Lufthansa’s Loyalty Program Is Switching the Way You Earn Miles for Flights

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Via View From the Wing, Miles & More, the loyalty program of Lufthansa, is changing the way you earn miles on their flights!

Currently, you earn miles based on the distance you fly.  But beginning March 12, 2018, you will earn miles according to how much money you paid for your ticket.

Lufthansa Turns Revenue-Based

Link:   Lufthansa Announcement

Starting March 12, 2018, you’ll earn miles based on the price of your ticket instead of the distance you travel with Lufthansa’s Miles & More frequent flyer program.  This includes flights operated by Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, and Brussels Airlines.

Essentially, the more you spend on a flight and the higher your elite status, the more miles you’ll earn.  But it’s a bit complicated!

For example, you’ll get:

• 4 Lufthansa miles per 1 euro you spend with NO elite status
• 5 Lufthansa miles per 1 euro for folks with elite status flying on Eurowings, Brussels Airlines, and other Miles & More partners
• 6 Lufthansa miles per 1 euro for folks with elite status flying on Adria Airlines, Air Canada, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, SWISS, and United Airlines

This change makes the Miles & More loyalty program similar to American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines.  That also have a revenue-based earning system.

What This Means for You

If you’re a casual flyer, you’ll now likely earn fewer miles with this new system.  The Miles & More program was not very generous for coach flights anyway, so the difference in miles won’t be devastating if you fly coach.

But folks buying discounted fancy seats across the Atlantic will earn a lot less than before!

Just remember, this change will be for any flight ticketed after March 12, 2018.  So you can buy a flight now, for after March 12, 2018.  And as long as you are ticketed before that date, you’ll still earn miles based on their current program rules.

Bottom Line

Lufthansa’s Miles & More program is making a change to the way folks earn miles from flights.  For all flights ticketed after March 12, 2018, you’ll earn miles based on how much you pay for your ticket, instead of how far you fly.

Depending on whether you normally fly coach or prefer Business or First Class, this could be a good thing or a bad thing.  But most folks will likely earn fewer miles because of this change.

Does this news about Lufthansa’s Miles & More program affect you?