Miles & More, everything you need to know about the Lufthansa-branded loyalty program

In this series of articles we present the loyalty programs of major airlines operating in the Italian market: we have already talked about theBritish Airways Executive Club and the Alitalia's Millemiglia Club.

Miles & More is the frequent flyer program of Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, and Luxair. Some of these airlines are owned by the German company; others have close business ties with Lufthansa.

The Miles & More program

Lufthansa is one of the pillars of theStar Alliance, so elite members of the loyalty program can enjoy the same benefits when they also fly on partner airlines such as United, Tap Portugal, Aegean, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines and many more.

As is the case with Alitalia and British Airways, Lufthansa also allows you to earn miles through a credit card; unfortunately, however, it is only available as a product for Unicredit customers, so it is not possible to have a card disconnected from your current account at that bank, and this is no small limitation. But it also has a great advantage: cardholders can sleep soundly because the miles for them will never expire.

Unlike with Millemiglia Alitalia, a program in which the miles collected last 36 months (except for elite status, for this level they do not expire).

Elite levels and key benefits

The Miles & More program, in addition to the initial basic level that has no special benefits, has three different status levels

Frequent Traveller: 35,000 qualifying miles or 30 flights in one year. The main benefits are:

• up to 50% of additional award miles and up to 25% of status miles and hon circle
• Check in at Business Class counters when flying with Miles & More partner airlines, whatever fare class is booked
• Increased baggage allowance and thus ability to carry more suitcases with you
• Access to Star Alliance business lounges, so only those owned by the LH group
• award miles do not expire
• Star Alliance Silver status

Senator: 100,000 miles. which to the FT benefits adds:

• 2 eVouchers for class upgrades upon status acquisition and each status renewal
• reservation guaranteed up to 48 hours in advance
• Baggage allowance: 20 kg extra
• Number of bags: 2 or 3 bags on certain routes in Economy Class, 3 bags in Premium Economy Class and Business Class, 4 bags in First Clas
• Check-in at First Class counters regardless of booking class
• access to Senator Lounge and Star Alliance Gold lounges
• Senator Premium Award (best solutions for booking against one and a half times the number of miles)
• Companion Award: ability to apply for a companion award ticket using only the 50% of miles
• Star Alliance Gold status

Hon Circle: 600,000 HON Circle miles in two consecutive years. Benefits are valid for at least two years and include:

• Personal assistant
• 6 eVouchers for class upgrades upon status acquisition and each status renewal
• check-in at First Class counters
• Access to First Class lounges and the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt
• Baggage allowance: 20 kg extra
• Number of bags: 2 or 3 bags on certain routes in Economy Class, 3 bags in Premium Economy Class and Business Class, 4 bags in First Class
• reservation guaranteed up to 24H in advance
• Senator Partner card for spouse/partner
• Best award flight availability: HON + 3 companions up to 14 days before departure if there are still available seats in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class (flights operated by LH, OS, LO, LX, SN)
• top priority on waiting list

As a Senator or HON Circle Member you can temporarily withdraw more miles than are in your Miles & More account. Senators can receive a mileage advance of up to 50,000 award miles and HON Circle Members up to 100,000 miles. The miles account must return to credit before the status expires. As a HON Circle Member, however, you can transfer up to 50,000 miles from its negative balance to your Senator account.

The benefits across the Star Alliance network

Elite members can see their benefits recognized when flying anywhere in the world with many other airlines, likewise passengers who hold a Star Alliance card. when they fly with group companies they get the same treatment.