Skip to main content
Quick Answer

The Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard edges out the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 40,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 3x vs 2x). The Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.

Card Comparison

Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard vs Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Which Card Comes Out Ahead?

Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard is the stronger all-around option for most people in this matchup because it wins more measurable categories in our scoring model. Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite still makes sense if your spending pattern lines up better with its fee profile, issuer rules, or rewards ecosystem.

Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard

Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.

Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite

Best if you want to keep annual cost lower.

Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard card art
Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard
Barclays
More Info
Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite card art
Lufthansa Miles & More
Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite
Barclays
More Info

Comparison Method

CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.

Annual Fee
$99/yr
$89/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
40,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
See issuer
Top Earn Rates
  • Emirates Purchases 3x
  • eligible travel purchases 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
  • Miles & More partner airline tickets 2x
  • All Other Purchases 1x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Pts Value
~1.00¢/pt miles · industry est.
~1.10¢/pt miles · industry est.
Key Credits
None
None
Card Perks
None listed
  • Lounge Access (~$97/yr)
Spend Milestones
  • Emirates Silver tier membership
    After $20,000 spend
No milestones
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners

Quick summary

A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.

The Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard edges out the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite for most cardholders — it wins on 2 of 4 comparison categories and offers 40,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 3x vs 2x). The Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee. On raw upside, Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard tops out at 3x versus 2x for Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite. Current signup bonus values are roughly $520 for Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard and $12 for Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite. Updated June 8, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/emirates-skywards-rewards-world-elite-mastercard-vs-lufthansa-miles-more-world-elite

View source data
Winner
Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard
2/4 categories · up to 3x
Runner-up
Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite
1/4 categories · up to 2x
  • Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard wins 2 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
  • Top earn rate: Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard reaches 3x; Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite reaches 2x.
  • Annual fee: Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard is $99/yr; Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite is $89/yr.
  • Current public bonus values are approximately $520 and $12.

Common Questions: Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard vs Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite

Is the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard or Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite better for dining?

Neither card offers a specific dining bonus — both earn their base rate on restaurant purchases.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard currently offers 40,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite offers $12 signup bonus. Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard and the Lufthansa Miles & More World Elite?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Both cards are from Barclays, so check their specific application rules.

Keep Researching

If this matchup is close, the stronger next step is usually to read the full card reviews or use a broader ranking page instead of comparing random pairs one by one.