Lufthansa Miles & More Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite
Issued by Barclays
Reviewed by the CardCurator Editorial Team
Decision check
Is Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite worth applying for?
you can make 2x on Miles & More partner airline tickets part of your regular spending.
you will not recover the annual fee through spending, credits you will use, or the welcome bonus.
Offer is at or near the best public bonus we have tracked.
Application links open the issuer or partner application in a new tab. Confirm current terms and approval rules before submitting.
Earning Categories
Current Welcome Bonus
Earn 70,000 Miles & More miles after spending $4,000 on purchases and paying the $89 annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days of account opening.
Year 1 net value: +$611 (bonus − annual fee)
Card Perks
$97/year est. valueLounge Access with two complimentary Lufthansa Business Lounge Vouchers annually
Maximize Your Lufthansa Miles & More Points
Expert tips to get the most value from this program
Program Overview
Lufthansa Miles & More is the frequent flyer program for Lufthansa Group airlines (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings) and a Star Alliance member. Miles & More has historically been criticized for high award prices, fuel surcharges, and limited redemption flexibility, but still offers value for premium cabin redemptions on Lufthansa's excellent business and first class products. Key weaknesses: no US credit card transfer partners; miles must be earned through flying or European co-branded cards; award prices are high for aspirational redemptions; significant fuel surcharges on awards. Key strengths: Lufthansa First Class and Business Class are top-tier products, especially on long-haul flights; Star Alliance partner coverage is broad. Best for: frequent Lufthansa flyers who earn miles through flights. Not a primary target for US-based points transfer strategies.
Earning Tips
For US-based travelers, earning Miles & More miles is primarily through: - Flying Lufthansa Group airlines - Star Alliance flights credited to Miles & More (partner earning rates apply) - Miles & More credit cards (primarily European market) - Partner programs: credit card partners limited outside Europe Better strategy for Lufthansa awards: accumulate Air Canada Aeroplan miles (accepts Amex MR, Chase UR, Cap One) — Aeroplan can book Lufthansa Metal without fuel surcharges.
Redemption Tips
Miles & More redemptions: Lufthansa Business Class (Frankfurt hub): - North America → Frankfurt business class: approximately 55,000 miles one-way (off-peak), 70,000 peak - Note: significant fuel surcharges often apply Lufthansa First Class: - North America → Frankfurt: approximately 87,000 miles one-way - Fuel surcharges typically $500–$800+ apply Star Alliance partners: variable; surcharges and pricing vary by partner Alternative: Book Lufthansa flights using Aeroplan or United MileagePlus (both Star Alliance) to avoid or reduce fuel surcharges. Miles & More is primarily for committed Lufthansa frequent flyers. Miles expire after 36 months of inactivity.
Transfer Strategy
Miles & More does NOT accept transfers from any major US bank transferable points programs (Amex MR, Chase UR, Citi TY, Capital One, Wells Fargo). Primary earning for US travelers: - Flying Lufthansa Group metal (LH, LX, OS, SN) on revenue tickets - Flying Star Alliance partners and crediting to Miles & More - Limited Diners Club or European bank card transfers For US-based travelers wanting Lufthansa seats: consider using Air Canada Aeroplan (Star Alliance partner, accepts transfers from Amex, Chase, Cap One) to book Lufthansa award flights without Miles & More.
Milestones & Bonuses
Annual Companion Ticket after each account anniversary (taxes and fees apply).
Card Details
0% introductory APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 19.74% to 29.74%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors. There is a fee for balance transfers.
Compare This Card
See how the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite stacks up against other cards side by side — fees, bonuses, earn rates, and more.
Approval Insights
Recent community application data for this card. Issuers make the final decision, but this gives you a public read on how similar applicants have been doing lately.
How to use this
- Use the approval summary as a signal, not a guarantee.
- Combine it with issuer rules like 5/24, Amex lifetime language, and velocity limits.
- Open the full approval page to see recent datapoints, profile bands, and notes.
Most card pages stop at a generic credit-score range. CardCurator layers real community submissions on top of card detail, rewards value, and application strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual fee for the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite?
- The Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite has an annual fee of $89 per year.
- What is the best category to use the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite for?
- The Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite earns 2x on Miles & More partner airline tickets, making it the strongest earning category for this card.
- What is the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite welcome bonus in 2026?
- The Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite currently offers a welcome bonus of 70,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
- Does the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite charge foreign transaction fees?
- No, the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for international purchases.
- How much are Lufthansa Miles & More miles worth?
- Lufthansa Miles & More miles are worth approximately 1.10¢ per point on average, with premium redemptions reaching up to 1.50¢ per point. Values based on industry estimates including The Points Guy and NerdWallet.
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