at all, may still have fuel surcharges added when redeeming certain routes (especially those involving Europe) through Lufthansa miles.
Lufthansa Group
If you’re redeeming on Lufthansa Group carriers – Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian – the situation becomes more complicated. There’s no award chart at all, and pricing is fully dynamic, loosely tied to cash fares.
The word dynamic might send chills down your spine, but to be fair, Lufthansa has been relatively generous so far. At least for now, the upsides seem to outweigh the downsides. Take London to Munich as an example:
And here’s a truly absurd one: San Francisco to London. Redeeming on United requires 25,000 miles, while Lufthansa’s own flight costs just 88 miles.
Yes, you read that right, and I didn’t forget two zeros or something. An 11-hour flight really does price at just 88 miles, though taxes and fees still come to over $200.
Another standout for travelling to Asia is departing from Northern Europe, the cost of business class starting at 2X,000 miles:
In addition to the three core Lufthansa Group airlines, there are several closely affiliated carriers that still use fixed award charts but regularly offer discounted Mileage Bargains on selected routes and dates. These include Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Luxair, Discover, Air Dolomiti and Eurowings.
Elite Perks
Lufthansa’s first class has long enjoyed a solid reputation, and the new first class products from Lufthansa and SWISS both look extremely appealing. When it comes to award redemptions, policies are heavily skewed in favour of Lufthansa’s own Miles & More program:
- Partner programs can only see Lufthansa first-class award space a few days before departure
- SWISS first class redemptions are available exclusively to Senator and HON Circle members
One major benefit of Lufthansa Senator status is the Companion Award: when two people travel together, the second passenger gets 50% off the mileage cost. This applies to all Lufthansa Group airlines, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian and others.
No special steps are required – just search for awards for two passengers and the discount is automatically applied. Taxes and fees still need to be paid in full, and the discount cannot be combined with Mileage Bargains.
Skiplagging
A general rule of thumb: connecting itineraries are often much cheaper than nonstop flights, and Lufthansa’s dynamic pricing follows the same logic. If your true destination is say Frankfurt, Zurich or Vienna, you can sometimes book an award to a farther destination and simply get off midway.
The San Francisco – London example priced at 88 miles above is a perfect illustration. Note that you can only skip the last leg and it would otherwise invalidate the rest of your ticket.
The same applies within Europe. For example tickets to Eastern Europe are often cheaper.
The same may apply with Lufthansa’s railway partnership as well, as your itinerary may include a railway connection, involving Germany’s Deutsche Bahn or Switzerland’s SBB.
Of course, skiplagging comes with risks and airlines definitely don’t like it. Use your own judgment, and it’s best not to check any baggage.
That wraps things up. This may not be an exhaustive guide, but hopefully it’s helpful. All in all, Lufthansa miles still offer solid value, especially for Senators who can make good use of the Companion Award. Let’s just hope there isn’t a sudden dynamic price hike.
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