ITA Airways and Lufthansa, integration getting closer: here's what's changed in recent days

The March 30 is getting closer and closer, but judging by the silent changes that are taking place without being officially announced things could be finalized much sooner, a sign that the integration between ITA Airways and Miles&More is now at a very advanced state.

In the past few hours, there has been some obvious news, such as The arrival of the first aircraft in Star Alliance livery., which occurred on the day last Tuesday, but instead. there are so many that you don't see except when you are directly involved, that is, if you do not travel.

Farewell zone 1 to Executive and Senator

Until Tuesday, January 27, Executives and Senators had zone 1 stamped on their ITA boarding pass, but now the system has aligned with Lufthansa's, viz. zone 1 is reserved for HON Circle only, that is, to the most exclusive status holders of the Miles&More program.

Hons embark at will and waiting for limousine escort to be offered at Fiumicino as well, as at all the group's hubs, they can still enjoy first priority over all other passengers. Senator, like the other Gold Star Alliance members are instead in Group 2. 

While everyone else is boarded according to seat.

ITA reservations are visible in the LH ecosystem.

The other new feature that has appeared in recent days is the presence within Lufthansa's website and app of ITA Airwyas reservations, regardless of where they are made.

The moment you enter the Miles&More number in the reservation you have all the PNR, and its details, visible in the control panel inside the Lufthansa website, a sign that by now The integration of ITA Airways and Miles&More Is almost completed.

Credit miles, almost, immediate

If initially the crediting of miles from flights made with ITA struggled to appear in the Miles&More account, now things seem to have definitely improved.

During 2026, I have already taken more than 20 AZ flights and I must say that the crediting of Miles&More Miles, Points, QPoints and HON Circle Points happens within a maximum of 72h.

Benefits are no longer those of flying, but of Miles&More

The main difference is the one he is uncovering, day by day, The different treatment you get when you enter the German loyalty program card, rather than Volare, is that the benefits are those provided by the latter and not ITA benefits.

Translated if you book a basic economy ticket you no longer have the option of free checked baggage on short/medium haul flights and the same goes for free seat selection. Those who fly with Senator status on board ITA do not have the same treatment if they fly with Executive card number on the same flight.

No ITA lounge for HON Circle

It would seem, but these are just rumors I've picked up in my frequent rounds between lounges at Fiumicino, that With the final transition of ITA into Star Alliance, and the adoption at 100% of Miles&More as a loyalty program the most "valuable" passengers i.e. HON Circle, will be directed to a lounge that will not be ITA's.

Of course it could be fake news, but according to what I have intercepted, until there is an adequate lounge to offer superior service to what the Hangar Lounge offers, HON Circle passengers, fewer than 50 or so in Italy and about 5,000 worldwide, will be escorted to the Plaza Premium First, i.e., Fiumicino's newest and, in no danger of denial, the best lounge in the entire Roman airport.

In conclusion

If we were at Games Without Borders Gennaro Olivieri and Guido Pancaldi would say "Un, deux, trois, les jeux sont faits."

Now we just wait for official communications, it would be nice a little bit of clarity also to inform passengers and not leave them, as usual, in the lurch.