A loyalty program offering flights for fewer award miles sounds like a no-brainer at first glance. Less miles? More trips? Sounds like a win-win! But here’s the reality check: it doesn’t matter how few miles you need if there aren’t any award seats available to book. And that’s where a lot of travelers get caught off guard.
Since the pandemic, the game has changed. Airlines have increased the number of miles required and slashed award seat availability, turning what used to be an easy redemption into a frustrating chase. The miles you’ve worked hard to collect suddenly feel less like a golden ticket and more like Monopoly money. But there’s one program that’s still playing by different rules: Lufthansa’s Miles & More.
In this post, we’re diving into four key reasons why “Miles & More” program stands out in today’s post-pandemic travel landscape, making it easier to snag those coveted award flights. Let’s explore why this could be your next secret weapon for booking smarter!
1. Exclusive Seat Access – For Miles & More Members Only
Let’s kick things off with a major perk: as a Miles & More member, you get first dibs on award seats that others can’t even touch. Lufthansa Group flights have seats reserved just for you. For example, if you’re eyeing that Seattle to Frankfurt flight next March, using ANA (a partner airline) program to search for award availability might only show economy seats, but over on the Miles & More site? Business and premium economy seats are wide open. It’s like having a secret door that leads straight to the good stuff.
2. Grab Multiple Last-Minute First Class Award Seats
First class on Lufthansa is like the holy grail of flying, and usually, partner airlines can only snag one first class award seat 7 ~ 14 days before takeoff. But if you’ve got Miles & More miles, you can grab more than one – no problem. Picture this: it’s September 5th, and you want a first class seat for the 7th. Air Canada miles might get you just one seat, but over at Miles & More, you could score two or more. It’s like showing up to a sold-out concert and getting VIP tickets handed to you.
3. Book Lufthansa First Class 360 Days In Advance
If you’re the type who likes to plan ahead (or hates scrambling for last-minute seats), you’re going to love this. Most people have to wait until the last couple of weeks to see first class seats open up, but as a Miles & More member, you can book a whole year in advance. You could even find four first class seats on the same flight – perfect if you want to treat the whole family to a luxury getaway. Meanwhile, partner airlines are still stuck offering nothing for direct flights that far in advance. Planning just got a whole lot easier!
4. Beat the Frustration of Married Segments
Ah, married segments – every frequent flyer’s least favorite puzzle. It’s when airlines limit seat availability based on where you’re flying from and to. Let’s say you’re trying to book a business class seat from Taipei or Hong Kong to Istanbul using ANA award miles, and all you see is economy. That’s because Turkish Airlines is using married segments to block business class redemptions. But with Miles & More miles? You can find direct flights available for redemption, no sweat. So, you’re not stuck hunting for a workaround or rerouting your trip.
How To Earn Miles & More Miles (Even If You’re In The US)?
Let’s be real – if you’re in the United States, earning Lufthansa’s Miles & More miles isn’t exactly a breeze. Unlike other airlines, Miles & More doesn’t partner with any of the flexible point programs, such as American Express (Amex) Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards. But don’t worry! There are still some solid ways to rack up those miles.
Earn Miles Through Flights
The most straightforward way? Credit your flights to Lufthansa, even if you’re flying on United Airlines or another Star Alliance partner. Just make sure your flight is credited to Miles & More at booking or check-in, and those miles will start adding up!
Get the Lufthansa Co-Branded Credit Card
If you want to earn faster, the Lufthansa co-branded credit card from Barclays US is your best bet. Right now, it’s offering a 80,000 miles sign-up bonus, which isn’t too shabby. But if you’re a points chaser, you’ll want to keep an eye out for promotions – the highest bonus in the past hit a juicy 100,000 miles. Just imagine the trips you could take with that!
Buy Miles – Yes, You Can Now!
Before the pandemic, Lufthansa wasn’t in the business of selling miles. Then 2020 happened, and everything changed. Lufthansa now bundles miles into special offers – thanks to some unique German consumer protection laws, they can’t sell miles directly for cash. Right now, Lufthansa’s running a pretty sweet deal: buy miles, and you’ll get a 50% bonus. For example, if you buy 100,000 miles, they’ll throw in an extra 50,000 miles for free. However, there’s a twist – Lufthansa’s “Bundle & Go” system doesn’t let you choose an exact amount. You pick one of four packages: XS (4,500 miles), Small (15,000 miles), Medium (75,000 miles), or Large (150,000 miles). It’s a little quirky, but if you’re planning a big trip, it can be totally worth it.
Do the Math: Is It Worth To Buy?
During this promo, you’re essentially buying miles at around 1.3 US cents per mile, which is a pretty solid deal, especially if you’re eyeing a trip to Europe and having trouble finding award seats. So, if you’ve got a trip on the horizon or just love a good deal, it might be worth snagging some extra miles while the promo’s still on.
Summary: Maximize the Value of Miles & More Miles
Pre-pandemic, the name of the game was squeezing the most value out of your miles – booking flights at the lowest cost possible. But these days, the rules have shifted. Now, it’s less about cost and more about picking the right miles to ensure you can actually snag the flights you want. Focus on what matters most, like getting those coveted award seats, because in the new world of award travel, that’s where the real value lies. With this, you’re not just earning miles – you’re setting yourself up for your next adventure with Lufthansa!
