Lufthansa
Miles & More
Transfer points to Lufthansa - all bank programs
| Bank Program | Points Currency | Base Ratio | Transfer Time | Active Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Membership Rewards | 1:1 | 1-3 days | - | |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | Instant | - |
Ratios and bonus availability update in real time. Always verify before transferring - transfers are irreversible.
Current Lufthansa transfer bonuses
Transfer Bonus History
No transfer bonus history available.
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About Miles & More
Lufthansa Miles & More is one of Europe's largest frequent flyer programs, covering the full Lufthansa Group network - Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings - plus Star Alliance partner airlines. The program is notable for offering access to Lufthansa First Class, one of the most acclaimed first class products in global aviation (private terminal in Frankfurt, chauffeured BMW ground transport, exclusive lounge), at fixed published award rates that remain predictable despite Lufthansa's scale. For US collectors targeting a specific trophy redemption, the fixed rate for Lufthansa First Class is one of the few remaining fixed-chart opportunities among major European carriers.
Two US transferable currencies transfer to Miles & More: American Express Membership Rewards (1:1, 1–3 days) and Bilt Rewards (1:1, instant). The limited bank access - only Amex and Bilt, no Chase, Capital One, or Citi - is the program's primary limitation. Amex is the main earning pathway, with the Platinum and Gold cards providing large welcome bonuses. Bilt's instant transfer is valuable for last-minute bookings, particularly as Lufthansa's First Class award space tends to release on shorter booking windows (often 15–21 days before departure rather than 330+ days in advance).
Miles & More's structure imposes significant fuel surcharges on all award tickets - Lufthansa, SWISS, and Austrian all charge carrier-imposed fees, even on Lufthansa Group-operated awards. A Lufthansa First Class round-trip award from the US can incur $800–$1,200 in surcharges on top of the mile redemption. This is the program's most significant cost caveat and is unique among the airlines profiled here in the severity of its surcharge policy. These fees must be factored into the true cost of any Miles & More redemption.
TransferPoints tracks transfer bonuses in real time across all major programs. Transfer ratios, active bonuses, and program rules on this page are verified against official bank and airline sources and update automatically. Visit the official Miles & More website
Why transfer points to Miles & More?
Lufthansa First Class - Private Terminal and Chauffeured Transfer
Lufthansa First Class at Frankfurt and Munich is a comprehensive first class experience unlike any other airline: dedicated private First Class Terminals (not lounges - separate buildings) accessible by chauffeured BMW or Porsche ground transport, personal private service, à la carte dining with a sommelier, and a spa. In the air, the First Class cabin on 747-8 and A380 features a fully enclosed suite with a separate seat and bed configuration. The fixed award rate for First Class from the US is approximately 87,000 miles one-way - against cash fares of $8,000–$14,000 - representing extraordinary value despite the significant surcharges.
Lufthansa Group - SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines Coverage
Miles & More covers the entire Lufthansa Group's network - Lufthansa, SWISS International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines - all on the same award chart. SWISS Business Class (Zurich and Geneva hub connections) and Austrian Business Class (Vienna hub) are highly regarded European carrier products. For US travelers connecting to Eastern Europe, the Balkans, or Central Europe, Lufthansa Group connections via FRA, MUC, ZRH, or VIE offer dense coverage of secondary European markets that require multiple connections on US carriers.
Instant Bilt Transfer for Last-Minute First Class Space
Lufthansa First Class award space is notoriously difficult to find at the 330-day window - the airline releases first class seats inconsistently and often at shorter notice (sometimes 15–21 days before departure). Bilt Rewards' instant transfer to Miles & More is operationally critical: when first class space appears, transferring from Bilt means you can act within minutes rather than waiting 1–3 days for Amex to process. Collectors who monitor Lufthansa first class availability should hold the Bilt Mastercard specifically as a tactical rapid-response instrument.
Star Alliance Coverage from a Central European Hub
Miles & More provides access to Star Alliance partner award bookings including Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, United, Thai Airways, and others - from Frankfurt or Munich as the hub. For itineraries routing through Central Europe to Asia, the Lufthansa hub provides Star Alliance coverage to destinations reachable via FRA. Star Alliance partner awards via Miles & More may carry lower surcharges than Lufthansa Group metal awards - ANA, Singapore, and Air Canada impose no or minimal surcharges, providing a partial relief from the Lufthansa Group surcharge policy.
How to transfer points to Miles & More
Follow these four steps every time. The golden rule: find available award space before transferring - transfers are irreversible.
- 1
Find the award first
Search for award availability on Miles & More's website before moving a single point. Note the flight number, date, cabin, and exact miles required. Award space can disappear at any moment - and transfers are irreversible.
- 2
Check for an active transfer bonus
Scroll up to the Current Bonuses table. If a bonus is live (e.g. +20%), you get 20% more miles for free - 10,000 points transferred becomes 12,000 miles. Timing your transfer to an active bonus is one of the easiest ways to stretch your balance without spending more.
- 3
Execute the transfer from your bank
American Express
Instant (minutes)Log in at americanexpress.com → Membership Rewards → Use Points → Transfer Points to Travel Partners → select the airline → enter your loyalty membership number and point amount (min 1,000) → confirm. Transfers post within minutes. Note: Amex charges a $0.0006 excise tax per point (max $99) for US residents.
Bilt
InstantLog in at biltrewards.com → Points → Transfer Points → select the airline → enter your membership number and amount → confirm.
- 4
Book the award immediately
As soon as the miles post to your account, book the award. Don't wait - partner award availability can evaporate within hours. Have your loyalty membership number, passport details, and preferred payment method for taxes ready before you start the booking process.
Miles & More award chart - highlights
Chart type: Fixed zone-based chart (Lufthansa Group + Star Alliance partners)
Miles & More uses a fixed zone-based award chart. Rates below are one-way unless noted. IMPORTANT: Significant fuel surcharges apply to Lufthansa Group-operated awards (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian). Star Alliance partner awards (ANA, Singapore, Air Canada) have lower or zero surcharges.
Fuel surcharges on Lufthansa Group metal (LH, LX, OS, SN) are significant: $200–$700 per direction depending on cabin and route. Star Alliance partners (ANA, Singapore, Air Canada, United, Turkish) may have lower or no surcharges. Always check total cash cost at time of booking.
How much are Miles & More miles worth?
The value of a Miles & More mile varies significantly depending on redemption type. Economy redemptions typically deliver near the base valuation; business and first class awards - especially on partner airlines - can return 3–10× more per mile than the average.
Worked example
Lufthansa First Class RT FRA (from US) retails ~$12,000. At 174,000 miles RT + ~$1,200 surcharges: net cash value of miles = $12,000 - $1,200 = $10,800 ÷ 174,000 = 6.2¢/mile. Surcharges significantly reduce effective value vs zero-surcharge programs.
Valuations per TPG April 2026 (1.5¢ average). Actual value varies by specific route, date, and cabin availability.
Best credit cards for earning Miles & More miles
Lufthansa rarely has a compelling US co-branded card. The most effective strategy is earning transferable points from a premium bank card and converting them when you are ready to book.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
100,000–175,000-point welcome bonus at 1:1 to Miles & More. Best large-volume transfer for Lufthansa First Class target. 5× on flights. Necessary for funding a round-trip First Class award (174,000 miles + ~$1,200 surcharges) from a single bonus.
Bilt Mastercard
Instant transfer to Miles & More - essential for Lufthansa First Class last-minute availability (typically released 15–21 days before departure). Earns on rent. The only rapid-response transfer option to Miles & More.
Miles & More vs other Star Alliance programs
Miles & More competes with Aeroplan and ANA Mileage Club for Star Alliance premium cabin bookings from Amex and Bilt currencies. All three cover similar Star Alliance partners; they differ sharply on surcharge burden, bank access, and Lufthansa Group-specific benefits.
Bottom line
Use Miles & More specifically for Lufthansa First Class - the private terminal, chauffeured transfer, and enclosed suite are uniquely worth pursuing as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Miles & More's own rates are the most direct pathway to this product. Use Aeroplan when you want Star Alliance coverage (including Lufthansa business class) with zero surcharges, four US bank partners, and fixed pricing across 35+ carriers - Aeroplan books Lufthansa business class with no carrier fees, making it the superior total-value choice for most Lufthansa redemptions that aren't specifically first class. Use ANA Mileage Club for Japan-focused travel at competitive own-program rates inaccessible via Miles & More.
Miles & More - program details
| Program Name | Miles & More |
| Alliance | Star Alliance (Lufthansa Group) |
| IATA Code | LH |
| Award Chart Type | Fixed zone-based (LH Group + Star Alliance) |
| Miles Expiry | 3 years from last account activity - resets on earn or redeem |
| US Transfer Partners | Amex MR (1:1, 1–3 days) + Bilt Rewards (1:1, instant) |
| Transfer Speed | Amex: 1–3 days (slower) · Bilt: instant (critical for last-minute) |
| Fuel Surcharges | HIGH on LH/SWISS/Austrian metal - $200–$700 per direction |
| Partner Surcharges | ANA, Singapore, Air Canada: minimal or none (Star Alliance) |
| First Class Terminal (FRA/MUC) | Dedicated private terminal + chauffeured BMW/Porsche transfer |
| First Class Rate (OW) | 87,000 miles + ~$500–$700 surcharges |
| Business Class Rate (OW) | 58,000 miles + ~$400–$600 surcharges |
| Award Booking Window | 330 days for economy/business; First Class: irregular (monitor) |
| First Class Availability Tip | Releases at 15–21 days before departure - use Bilt for instant transfer |
| Status Tiers | Frequent Traveller, Senator, HON Circle |
| HON Circle Benefits | Access to all Lufthansa First Class lounges globally |
