Do I Get United Miles for Flying Lufthansa?

Ever booked a Lufthansa flight and found yourself wondering, “Do I get United miles for flying Lufthansa?” You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions among frequent flyers who want to make the most of their travel. After all, if you’re crossing oceans in a metal tube and living on airline peanuts, you should at least be rewarded for it, right?

In this guide, we’ll clear the clouds (pun intended) and walk you through exactly when and how you can earn United MileagePlus miles when flying Lufthansa. Spoiler alert: yes, it’s possible — but like everything in the airline world, it comes with a few ifs and buts.

United and Lufthansa: A Star Alliance Story

Let us start by laying out some basic principles. The airlines Lufthansa and United are members of the Star Alliance, an international consortium of partner airlines that enables the earning and redemption of miles across member carriers. The alliance means a lot for the air traveller because it aids the airline to keep miles from being locked in an independent ecosystem and lets passengers directly credit their miles to their United MileagePlus.”

But before you celebrate, keep in mind: just because two airlines are on speaking terms doesn’t mean every flight earns your miles. The devil, as always, is in the fine print.

How Mileage Accrual Works When Flying Lufthansa

Here’s the rule of thumb: You’ll earn United miles on Lufthansa flights only if you purchase your ticket with cash. That’s right—if you book your ticket using Lufthansa or United miles (what we call “award travel”), you won’t earn any new miles. You’ll just enjoy the ride and the free pretzels. Or maybe not even that, depending on the route.

So, if you were hoping to double-dip with award travel, sorry to burst your mileage bubble.

The Three Big Factors That Decide How Many Miles You Get

1. Fare Class: The Silent Decider

Just like not all creations are equal, tickets, too, are of a different sort. Discounted economy tickets would fetch you the bare minimum worth of miles, whereas business class tickets get you full mileage and sometimes even more. It’s like ordering your coffee: economy will be your regular drip coffee, whereas business is a triple-shot oat milk latte with extra foam and full rewards.

United has a mileage calculator on its website that helps estimate how much you’ll earn based on your specific fare class. Bookmark it. It’s a gem.

2. Your MileagePlus Status: Loyalty Pays

If you’ve climbed the MileagePlus ladder to Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum, or 1K, congrats—you’re officially in United’s good books. Higher status means more bonus miles, so your Lufthansa flight might earn you even more than the base amount.

It’s their way of saying “thank you” for flying too much and sleeping too little.

3. The Operating Airline Matters

Here’s where things can get tricky. If your ticket says Lufthansa but the flight is operated by, say, Swiss or Austrian, the miles you earn might differ. Always check who is flying the plane, not just who sold you the ticket.

Always add your United MileagePlus number at the time of booking. It’s the airline version of saying, “Hey, don’t forget to pay me.”

A Quick Personal Story

On my last trip to Berlin, I flew Lufthansa, thinking I’d just enjoy a smooth flight and maybe catch up on a German-dubbed version of The Big Bang Theory. But when I logged into my United account two weeks later, I saw nearly 5,000 miles added to my balance. It felt like finding $50 in an old coat. I realized that by simply attaching my MileagePlus number to the reservation—and booking a decent fare class—I earned more than just legroom and coffee. I earned a future upgrade.

So yes, the answer to “do I get United miles for flying Lufthansa?” is a resounding yes—but only if you do it right.

What About PQPs and Award Tickets?

Ah, PQPs—Premier Qualifying Points—the secret sauce for achieving elite status. You’ll earn PQPs only when you pay cash for your Lufthansa ticket. If you use miles to book your flight (on either Lufthansa or United), you won’t earn PQPs or miles.

Moral of the story? If elite status is your goal, skip the award tickets and swipe the card.

Can I Sell Lufthansa Miles If I Don’t Want to Use Them?

Now talking options, maybe you have got some Lufthansa miles from other trips, and you consider yourself more of a United loyalist. So, you may want to ask: Can I sell Lufthansa miles? You can convert those unused miles into real money, rather than seeing them just fade away.

Selling miles is a popular option among travelers who don’t fly often enough to redeem points for flights but still want some value in return. It’s like cleaning out your frequent flyer closet.

How to Maximize United Miles When Flying Lufthansa

• Book flights directly with Lufthansa or United, and make sure you’re booking a fare class that earns miles.
• Always add your MileagePlus number.
• Use United’s mileage calculator to verify your expected earnings.
• If you’re targeting elite status, prioritize cash tickets and skip award redemptions for now.

So, Do You Get United Miles for Flying Lufthansa?

Yes, you absolutely can earn United miles when flying Lufthansa, thanks to their Star Alliance partnership. But don’t just assume it’ll happen by default. The amount of miles you earn depends on your fare class, your MileagePlus status, and whether you’re paying with cash or miles.

If you’ve got Lufthansa miles lying around that you’re not planning to use, you can always investigate options to sell Lufthansa miles for real value.

How Cash for My Miles Can Help

Whether you want Lufthansa miles converted due to a switch in airlines or a lesser amount of flying lately, or just look for something tangible beyond seat upgrades, we are here for you. CashForMyMiles.com is a go-to site for you if considering converting those unused Lufthansa miles and miles from dozens of other programs into real cash. A simple and fast process means secure and traveler-friendly selling miles should always be that way!