Outside of an inexplicable fondness for David Hasselhoff, Germans know quality. Witness the Lufthansa Miles & More program.
Lufthansa German Airlines launched its frequent flyer program in 1993, and since then, it's grown to over 7 million members, primarily because it's one of the most generous of European programs. And that's good, because it's the frequent flyer program of four European programs -- Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines Group (Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Tyrolean Airways), and LOT Polish Airlines.
About the program...
Juggernaut n (n) 1. An overwhelming, advancing force. 2. Lufthansa's Miles & More program.In the past four years, Miles & More has grown from the already large frequent flyer program of Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines to a loyalty program of gigantic proportions. Today, it is the exclusive program of Lufthansa, Austrian, Adria Airways, Air Dolomiti, Air One, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, and Swiss International Air Lines. Its membership has exploded.
Of course, not every member had a choice. Swiss TravelClub members, for instance, were simply integrated into the program this year.
But there have been relatively few complaints. With a huge partner list, generous elite benefits, and reasonable earning and redeeming levels, Miles & More may well be one of the best programs in Europe.
Earning capabilities
Domestic and European mileage is earned in fixed amounts. On German domestic flights, you'll earn 125 miles in E, L, U and T classes; 500 miles in G, H, K, M, Q, S, V and W classes; or 750 miles in B and Y classes. Business class (C, D or Z) earns 1,500 miles. On cross-border flights you'll earn 125 miles in E, L, U and T classes; 750 miles in G, H, K, M, Q, S, V and W classes; and 1,250 miles in B and Y classes. Business class (C, D or Z) earns 2,000 miles.
Worldwide flights in economy earn a minimum of 500 miles, business class earns a minimum of 1,000 miles, and first earns a minimum of 1,500 miles.
Elite members get a few extra miles, but not as many as you might think. Frequent Travellers and Senators get a 25-percent mileage bonus, while HON Circle members earn a full 50-percent bonus. Compare those bonuses with those of Star Alliance partner United, which offers a 100-percent bonus to its top two elite levels.
Flights on Star Alliance carriers earn a minimum of 500 miles, and flights on other air partners earn a minimum of 125 miles.
Miles earned by flying count both for award redemption and elite status. But there are plenty of ways to earn regular old award miles while planted firmly on the ground.
Miles & More members can earn 500 miles per rental with car rental partners, or 500 miles per stay with most hotel partners.
Lufthansa also offers the Miles & More Visa card, which earns one mile for every Euro spent. Previously restricted to German customers, the card has since been introduced around the world, including in the U.S.
Members can also earn with other financial partners including Activest, Cortal Consors, DaimlerChrysler Bank, Deka Bank, Deutsche Bank, DWS Investments, FOCUS-MONEY, and Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe.
Other mileage-earning partners include Bang & Olufsen, Mercedes-Benz, Lufthansa WorldShop, Lufthansa Inflight Shopping, Lufthansa Party ServicePayback, T-Mobile and Alice, among others.
Award choices
Miles & More uses the Star Alliance award chart to set its flight levels. A transatlantic roundtrip from Europe to North America will run 60,000 miles in economy, 90,000 miles in business, and 140,000 miles in first. This is a huge advantage over similar awards on other carriers. American AAdvantage, for example, offers the same trip (its AAnytime Award) at 100,000, 180,000, and 250,000 miles, respectively.
Intracontinental European flights run 30,000 and 45,000 miles in economy and business classes. Europe to Southeast Asia awards run 80,000, 120,000 and 180,000 miles, respectively.
There are even select awards on Miles & More carriers that can be redeemed for less, with a few conditions. The "Fly Smart" awards, for instance, can be had at discounts of up to 46 percent when booked online.
Miles & More also offers upgrade awards on Star Allaince carriers: 10,000-15,000 miles within Europe, 35,000-50,000 miles from Europe to North America and 50,000 from Europe to Southeast Asia (65,000 for an upgrade from business to first). These are not "cheap." In fact, they're downright exorbitant when compared with other programs (American AAdvantage upgrades between the U.S. and Europe run between 10,000 and 25,000 miles).
Flight awards are, of course, just the beginning. At the Miles & More Web site, under fairly self-explanatory headings such as Miles & Travel, Miles & Event, Miles & Communication, Miles & Money and Miles & Shop, you'll find a truly diverse list of choices for burning those miles. In fact, Miles & More may well offer more potential redemption opportunities than any other airline program in the world.
Partnerships
Hotel partners include Althoff Hotels & Residences, Barcelo Hotels & Resorts, Best Western, Golden Tulip Hotels, Hilton, Hyatt, Innside Premium Hotels, InterContinental, Jumeirah Hotels, Kempinski, Le Meridien, The Luxury Collection, Marriott, Movenpick, NH Hoteles, Orbis Hotels, Radisson, Raffles International, Ramada, Shangri-La Hotels, Starwod, The Leading Hotels of the World, and Worldhotels.
Financial partners include Activest, Deka Investment Funds and Deutsche Bank (these are only available to Miles & More members who have a German bank account).
Car rental partners include Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Sixt.
Their Elite Level!
Today, the program offers three elite levels: Frequent Traveller, Senator, and HON Circle.
Members need only 35,000 status miles in a year to earn Frequent Traveler status. Benefits include priority check-in, access to Business Lounges, use of the Business Class area at the gate, waitlist priority and a baggage allowance up to 40 kg. Award miles never expire, so long as you maintain your status, and Frequent Travellers earn a 25-percent bonus on Star Alliance flights. As with all other levels, Frequent Traveller status is good for a full two years.
A dedicated Frequent Traveller phone line is also available, as is a Frequent Traveller Visa card (in Germany), earning one mile per Euro spent.
For 130,000 miles in Germany or Austria, (100,000 miles in the rest of the world), you'll achieve Senator status. As a Senator, you can expect most of the same perks as a Frequent Traveller, with a few improvements. You'll get first-class check-in, and access to Senator and Star Alliance Gold Lounges. U.S.-based members enjoy complimentary access to United's Red Carpet Club.
Senators also receive a booking guarantee -- you'll be seated on a business-class flight in C class as late as 48 hours before departure (72 hours for Y class seats). Also expect top waitlist priority, preferential luggage handling, and to have your checked-baggage allowance increased by 20 kg or by one more piece.
On qualification or requalification, Senators receive two upgrade eVouchers. They may also redeem companion awards for 50-percent fewer miles.
A little short on your mileage balance? No problem. Senators can take out an advance of up to 50,000 miles.
Ready for the big time? For a mere 600,000 miles in two years, you can become a HON Circle member. The benefits include complimentary Senator status to a spouse or partner, limousine transfer service from the first-class terminal at Frankfurt, six upgrade eVouchers, up to a 100,000-mile advance, increased award availability, and more.
Rules Rules Rules!!!
Membership commences on enrollment with the opening of a personal mileage account by Lufthansa. Only one account per person may be opened. The mileage account and mileage balances are not transferable.
The availability of awards may vary depending on date, season and destination, and under certain circumstances awards may not be available.
If miles are not redeemed for an award within 36 months from date of credit to the mileage account, they expire at the end of the following quarter (Elite-level members are exempt from expiring miles).
Support
Their site
Plus features
For elite members, Miles & More is a genuine value, and the fact that you get two years -- twice the time as any other carrier -- to re-qualify for those levels is unheard of.
Award levels are reasonable, and extremely competitive in an age of tight-fisted programs.
Negatives
And a mere 50-percent earning bonus for even the highest level elites? We thought Ebenezer Scrooge was English, not German.
