The 2026 guide to Lufthansa Miles & More — every way to earn miles, how to redeem
them for Lufthansa First Class and Star Alliance business class, what they’re really worth after the
2025 dynamic-pricing switch, and the smart move when you’re sitting on a balance you’ll never fly.
Lufthansa Miles & More is the largest frequent-flyer program in Europe and one of
the most coveted currencies in the points world — largely because it’s the best route to a seat in
Lufthansa First Class, complete with the Frankfurt First Class Terminal and a chauffeur
to the plane. But it’s also a program that keeps getting harder to use for maximum value:
Lufthansa Group flights switched to dynamic award pricing in mid-2025, fuel surcharges are steep on many
routes, and miles expire after 36 months unless you protect them. This guide covers how Miles & More
works in 2026, how to earn, how to redeem for the most value, what the miles are actually worth —
and what to do with a balance you’ll never spend.
Miles & More is the loyalty program of the Lufthansa Group, shared
across Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines and Eurowings. You earn
“award miles” that can be redeemed for flights on the whole group plus the roughly two dozen
airlines in Star Alliance — including United, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada,
EVA Air, Turkish and Thai — and a handful of non-alliance partners such as Cathay Pacific and LATAM.
One thing to understand up front: as of June 3, 2025, awards on Lufthansa Group metal
are priced dynamically (tied to the cash fare), while Star Alliance partner
awards still follow a published award chart.
Award miles vs. status points — they’re not the same. This guide is about
award miles, the currency you earn and redeem for flights. Miles & More also tracks
qualifying points (and, on some fares, HON Circle miles) that count only toward elite
status — Frequent Traveller, Senator and HON Circle. You can’t book a flight with status points,
and reaching status is what protects your award miles from expiring. When we talk about earning,
redeeming, valuing or selling below, we mean award miles.
Because there’s no major US credit card that transfers points directly to Miles & More,
earning a big balance in the States takes a slightly different playbook than a United or Amex program.
The main routes:
The single biggest reason people chase Miles & More is Lufthansa First Class.
Lufthansa releases most of its First Class award space close to departure to partner programs — but
Miles & More members can book it up to 360 days in advance versus roughly 15 days for
partner-program members. If planning a First Class trip on your dates matters, that head start is the
whole game.
Watch the surcharges. Miles & More passes on fuel surcharges, which can
add several hundred dollars in cash to a premium-cabin award — a First Class ticket to Europe can
carry roughly $850 in taxes and surcharges on top of the miles. That’s a big reason two award tickets
with the same mileage cost can deliver very different real-world value, and one reason many members
conclude their miles are worth more as cash than as a fee-heavy redemption.
Miles & More lands in the middle of the pack among airline currencies. Independent 2026 valuations
generally put the miles between about 1.2 and 1.3 cents each: One Mile at a Time values
them at 1.2¢, Upgraded Points at 1.3¢, and NerdWallet places airline programs broadly in the
1.2–1.4¢ band. A well-timed Lufthansa First Class or partner business-class seat with a high
cash fare can be worth more per mile — but only if you actually book it, find the space on your
dates, and stomach the surcharges.
| Balance | Approx. redemption value @ ~1.25¢ |
|---|---|
| 50,000 miles | ~$625 |
| 100,000 miles | ~$1,250 |
| 250,000 miles | ~$3,125 |
| 500,000 miles | ~$6,250 |
Those are redemption values — and only real if you book a trip you wanted anyway. Miles
don’t earn interest, dynamic pricing on Lufthansa Group flights keeps drifting with cash fares, surcharges
eat into premium awards, and the miles expire after 36 months if you don’t protect them. A balance you
never burn is worth nothing. That gap between “paper value” and “value you’ll actually capture” is exactly
why a cash-out market exists.
Miles & More is fantastic if you’re chasing Lufthansa First Class on your own schedule. But for a lot
of people, the smarter move is to sell your own miles for cash — especially if
you’re in one of these situations:
Cash For My Miles has bought miles and points since 2004 and holds a
4.8 rating on Trustpilot. You’re selling your own miles — here’s how it
works:
Cash For My Miles buys your own Lufthansa Miles & More miles for cash — same-day quote, no
fees, PayPal-first, and you’re paid before we redeem. See exactly what your miles are worth in minutes.
Yes — award miles are valid for 36 months and then expire at the end of that quarter, unless
you protect them. Reaching Frequent Traveller, Senator or HON Circle status gives your miles
protection from expiry, and holding an active Miles & More credit card (with a qualifying purchase
each month) keeps them valid too. If you don’t have status or the card and your miles are approaching
expiry, cashing out turns them into money before they disappear.
Independent 2026 valuations generally put Miles & More miles between about 1.2 and 1.3 cents
each — One Mile at a Time values them at 1.2 cents and Upgraded Points at 1.3 cents, with
NerdWallet placing airline currencies broadly in the 1.2 to 1.4 cent range. A well-booked Lufthansa
First Class or partner business-class seat can be worth more, but only if you actually fly it and the
surcharges don’t eat the value.
Yes. Cash For My Miles buys your own Miles & More miles for cash — you get a same-day
quote, secure verification, payment typically within 1–3 days (PayPal-first), no fees, and
you’re paid before we redeem. See how
selling your Miles & More miles works or message us on WhatsApp for a quote.
Miles & More secures accounts with app-based two-factor authentication — a time-based
six-digit code generated by an authenticator app. As part of our secure verification, completing a
sale involves sharing that authenticator setup (the TOTP seed) so the transaction can be confirmed
end to end. It’s a standard part of confirming the account before you’re paid, and you’re always paid
before we redeem.
Miles & More passes on fuel surcharges, so a premium-cabin award — especially on Lufthansa
metal — can carry several hundred dollars in taxes and surcharges on top of the miles (a First
Class ticket to Europe can run roughly $850). Starting a trip from a low-surcharge city helps, but for
many people the surcharges are the moment they decide their miles are worth more as cash.
Most sellers are paid within 1 to 3 days after a quick, secure verification step — PayPal-first
— and the payment goes out before we redeem the miles, with no fees taken from your payout.
Start with a same-day quote to see your offer.
This guide is for general information only and reflects program details and miles
valuations as of 2026; Lufthansa Group flights use dynamic award pricing and program terms can change.
Cash For My Miles is an independent miles buyer and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lufthansa,
the Lufthansa Group or Miles & More. Lufthansa, Miles & More, SWISS, Austrian, Star Alliance and
related marks are trademarks of their respective owners.
