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airline
Lufthansa
Lufthansa is the Frankfurt-based flag carrier of Germany (founded 1953) and the parent of Lufthansa Group, which now spans SWISS, Austrian, Brussels, and ITA Airways. The fleet runs roughly 280+ aircraft: A350-900, A380 (returning to key US routes 2023-2025), 747-8i (the only Western airline still flying the Queen as a flagship), 787-9 deliveries since 2024, A320 family across Europe, with 777-9s on order. The Allegris cabin rollout (2024-2026) is the headline product story: a brand-new long-haul Business class with a mix of seat types including a privacy-door suite, plus fully enclosed First Class suites in a 1-1-1 layout. Hubs are FRA (Frankfurt) primary and MUC (Munich) secondary; US gateways are extensive (JFK, EWR, BOS, IAD, MIA, ORD, ATL, DFW, IAH, DEN, LAX, SFO, SEA, MCO, CLT, PHL, RDU, MSP, DTW, AUS).
For US travelers, the headline value is Lufthansa First Class on the 747-8i - 8 seats per plane and one of the most aspirational redemptions in the points world. The catch: First availability opens to partner programs only 14 days before departure (15 for M&M direct), and Lufthansa-issued M&M awards on LH metal carry hefty fuel surcharges. The fix is booking via partner programs - Aeroplan (100K-110K Miles one-way US-Europe in F), Avianca LifeMiles (87K-110K one-way), or ANA Mileage Club (110K one-way). All three pass minimal or zero fuel surcharges. Award chart and tier benefits live on the Miles & More page; this page focuses on the carrier itself.
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
See the rates →
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
Lufthansa metal redeems at Miles & More partner-chart pricing when booked via partner Star Alliance programs, and at dynamic M&M-direct pricing when booked directly through Miles & More. The full award chart lives on the Miles & More page; key cells for Lufthansa as of May 2026:
| Route | Cabin | Best partner program | Approx. miles one-way |
|---|---|---|---|
| US-Europe | First (747-8i) | Aeroplan | 100,000-110,000 |
| US-Europe | First (747-8i) | Avianca LifeMiles | 87,000-110,000 |
| US-Europe | First (747-8i) | ANA Mileage Club | 110,000 (RT only) |
| US-Europe | Business (Allegris A350) | Aeroplan | 70,000-77,000 |
| US-Europe | Business | LifeMiles | 63,000-78,000 |
| US-Europe | Economy | Aeroplan | 35,000-45,000 |
Verify saver availability on aeroplan.com, lifemiles.com, and ana.co.jp; M&M-direct pricing on miles-and-more.com is dynamic and typically less competitive due to fuel surcharges.
Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
Show me the picks →
Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
- Lufthansa First on 747-8i via Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles - 8 First seats per plane and a proper enclosed F suite. Availability opens 14 days out for partners.
- First Class Terminal (FCT) at FRA - separate building, dedicated immigration, Porsche transfer to plane. Accessible to F passengers and HON Circle members.
- Allegris Business via partner programs - new 1-2-1 J seat with privacy door rolling out across the A350 fleet 2024-2026.
- Welcome Lounge at MUC is the FCT-style equivalent for Munich-departing F passengers.
- Aeroplan / LifeMiles / ANA all skip the heavy fuel surcharges that hits M&M-direct LH metal awards.
- A380s back on key US routes (ORD, MIA) - useful for upper-deck premium-cabin redemptions.
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 4 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
4 status levels.
Climb the ladder →
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 4 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
4 status levels.
Frequent Traveller (FTL)
650 Points + 325 Qualifying Points in a calendar year. Continental Economy = 20 Points / Continental Business = 40 / Intercontinental Economy = 60 / Intercontinental Business = 200 / Intercontinental First = 300.
- Star Alliance Silver
- Business Class check-in on LH Group flights
- Business Lounge access when flying eligible carriers
- Priority standby
- Extra checked baggage allowance
- Award miles do not expire during status
Senator (SEN)
2,000 Points + 1,000 Qualifying Points in a calendar year.
- All FTL benefits
- Star Alliance Gold (lounge access on all Star Alliance partners worldwide for member + 1 guest, any cabin)
- Senator Lounge access
- 2 eVouchers for upgrades at qualification / renewal
- Executive Bonus on award miles
- Priority boarding and baggage
HON Circle Member
6,000 HON Circle Points (Business/First only) in two consecutive calendar years on LH Group + co-issuing partners. Approximately 30 intercontinental Business Class round-trips / year.
- All Senator benefits
- First Class Lounge access
- Access to the First Class Terminal at FRA (chauffeured tarmac transfers, gourmet dining, cigar lounge, bath suites)
- Personal assistant
- Guaranteed booking on all LH Group flights within 48 hours
- Top-tier exclusivity - one of aviation's most restrictive elite tiers
Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
See the rules →
Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
Lufthansa operates the First Class Terminal (FCT) at FRA - a separate building with dedicated immigration, private suites, fine dining, and Porsche transfer to the aircraft. Access is limited to same-day Lufthansa Group First Class passengers and HON Circle members regardless of cabin. MUC has the Welcome Lounge as the FCT-style equivalent. Across the network, Senator and Business lounges serve M&M Senator (Star Gold) and HON Circle members plus same-day premium-cabin passengers. Star Alliance Gold from any partner (United Premier 1K, Aeroplan 50K+, etc.) gets reciprocal lounge access on same-day Star international flights.
How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
Get the playbook →
How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
- Lufthansa First Class on the 747-8i via Aeroplan (100K-110K one-way US-Europe) - low YQ, cleanest US-flexible-currency path through Bilt, Amex, Capital One, Chase.
- Lufthansa First via Avianca LifeMiles (87K-110K one-way) - LifeMiles transfers from Amex MR, Capital One, Citi, Bilt.
- Lufthansa First via ANA Mileage Club (110K one-way) - ANA transfers from Amex MR only; round-trip-only rule applies.
- Lufthansa Allegris Business via Aeroplan / LifeMiles / United at saver pricing on partner charts (verify per route).
- Avoid M&M-direct redemption on LH metal in F or J - heavy YQ pass-through (often $700+ one-way).
- HON Circle (top M&M tier) unlocks the First Class Terminal at FRA regardless of cabin.
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
Spill the gotchas →
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
- Heavy fuel surcharges (fuel surcharges) on M&M-direct awards on Lufthansa metal - often $700+ one-way in business or first.
- Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and ANA Mileage Club all skip the fuel surcharges when booking LH metal - the canonical US-flyer fix.
- First Class availability opens to partner programs 14 days before departure (15 days for M&M direct).
- HON Circle is the top M&M tier - unlocks First Class Terminal access at FRA regardless of cabin flown.
- First Class Terminal at FRA is genuinely separate from Z-gate Senator and Business lounges - different building, different immigration line.
- Allegris cabin rollout 2024-2026 - new Business class with mixed seat types (privacy door on some), new fully enclosed First suites in 1-1-1.
- A380s returning to key US routes (ORD, MIA) post-pandemic; 777-9 deliveries delayed.
- 787-9 deliveries continuing 2024+ - replacing some A340-600 long-haul.
- ITA Airways now part of Lufthansa Group - earning/redeeming on ITA flows through M&M.
- 20+ US gateways - one of the broadest US footprints among European carriers.
- Founded 1953 - the postwar reincarnation of the original 1926 Deutsche Luft Hansa.
- Award chart and tier benefits live on the Miles & More page - this carrier page references the umbrella program.
Alerts
Last reviewed: May 2026
Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Lufthansa before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.