Lufthansa Miles & More

Miles & More is Lufthansa Group's frequent flyer programme, with three elite tiers above base membership: Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle, each requiring a set number of Points and Qualifying Points earned within a single calendar year. Status is now valid for one year rather than two. Airlaza books Lufthansa fares that earn Miles & More miles: +1-888-890-4009.

What Miles & More actually is

Miles & More is the shared loyalty programme across Lufthansa and its Group airlines — Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, and several partner carriers including LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Luxair, Air Dolomiti and ITA Airways. A single account earns and redeems across all of them, plus wider Star Alliance flying and a set of non-airline partners such as hotels and car rental.

The programme separates two currencies that are easy to confuse. Award miles are the balance used to redeem flights, upgrades and other rewards, and they don't expire on a fixed clock the way status does. Points — split into Qualifying Points and, for the top tier, HON Circle Points — are what determine elite status, and they reset each calendar year. A member can hold a large award-mile balance and still lose status if they didn't fly enough that year, because the two counters track different things.

The three status tiers and what it takes to reach them

Miles & More restructured its tier system, and the current thresholds are measured in Points and Qualifying Points earned within one calendar year rather than a rolling multi-year average.

Qualifying Points are earned only on flights with the fully integrated Miles & More airlines listed above — flying a non-integrated partner earns award miles but not the Points that count toward status. HON Circle sits apart from the other two tiers: it is measured purely in HON Circle Points, which are earned exclusively by flying Business or First Class on Lufthansa Group airlines and fully integrated partners, so reaching it through Economy flying alone is not possible under the current structure.

Status validity: the one-year rule

A significant change to the programme is how long status now lasts once earned. Where Miles & More status used to run for at least two years after qualifying, it is now valid for one calendar year. That means a member has to re-qualify annually to keep Frequent Traveller, Senator or HON Circle benefits, rather than banking a slower flying year against a strong one two years earlier.

For business travellers whose flying volume varies year to year, this is worth planning around directly — a status earned from a heavy travel year does not carry a buffer into a lighter one the way it once did.

What each status tier actually gets you

Benefits scale with tier, and the gap between Frequent Traveller and Senator is larger in practice than the point thresholds alone suggest, because Senator unlocks lounge access that Frequent Traveller does not.

Star Alliance Gold, granted from Frequent Traveller level upward, is often the most practical everyday benefit for members who fly a mix of Lufthansa Group and other Star Alliance carriers, since it carries lounge and priority benefits across the wider alliance network, not just on Lufthansa metal.

Earning miles: flying versus non-flying activity

Miles & More miles come from two broad sources, and only one of them counts toward elite status.

Award miles from non-flying sources are useful for redemptions but do nothing to move a member toward Frequent Traveller, Senator or HON Circle. Anyone specifically chasing status needs to look at the Qualifying Points earned per flight on an integrated Miles & More airline, not the total miles balance shown in the account.

Redeeming Miles & More miles

Redemption covers flight awards across the Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance network, plus upgrades and a smaller catalogue of non-flight rewards. The number of miles needed for an award seat moves with route, cabin and demand rather than sitting on a fixed chart for every flight.

Award tickets booked with miles are cancelled differently from cash fares — miles are typically redeposited to the account rather than refunded, sometimes with a fee that depends on membership tier and how close to departure the cancellation happens, with higher-tier members generally treated more leniently.

Miles & More and Airlaza-booked Lufthansa flights

the agency sells long-haul Business, First and Premium Economy fares on Lufthansa by written quote, and those fares earn Miles & More miles and status Points in the same way as a fare booked directly, provided the member's Miles & More number is added to the booking. The earning outcome depends on the fare class purchased and the flight operated, exactly as it would through any other channel — the agency does not alter what a ticket earns.

Passengers who hold a Miles & More number should give it to the specialist handling their booking so it is attached at ticketing rather than added after the fact, which is not always possible once a ticket has been issued. Reach the desk at +1-888-890-4009 to have a Miles & More number added to a new quote.

Common Miles & More mistakes worth avoiding

A handful of misunderstandings account for most of the frustration members report with the programme. Assuming award miles and status Points are the same currency is the most frequent one, followed by assuming status carries over year to year without re-qualifying under the current one-year rule.

Checking the account's Points balance specifically, rather than the headline mile total, is the only reliable way to know how close a member actually is to the next tier.

Frequently asked questions

How many points do I need for Lufthansa Senator status?

Senator status requires 2,000 Points, of which at least 1,000 must be Qualifying Points, earned within one calendar year. Qualifying Points come only from flying fully integrated Miles & More airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian, so flights on other Star Alliance carriers add award miles but not progress toward Senator.

How long does Miles & More status last once earned?

One calendar year under the current structure. Miles & More previously ran status for at least two years after qualifying, but that has changed, meaning members now need to re-qualify annually to retain Frequent Traveller, Senator or HON Circle benefits rather than relying on a prior strong year.

What is the difference between award miles and status Points?

Award miles are the balance used to redeem flights and rewards and don't expire on the same clock as status. Points, and Qualifying Points specifically, determine elite tier progress and reset every calendar year. A large mile balance does not by itself indicate elite status; the two are tracked separately.

How do I qualify for HON Circle?

By earning 6,000 HON Circle Points within a calendar year. HON Circle Points are a separate currency from standard Qualifying Points and are earned exclusively by flying Business or First Class on Lufthansa Group airlines and fully integrated Miles & More partners, not through Economy flying or non-flying activity.

Do Miles & More miles earned on the agency-booked Lufthansa tickets count normally?

Yes. A Lufthansa fare booked through the agency earns miles and status Points the same way a directly booked fare does, based on the fare class and route flown. Provide your Miles & More number when booking so it is attached to the ticket at issuance; call +1-888-890-4009 to add it to a quote.

Which airlines earn Miles & More status Points?

Only the fully integrated Miles & More airlines: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Luxair, Air Dolomiti and ITA Airways. Flying other Star Alliance members earns award miles but not the Qualifying Points that count toward Frequent Traveller, Senator or HON Circle status.

What does Senator status give me that Frequent Traveller doesn't?

The clearest difference is Senator Lounge access, which Frequent Traveller members do not have. Senator also carries a higher checked baggage allowance and, on some full flights, limited priority for a guaranteed seat. Both tiers include Star Alliance Gold status and priority check-in and boarding.

Can I cancel a Miles & More award ticket and get my miles back?

Generally yes, with the miles redeposited to your account rather than refunded as cash. A redeposit fee can apply depending on your Miles & More tier and how close to departure you cancel, and higher-tier members are typically treated more leniently on that fee than members with no status.

Do co-branded credit card miles count toward Miles & More status?

No. Credit card spending earns award miles that can be redeemed for flights and rewards, but it does not generate Qualifying Points or HON Circle Points, so it has no effect on progress toward Frequent Traveller, Senator or HON Circle status, which is earned only through flying.

Is Star Alliance Gold the same as Miles & More Senator status?

No, but they're linked. Senator status includes Star Alliance Gold as one of its benefits, and Frequent Traveller status also carries Star Alliance Gold. Star Alliance Gold gives lounge and priority benefits across the wider alliance, while Senator specifically adds Lufthansa's own Senator Lounge access on top.